Family Newsletter

In this issue, I offer two stories: Charles Peeples Hitch of Ohio and Illinois and the Robert Hitch family of England and Illinois. Both offer very interesting recounts of how the Hitch family has played a role in the making of American history.

The first offers an interesting account of the life of Charles P. Hitch, a 19th century politician who became very closely involved with the campaigns for U.S. President in 1884 and 1888 where Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison were victorious, respectively. With 1996 being an election year for President, this story makes a nice parallel with the happenings of today. A contemporary biography of Charles Hitch is reprinted with most of the content told in his own words from the year 1889.

The second tells the story of a segment of the Hitch family who arrived here from England in the mid-1800s. The family settled in Woodford and Livingston Cos., Illinois and branched out to many other locales over time including Ben Hill County, Georgia. This family is comprised of an interesting collection of long-livers (many of the men lived well past 80 and into their 90s at a time when it was old to be 60.) who were very patriotic to the Union cause in the Civil War. Also included is a fascinating newspaper story from Illinois in 1928 recounting how one member of the Hitch family actually met Abraham Lincoln on several occasions. Most of the information for this article came from the research of Bill Hitch, currently a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta.

Please continue to write to me with your thoughts, suggestions or comments about the HFN and, continue to send me information and stories about your branches of the family. Thank you and happy reading,

Mike Hitch

Benjamin Franklin Hitch was born in Laurel, Clermont Co, Ohio and married Laura Ann White on December 18, 1838 in Clermont Co. They had the following children, all born in Clermont Co.:

1. Mary Elizabeth Hitch (1840-??) married Albert G. Justice.

2. Francis (Frank) Asbury Hitch (9/1842-aft 1920) married (1) Lauretta Lindsey and (2) Jeanette R. ??

3. Levi White Hitch (2/1845-aft 1920) married Emma M. Edwards in about 1873.

4. John Wesley Hitch (6/1847-bet 1911/1919) married Lillis Julia Prather about 1872.

5. Charles Peeples Hitch (1/16/1850-1931) married Mary I. Huston on 11/25/1874.

6. Anna Bell Hitch (??-??) Married William S. Plynn.

Charles P. Hitch's father, Benjamin, was evidently quite a business man and obtained a considerable bit of wealth in his day. A farmer and wagon-maker by trade, his largest success came as a contractor to the U.S. Government in the Civil War where he manufactured hames and harnesses for the Union cause. After the war, he became quite an entrepreneur, bouncing from business to business and speculating in many things along the way. In 1887, he cleared a profit of $15,000 in a tobacco deal which was a very large sum of money at that time.

Charles P. Hitch's ambitions reflected that of his father's in that he was quite often on-the-move and forging himself a name. In 1869, at the age of 19, he embarked for Edgar County, Illinois to establish a life for himself. Edgar County is in east-central portion of the state, bordering the state of Indiana with its county seat in Paris, Illinois. Charles set up residence in Paris sometime during the year of 1869.

Charles P. Hitch was extremely interested and involved in politics beginning with his service as City Clerk of Paris in 1872 and his appointment as Deputy Edgar County Clerk in 1872-1873. A staunch Republican, in 1884, he was elected as an Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. That convention nominated James Gillespie Blaine for President.

James G. Blaine (1830-93) served as Speaker of the House of Representatives (1869-75) and secretary of state (1881 and 1889-92). He was born in Pennsylvania on January 31, 1830. His political career began in 1859 while a member of the Maine Legislature, when he was made chairman of the Republican state committee. After three terms in the Maine Legislature, he served first in the U.S. House of Representatives (1863-76)--becoming Speaker--and then in the U.S. Senate (1876-81).

At the convention of 1884, Blaine was the leading contender for the presidential nomination, although he was a center of controversy within the party; he had been denied the nomination in 1876 and 1880 because his reputation was tarnished by charges of graft in a railroad deal. When he was nominated on the first ballot despite the revival of these charges, disaffected party members, known as "Mugwumps", seceded and promised to vote for the Democratic nominee. During the campaign, the Mugwumps kept Blaine's alleged misconduct in the public eye, and although he enjoyed great popularity in the crucial state of New York, he lost the state by a razor-thin margin and with it the election to the Democrat Grover Cleveland.

Charles P. Hitch continued his quest to elect a Republican President as a regular delegate to the National Convention of 1888. There he continuous voted for Benjamin Harrison (who was now opposing James G. Blaine for the Republicans) until he was nominated as the party candidate. After Harrison was elected in 1888, Charles Hitch was rewarded by receiving an appointment for United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois on May 24, 1889.

The much-embattled Mr. Blaine did receive a high-level Government position after all with his appointment to Secretary of State by Benjamin Harrison. President Harrison's successes were short-lived however, as Grover Cleveland was elected again in 1892, becoming the only President to be elected for two terms with a different President serving in between.

In the late 1870s and 1880s, the federal government was making a push for jurisdictions around the country to commission historical records for their locales. In general, these records provide the modern-day reader with an invaluable resource for observing the lives of his/her forefathers from the early years of the United States. One caution, however, is that the biographies presented in many of these commissioned studies came from actual interviews or write-ups from the actual people in question. While this gives a good first-hand accounting of the life of the subject of the biography, it also relies on imperfect human memory to recall days gone by. Very little, if any, research was performed to verify the bygone parts of these accounts. Consequently, some errors is the historical record were allowed to intercede into an otherwise excellent resource. Therefore, today's researcher must be careful to verify all the facts recorded in these early records.

Charles P. Hitch shows up in two of the local histories for Edgar County, Illinois. In the "History of Edgar County, Illinois" published in 1879 (pg. 576), it gives a brief reference to the fact that C.P. Hitch was the Deputy County Clerk in Paris, Illinois. It says he was born in Clermont Co., Ohio on January 16, 1850 and moved to Paris (Edgar Co., Illinois) in 1869.

A more detailed biography appeared in "A Portrait and Biographical Album of Vermilion and Edgar Counties, Illinois" published in 1889. It is transcribed here as follows for the reader of the Hitch Family Newsletter:

CHARLES P. HITCH. It is an interesting part of the history of any city or county to observe the different characteristics of the men and women whose life records are therein portrayed, and notice the varying ways by which they have mounted the ladder of success. Some seem to have fortune thrust upon them unawares, while others after years of exertion seem to have reached only the lower rounds of that ladder, by which we would climb from the "lowly earth to the vaulted skies." We often in a philosophical mood, inquire, whence this difference? Usually it is the result of the individual traits, which vary among us all. Those who possess the greatest endurance, the most patience, the highest ambitions, and the loftiest aims, are those who are successful in life. But combined with this there must be excellent business qualifications for a commercial success, or winning qualities of a high order for a political success. These combined will make a man popular both with the people and the government.

The subject of this review is of a noble old English family, and inherited perhaps, some of his excellent qualities. Others are the result of years of study and observation. In theory the life of a man of this character is of great interest, but in practical life it is of utmost importance.

Charles P. Hitch, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, and Grand Recorder of the A.O.U.W., for the jurisdiction of Illinois, is one of the best known residents of Edgar County, where he lived for more than twenty years. [Compiler's note: Remember that this twenty-year period is reflective of the time of the writing in 1889] He was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1850, his parents being Benjamin F. and Laura A. (White) Hitch. The family originally came from England, and settled in this country. Three brothers, John, Benjamin and Hardy Hitch came from England sometime after Lord Baltimore founded his colony in Maryland. John and Benjamin made their homes on the eastern coast of that State; Hardy, who was a sea-faring man, settled in New Bedford, Mass.; [Compiler's note: we now know that this synopsis of the Hitch family history is not entirely correct!] Benjamin, who was great-great grandfather of Charles P. Hitch, married Mary Pitt, a member of the distinguished English family of that name. Four children were born to them, the youngest, Thomas, being great-grandfather of our subject. He was born Aug. 7, 1773, and died Feb. 22, 1862, when he was in his ninetieth year. He had eight children, of whom six lived to be more than seventy years of age. His eldest son, John, was grandfather of him of whom we write. He was born in Maryland, June 24, 1794. and in 1797 was brought by his parents to Kentucky. In the spring of 1813, John Hitch made a journey on a keel boat down the Licking, up the Ohio to the Kanawha, then up the latter river to the salt works, a venturesome trip for a youth of less than nineteen years. Procuring six barrels of the precious article he made the return in safety, and then sold the salt to his neighbors for twenty five cents a peck, it having before that sold for fifty cents.

