John Allen Pitzer

MCCAUGHAN, PITZER, ROGERS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/16/2004 at 14:24:03

“The History and Business Directory of Madison County, Iowa"
J. J. Davies, Editor, 1869

John A. Pitzer is one of the early and prominent settlers of Madison county. He came in 1849, and during that year he surveyed and laid out into sections the north half of the county. Enoch Eastman surveyed, at the same time, the south half. Mr. Pitzer, soon afterwards, started a store m Winterset, and he was the first merchant that ever sold goods in Winterset. He is today one of the most prominent merchants of the place, and he has continued in the same business ever since he first commenced, with the exception of the time during which he was paymaster in the army. He is one of our most honorable and substantial citizens; a man in whose integrity the people of the county have placed the moat implicit confidence, and they bestowed upon him the highest office within the county in 1851, and upon the expiration of his term of office in 1855, they re-elected him, and again in 1857. He proved himself worthy in all respects, of the trust bestowed on him. It is related of him that during the hard times of 1855 and 1856, that he gave away to destitute families over five hundred sacks of flour, and that he trusted almost the entire people of the county, who were destitute, for provisions, groceries and the necessaries of life. As times improved and the people became able, a large portion of them came forward and paid the Judge for what he had trusted them. But the Judge has laid out in this way many thousands of dollars which have never been returned to him. There is no man in the county more honored and respected – especially by the old settlers – than is Judge Pitzer today. No man in the county has made so many substantial improvements and done so much for the building-up of the county, as Judge Pitzer. All honor to the Judge! May he live long to enjoy the good he has done!
__________________________________________________

"The History of Madison County, Iowa"
Union Historical Company, Des Moines, Iowa, 1879

John A. Pitzer, Winterset, deceased; one of the most worthy citizens that ever made his home in Winterset. Born in Virginia, February 22, 1813; when an infant, his parents removed to Christian county, Kentucky, where his father engaged in milling. He had the advantages of the common schools during his youth, and at the age of nineteen, commenced teaching, and continued this occupation for two or three years.

In 1834, he removed to Morgan county, Illinois, where he remained until 1840, and then moved to Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, and while living there was elected the first county clerk for four years. He came to this county in 1849, and located in Winterset, and engaged in merchandising, and was the first general merchant in the town. He was a man of enviable reputation, reliable and trustworthy. His actions impressing every one with whom he had business relations that a more straightforward, fair-dealing man could not be found. He was very charitable and kind to the poor, and his life is a record of noble deeds. It is said that during the financial panic of 1857-8, he gave over five hundred sacks of flour to poor families, without the least expectations of pecuniary reward, but in many cases he was happily disappointed. When he first located in the State he did considerable government surveying, sectionizing the north half of the county. He was elected county judge and held the office six years, and afterward was elected treasurer. In 1863 he was commissioned as paymaster in the army, with the rank of major, and held the position until the close of the war. He married Miss Elizabeth J. Rogers; he died suddenly May 19, 1876, leaving a widow and five children: William F., now living in Kansas, John M. and James L., living in this city, Meckie (America), wife of J. S. McCaughan, and Clara May.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen