The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-10-27
j. w. Fitch.

The gentleman of this sketch Is n
candidate for county commissioner on
the republican ticket in the First
commissioner district of Madison
county, and as the following short
sketch shows he has been identified
with the development and growth of
this state and county since an early
date. His wide experience in vari-
GUS capacities, with responsible posi-
tions of trust and responsibility con-
fcrred upon him in the past, highly
qualify him to ably fulfill the duties
of county commissioner.
Mr.. Fitch was born in Story county.
Ia, June Z, 1858. In the spring of
1868 his parents located on a farm in
Madison county, la. He attended dis
trict school there during the winter
months, later he took a commercial
course at Des Moincs. Following the
advice of Horace Greeley to young
men, he set out for the west in 1880,
, locating in northern Kansas; but
severe drouth set in and he was oblig-
ed to abandon his claim and look
around for more favorable location.
For year he farmed in Douglas
county, this state, after which he
again went west and remained in
| western Nebraska and eastern Wyo-
ming two years, engaging in the cat.
tie business. In the spring of 1898 he
again engaged in farming in Douglas
county.
He was married in 1887 to Miss
Florence Gilmore, of Waterloo. Neb.,
to whom have been born two sons
and daughter; Guy G., who is
graduate of the scientific course at
Doane college, Crete; Donna c., a
| graduate of the normal course at
, Bellevue; and Howard, a boy of 10,
who is still in the high school at New
| man Grove
In the spring of 1883 he moved to
| the new town of Washington, Neb.,
which then had been but recently
| founded, and engaged in the hardware
! and implement business. The same
year he was appointed postmaster at
Washington and later townsite agent.
| During his residence in Washington
he was member of the school board
twelve years, which place he resigned
| when he left town. In 1897 he pur-
| chased grain elevator at that place,
running that in connection with his
| implement and hardware business. In
| 1901 he sold out all his business in
| terests at Washington, resigned his
| position as postmaster after over
thirteen years of continuous service
in that capacity and in the following
year moved to Newman Grove, where
, he bought the implement, well and
| windmill business of G. G.. Dimock,
and year later formed a partnership
with S. NJ. Juelson and Oscar Gustaf-
son under the firm name of J. w.
| Fitch d Co. The business, however.
was disposed of in 1908 and shortly
| afterward he engaged in the livestock
business, and later formed a partner
| ship with A. B. Robinson in the same
| business. During his residence in
Newman Grove he has served three
| terms as village trustee and at pres
| ent is serving his second year as
| chairman of the town board. March.
| last of this year, he was appointed
| county commissioner In the First dis
trict to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of John Malone.
| That Mr.. Fitch is making good as
commissioner is evidenced by his
record as a member of the board. 1t
Is we'll known fact that no inexperi-
enced man can take a position on
board of commissioners and be of
much real service to the county for
| eight months or year. for the reason
that every month brings up new fea-
lures of county business, with which
he must become acquainted, and as
Mr.. Fitch has served on the board
nearly year, he has so thoroughly
| learned the requirements of his posi-
! ton that at the beginning of his new
term he will be as valuable to the
county as a new man would be at
the end of another year. When a
man has given good service during his
first term of office, whether he Sc
| cured that office by election or ap-
pointment, it is considered only JUS
tice to him as well as good business
on behalf of the taxpayers, to reward
| him with reelection.