About this time, Gov. Shelby issued his call for volunteers to fight the British and Indians, and John Hitch was one of the first to offer his services. He fought under Gen Harrison at the battle of the Thames, where the Indian chief, Tecumseh, was finally overpowered and killed. John Hitch was a brave and daring soldier, and was one of the ten intrusted with the carrying of important dispatches, a duty which he invariable performed to the entire satisfaction of his commander. After the war, he returned to the quiet of his home, but soon emigrated to Clermont County, where he arrived April 12, 1814. In January of the year following he was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Simmons. In this county he passed the remainder of his life, dying at Bantam, Ohio, Jan. 23, 1876.

Benjamin F. Hitch, father of Charles P., was the eldest son of John. He was born at Laurel, Clermont County, Ohio, April 18, 1818, and thus is now in his seventy-second year (1889). He was reared to the life of a farmer, and one of the earliest lessons he conned in the book of experience was the meaning of the term hard work. He assisted his parents in building up a home in the wilderness, and in clearing away the primeval forest. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which took place, Dec. 18, 1838, his bride being Miss Laura A. White, daughter of Firman and Polly White. Soon after his marriage he began the business of wagon-making, which he left for a time to embark in milling, at Elk Lick Hills, on East Fork Creek. He continued in the latter business until about the year 1853, when he removed to the village of Bantam and again engaged in the manufacture of wagons, carriages, etc., on quite an extensive scale from that time and place. Attracted, however, by the greater possibilities of the new West he sold his business, reserving his real estate and removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where for a time he engaged in farming. Not liking that country as well as he had expected to he returned to Ohio, and repurchased his former business, which he carried on until 1865 on a large and increasing scale. During the war he took the contract for making hames and harnesses for the Government, and in that business accumulated a considerable fortune. At the close of the war he changed his place of residence to New Richmond, Ohio, twenty miles from Cincinnati, and there erected a large manufactory for the making of carriages of all kinds. He conducted that business for five years, then gave it up to his elder sons and returned to his old home in Bantam. But he was not content to retire from active life, and so established a general merchandise store, dealing in all sorts of articles, trading for stock, tobacco, etc. In 1887 he made a speculation in tobacco from which he cleared over $15,000. About this time his sons sold the carriage business to an uncle, and they too returned to Bantam. Again the father turned the business over to them and this time he retired from active life, and is now devoting his attention to the oversight of his fine, large farm near Bantam. He is now seventy-one years of age, his wife being sixty-nine, and on the 18th of December 1888, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, on which occasion a large number of their descendants and friends were present. He has always been an active man, but cared more for his business than public office. He, however, believes in the principles of the Republican party and uniformly votes that ticket.

Benjamin F., and Laura A. Hitch were the parents of six children, namely: Mary Elizabeth, who was the wife of Albert G. Justice, died at Bantam; Frank A., is a merchant of Amelia, Ohio; Levi W., is a merchant in Bantam, of which town he is Postmaster under the Harrison administration. He carries on the store formerly conducted by his father, and is also interested in farming; John W., is in the stock business at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati; our subject was next in order of birth; the youngest is Anna Belle, wife of Prof. W.S. Plynn, Principal of the North District at Cincinnati.

Charles P. Hitch remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of fifteen years, when he commenced the course at Parker's Academy near New Richmond, where he finished his education. From that institution he went to New Richmond, and entered his uncle's dry-goods store as a clerk. He remained with him until 1869 when he came to Edgar County. His first occupation here was as clerk in the dry-goods store of A.C. Connely in Paris, with whom he staid for years. In 1873 he was appointed Deputy County Clerk, which position he held for eight years. In 1881 he was elected Grand Recorder of the A.O.U.W., holding that position up to the present time. In 1872-73 he served a term as City Clerk of Paris, and in 1884 was elected Alternate Delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago, which nominated James G. Blaine for President; and in 1888 was a regular delegate to the National Convention and voted for General Harrison for President, on the fourth ballot with two other delegates from Illinois. He was one of the state delegates who voted continuously for Harrison until he was nominated. On May 24, 1889, Mr. Hitch was appointed to the responsible position of United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, taking possession of his office on July 1, 1889.

For fifteen years Mr. Hitch has had a faithful helpmate and companion in the person of his wife, who has been a sharer of his joys, and a comforter in time of trouble. With her Mr. Hitch was united in marriage Dec. 23, 1874. She was in her youth Miss Mary I. Huston, daughter of Dr. Paul Huston, a physician and surgeon of Paris. She was born in that city Dec. 17, 1849. Their union has been blessed to them by the birth of one child, Lucy W.

Mr. Hitch belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is a member of the Paris Lodge, No. 268, A.F. and A.M.; of Edgar Chapter, No. 32, R.A.M., and is likewise a member of Apollo Lodge, No. 58, K. of P. and of Austin Lodge No. 664, I.O.O.F. A gentleman of unblemished character and of decided ability, with which he combines a genial and courteous manner, he has a host of friends, and wields a considerable interest in social and political circles. He faithfully discharged the many duties entrusted to him, and everyone who knows him is pleased with his well deserved success and advancement.

The Hitch Family and Abraham Lincoln

A copy of a very interesting article from a December 1928 newspaper from Illinois (near El Paso in Woodford County) was sent to me by William (Bill) H. Hitch of Ben Hill Co., Georgia in December 1994. I will refer to that article that in this story.

Bill Hitch descends from a line of Hitches who were rather late-comers to the U.S. as compared to Adam Hitch of Maryland. His ancestor, Robert Hitch, was born in 1804 in Walsoken, Norfolk, England and died on April 7, 1877 in Illinois. Robert married Miss Mary Ann Sharp on August 8, 1836 in England. Mary Ann Sharp Hitch was born on November 13, 1813 in Morrow Splash, Cambridgeshire, England and she died on February 20, 1891 in Illinois. Robert and Mary Hitch reared at least the following children:

1. Stephen Smithy Hitch (4/8/1838-10/24/1931) married Henrietta Hitch on June 17, 1864.

2. Robert Hitch (2/5/1840-aft 1912/1928) married Mary E. Ellis about 1864.

3. Charles J. Hitch (3/1/1842-1/16/1929) married Mary Ann Wooten on September 6, 1866.

4. Susannah Hitch (3/23/1844-5/27/1905) married James Parkhouse on April 25, 1864.

5. William A. Hitch (5/16/1846-1/29/1891) married Margaret A. Gastman on April 6, 1881.

6. Henry Hitch (7/20/1847-2/1848)

7. Henry Hitch (4/3/1849-??)

8. Arthur Harry Hitch (1853-??)

9. Sarah Jane Hitch (6/19/1854-??)

Stephen S. And Charles J. Hitch served for the Union in the Civil War, both in Company AG of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry. Both were Privates, but Charles was promoted to Sergeant before the end of the War. These two brothers and another, Robert Hitch, were the subject of a Chatsworth, Illinois newspaper article from September 1953 that recounted event form 30 years earlier:

Looking Backward

Items Gleaned From

The Plaindealers of Yesteryear

September 27, 1923

It is not often that three brothers, all of whom past 80 years of age and are still spry and in good health, are able to meet together and enjoy a reunion, yet that is what took place in Chatsworth on Wednesday. Sephen S. Hitch, aged 86, resides

in Chatsworth and is one of the town's most liked citizens. Chas. Hitch, aged 84, is a resident of Fitzgerald, Georgia, an extensive land owner and landed in America from England three days before

the civil war and about a year later he and Stephen volunteered their services for the United States and served in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry during the war. Robert, aged 82, resdes in El Paso and is the only survivor of the organizers of El Paso's first bank. He, like the other two, is an honored citizen. All three of these gentlemen were together Wednesday in Chatsworth and spent the day at the S.S. Hitch home. (Note: all misspellings are left as printed.)

Lincoln Had Great Appetite, Says Mrs. Robert Hitch Who as Girl of 16 Prepared Meals for the Emancipator

Several Dishes Used by Civil War President Still Treasured in the Home

El Paso, Dec. 7.--Abraham Lincoln had a big appetite according to Mrs. Robert Hitch of El Paso, who prepared many meals for the Emancipator when she was just a girl and when Lincoln traveled through Central Illinois while he was practicing law.

Mrs. Hitch recalls that Mr. Lincoln wasn't "finicky" about his food. The only thing was that there would be enough of it and he liked good food. Another outstanding characteristic was that he drank great quantities of coffee. It was quite a task for the host and hostess, Mrs. Hitch says, to set a table that would satisfy his great appetite.

While on his way from the Woodford county courthouse at Metamora to the McLean county courthouse at Bloomington, Mr. Lincoln often stopped at the hotel at Bowling Green. This hotel was operated by William M. Denman and Mrs. Hitch, then Mary E. Ellis, was employed at the hotel when a girl of 16.

