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NATHANIEL and SARAH ELIZABETH DELONG FITCH, the former native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, their marriage having been solemnized in Allen County, Indiana. NATHANIEL FITCH, JR., bore the full name of his father, who was a successful agriculturist in Pennsylvania. Reared and educated in the old Key-stone state, Nathaniel, Jr., was a young man when he came from Pennsylvania to Allen County, in 1832, and obtained a homestead claim of government land in Perry Township. His home farm was 2 and ½ miles East of the village of Huntertown. He was a blacksmith by trade and it is worthy of historic note that he forged the lock irons used on the old canal extending from Fort Wayne to the Wabash River. He reclaimed his farm from virtual wilderness and became one of the honored and influential citizens of Perry Township. His marriage to MISS SARAH E. DELONG was solemnized on June 14, 1840 (May be June 4) and they forthwith established their home on the pioneer farm in Perry Township, where Mr. Fitch also established a blacksmith shop in which he continued to do a large amount of work at his trade, being one of the pioneer exponents of this sturdy vocation within the borders of Allen County. His shop is still standing and is one of the pioneer landmarks of this part of the county. Mr. Fitch developed one of the excellent farms of the county, was active in community affairs and served for a number of years as township trustee. He was about 70 years of age at the time of his death and his widow, one of the gracious and revered pioneer women of the county, attained to the venerable age of 90 years. Mr. Fitch left the parental home when he was a lad of but 15 years, and he bore with him in a bandana handkerchief all of his worldly possessions, except the rifle which he considered an essential part of his equipment. He made the journey from Pennsylvania to Indiana on foot and eventually became one of the largest landholders in this county, his estate at one time having 2,300 acres besides which he became owner of land in Iowa. He was one of the most vigorous and ambitious of all the pioneers of Allen County and in addition to his farming industry and his work as a blacksmith, owned and operated a sawmill near the DeKalb County line and developed also a substantial wool carding business. He was especially well-known for his great pedestrian powers, and he almost invariably made trips to and from his farm to Fort Wayne on foot. The ruins of his pioneer mill, which was operated by water power, are still to be seen, and in all, he was a sterling and progressive citizen who contributed much to the furtherance of civic and material development and advancement in Allen County. He and his wife, who shared with him in the vicissitudes of pioneer life and in the prosperity of later years, her death having occurred, September 6, 1908, became the parents of 14 children, and thus gave their full quota of hostages to fortune.

From B. J. Griswold, THE PICTORIAL HISTORY OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, and THE STORY OF THE TOWNSHIPS OF ALLEN COUNTY by Mrs. Samuel R. Taylor, Chicago, Robert O. Law Company, 1917

NATHANIEL FITCH who first came to Allen County in 1832 entered Perry in 1836. His marriage to MISS SARAH DELONG was the first celebrated after the organization of the township, and within the township borders. MR. FITCH, was a self-made blacksmith, and a man of all-around ability, whose forge was the first to be set up in Perry, the date being 1837.

NATHANIEL FITCH was another who came empty-handed to the wilderness. Shrewd and intelligent, he had learned for himself numerous trades, being blacksmith, gunsmith, locksmith, with which he speedily made himself indispensable. Starting from Pennsylvania with but 15 cents in his pocket he was obliged to walk, and earn his board en route. His life had already been full of adventure. Before he came to Indiana he had been shot in the leg during a wolf hunt; and again, while crossing Lake Erie on a side-wheel steamer, their ship was caught in a gale and one shaft disabled. In this predicament, in which ruin seemed inevitable, they were saved by the stratagem of breaking the other shaft. Not only the wild beast inhabited the forests at the time when Nathaniel set up his forge, but Indians were still very numerous, and though subdued, were by no means fully civilized. On one occasion he was obliged to ask an Indian, who had a gun to mend, to wait, whereat the Indian became enraged and sprang at him with knife drawn. Mr. Fitch was sharpening a shovel at the moment, and an old story quaintly states that the Indian would probably have been hurt with the shovel had not the chief, Chopine, intervened. Among other notable things recorded to Mr. Fitch’s credit is his work for the canal, for which he made all the iron used in the locks from Fort Wayne to the Wabash River. He was married, 1840, to SARAH, the daughter of GEORGE AND ELIZABETH DELONG. Fifteen children came to them, thirteen of whom outlived their parents, who reared them in comfort while amassing a large property. 2,300 acres, all told, belonged to the Fitches by the time they reached the evening of life.

From HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY., IN by Thomas B. Helm, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Township histories compiled by L. H. Newton. Reprint of 1880 edition published by Kingman Bros., Chicago.

NATHANIEL FITCH, an unmarried man came from Pennsylvania in the same year, and after clearing a farm, married Miss SARAH DELONG and reared a large family, several of whom are now living in the township. He was a man of great natural ability, and was highly esteemed by his neighbors. He was a blacksmith and conducted that trade in connection with farming. A long life of labor and industry brought him a rich return, and made him the possessor of a fine fortune. He remained in the town-ship until his death in January, 1878.

From VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE RIVER, historical account of Allen County, Indiana, and the City of Fort Wayne. Reprint of 1887 edition published by Brant and Fuller, Madison, Wisconsin.

Nathaniel Fitch (deceased), one of the old settlers of Allen County, was a native of Pennsylvania, born July 9, 1806, son of Nathaniel and Sarah Fitch. In 1832 he became a settler in Allen County. He was a blacksmith, gunsmith, and lock-smith, having learned the trade without instruction. This he followed in Pennsylvania and continued the work after arriving here. He made all the iron for the canal locks from the Wabash to Fort Wayne. Circumstances denied him educational privileges, but he was intelligent and shrewd. June 4, 1840, he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of George and Elizabeth DeLong. Her grandfather, George Statler, was a soldier of 1812. This union was blessed with fifteen children, of whom thirteen are now living: Perry, Mathias, Jane, Charles, Amos, Francelia, Fidelia, Harvey, Sarah E., Allen, Ida A., Emeline and David. Mrs. Fitch, though born in 1818, is still enjoying life. She is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Fitch being very poor, had only 15 cents in his pocket when he started from Pennsylvania to Indiana, and consequently made the journey on foot. Beginning under such circumstances, his success was very remarkable. He came to own 2,300 acres of land, and raised a large family in comfortable circumstances. As might be expected, his life was full of adventures. At one time, while at work in his shop, he was compelled to put off an Indian who had a gun to mend, which so enraged the redskin that he sprang at him with a draw knife, and probably would have been hurt with the shovel that Mr. Fitch was sharpening had not Chief Chopine interfered. Before he came to Indiana he had been accidentally shot in the leg while on a wolf hunt. Again, when crossing Lake Erie on a side-wheel steamer, they were caught in a gale, and the shaft becoming disabled, they were going to ruin, and were only saved by breaking one of the shafts.

MORE ABOUT NATHANIEL FITCH

From the family history: Nathaniel and Giles opened a blacksmith shop on the old homestead in partnership. "Nat" said that there was not enough work for both of them, so he sold out and went west alone through the woods, his only baggage being his rifle, hatchet, and sack of salt.

Giles visited him at Fort Wayne once and Nat visited in PA.

Nathaniel's tombstone says that he was born in 1808, however, family genealogies say that it was 1806.

Nathaniel and Sarah started their married life in a log cabin. They built their frame home in the 1850s on their farm in Perry Township, Allen County, IN. It is still standing.

1850 Census of Perry Township, Allen County, Indiana

Nathaniel Fitch 45 M Farmer 4000 Pennsylvania

Sarah 31 F Ohio

Perry 9 M Indiana

Matthias 8 M Indiana

Mary J. 5 F Indiana

Charles 4 M Indiana

Amos 2 M Indiana

Wm. McKee 15 M Ohio

………………………………………………………………………..

The house Nathaniel and Sarah built on their homestead. Recent picture. Built about 1853.

Nathaniel's homestead land in Perry Township, Allen County, Indiana

November 17, 1835, Nathaniel Fitch enters East 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 Section 9-32-12 80 acres

Tract Book, page 29, Auditor's office

June 1, 1836 Wesley Park enters the West 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 Section 9-32-12 80 acres

Tract Book, page 29, Auditor's office

January 15, 1838, Wesley Park doth grant, bargain and sell, warrant and defend all the tract or parcel of land known and described as follows: To wit

The west half of the northeast quarter of section nine in township 32 north of range 12 east to NATHANIEL FITCH, his heirs and assigns forever, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars.

