Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-03-25
Sudden Death of Leading Citizen.

news-"Owen Hitchins is dead
spread rapidly and expressions OF
genuine sorrow were universal.
Mr.. Hitchins first complained Sun,
day afternoon, but no special notice
was evoked from the family until
about 81 o'clock Monday evening,
when the pains in his chest be-
came so acute that his brother, A.
E. Hitchins, ADVISED retirement and
assisted him up stairs to bed. Mr.. A.
E. Hltchins. experimenting no serious
result, left for the night. The patient,
however, grew steadily worse until
death came to his relief at l0t o'clock.
Mr.. Hitchins was perfectly conscious,
and, like those around him. unaware
of the grave nature of his illness. He
talked with his son, Gladstone, until
the crisis came-the ciimacteric
moment when the heart, convulsed,
suddenly ceased to beat DR.. J. Mar
shall Price was present, but beyond
administering the usual remedies was,
of course, unable to stay the inevita-
BILE.
Mr.. Hitchins was born May %, 1881
at a village situate on the Bristol
Channel, county Ambroth, Pembroke
shire, South Wales, and was, there
fore, nearly g. years old. He came to
the United States in 1852, landing in
Philadelphia July 4, and settled in
Frostburg few days later. He began
work during September following with
his brother-in-law, James Jeffries, in
the Borden mine. the late George
Tenant then in charge. Here he
continued work until 1865, when he
engaged in butchering, an ayocation
pursued until after the civil war broke
out. In April, 1861, he took SUBJ
contract from Batelle & Evans to
furnish fresh meats to the United
States army operating in West
Virginia and Maryland. In 1862 he
entered a partnership with George d.
Evans, of Morgantown. w. Va, under
the name and style of Evans & Hitch
ms. This firm furnished fresh meats
to the United States army variously
commanded by Gems Kelly, Shields,
Schenck, Milroy, Landers and Coils
Mulligan and Hayes, the last named
afterward President of the United
States. The firm dissolved in 1864,
when the partnership of Hitchins
Bros, consisting of Owen and Adam
E. Hitchins, was established to con-
| duet the business of general merchan-
disc in Flostburg, the brothers having
purchased the stock and leased the
store-room of J. H. Hoblitzell & Co.
Twenty-seven years of successful bust
ness life followed until Feb. 5, 1891,
the firm dissolved so far as its mercan-
tile business was concerned and gave
place to The Hitchins Bros. Com
pany.'
Meanwhile, in 1882 Mr.. Hitchins
withdrew from the somewhat incon-
genial work of the store and assumed
charge of the National coal company's
mine, which the firm had leased, and
worked it until all the coal was taken
out. A tract of coal land, leased from
the Georges Creek Coal and Iron COM
pany, was next exhausted, although
he had erewhile become the prime
protector of the movement which re-
suited in the requirement of lease of
about $50 acres of coal land at Carlos
and the organization of the Barton and
Georges Creek Valley Coal company.
This company comprised then, as now,
some of the wealthiest, most ex-
perienced and solid men ir the coal
trade. The stockholders are Hon.
Lloyd Lowndes, H. Crawford Black.
Capt. John Sheridan, John Wilson,
Adam E. Hitchins and now the estate
of Owen Hitchins. From the begin
ing until his death Mr.. Hitchins held
the Office Of Superintendent position
for which his early practical ex'
perience and later business develop
ment fitted him in an eminent degree
At the time of his death he was the
Treasurer of the Frostburg Gas anG
Electric Light company, whose
directors at meeting, held Thursday
adopted a paper attesting their esti
mate of him. 1t is appended:
Resolced, That the Directors of this com
pany desire to spread upon the minutes theil
sense of the loss they sustain individually
and as a company in the death of Mr.. Over
Hitchins. Connected with the company a:
he had been as stakeholder from its in
ception and for many years rs adviser ant
Director, he displayed in the management OF
its affairs that same sterling fidelity, intelli
gent conservatism and wel!-directed energy
which made him a wise counsellor, gooC
citizen and a trusty friend, and which will
make his loss one that will be felt not only
by his business associates, but by his city
his county and his adopted State.
He was also a Trustee of Public
School No. at the time of his death
In the Methodist Episcopal church,
Of which he was member for many
years, he held official station for long
terms. One of the leading promoters
and builders of the present splendid