Caused Hurry in Kitchen.

Thus she remembers clearly, how it required a hurry and scurry in the kitchen to gather up food in large quantities whenever Mr. Lincoln tossed his saddlebags off under the trees in front of the hotel and announced himself as a guest for dinner.

Mrs. Hitch has been bedfast for some weeks now. She is 87 years old. But she still recalls Lincoln and her memory drifts back often to those early days of hard work and hardship and to the thoughts of those whom she knew then.

Mr. Hitch also knew Mr. Lincoln. One of the keepsakes he treasures is the badge he wore to the Emancipator's funeral at Springfield. The badge is a heavy ribbon on which is pinned a button with Mr. Lincoln's picture. Under the picture, on the ribbon, is printed the words, "We mourn the nation's loss, Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1865."

Oldest Man in El Paso.

Mr. and Mrs. Hitch are two of the few persons who remain in Central Illinois who knew Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Hitch is 88 years old, the oldest man in El Paso. He is in good health and walks downtown nearly every day.

As a girl, Mrs. Hitch recalls wondering at the lanky, gawky Lincoln. He was, she said, one of the most "homely" men she had ever seen. She recalls that he enjoyed talking and telling stories and that he was a most welcome guest.

"A better man never lived than Abraham Lincoln," Mrs. Hitch says. She says that he would have give his last penny to the poor.

Dishes out of which Lincoln ate at the Denman hotel are still in the possession of Mrs. Hitch. When all the members of the Denman family had died, the dishes were passed on to Mrs. Hitch who has had them for some time. The dishes are of a rather plain design with a blue figure of a flower on the outside. The pieces appear to be of good quality and age seems to have had little effect on them.

Mr. and Mrs. Hitch were both born in England. They did not know each other then but met and married in El Paso. They have been married 56 years. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. William North in 1872. Mr. Hitch came to the vicinity in 1860 when he was 20 years old. An uncle and aunt here had encouraged him to come from England. For some years he worked on a farm and then farmed for himself.

The trying times of those early days still are fresh in the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Hitch. They worked hard and times were not easy. Mrs. Hitch recalls that often they went to bed hungry.

Comfortable Now.

The story of their hardships seems almost impossible as one looks about the well furnished, large home in El Paso. In addition to this large residence, they own three farms, 178 acres near Wolcott, Ind., and 160 acres in two farms west of El Paso. And Mr. Hitch calls attention to the fact that he borrowed part of the money from an uncle to come from England here. For 23 years they have lived in El Paso after retiring from the farm.

Among the incidents recalled from those early days, was that they walked to Panola to Sunday school. There were no buildings in El Paso at that time.

Mrs. Hitch recalls the first burial in the El Paso cemetery. A Mrs. Frost who traveled, became ill while staying at the hotel. She died and was buried in the cemetery that had just been opened. Her grave was east of the entrance, Mrs. Hitch says, and for years its exact location was known. With no mark over the grave, however, in later years the exact location of the plot was forgotten.

In 1870, Mr. Hitch made and extended trip through the western part of the United States. At that time he remembers having seen thousands of buffalo in herds. One of the things he prizes now is a collection of pictures and cards that are illustrations of the country he has seen in travels some years ago. Mr. Hitch has two brothers, Stephen S. Hitch, 90, of Chatsworth and Charles Hitch, 86, of Fitzgerald, Ga.

I Need More Information!

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to send me information regarding their respective branches of the Hitch family. As a result, I now have information on over 6,600 Hitch and related individuals. I plan to assemble this information into a book for publication sometime over the next couple of years.

I would like to put together something more than just a genealogical study showing lists of individuals with birth, marriage and death dates. I really want to try to capture the essence of the Hitch family as it grew with the colonization of America and formation of the United States to the current day. Therefore, I need to get as much "real-life" and anecdotal information as possible about our collective cousins and ancestors.

I would like to solicit this information from you readers out there. Please take the time to write down a sentence or two about your parents, grandparents, etc. Things that are important are how they looked (eye color, height, size, etc.), their occupations, their education, religion, etc. All of this information will make for a much better rendering of our family heritage than just a few dates on a piece of paper. Thanks and I look forward to your responses.

Do You Like This Newsletter?

Please send me your comments or suggestions to the following address:

Mike Hitch

12310 Backus Drive

Bowie, MD 20720

Telephone: (301) 805-9855

- Inscription on the walls of the National Archives