Deed signed Wesley Park (LS)

Sophia Park (LS)

Two witnesses

Acknowledged January 18, 1838, by Wesley Park before John F. Coburn, Recorder of DeKalb Co., Indiana (LS)

Acknowledged January 16, 1838, by Sophia Park, the wife of the said Wesley Park (she being separately examined apart from her said husband) before John F. Coburn, Recorder of DeKalb County, Indiana (LS)

Recorded November 19, 1838 Deed Record "C", page 280

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On January 17, 1877, in Allen County Court, November term, 1876, AMOS FITCH, was appointed administrator of the estate of NATHANIEL FITCH. Probate Order Book "P", page 407

Estate of Henry Fair to Nathaniel Fitch, 1856 ....

After Henry Fair went West and did not return he was presumed dead. Possibly they knew he was dead. Have no information on that at this time, but part of his estate was sold to Nathaniel. Henry's son Christian Norman Fair would eventually marry Francelia Fair one of the twins of Nathaniel and Sarah. This apparently was some of the land that was in DeKalb County and Allen County next to each other so would say it was part of the Mathias Fitch land and some that eventually was owned by John Fitch and family. Nathaniel paid $1,600 for the land.

Elizabeth Fair to Nathaniel Fitch, 1856 ....

Elizabeth received a life lease on 36 of the acres in the above estate and she sold those to Nathaniel also for $500.

George DeLong to Nathaniel Fitch, 1857 ....

After the death of George Washinton DeLong, Nathaniel bought a part of his estate "on the court house steps". This was apparently part of the land that was next to his original homestead land that he bought from Wesley Park. George's wife Julia Ann also turned over her portion of the estate in 1857. Nathaniel paid $1,500 for this property. G. W. DeLong was a cousin of Nathaniel’s wife, Sarah DeLong Fitch.

Clark to Fitch .... 1865 This was the land that the mill race was on and Nathaniel paid $100 for the rights to this land as long as he was using it. When he stopped using it, it reverted back to the original owner, Oran Clark. It probably was land so he could have access to the mill race and taking care of it properly.

From Oran M. Clark to Nathaniel Fitch, May 8, 1865, January 11, 1865......Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.

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March 20, 1837, The United States of America by Martin Van Buren, president, by A. Van Buren, secretary, grant by Patent, the West half of the North West Quarter, Section 10, Township 32, Range 12, to NATHANIEL FITCH…….Recorded February 24, 1890 (?)

Book 115, page

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From Allen County History from the Ft. Wayne Library:

FIRST BLACKSMITH..........Nathaniel Fitch, in 1837, started the fires of his forge and later in the same year James Vandergrift opened a shop in another part of the township. Both were engaged in the manufacture of plowshares and steel traps.

FIRST MARRIAGE.............In 1840 Nathaniel Fitch and Miss Sarah DeLong were married in the residence of the bride's parents. (This is probably a error as the home of her parents was in Miami County, Ohio, and her father was dead at the time of the marriage. He died in 1836. The only George DeLong in Allen or DeKalb Counties was buried in Cedar Chapel Cemetery and was a very early pioneer to this county. From the information we have at this time, this George DeLong, would have been a cousin to Sarah. He would have been George Washington DeLong, son of Joseph DeLong who was the brother of Sarah's father.)

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From "Portrait and Biographical Record of Wyoming and Lackawanna County, PA"

Giles Fitch, Sr. early learned the blacksmith trade and in parternership with his brother, NATHANIEL, engaged in the manufacture of guns, turning every part by hand, making some very handsome ones, showing superior workmanship.

.........................................................................................................

From Allen Co., land transactions for George DeLong: (which concern Nathaniel Fitch)

George DeLong.................to Henry Fair...............Jan. 23, 1850...................Book J, page 628 George DeLong.................to Nathan Fitch............April 12, 1851...................Book L, page 342 George DeLong.................to Nathaniel Fitch........July 8, 1857......................Book Y, page 634

through Henry Hogue, administrator of George's estate

Julia Ann DeLong..............to Nathaniel Fitch.........Sept. 22, 1857.................Book U, page 635

...........................................................................................................

