PITCHER, Horatio - 1914

PITCHER, LEONARD, SHERMANS, MCCLELLAN, HERSEY, HAINES

Posted By: VOLUNTEER
Date: 6/26/2009 at 17:15:48

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

HORATIO PITCHER.

Honored and respected by all, no man occupies a more enviable position in the regard of the people of Cherokee county than Horatio Pitcher, in whose honor Pitcher township was named and who has been one of the greatest individual forces in promoting the upbuilding and advancement of this locality since he settled here in pioneer times. He was born in Monroe, Waldo county, Maine, January 23, 1839, and is a son of Horatio G. and Annie (Leonard) Pitcher,, natives of Maine and both of Puritan stock. The father was a farmer, merchant and brickmaker, and he followed all of these lines of activity until his death, which occurred at Bangor when he was seventythree years of age. His. wife passed away in Massachusetts at the age of eightyeight. To their union were born six children: Horatio, of this review; Franklin W., a manufacturer of rubber goods in East Hampton, Massachusetts; Annie C., also of East Hampton ; Major William L., who was killed in the Civil war; Florella, who died in childhood; and Lewis, who passed away in his early youth.

Horatio Pitcher acquired his education in the public schools of Maine and in academies in Massachusetts and Maine. Before he had completed his studies he engaged as clerk in a drygoods store and later operated a general mercantile enterprise. He afterward turned his attention to the grocery business, following this line of occupation until 1861, when he enlisted in the First Regiment of the Second Maine Volunteer Infantry. When his regiment arrived in New York city measles broke out in the ranks and the men were sent at once to Long Island, where they camped for some time. They were later mustered into service at Willets Point, Long Island, for a period of two years and were immediately sent to Falls Church, in Washington, Virginia, where they camped until the first battle of Bull Run, in which the regiment engaged with a heavy loss. It was then ordered to Alexandria and from there went into camp at Fort Cocheran, assisting in the defense of Washington as part of W. T. Shermans brigade. In 1862, when General McClellan moved the army from Alexandria by water to Fortress Monroe and thence to Richmond, where he engaged in a seven day battle, Mr. Pitchers regiment took part in these activities and afterward went into camp on the James river. Eventually a new regiment was formed in Bangor, Maine, and of this Mr. Pitcher served as quartermaster until August, 1862. In September of that year, when Washington was again threatened by the enemy, the regiment was sent to build fortifications in front of the city and after this work was completed it was reorganized into a heavy artillery regiment, divided into twelve batteries of one hundred and eighty men each. They defended twelve miles of fortification until the following spring and then Mr. Pitcher was ordered to Albany, New York, to buy horses for the army. He continued thus until the close of the war and was mustered out with a creditable military record at Bangor, Maine, in the spring of 1865.

After receiving his discharge Mr. Pitcher, opened a mercantile business in Savannah, Georgia, and after conducting this for a time moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where, in partnership with his brother, he resumed his former occupation, remaining active in mercantile circles until 1868. In that year he came west to Iowa and after spending considerable time investigating the advantages and resources of the northwestern part of the state settled finally in what is now known as Pitcher township, buying a section of land, which he still owns. This was at that time a frontier district, where miles of unbroken prairie land stretched in all directions and the nearest market was located at Division, sixty miles away. In the summer of 1869 the new railroad brought many settlers into the locality, who took up all the government land, and in the same year the townships were organized, Pitcher being named in honor of the subject of this review, who was the first settler within its borders. Throughout the years since that time he has steadily carried forward the work of improving and developing his property and each year has witnessed his increased prosperity and prominence. From time to time he has added to his holdings and now owns seven hundred and twenty acres. He has a well improved property, indicating in its neat and attractive appearance the many years of unremitting labor and careful supervision which the owner has bestowed upon it. In addition to this Mr. Pitcher owns a two hundred acre farm in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and the operation of this he also supervises.

On the 13th of June, 1877, Mr. Pitcher married Miss Elizabeth A. Hersey, a native of Corinth, Maine, and a daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Haines) Hersey, both of whom were born in New Hampshire. The father died in 1850 and was survived by his wife for many years, her death occurring in 1892, when she was eightythree years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hersey were born three children: Charles, who died in Atchison, Kansas, where he had formerly practiced law; Elizabeth A., the wife of the subject of this review; and Thomas, who also passed away in Atchison, where he had engaged in merchandising. Mr. and Mrs Pitcher became the parents of four children: Ray H., a graduate of Aurelia high school and Ames Agricultural College and now assisting his father with the work of the homestead; Leon F., a graduate of Aurelia high school and now operating a portion of his fathers farm; Elizabeth, who since her graduation from the Aurelia high school has engaged in teaching; and Marian E., a graduate of the Aurelia high school.

Mr. Pitcher gives his political allegiance to the republican party and upon the organization of Pitcher township served as, supervisor. He has also been chairman of the town board, a member of the school board, and held a seat in the state legislature in 1881. At all times he has been interested in the welfare of the county and has given active cooperation to many movements for the public good, while his efforts in behalf of general improvement have been effective and farreaching. Living in Pitcher township and upon his present farm for fortyfive years, he is one of the best known citizens of this locality, being widely recognized as a man of tried integrity and worth, of business enterprise and unfaltering diligence. His fellow citizens honor and respect him and wherever he is known he has an extensive circle of friends. Moreover, he deserves mention in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war to whom the county owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.