Austin Victor Hitch

The following is from "A Hitch Orchard": " Austin Victor Hitch was a Mason and belonged to the First Christian Church in his home town. He was born in Patoka, Gibson Co., IN.

In the Federal Census of 1900, Austin V. Hitch is listed in a household in Fountain County, IN as follows: - Austin V. Hitch, born 12/1867 in IN - Ettie K. Hitch, born 7/1880 in IN - Orval Hitch, born 1/1896 in IN - Mary Hitch, born 1/1897 in IN

In a newspaper from Rosenberg,Texas dated March 1912 appears the following about Austin Victor Hitch: -

"His father was Zachariah Hitch, a well-to-do farmer in the Southern District (Indiana) who placed great stress upon the education of his children. The younger Hitch was placed in school at Patoka (IN) and graduated at that point with signal honors. Immediately after his graduation, he entered the Normal and shortly passed the examination, was given the commission of school teacher and assigned to the public schools of Fountain County (IN) where he taught for five years."

At the end of this time he decided to enter the real estate business and for several years following was engaged with the Frisco and Southern Pacific Companies and Immigration agent, conducting various excursions to Texas especially into the El Campo district. His extensive knowledge of the business brought many an investor to this country and because of his thorough acquaintance with the lands and their values in the district, was sought by Hiland P. Lockwood who had purchased some eighty thousand acres of land in Fort Bend County and assigned to the office in Rosenberg.

Mr. Hitch sold hundreds of farms in this county and is considered one of the best posted real estate men in South Texas and one of the most reliable, He had always operated under the belief that, "These lands are capable of selling themselves without any misrepresentation,"

In January 1911, he left the Lockwood people and associated himself with the Rosenberg Development Co. of this city and some twelve months ago the other members of the firm were bought out, leaving Mr. Hitch's only partner Kinch Hillyer. This firm has extensive holdings in the country. Mr. Hitch has been prosperous in all his undertakings which were essentially real estate and lands and owns valuable acreage throughout this section.

He is known for his quiet manners, for the firmness of his convictions, for his progressive ideas, for the honesty of his dealings and a man whose integrity is above all else Mr. HITCH is that type of citizen who makes himself a valuable adjunct to any community.

In a note by his nephew, Allen Spain Hitch, from "A Hitch Orchard": "Uncle Austin was a Justice of the Peace in Fountain County as well, I have often heard him tell of his embarrassment the first time he was called upon to perform a wedding ceremony. He got used to it in time and was often called upon to perform this rite."

Austin married Etta Kenyon on 08 Jun 1895 in Fountain Co., IN.^{1 2} (Etta Kenyon was born on 24 Jul 1880 in Fountain Co., IN,^{1 6} died on 03 Jul 1910 in TX ^{1 7} and was buried about 06 Jul 1910 in Woodmen Of The World Cemetery, Rosenberg, Fort Bend Co., TX.)