Yavapai-Maricopa County AZ Archives Biographies.....Fitch, Thomas 1838 - living in 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/az/azfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 5, 2005, 3:48 pm Author: McFarland & Poole p. 473-474 HON. THOMAS FITCH. The century whose evening is upon us, and the shadows of whose end are creeping o'er us, has been, in America, prolific of the class of men who have been styled, not inaptly, self-made. By this term have been designated men who, without wealth or the advantages of collegiate training, have educated themselves in a practical way and by sheer force of character, have gained an enviable position among the substantial and worthy citizens of any community. One of the most notable of this class is Thomas Fitch. He was born in New York City, January 27, 1838, and from the age of ten years he has made the struggle of life alone, and is self educated. When a young man he was engaged in merchandising, following that until twenty-one years old. In 1859 he branched out in the journalistic field, on the Milwaukee "Free Democrat," and was thus occupied until the summer of 1860 when he went to California. From that date until 1863 he was with the San Francisco "Gazette," "Times," and afterward with the Placerville "Republican." From there he went to Nevada in 1863, and was editor of the Virginia City "Union," but during this time kept up his law studies. Previous to this he was elected to the Legislature of California from Eldorado County, and in 1864 he was elected from Virginia City a member of the Convention to form a State Constitution for Nevada. In 1864 he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Nevada. In 1865 Mr. Fitch removed to Washoe County, Nevada. and soon after was appointed District Attorney for that county. At the expiration of his term lie removed to Belmont, Nevada, and there practiced law until 1868 when he was elected to Congress. In 1871 he went to Salt Lake City in connection with mining litigation, and while there was employed by Brigham Young and had charge of all the criminal and, civil litigation in which he and the Church leaders were involved. While in that city he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention and aided in forming a State Constitution for Utah. He was elected one of the United States Senators from the proposed State of "Deseret," but Utah was not admitted into the Union. In 1874 Mr. Fitch moved to San Francisco and made his home there until 1877. At that date he came to Arizona, located and practiced law there until 1884. In 1879 he was elected a member of the Legislature from Yavapai County. In 1884 he left Arizona and for the next eight years resided part of the time in San Diego, and some time in San Francisco County, and about two years in New- York City. Returning to Arizona in 1893 he settled at Phoenix, and has resided here since. Additional Comments: From: A Historical and Biographical Record of the Territory of Arizona Published by McFarland & Poole, Chicago, 1896 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/az/yavapai/bios/gbs38fitch.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/azfiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb