Rufus Mcclain Hitch

  Notes:

The following is a small biography of Rufus M. Hitch from the "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois", published in 1926:

"RUFUS McCLAIN HITCH

Rufus McClain Hitch was born in the town of Beverley, Adams Co., Illinois, on April 4, 1852, a son of Lewis and Lucy (Fitch) Hitch. His father was a farmer.

After graduating from the public schools, Rufus M. Hitch went to Normal, Illinois, and took a course of study preparatory to becoming a teacher. He began teaching when he was seventeen years old, and he followed his profession throughout the balance of his long and useful life.

When he was yet a young man, he was made superintendent of the schools of Pike County, Illinois. From this office, he was called to become principal of the Franklin School in Kansas City, Missouri, a place he filled with distinction for the ensuing five years.

It was in 1892 that Professor Hitch came to Chicago, where he continued to maintain his home. He was first principal of the Dore School here and later became principal of the Calhoun School. Then for a period of considerable length he was superintendent of the Chicago Parental School. There his ability as an educator and his personal influence among his teachers and pupils was of great benefit.

Mr. Hitch was elected district superintendent of schools in Chicago in 1909, and was placed in charge of District No. 2 which then embraced thirty grade schools and the Lake View and Nicholas Senn High schools.

On October 18, 1883, Mr. Hitch was married, at Griggsville, Illinois, to Miss Emma F. Baxter, a daughter of Edwin W. and Helen M. (Harvey) Baxter. Mr. and Mrs. Hitch had four children: Harold, Helen and Willis (deceased): there is one daughter, Bertha, living. Willis Hitch who died in 1924, is survived by his wife and two children, Marion Jane and Spencer Willis Hitch.

Mr. Hitch was a member of the Baptist Church and was also a Master Mason, and belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution.

The death of Rufus M. Hitch occurred May 25, 1925, as he was nearing his seventy-third birthday. Practically all of his mature life was devoted to the vastly important work of directing the education of boys and girls of Illinois. For thirty-three years he was a Chicagoan, and earned a very high place of usefulness and regard as an educator of this city. We could ill have done without his ability, experience, judgment and splendid character."

In the Federal Census of 1860, Rufus M. Hitch is indicated in Pike County, Illinois (page 931, Hadley Township) in a household as follows: - Rufus M. Hitch, age 8, born in IL - Marcus Hitch, age 5, born in IL - James Qigby, age 49, born in England - Lucy Qigby, age 44, born in NY - George T. Qigby, age 3 months, born in IL.

In the Federal Census of 1880, Rufus M. Hitch is indicated in Pike County, Illinois (sheet 39) in a household as follows: - Rufus M. Hitch, age 28, born in IL - Harold Hitch, age 4, born in IL - Mary Bertha Hitch, age 4 months, born in IL - Henrietta Clark, age 60, born in NY.

In the Federal Census of 1910, Rufus Hitch is indicated in Cook County, Illinois (Chicago) in a household as follows: - Rufus Hitch, age 58, born in IL - Emma Hitch, age 47, born in IL - Bertha Hitch, age 30, born in IL.

In the Federal Census of 1920, Rufus M. Hitch is indicated in Cook County, Illinois (Chicago) in a household as follows: - Rufus M. Hitch, age 60 (or 65), born in IL - Emma F. Hitch, age 55, born in IL - Bertha Hitch, age 35, born in IL.

Rufus married Henrietta (Nettie) E. Spink on 11 Sep 1873 in McLean Co., IL.¹ (Henrietta (Nettie) E. Spink was born on 19 Dec 1851 in Barry, Pike Co., IL,^{3 7 11} died on 20 Jan 1880 in Pike Co., IL ^{3 11} and was buried in 1880 in Barry, Pike Co., IL ⁷.)

Rufus next married Emma Frances Baxter, daughter of Edwin W. Baxter and Helen M. Harvey, on 18 Oct 1883 in Griggsville, Pike Co., IL.² (Emma Frances Baxter was born on 16 Nov 1863 in IL,^{7 12 13 14} died on 23 Oct 1936 in Pike Co., IL ^{7 10 12} and was buried about 26 Oct 1936 in Barry, Pike Co., IL.)