Martin Batey Chitwood was born in Scott County, Tennessee July 6, 1828 and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Campbell, near Exchange, MO, July 2, 1912 at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 26 days.

His parents moved to this county when he was about fourteen years of age and he had made his home in this county ever since. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Lewis in 1855. Fourteen children were born of this union, twelve of whom survive."

The following wascopied the following from A REMINISCENT HISTORY OF THE OZARK REGION, A Condensed General History, a Brief Descriptive History of each County, and Numerous Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens of Such Counties, 1956 reprint, Ramfre Press, Cape Girardeau,MO, p. 771:

M. B. Chitwood, another of the early pioneers of Reynolds County, Mo., was born in Campbell County, Tenn., on the 6th of July, 1828, to the marriage of William and Cecili (Whitecotton) Chitwood, both natives of that State also. The paternal grandfather, Pleasant Chitwood, passed his entire life in Tennessee, engaged in farming. The maternal grandfather, Aaron Whitecotton, came to this county in 1844, and followed farming on Webb's Creek until his death about 1866. The parents of our subject were married in their native State, and in 1841 they moved with ox-teams from that State to Reynolds County, Mo. They settled on a farm on Webb's Creek, in the woods, and there the father died a few years later, leaving our subject, who was the eldest of the family, although but sixteen years of age, to take charge of affairs. Mrs. Chitwood reared her family and after all were married she was wedded to J. Odell. Both are now deceased, her death occurring in 1878. Her children, eight in number, were named as follows: M. B. (subject), Kizzie, Sallie, Helen, Pleasant, Aaron, Elizabeth and William. Only Helen, Aaron and Elizabeth, besides our subject are living, and the latter is the only one living in this county. When sixteen years of age young Chitwood assumed control of affairs on his father's farm and managed this successfully for many years. When twenty-seven years of age he married Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Jacob Lewis, who came to this State from Tennessee, and here died. Mr. Chitwood has resided on his present farm since 1855, and has met with substantial results. He has 218 acres of land and a fine farm in Dickson Valley, south of Barnesville. He is a Mason, a member of Barnesville Lodge...(religious affiliation & political party listed here). His marriage was blessed by the birth of fourteen children, twelve of whom are living: Cecili A., deceased; Nancy J., wife of George Campbell; Helen M., wife of S. Helms; Urzilla, wife of William Page; Izora, Anzona, Millie, Debbie, Fannie M, wife of Egbert Brown. The sons are: William Nelson, married; Nimrod I, and Grover C."