My Genealogy Hound

HON. JAMES H. HITCHCOX needs very little introduction to the people of Cass County, for a long residence here and, above all, a career of usefulness and prominence, have given him an extensive acquaintance. It might be well to state, however, that he is one of the pioneers of the county, is an ex-member of the State Legislature, and one of the most influential and wealthy citizens of the township.

Like a majority of the best citizens of the county, our subject claims New York as his native State, and was born near Aurora, in Erie County, January 5, 1826. His parents, Jarius and Loana (Blakely) Hitchcox, were also natives of the Empire State, the former born in Paris, Oneida County, March 3, 1795, and the latter near Greenville, Greene County, May 21, 1797. So far as known, the grandfather of our subject, Samuel H. Hitchcox, was a native of the State of New York, and died there about 1846. He was the father of six children, five sons and one daughter, as follows: Jarius, Samuel, Truman, Hiram, Merritt and Eliza. The last named, the only daughter, died when quite young. Samuel died in New York State about 1868. Truman died in Pennsylvania. Hiram died in Erie County, N. Y., and Merritt died in the Empire State.

Jarius Hitchcox, the father of our subject, was a stonemason by trade and a man well and favorably known throughout his native county. He was possessed of broad and progressive views and knew well how to state them when occasion required. On the 27th of September, 1817, he married Miss Blakely, and in 1831 came to Michigan, entering land in Porter Township, Cass County, where the original of this notice is now located. The latter now has in his possession the deed made by Andrew Jackson for this land. Jarius Hitchcox had very little schooling in his youth, but being a man of observation and a student he made up for this to a great extent. An ardent Jacksonian Democrat, he held a number of local offices and was prominent in all affairs of moment. When he came to this county he cleared up about fifty acres of land in the wilds of Cass County, and died on this farm in 1850. His wife was the youngest of six children born to her parents. These children were named as follows: Isaac, Asa, Joseph, David, Hannah and Loana. Hannah married a man by the name of Howley. Mrs. Hitchcox survived her husband about twenty years and all this time found a comfortable and pleasant home with our subject. She died in 1870, on the farm where she had settled with her husband in 1831. She was an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church for many years.

James H. Hitchcox had two brothers and five sisters, two of the sisters being older than he. Harriet was born December 12, 1822, was deaf and dumb, and died in Vicksburg, Mich., December 21, 1881. Eliza was born March 29, 1824, and married Alonzo Joy. They emigrated to California and there her death occurred in 1869. Her husband and one child survive her and live in California at the present time. Caroline, born September 21, 1827, married James F. Charles, who crossed the plains to California in 1849 and there resided until 1854, when he returned and settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There they now live, but her husband spends much of his time in Florida, where he has an extensive orange grove. He is a wealthy and prominent citizen, has been Mayor of Cedar Rapids and has held other positions of trust. They are the parents of four children, Edgar, Fred, Frank and James Knox. Thomas A. Hitchcox was born June 22, 1829, came to Michigan with his parents when a boy, and in 1850 went across the plains to California, where he was engaged in placer-mining and where he had an interest in a ranch. In 1852 he returned to the East, and in 1856 was married to Miss Mary Meacham, a daughter of Hon. George Meacham, one of the pioneers of Porter Township and an ex-member of the State Legislature. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcox were born these children. Clara, born February 14, 1857, died February 20, 1874. Jerard born November 4, 1859, is now engaged in the fruit-growing business in California. Charlotte M., born November 25, 1861, married Mr. Dellenback and lives in Hastings, Neb. Willard H., born December 21, 1863, married Jennie Bucher, and now resides in Porter Township. Luthrea, born March 2, 1865, married Herbert Graham. Alfred Lloyd, born July 3, 1868, is single and resides in Porter Township. M. Gertrude, born March 27, 1872, resides at home, as do the two younger children, Susan and Lucia, the former born September 16, 1878, and the latter April 30, 1881. The next of our subject’s brothers and sisters was Anna Mariah, born October 24, 1831, the first of the family whose birth occurred in Porter Township, this county. She married Arthur Fox, and died in Vicksburg, Mich., December 18, 1881. Her three children are also deceased. William Hitchcox was born January 3, 1835, and married Miss Elizabeth Jones. They now reside in Jamestown, Kan. Four children were born to them, Delia, Letty, Carlton and Bertha. Henry Whiteside Hitchcox was born April 14, 1837, and died January 15, 1839. Loana, born August 24, 1839, married Oswell M. French and now resides in Dakota. They have one child, Anna Belle. Lucius Q. C., born August 1, 1845, served in the army on detached duty until 1866. He married Miss Sarah Jones and they reside in Porter Township, where he is a fruit-grower. They have one child, Aline.

James H. Hitchcox was but five years of age when he came with his parents to the unbroken farm in Cass County, Mich., and his advantages for receiving an education were limited. This he made up to a great extent in later years and when not at work always had a book before him. Thus he received most of his education until he entered school at White Pigeon, where a branch of the State University was situated. There he applied himself and was soon able to teach school, he followed this for some time and then, as a number of his brothers and relatives had gone to the Golden State, the fever seized him, and in 1852 he started overland for the Pacific Coast. For three years he was engaged in mining, and as he made enough to buy a good home he was wise enough not to venture it in hazardous schemes, but like the shrewd, careful business man he has always been, he gathered up his little fortune and returned to his former home in Michigan.

Our subject purchased the farm that has ever since been his home, and in the following year, January 2, 1856, he married Miss Louisa Baldwin, a native of Ohio and the daughter of one of the pioneers of that State. She died January 21, 1862, leaving one child, Carrie Belle, whose birth occurred December 4, 1857. This young lady graduated from the school at Hillsdale and later entered the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. She is single and resides at Milwaukee, Wis. On the 10th of September, 1871, Mr. Hitchcox married Miss Emarett Thompson, a native of Adamsville, Mich., and the daughter of Horace Thompson, who was one of the pioneers of Cass County, having settled here in 1831. Her father is deceased but the mother is still living. To Mr. Hitchcox’ second union were born two children: Estell, whose birth occurred December 17, 1873; and Ethel, who was born August 25, 1877. The former has been a student at the State Normal School at Ypsilanti for three years, and the latter is a student there also.

Mr. Hitchcox has been quite a factor in local politics and has filled some important offices. He was first elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors in 1864, was Justice of the Peace for some time, and in 1880 he was pushed to the front by his friends and party as a candidate for the Legislature. He was elected and served with credit to himself and to his constituents, being on several important committees. Although he sprang from an old Democratic family, he has been a strong Republican since the party was first organized. For many years he was an extensive fruit-grower and fruit-dealer, and in this he made much of the fortune he now possesses. For a number of years he has been in feeble health and has done but little on his farm, but yet he has other interests to occupy his mind, for he is said to be one of the largest money loaners in his locality. In his beautiful home, surrounded by all the comforts of life, and with a happy family, he is spending the declining years of a well-spent life. He is a Trustee in the Methodist Episcopal Church and contributes liberally to its support, but is not a member of the church.