Fitch, Dr. W.H.

FITCH

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/16/2007 at 21:37:24

Jackson Sentinel
December 2, 1941

Dr. W. H. FITCH DIES FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Rites Held in Davenport Today For Former Maquoketa Resident

Funeral services were held in Davenport this afternoon for Dr. W. H. Fitch, prominent Walcott veterinarian. Dr. Fitch died at 2 p.m. Saturday in a home near Blue Grass, after he had suffered a heart attack while driving past the home.

Active in American Legion circles, Dr. Fitch was past commander of Walcott post No. 548, past Scott county Legion commander and past Second district vice commander. He was also past chef-de-gare of 40 & 8 Voiture 71 of Davenport
Born in Maquoketa

Dr. Fitch was born April 6, 1891, in Maquoketa, and was educated in the schools here, later studying at the University of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. He enlisted in the U.S. army in May, 1917, and served with the Remount division at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga., until his discharge in February of 1919.

On returning to Iowa Dr. Fitch established his veterinary practice in Bennett, Iowa, and remained there for 10 years before he sold out and moved to Davenport. After practicing there for a year he moved to Walcott, where he made his home. On Oct. 16, 1912 he was married in Maquoketa to Ethel Hiner.

Prominently identified with Masonic organizations, Dr. Fitch was a member of the Helion lodge No. 36, of Maquoketa; Bath Koi Chapter No. 94. Royal Arch Masons of Maquoketa; Tancred lodge No. 40, Knights Templer of Maquoketa; the DeMolay Consistory of Clinton, and the Kaaba Temple Shrine of Davenport. He had been a member of the Scott county draft board No. 2 since its formation.
Kidnapped in 1934

On June 14, 1934, Joe Palmer, who killed a guard and escaped from a Texas prison and who was associate of Clyde Barrow, notorious southwestern outlaw, kidnapped Al Schultze, then secretary of the Davenport baseball club, and Elmer Schluetter, traffic policeman, and after fleeing in Schultze’s car, he kidnapped Dr. Fitch near Walcott and forced him and the other two men to accompany him to St. Joseph, Mo., where he released him. Palmer was captured shortly after.

Dr. Fitch was also a member of the Illowa Horseman’s association of the tri cities; the Northern Illinois Saddle Horse association and had served as judge in horse shows in eastern Iowa and western Illinois for the last several years. He was also a member of the new board of the Mississippi Valley Fair association.

Surviving Dr. Fitch are his wife; his mother, Mrs. Carrie Fitch of Stockton, and a daughter, Mrs. Vern Christiansen, of Walcott.