Seymour N. Fitch Biography This biography appears on pages 1725-1726 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. SEYMOUR N. FITCH, the leading dry-goods merchant of Custer City, is a native of New York, born in Rome, that state, on December 24, 1863. He was educated in the schools of the above city and there remained until his nineteenth year, when he left home to achieve his own fortune, going first to Des Moines, Iowa, where he held, during the two years following, a clerkship in a wholesale confectionery and cigar store. Resigning his position at the expiration of that time, Mr. Fitch, in the spring of 1882, came to South Dakota and after working on a ranch near Custer City about one year, became identified with the mercantile interests of the town by purchasing an interest in the dry-goods and clothing house of Bartell & Smith, succeeding the former partner in the business. Under the name of Smith & Fitch, the new firm grew rapidly in public favor and soon commanded the bulk of the trade in the lines of goods handled. The original building was a small structure, the capacity of which was in due time found entirely inadequate, accordingly a large addition was subsequently made and from the beginning a series of continued successes attended the enterprise. His partner dying in 1889, Mr. Fitch purchased the entire interest and became sole proprietor and as such enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity until October, 1901, when his establishment was almost destroyed by fire, entailing a loss conservatively estimated at twenty thousand dollars. This disaster, which would have been discouraging to the majority of men, served to stimulate the enterprising spirit of Mr. Fitch, as he immediately began rebuilding and within a comparatively short time recovered from his loss and was again on the high road to prosperity. The new building, in every respect larger and superior to the former structure, is one of the finest business houses in Custer City. It is now stocked with full lines of dry goods, clothing, gents furnishing, etc., and the business conducted within its walls exceeds in magnitude that of any similar establishment in the southwestern part of the state. In addition to his commercial interests Mr. Fitch is also engaged quite extensively in the live-stock business, owning, in partnership with his cousin, Newton S. Tubbs, a large ranch near Edgemont, which is being devoted to sheep raising. The latter enterprise, under the efficient management of Mr. Tubbs, is successfully conducted and has proved the source of a very liberal income to both proprietors. While first of all a business man, Mr. Fitch is by no means indifferent to other matters in which his fellow citizens are interested, being a zealous Republican politician and an enthusiastic worker in local, district and state affairs. In recognition of his valuable services to his party, also by reason of his peculiar fitness for the position, he was elected some years ago treasurer of Custer county, discharging the duties of the office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the people. He also served on the board of county commissioners and in that capacity was untiring in his efforts to inaugurate various public improvements. Fraternally Mr. Fitch is identified with the Knights of Pythias, belonging to the lodge in Custer City. On January 9, 1890, in Custer City, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fitch and Miss Helen Willis, of Springwater, New York, the fruit of the union being one daughter, Gladys M.