Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield

Preface
This c~ral history of Carl Wittmond's service in the Illinois House of Representatives is a
product of the Illinois Legislative Research Unit's General Assembly Oral llistory
Program. The oral history technique adds :i distinctive new dimension to the unit's statutory
responsibility for performing research and collecting information conrerning the government
of the state.
Carl Wittmond was horn in Brussels, Illinois on Fehruary 2.1, 1905. His family had operated
a Cnlhoun County hotel and other businesses for several generations. As a young I)o!. he
helped in the family work and also came to love the unique region lying between the Illinois
and Mississippi rivers. He attended local schools and Quincy ('allege, after which he settled
in Brussels and assumed responsibilit>- for rnantiging the various family enterprises. In
addition to the, hotel and a restaurant, he practiced farming and later purchased a local
newspaper.
Lluring the, years of the Great Depression Mr. Wittrnortd became active in county Democrat
~mlitics. He met many of thr prominent state politicians of that era, and also served terms
on the local school board, as village trustee and as county public administrator. He and
his nife Zelora continued to make Brussels their home. Ifis 1950 campaign for election to
the lllinois House of Representatives was unsuccessfol, hut four years later he won. In all
Rlr. Wittmond served six terms in the house. from 1955 to 1967. While participating in most
of the major issues and programs of his time, he took a special interest in serving the special
needs of his Calhoun County constituents. He was instrumental in establishing a stateoperated
ferry across the Illinois River, and also in promoting construction of the Great
River Road along the Mississippi River. His rnemoir includcs candid observations about the
Iegislativt~ issues and personalities of his time. After leaving the legislat~~re in 196'7 he
rtmumed active management of his business interests.
Readers of this oral history should hear in mind that it is a transcript of the spoken
word. Its informal, conversational style reprrsents a deliberate attempt to encourage candor
and to tap the narrator's memory. However. persons interested in listen in^ to the tapes
should understand that editoria1 considerations produced a text that differs somewhat from
the original recordings. Both the recordings and this transcript should he regarded as primary
historical sources, as no effort was made to correct or rhallengc the narrator.
Keither the Illinois Legislative Research Unit nor Snngamon Stair University is responsible
for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for views expressed therein; these are for the
re:ider to judge.
The Lape recorded interviews were conducted by Horace Waggoner during the fall of 1982
and the spring of 1983. hlr. Waygoner was born in 19'24 in Waggoner, a small farm-service
Carl Wittmond Memoir -- Archives/Special Collections, University of Illinois at Springfield