Pioneer Edom Shugart, the youngest in the Nathan Shugart family, was the first to conduct school classes in DeWitt County. After some time of moving from place to place, Edom decided to leave Iowa in 1852 and journey to Texas with his family. His travels, fraught with challenges from cholera and measles, are recorded in his journal, which includes some heart breaking entries.
Building his initial cabin on the northern side of Salt Creek, Elisha Butler went on to develop land in the area that would later be known as DeWitt County. Along with several business partners, Butler purchased government land, made enhancements, and then sold the land to settlers. Some of the well-known homesteads in DeWitt County were originally owned by Butler.