Land Transaction in Butler Township, DeKalb County, IN

From Edward J. Baker to Nathaniel Fitch, Feb. 16, 1864, July 30, 1864

This was no doubt the land that became Perry Fitch's farm

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PERRY FITCH

From VALLEY OF THE UPPER MAUMEE RIVER, historical account of Allen County, Indiana, and the City of Fort Wayne. Reprint of 1887 edition published by Brant and Fuller, Madison, Wisconsin.

PERRY FITCH, was born January 6, 1842, in the old log house built by his father in an early day, where he grew to manhood. He received a common school education. In 1864 he was united in married with SARAH E., daughter of GEORGE B. and MAGDALENA GLOYD. The union was blessed with 12 children, eight now living.

WILLIAM S., OLIVER J., GEORGE B., BERT C., KELSIE D., FRANK E., CLAUDE P., and PEARL M.

Mrs. Fitch was born April 9, 1846. She is a member of the old school Baptist church. Mr. Fitch is a resident of DeKalb county, having removed there in 1864, where he has served his township 12 years as justice of the peace. He has a valuable farm of 140 acres, where he lives, with a two-story brick dwelling and a good barn, and 80 acres in Union township, DeKalb County. He is one of the leading citizens of his county, and respected by all. Mr. Fitch is a member of the Masonic order.

FITCH, PERRY, descendants of

2. Perry Fitch, b: Jan 6, 1842 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN, d: April 14, 1900 in

Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN, married May 12, 1864

+ Sarah Elizabeth Gloyd, b: April 9, 1844 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN,

d: June 1, 1920, burial in Perry Twp. Cemetery, Allen Co., IN

3. James L. Fitch, b: May 16, 1865 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN

d. Dec. 11, 1865

3. Lewis E. Fitch, b: Nov. 18, 1866 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN

d: Sept. 21, 1867

3. William Seymour Fitch, b: Sept. 3, 1868 in Butler Twp., DeKalb

d: July 5, 1933, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery near Huntertown,

married March 29, 1892

+ Lucinda Victoria DePotty, b: Feb. 6, 1872 in Iona Co., MI

d: Dec. 4, 1950, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery

3. Oliver Jasper Fitch, b: Aug. 31, 1871 near New Era, DeKalb Co.,

IN d: July 9, 1965, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery, married

Nov. 8, 1897

+ Etta M. Merriman, b: Aug. 19, 1868 in Valparaiso, IN

d: Aug. 22, 1901, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery

2^nd wife of Oliver Jasper Fitch, married March 29, 1902

+ Rhetta Paulina Stokes Jensen, b: Nov. 15, 1870, Vernon Co.,

WI, d: Oct. 23, 1926, burial St. James Cemetery, Fullers-

Burg, IL

3. George Fitch, b: Oct. 14, 1872 in DeKalb Co., IN d: May 19, 1942

burial, Perry Twp. Cemetery near Huntertown

3. Bert Centennial Fitch, b: July 4, 1876 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.,

IN d: May 21, 1964, burial Cedar Chapel Cemetery, DeKalb Co.

married March 16, 1898

+ Anice Maria Schopf, b: March 22, 1875 in Garrett, IN

d: Dec. 28, 1930, burial Cedar Chapel Cemetery

3. Kelsey David Fitch, b: Feb. 6, 1878 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.,

d: Oct. 20, 1946, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery near Huntertown

married Oct. 20, 1903

+ Artie Otto, b: Jan. 21, 1883 in Perry Twp., d: Aug. 24, 1944

burial, Perry Twp. Cemetery near Huntertown

3. Frank Edgar Fitch, b: Sept. 19, 1880 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.,

d: July 25, 1942, married Nov. 28, 1907 in DeKalb Co., IN

+ Carrie DeLong, b: Jan. 28, 1887 in Hicksville, OH, d: March

23, 1966, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery near Huntertown

3. Claude Perry Fitch, b: Oct. 17, 1885 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.

d: March 24, 1959, burial Lindenwood Cem., Ft. Wayne, IN

married October 11, 1911

+ Edith Mabel Geller, b: May 27, 1887 near Ft. Wayne

d: July 1946, burial Lindenwood Cem.

2^nd wife of Claude Perry Fitch, married Aug. 3, 1947

+ Dottie M. Timberline, b: Sept. 30, 1887 in DeKalb Co.

3. Maude Fitch, b: Oct. 17, 1885 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN

d: Oct. 1885, twin of Claude

3. Pearl Madora Fitch, b: Jan. 12, 1888 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co.,

d: Jan. 14, 1973, married Sept. 4, 1912

+ Godfrey J. Gladbach, b: Nov. 27, 1885 in Ft. Wayne, IN

d: July 16, 1953, burial Covington Gardens, Ft. Wayne, IN

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

MATHIAS FITCH

Mathias Fitch, Wedding, 1867 to Frances Vandolah

MATHIAS FITCH

This is what the Allen County History has to say about Mathias: MATHIAS was the 2nd son of NATHANIEL and SARAH DELONG FITCH. He was born in a log cabin where Nathaniel's large new house was to be built. Mathias farmed 240 acres in Perry Township and made a specialty of raising sheep. He also owned farmland in Iowa. He ran the water-powered sawmill that was on his farm, as his father Nathaniel had done before him. The sawmill was a one story building 60 by 20 feet. Mathias took over the operation of the mill about 1870 and installed a feed grinder. He continued the operation of the mill until 1908 when it was abandoned. This mill was in continuous operation for 68 years. Mathias was a member of the Regulators, an organization formed to rid the country of outlaws. DAVID FITCH, his brother, and JACOB KELL were also members of this courageous organization.

MORE ABOUT MATHIAS FITCH

Both Mathias and Frances died in 1923 and both are buried in Perry Township Cemetery near Huntertown. They were both born in 1843 and both died in 1923.

In Mathias's Bible this is recorded:

Matthias Fitch married Frances Vandolah, December 1st, 1867

Matthias Fitch born January 16th, 1843

Frances Vandolah born February 19th, 1848

Children of Matthias and Frances Fitch

Lucy Fitch born September 15th, 1868

Schuyler Fitch born December 24th, 1869

John Byron Fitch born June 23rd, 1872

Walter Vantwiller Fitch born March 24th, 1874

Florence Bessie Fitch born May 10th, 1875

Nathaniel Fitch born June 5th, 1877

Grace Fitch born November 19th, 1878

Altha Creola Fitch born December 30th, 1880

Beatrice V. Fitch born August 1st, 1884

Beatrice Victoria Fitch

Deaths:

Matthias Fitch died December 10, 1923, 80 years 11 months, 4 days

Frances Vandolah died May 26, 1923, 80 years 3 months, 7 days

Lucy Fitch died September 27th, 1868

Walter Vantwiller Fitch died January 2nd, 1902

Nathaniel Fitch died September 4th, 1877

Grace Fitch died August 18th,1879

Births:

John B. Fitch born June 23, 1873

Belle R. Fitch born May 29, 1874

Grace Fitch born March 29, 1899, wife of Charles A. Caple

Maurice Fitch born October 9, 1902

Otis Fitch born December 20, 1904

Reunion note: Mathias missed the 1923 Reunion and this was the first one he ever missed. His wife had died earlier in the year. He was ill too, enough that even his son John did not come to the reunion. Mathias died in December of that year. Frances had died in May.

Obituary: PROMINANT ALLEN COUNTY FARMER DIES

Mathias Fitch 80, a well-known farmer of Allen County, living in Perry Township, died of paralysis yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at home near the north county line, northeast of Huntertown. Relatives include three daughters, Mrs. Fred Kell, Miss Alethea Fitch and Mrs. Beatrice Leaycraft of Los Angeles, California; two sons, Schuyler of Seattle, Washington, and John Fitch of Huntertown; Five brothers, Charles and Allen of Minnesota; Amos and Harvey of Huntertown, and D.N. of Auburn.

Born January 16, 1843

Died December 10, 1923

After the death of his father, NATHANIEL FITCH, Mathias was made the guardian of his younger siblings, Ida Fitch, Emma Fitch, Allen Fitch, and David Fitch, by the Allen County Circuit Court on October 9, 1877. Nathaniel had died in January of 1877.

In 1878 Mathias's mother, Sarah, sold him the land with the sawmill. Mathias paid $2,500 for the land from his mother. I heard the house was built in 1878. They were married in 1867. What kind of home had they lived in at the beginning of their marriage?? Interesting to speculate. There was a tenant house on the land that Mathias bought, but it may have been built much later.

Another interesting thing about the time of Mathias’s birth, which was early in 1843. At that time they had the most fierce winter that has been on record. From the DeKalb County History (Auburn and Vicinity, Some Reminiscences of its Early days and Pioneer Citizens from the Auburn Courier, January 15, 1891, courtesy of Lucy Funk and Arlene Goodwin of the DeKalb County Website )

http://www.rootsweb.com/~indekalb

"There has been severe weather experienced during some of our late winters and the mercury fell far below zero time and again in that of 1884 and 1885, but none will compare in rigor and duration with that of 1842 and 1843. The fall had been fine: about the first of November, a light snow fell, but mostly went off soon after. On the 17th of the month, it set in cold, with high winds and some snow. The snow continued to increase from time to time until it was nearly 2 feet deep on the level, with occasional showers and hard freezes, so that it was almost impossible to get about. It snowed a little every day, but one through February. March came in with almost the severity of a polar winter.

The settlers had raised but little to live on during the previous season and by this time most of the hay and grain had been consumed and hogs and cattle were daily dying, all over the county from starvation. Some settlers lost all their hogs and most of their cattle before feed came in the spring. Very many had to depend on the browse off of the tree tops as feed for their cattle, for the last two months of the cold weather. For the last few days of March, however, even this provision of nature was cut off.

While all were anxiously looking for the opening of spring, heartsick in view of the sufferings of their poor dumb animals, the sleeper, in his lone cabin in the midst of the forest, was awakened on the night of March 27, by the continual crashing of the tree-tops which did not cease until day dawned, when to the disspirited emigrant, was revealed the cause of all the commotion of the night.

It had been raining and freezing as it fell, until the tree tops were broken under their load of ice. That day and for several days it seemed that the cattle must all die; for when the trees were cut down for browse, the small twigs, incased in a hard coat of ice, would break off with the ice adhering and mingle with the snow. Besides this, the crust on the snow was so thick and hard that the cattle could hardly get about. The wild animals also suffered almost as much as the domestic ones. It was nothing unusual to see squirrels so reduced as to be easily caught by hand. Most settlers lost all their hogs. The end came at last and that week sent the snow in another form to Lake Erie, and in a few weeks, herbage began to appear and hope sprung up again in the settler's heart.”

(And into this snow and cold, Mathias was born on January 16, 1843, out in the woods in their cabin and was a tiny babe when the tree tops began to fall all over the woods around them. Nathaniel and Sarah had been married in 1840 and they had one son before Mathias, so had a toddler, Perry. We can wonder if they lost most of their animals in this bad winter and just how they made out, how they stayed warm and how discouraged Sarah might have been at the time, stuck in a tiny cabin for the winter, pregnant and then delivering, and how Nathaniel managed to provide the heat and food necessary when it was so hard to get around outside.)

It was a harsh beginning for a little babe by the name of Mathias Fitch.

FITCH, MATHIAS, Descendants

2. Mathias Fitch, b: Jan. 16, 1843 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN, d: Dec. 10, 1923

in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN, married Dec. 1, 1867

+ Frances Vandolah, b: Feb. 19, 1843 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN

d: May 26, 1923 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN, burial in Perry Twp

Cemetery near Huntertown

3. Lucy Fitch, b: Sept. 15, 1868 in Perry Twp d: Sept. 27, 1868

3. Schuyler Fitch, b: Dec. 24, 1869 in Perry Twp. d: Apr 17, 1852 in

Seattle, WA, married Jan. 5, 1893

+ Leah L. Pepple, b: April 3, 1871 in Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN

