Husband William J. Hitchman 1 2 3
Born: 8 Jul 1838 - Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA 3 4 5
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Died: 26 Sep 1894 - Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA 3 6
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Father: Maj. John Hitchman (1789-1846) 1 3 7 8
Mother: Mary Thompson (1799-1870) 1 3 7
Marriage: 2 Jan 1861 3 9 10
• Residence: : Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA.
Wife Elizabeth Shields 3 9 10 11
Born: Mar 1838 11
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Died: 4 Nov 1916 11
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Father: James Shields ( - ) 9 10
Mother:
Children
1 M James S. Hitchman 9 12
Born: 29 Apr 1865 - Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA 10
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2 M Edward T. Hitchman 9 13
Born:
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3 M Arthur Hitchman 9 13
Born:
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4 M John D. Hitchman 3 9 13
Born: 14 Dec 1870 - Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co, PA 3
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Spouse: Louise Ogle Scull ( - ) 14
Marr: 1912 3
5 M Walton M. Hitchman 9 13
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6 M William M. Hitchman 9 13
Born:
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7 F Mary Hitchman 9 13
Born:
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8 F Alice E. Hitchman 9 13
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General Notes: Husband - William J. Hitchman
He was of English lineage on his paternal side and of Scotch-Irish descent on the maternal.
He was less than eight years of age when his father died in rather straightened circumstances. He spent most of his boyhood at Laurelville, which was a small village at the foot of Chestnut Ridge, where he was actively employed and carefully trained to business in the mill, the store and the shop, and before his seventeenth birthday was acting as village school teacher. He taught school for several years and completed his academic course at his native town, which was always been noted for its fine educational advantages. While teaching he always took an active part in teachers institutes, and in every move calculated to advance the cause of education. Although possessed of tastes and qualifications for law and politics, yet he turned from those inviting fields and planned for himself a business career. He was largely interested in the banks of Mt. Pleasant, had investments in other enterprises and owned a large amount of real estate. He was identified with the Republican party from the time its organization, and always gave a warm, cordial and effective support to the measures of the party. [CBRWC, 186]
Early in life he engaged in the tanning business, which he conducted later on an extensive scale with his father-in-law, James Shields, and subsequently was associated with Mr. Neel in the same industry. Before he attained his seventeenth year he was acting as village school teacher, and served in that capacity for several years. Prior to this he began dealing in stock in a small way, which business he constantly enlarged, and which he still continued to conduct after he became an independently wealthy man. He was early engaged in the manufacture of coke under the firm name of Stone, Hitchman & Co., with ovens in the vicinity of Tarrs. Later they established ovens known as the Morewood plant, and they conducted an extensive business along that line. At the Centennial, in 1876, they received the medal for the best and finest grade of coke. About the year 1880 Mr. Hitchman began to deal extensively in coal and coal lands, and he also operated to some extent in the production of coal in both Westmoreland and Washington counties, both these industries netting him a handsome return.
He was among the early stockholders in the banking interests of the borough of Mount Pleasant, becoming interested in the First National Bank, of which institution he later became a director, was the active head of the same for many years, and at the time of his death was serving as vice-president. Later in company with William B. Neel and J. C. Crownover he formed the Mount Pleasant Bank, which they operated until 1893, when it became known as the Citizens' National Bank of Mount Pleasant, and in this he held a directorship until his death. He was recognized as one of the ablest financiers of the county, conservative, but just. In 1884 he served as county chairman of the Republican party, and through his generalship the county went Republican, the first time in its history. He never sought political preferment, although a warm and active supporter of the party. He contributed largely in building up the town of Mount Pleasant, erecting a goodly number of buildings, and in various other ways added to its prosperity.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church, to the support of which he contributed liberally. [HWC 1906 II, 187]