In about 1855 a Vermont native named Jeptha Hewitt and his wife and Mary (Fox) built a log cabin near Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan, cleared land, and grew their family. An 1874 land survey map of Ingham County reveals that the Hewitt homestead was located on 80 acres southeast of the village of Okemos in Alaiedon Township.

The Hewitt family had journeyed, starting in September 1832, from Monroe County, New York with a team and covered wagon, and crossed into Canada reaching Detroit and then went westward into Jackson County, Michigan where they settled at Leoni, Jackson County. Land was purchased from the government and the family farmed that property until 1855 when they moved onto a farm in Ingham County where they raised their children, 7 of the 10 still surviving at the death in 1901 of Mrs. Mary Hewitt.

John Hewitt, son of Jeptha and Mary, was born in New York state in 1838, and was one of the older children among the 10 siblings. He wed in 1862 an Okemos born girl named Charlotte Louise Bray. The couple farmed in Alaiedon Township, Ingham County and raised 4 children, one of which they adopted. Their son, Archie Lee Hewitt, born 26 August 1867, Newago, Oceana County, Michigan, was an enrolled student in the Okemos Union School in 1888 along with his younger sister, Edith and adopted sister Lottie.

On 17 February 1892, Alaiedon Township, Archie Hewitt wed Loretta Ellen Barnes. Loretta, born 11 August 1870, Delhi Township, Ingham County, was the daughter of a Civil War Union veteran who had spent time in the infamous war prison Andersonville. Mr. Alfred Barnes ran a hotel in Okemos called the Barnes House for many years and also filled, at one point in time, the position of Postmaster for the village. About the same time as Archie and Loretta married Mr. Barnes became involved in a nasty dust-up with his own father-in-law, Dr. Leveret R. Chaddock. A revolver was involved along with with fists and clubs. The family quarrel went to new heights when Alfred and his hired man rode the local train into Lansing and swore out a warrent charging Dr. Chaddock and his hired man with assault to do great bodily harm. A trial inssued with results going to the Michigan Supreme Court where there was a reversal of the case results and a new trial was ordered. Alfred Barnes' hired man was so injured that at one point he was not thought to live. Later the squabble was ironed out but with lingering family effects.

Archie and Loretta had 3 children. Sadly their second born child, Edna, succumbed to cholera in 1896. Archie was employed for 30 years with the Michigan Central Railroad. He rose in the rank and file to the position of railway section gang foreman, retiring in 1938. Loretta died 3 January 1953, Shiawassee County. Archie died 22 December 1960, Corunna, Shiawassee County. Archie and Loretta were interred near young daughter Edna in Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) family feud, The Lansing Journal, 20 June 1890 

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) family feud, The Lansing Journal, 3 July 1891 

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) Loretta injured in fall, Owosso Times (Owosso, Michigan), 7 April 1916, Page 2

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) obit on father-in-law Alfred Barnes,  Lansing State Journal, 4 March 1919, Page 7

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) Hewitt family reunion, Lansing State Journal, 07 September 1939, Page 32

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) 50th anniversary, Lansing State Journal, 18 February 1942, Page 10

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) 60th anniversary, Lansing State Journal, 15 February 1952, Page 4

Hewitt, Archie (married Loretta Barnes 1892) obit, Lansing State Journal, Friday, December 23, 1960