Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Fitch, Samuel W. 1852 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 3, 2006, 2:31 am Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) p. 177-179 SAMUEL W. FITCH. In a career that has been active and energetic Mr. Fitch has won success, his farming interests now representing two hundred and eighty acres of farming land. He has also been well known in connection with public affairs and at one time served as auditor of the county. A native of Virginia, he was born in Rockingham county, that state, on the 31st of August, 1826, and is a son of William and Mary A. (Locke) Fitch. The father was a native of England and when young left that country, accompanying two brothers to America. He settled in Virginia, where he was afterward married, and there he engaged in farming. He also used a four-horse team in hauling goods, grain and other commodities. For fifteen years he occupied the position of foreman over a number of slaves, who were engaged in the raising of tobacco. He continued to reside in the Old Dominion until 1829, when he left the south and took up his abode in Coshocton county, Ohio. There he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, all of which was wild and unimproved, not a furrow having been turned upon the place. He at once began to cultivate it, clearing the forests and plowing and planting it. He died, however, during the early boyhood days of the subject. His was an honorable business career and his entire life was in harmony with his professions as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He belonged to the Washingtonian Temperance Society and gave his political support to the Democratic party. In the family were nine children: Margaret, the wife of Thomas Allmack, a cabinetmaker; Catherine, the wife of William Linson, a farmer; Elizabeth, the wife of Israel Dillon, who is also a farmer and who for four years was clerk of the courts in Coshocton county, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of Adam Donecker, an agriculturist; Mary C., the wife of William Richards, a farmer; Gideon, who married Eliza Buckston, who is now a farmer, in early life was a school teacher; Nelson, who came from Ohio in 1843, and located in Jackson township, Bartholomew county, married Elizabeth Buckston and is also a farmer; John, who wedded Rebecca Reecer and engaged in teaching school for many years; and Samuel W. Mr. Fitch of this review spent the first twenty years of his life upon the old home farm, assisting in its cultivation and improvement. He then left home, starting out upon an independent business career. In 1854 he embarked in merchandising in Waymansville, Ohio township, now Jackson township, Indiana, following that pursuit for two years, after which he resumed farming. He has cleared two hundred acres of land in this county, rolling logs, teaming and doing other such work incident to the improvement of a new district. He lived here in pioneer times when this was a frontier district. He has seen many deer in the forests, also wolves and a great deal of small game. He has killed many turkeys and has thus supplied the family table with meat. He remembers when many of the houses were log cabins, when the land was not yet improved and roads were not yet laid out. As the county has advanced, however, along lines of progress and improvement he has taken a deep and abiding interest in what has been accomplished and has assisted in large measure in movements for the general good. Mr. Fitch has been twice married. In 1847 he was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Wantland, a daughter of Noah P. and Mary (Dillon) Wantland. Four children have been born of this union: Emma, who is now the wife of Oscar Bradford, a carpenter; Sophina, the wife of John Ogilbie, a carpenter and farmer; Lucebe, the wife of R. M. Dye, a farmer and miller; and Mary, the wife of R. A. Brown, a carpenter and mechanic. On the 24th of November, 1866, Mr. Fitch was again married, his second union being with Amanda M. Howbert, a daughter of George and Ann (Allen) Coons. Her father was a native of New York and a stone mason by trade. He removed from the Empire state to Ohio when a middle aged man and in 1851 he came to Bartholomew county, Indiana, where he entered land from the government and improved a farm, continuing to make his home here until his death, which occurred in 1875. He prospered and. to his own industry and capable management could be attributed his success. He never received aid from others, but continuously worked his way upward and his labors were richly rewarded. In politics he was a stanch Republican and he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. In the family were seven children: Gilbert, Allen, Philip. George, Mrs. Fitch, Cynthia and Susan. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fitch were born six children: Minnie, the wife of Samuel Snively, a carpenter and farmer: S. Grant, who married Lillian Hanson and is now district consul for the Modern Woodmen of America: Cora, the wife of George B. Sweeny, a farmer; Vida, the wife of Oscar Snively, a carpenter; Elva, the wife of Wilson Calkins, who is also a carpenter; and Alonzo, who wedded Flora Woody. He is now acting solicitor for the International Correspondence School and makes his home in Columbus. Mr. Fitch is today the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in Jackson and Ohio townships, all of which is under cultivation. This he has improved and there is upon it very good buildings, well-kept fences and all modern accessories. He also owns three pieces of town property in Columbus and also property at Mount Healthy, Jackson township. His life work has been honorable and has been attended with excellent results, for he has gained thereby very creditable success. He has also been prominent in public affairs and in 1898 he became the candidate of the Republican party for the office of county auditor, to which he was elected by a majority of two hundred and twenty-eight votes, serving in that capacity in a most acceptable manner for four years and forty days. He has, however, never been an active politician in the sense of office seeking, but has always given his time and energies to his business interests. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is a man of unquestioned honor and integrity whose life has been free from the influences which leave a shadow upon character and warp one's best possibilities. In all life's relations he has been found true to the duty and trust reposed in him and was recognized as a trustworthy official as well as an honorable citizen. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/fitch392nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb