The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-30
COL. GRAHAM NEWELL FITCH,


Ex-United States Senator, with . Brilliant
Record in War and Peace.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LoGANsPoRT, Ind, Nov. 29.-Col. Graham
n. Fitch, United States Senator from In
diana from 1856 to 1861. father-in-law of
Col. Charles DENLY, minister to China.
died at his home In this city, at O'Clock
this morning, of old age. being in his
eighty-fourth year.
DR.. Graham Newell Fitch was q native
of Leroy, N. Y, and was born Dec. g. 1909.
He was u son of Frederick and Mary Fitch.
and his grandfather was q soldier in tho
revolutionary war and q peneioner for
service in that contest. His father served
in the war of 1872, and was wounded at
Queenstown. Graham n. Fitch was educst-
ed at MiddIebury. now Wyoming Academy,
and Geneva College. New York, and he COM
pIeted his medical course at the College OF
Physicians and Surgeons in western New
York. He began practicing medicine in his
native town, and in 1892 he married Hsr-
riet V. Saterlee. Afterward the young
couple removed to Caledonia. N. Y. and in
July. 1884, they settled at Logansport Tho
deceased served in the Legislature duIing
the sessions of 1896. 1887, 1889 and 1910, and
three times he was chosen presidential elec-
tor. In 1874 he was appointed professor in
the Rush Medical College. at CHICAGO. snd
in 1s4S he was elected to Congress from the
Logsnsport district, serving two terms In
1856 he was chosen United States Senator.
retiring in 1861. While in Congress he no.
ticed the growing sectional feeling. and
warned the S0utherners against provoking
o conflict with the North. After tie war
l. - H.
sixth Indiana and assisted in filling two
other regiments. While a. the front he
was first attached to BuelPs command;
afterward he was transferred to Pope.
where he was placed In command of bri-
gade, and distinguished himself at Fort
Thorn pson, Island No.1o and Fort Piilow HIS
command captured and Rarrisoned NJ en-
phls. Still later he participated in the
movement up White river, Arkansas. and
captured by direct assault st. Charles,
where the wounded confederate c0mman-
der, the eccentric Colonial Fry, of Cuban
notorietv. fell into his hands. He partlci-
pated in two other engagements in Arkan-
sas. ana while on o accommodating expedi-
tion he was SO badly injured By being
thrown from his horse that be was CON-
PEELED to resign his command and return
North. After the W ar he resumed the prac-
tice of his profession, and was noted for
his skill as a surgeon, in which he gained a
national reputation. He also continued
his in nterest in politics. and while an ardent
Democrat he frequently dissented from the
views of party leaders. For several years
he was profe ssor of surgery in the Indiana
Medical College. OF late years, however,
his lite was spent in comparative retire.
ment at his elegant home, where his books
and magazines were his constant COM
panions. enjoying in the highest degree
the respect and love of the COM
munity. There were three children. His
oldest son, Henry. before the war of the re-
beillon was United States district attorney
for northern Illinois. During the war he
served under Fremont. Pope and Sherman,
part of the time being aid-de-camp to Sher-
man, with rank of captain. After the war
he was United States attorney for Georgia.
His death occurred at Chicago in Nav. 1871.
The elder daughter is the wife Of Charles
DENLY. of Evansville. the present minister
to China, and the younger 10 Mrs. DE-. A..
Coleman, of Logansport.
As stated above DE-. Fitch retired from
politics at the close of the war. devoting
himself to his profession. In 1870 he led q
revolt against his party In county atfairs
with success, but even those defeated felt
the Justice of his action and he was the hon.
ored chairman of the su bsequent conven-
tions. Beyond this and the acceptance of q
position on the School Board, where q firm
hand was needed he took no active part in
politics. His fondness for home was stron 2,
The last twenty years of his life were spent
on his farm and at his fireside his medical
services being given only when he was in
clined to yield to some Of the many calls
made upon him.