3. John Byron Fitch, b: June 23, 1872 in Perry Twp. d: Feb. 20, 1947,

burial, Cedar Chapel Cemetery, Butler Twp., DeKalb Co., IN

married March 17, 1898

+ Rosa Belle Hollopeter, b: May 29, 1874 in Cedar Creek Twp.,

d: Jan. 15, 1953 in Perry Twp., burial Cedar Chapel Cemetery

3. Walter Van Twiller Fitch, b: March 24, 1874 in Perry Twp., d: Jan. 2,

1902 in Chicago, IL, burial Perry Twp. Cemetery

3. Florence Bessie Fitch, b: May 10, 1875 in Perry Twp., d: July 9, 1942

married April 10, 1900, burial, Perry Twp. Cemetery

+ Frederick Jacob Kell, b: June 30, 1872 d: Aug. 4, 1959

burial, Perry Twp. Cemetery

3. Nathaniel Fitch, b: June 5, 1877 d: Sept. 14, 1877

3. Grace Fitch, b: Nov. 19, 1878 d: Aug. 18, 1879

3. Althea Creola Fitch, b: Dec. 30, 1880 in Perry Twp., d: Nov. 4, 1930

burial, Perry Twp. Cemetery

3. Beatrice Victoria Fitch, b: Aug. 1, 1884 in Perry Twp., d: Nov. 15, 1969

married Jan. 3, 1917

+ Charles Allen Leaycraft, b: June 26, 1864 in Bermuda,

d: Nov. 6, 1920

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

MARY JANE FITCH (JENNIE), Descendants

2. Mary Jane Fitch, b: Oct. 15, 1844 in Perry Twp., Allen Co., IN d: March 17,

1925 in Neenah, WI, burial Oak Hill Cemetery, Neenah, WI, married Dec. 24,

1873

+ Levi Beers, b: June 14, 1845 d: Feb. 16, 1919, burial Oak Hill Cem.

3. Kenneth Fitch Beers, b: June 15, 1876 in Wabash, IN

d: Sept. 17, 1944, burial Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN

married Oct. 22, 1901

+ May Miller, b: May 29, 1876 in Goshen, IN d: May 1948

burial Highland Cemetery, South Bend, IN

3. Margarite Beers, b: Aug. 12, 1878 in Wabash, IN d: Sept. 13,

1975, married June 23, 1903

+ Irving Eugene Ozanne, b: July 28, 1865 in Somers, WI

d: July 15, 1945, burial Oak Hill Cem., Neenah, WI

4. Irving Lee Ozanne, 1904-1931

4. Bryce Kenneth Ozanne, 1908-1987

4. Lucille Margarita Ozanne, 1911-1992

4. Robert Willard Ozanne, 1914-

3. LeRoy Fitch Beers, b: Oct. 9, 1880 at Clarion, PA d: Nov. 28, 1962

married March 30, 1910, was a mechanical engineer

+ Clara Darrohn, b: April 24, 1883 in Rush, NY d: Feb 14, 1981

4. Kenneth Darrohn Beers, 1913-1929

4. Douglas Darrohn Beers, 1915-1955

4. Robert Leroy Beers, 1919-

4. Ellen Darrohn Beers, 1923-

3. Bertha Dell Beers b: July 22, 1883 in Riceville, PA d: June 30,

1949, burial, Neenah, WI, business teacher, married May 30, 1919

+ John Alexander Hunt, b: Jan. 28, 1877 in San Francisco, CA

d: Aug. 30, 1919, burial Mt. View Cem., Oakland, CA

3. Alice Nathalia Beers, b: June 9, 1884 in Rimersburg, PA

d: Feb. 7, 1965, Jr. H. S. Teacher, married July 19, 1910

+ Louis Henry Kephart, b: May 14, 1871 in Sand Springs, IA

d: Jan. 13, 1931, burial Fairmont, was a Rancher

Jennie Beers attended the Perry Centre Seminary as a part of her education.

She graduated from Hillsdale College in the “Big Class of 1870”

Jennie and Levi met at Wabash College where they were both teachers

Levi became Rev. Levi Beers, a Methodist minister

About Levi's military service: He joined the Union Army in 1865, but a case of measles prevented him from marching to war with his regiment. By the time he had recovered, Richmond had fallen and there was no need to send him after his regiment. He used his $500 enlistment bonus to pay for his college education at Baldwin-Wallace College.

