Charles Peebles Hitch

In the "History of Edgar County, Illinois" published in 1879 (pg. 576), it states 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" (1889). It is transcribed here as follows:

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: this is reflective of the writing which occurred 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 severely misinformed!]. 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 harness 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 Covention 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."

In the Federal Census of 1880, Charles P. Hitch is indicated in Edgar County, Illinois (sheet 23) in a household as follows: - Charles P. Hitch, age 31, born in OH - Mary J. Hitch, age 31, born in IL - Lucy C. Hitch, age 3, born in IL.

In the Federal Census of 1900, Charles P. Hitch is indicated in Edgar County, Illinois (Paris) in a household as follows: - Charles P. Hitch, born 1/1849 in OH - Mary J. Hitch, born 12/1848 in IL - Lucy W. Hitch, born 8/1876 in IL.

In the Federal Census of 1910, C.P. Hitch is indicated in Edgar County, Illinois (Paris) in a household as follows: - C.P. Hitch, age 61, born in OH - Mary Hitch, age 62, born in IL.

Charles P. Hitch's obituary was sent to me in 1996 by Ned Boyajione. The copy cames from a family scrapbook and the newspaper and date are unknown except that it is no doubt from an August 1933 Illinois paper:

Charles P. Hitch, G.O.P Leader for Years, Dies at Home in Paris, Ill.

One of the most picturesque, popular and prominent members of the republican party in Illinois passed away last night when death summoned Hon. Charles Peebles Hitch, who served five terms as U.S. marshal and who died at his home in Paris after a long illness, aged 83 years and seven months.

The career of "C.P." Hitch, as he was so well known, is a political epic. For over forty years he has been a potent factor in republican state and national conventions. The fact that he was always chairman of the delegation from his county and district indicated the confidence reposed in him by his followers in his home area.

Persons of mature age in Springfield will remember what a factor Marshal Hitch became in the social as well as the political life of the state capital. He was a most intimate associate of U.S. Senator Shelby M. Cullom, who sponsored him in several of his appointments; John W. Bunn of the Marine bank; the late Mayor Rheuna D. Lawrence; the late Senator David T. Littler and the late Judge J. Otis Humphrey.

Born in Ohio

Mr. Hitch was born near Bantam, Clermont county, Ohio, Jan. 16, 1850, the son of Benjamin F. and Laura White Hitch. As a youth he followed the star of the empire toward the west and was en route to Omaha when he was prevailed upon to remain in Paris, Ill., and to make that his home. His name soon became synonomous with the political activities of that section of the state. He had resided in Paris, Ill., for 64 years.

The first public office held by Marshal Hitch was that of deputy county clerk of Edgar county. He ventured into national politics and was elected a delegate from Illinois to the convention which nominated Benjamin Harrison for the presidency. Only two Illinois delegates supported Harrison, while all of the others supported Walter A. Gresham.

Reward came to Mr. Hitch in the form of appointment as U.S. marshal. Through the influence of Senator Cullom he served in that office from 1889 to 1893. He became chairman of the republican state central committee in 1896 and was agin appointed U.S. marshal by President McKinley in 1897, serving during this next period until 1913.

In 1905, he transferred from Springfield to the marshal's office at Danville when the state was divided into the southern and eastern districts. It was during this period that the late John R. Tanner was governor and that the historic Tanner-Cullom controversy shook the republican party to its foundation.

Named Court Clerk

In 1913 Marshal Hitch was appointed clerk of the U.S. district court for the eastern district by Judge Frank Wright. In 1917 he was appointed to the board of pardons and paroles by Governor Frank O. Lowden and reappointed by Governor Len Small, retaining that office until the election of L.L. Emmerson in 1928.

In addition to the above political activities Marshal Hitch was a member of the state central committee for a number of terms and was elected and re-elected delegate to state and national conventions.

Charles married Mary Irene Huston, daughter of Dr. Paul Huston and Lucy Weisiger, on 25 Nov 1874 in Edgar Co., IL. (Mary Irene Huston was born on 17 Dec 1849 in Paris, Edgar Co., IL, died on 01 Jul 1938 in Paris, Edgar Co., IL and was buried on 05 Jul 1938 in Edgar Cemetery, Paris, Edgar Co., IL.)