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1880 Census of Clarion Township, Clarion County, PA page 75 A

Levi Beers married male, 34 born Ohio Principal

Both parents born PA

Jennie N. Beers wife female, 34 born IN Teaching

Father born PA, Mother born Ohio+

Kenneth Beers son male, 3 born IN

Margarita Beers dau female, 1 born IN

Thomas D. Flick other male, 22 born PA Attending School

Carrie A. Weaver other female, 26 born PA Preceptress

Lenie Kaster other female, 18 born PA Attending School

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CHARLES FITCH

DESCENDANTS OF CHARLES FITCH

1. Charles Fitch b: March 29, 1846 in Perry Twp, Allen Co., IN d: Aug 21, 1925 in South

St. Paul, MN married April 26, 1868, burial Oak Hill Cemetery

+ Lou Ann Clubb b: Nov 27, 1846 in Morgan Co., IN d: March 16, 1943 in South

St. Paul, MN, burial Oak Hill Cemetery

2. Stella Fitch b: Jan 31, 1869 d: Jan 31, 1869 in Keokuck Co, Iowa

2. Rosie May Fitch b: March 16, 1870 in Sigourney, IL d: Oct 24, 1966 in MN

married Oct 8, 1893 in So St. Paul at home of her parents

+ Peter Harvey b: Oct 2, 1868 in Iowa d: May 11, 1956 in Minneapolis, MN, “Andrew

Peter”

3. Kenneth Fitch Harvey b: Aug 15, 1908 in Minneapolis,

MN, d: Oct 5, 1987 in Minneapolis, MN

Married June 16, 1934

+ Doris Genevieve Hazelton

+ Bernice Alberta Rice Wire m. Dec 18, 1937 in WY

b: June 10, 1912 in WY d: Aug 13, 2003 in MN

4. Luann Harvey b: May 28, 1940 in MN

+ Robert Lee Hart

4. Bette May Harvey b: March 5, 1942 in MN

+ Dwight Ralph Chamberlain

4. Sue Alice Harvey b: Sept 7, 1943 in MN

+ Howard Ralph Shirley

2. Nathaniel Phillip Fitch b: June 19, 1873 in Iowa d: June 28, 1881

2. Harry Fitch b: July 17, 1875 in Iowa d: June 12, 1909 in MN

2. Charles Oakley Fitch b: March 19, 1878 in Iowa d: Oct 23, 1958

married June 16, 1904

+ Genevieve S. Varien b: Nov 26, 1880 d: May 18, 1948

3. Marjorie Vivian Fitch b: 1905 in St. Paul, MN

married Oct 7, 1930

+ Loren H. Shirk b: June 26, 1902 in IL

4. Ann Lucille Shirk b: Dec 2, 1933

+ Paul Morton Nobis

4. Susan Elizabeth Shirk b: March 26, 1941

+ Billy Joe Bowling

3. Elizabeth Ann Fitch b: July 5, 1915 in St. Paul, MN

married June 28, 1940

+ John William Pearson b: June 2, 1918

4. Jon Oakley Pearson b: Nov 1, 1944

+ Margaret Elsie Anderson

4. Ann Elizabeth Pearson b: Nov 9, 1946

+ William Clare Milon

3. Lucille Varien Fitch b: Feb. 16, 1917 in St. Paul, MN

d: Oct 29, 1978 married Aug 8, 1945

+ Clarence B. Kierman b: Oct 1, 1918

4. Sarah Jane Kiernan b: June 6, 1946

+ Artur Xavier Lambo Vilankula

4. Charles Bernard Kiernan b: July 31, 1949

4. Peter Allen Kiernan b: Jan 15, 1952

4. Michael Andrew Kiernan b: Oct 17, 1961

2. Mabel Fitch b: Sept 6, 1881 in Iowa d: Jan 15, 1960 in So St. Paul, MN

married Sept 29, 1905

+ Jack Durkee

+ Art Anderson, married May 18, 1945

2. Giles J. Fitch b: Nov 20, 1885 in Iowa d: Jan 31, 1942 in St. Paul, MN

married Dec. 23, 1917

+ Kathryn Finnerty

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CHARLES FITCH and bits and pieces of the family life in Minnesota.

Charles was a child of Nathaniel Fitch and Sarah Elizabeth DeLong, born in Indiana, moved to Iowa, and from there went to Minnesota.

Thanks so much to Sue (Harvey) Shirley and Bette (Harvey) Chamberlain, descendants of Charles Fitch, for pulling this information together and submitting it to us.

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CHARLES FITCH from the book MINNESOTA AND ITS PEOPLE, Vol. III page 221