The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-07-11
George H. Pitcher
A Native Of Belfast and Retired Travel.
ing Man.


Portland Board of Trade Journall
George H. Pitcher is now what MIGHT
be termed near travelling man. HAVING
in November, 1910, retired from the ac.
tivities of that life after busy career
covering thirty-six years, and small in.
deed is the Maine hamlet that does not
know genial George, one of the most
popular men that ever carried a grin.
Mr.. Pitcher was born in Belfast on
the 29th day of May, 1852, his father
being farmer. After a common school
education, at 18 George had his mother
tidy up his wearing apparel, kissed her a
bye-bye, and put out for the CITY of
spindles for better or for worse.
He secured a position in the clothing
store of Bicknell & Neal where he re.
manned for some time chatting under the
burdensome salary of three d liars per
week with nothing to do but work.
At the rate he was working up the
ladder of fame he doped it out he would
be pretty old scout before getting into
the Merchant Prince class, SO taking the
bit in his teeth he jumped his Job,
brought a peddler's outfit, stocked it
with every kind of Yankee notion and
became the Jim Fiske of Maine. George
and his interesting outfit circumnavigat-
ed the State, and his entry into town
back in those older days was an event
equal to the present day circus. George
was natural Yankee trader, and when
he could not land real money he would
take butter and eggs, but in the aggre-
gate he had his clothing job tarred and
feathered and nailed to the sod.
This life, however, had its drawbacks,
and finally firing of the knock about ex-
istence he wished his curiosity shop onto
a less wise guy, pocketed his $1.00 and
other considerations. and went back to
Lewiston and took position as travel
ing salesman for Wagg, Eustis & Co.,
dealers in fancy goods, small wares and
all that sort of thing.
Two years later Mr.. Pitcher came
over to Portland and signed up with the
wholesale dry goods house of Deering,
Milliken & Co., covering besides the
Grand Trunk, portion Of the Maine
Central territory. Next the hat, cap
and fur house of Byron Greenough &
Co., took fancy to George and the
work he was turning out, offered him a
juicy bated hook which he grabbed like
a hungry trout, and did fancy stunts for
them until 1898 when Moore, Smith &
Co., the hatters of Boston, got him for
their own and for just dozen years
George made money, fame and friends
for both himself and his house through
out Maine and New Hampshire.
Thirty-six long years of hard work on
the road were beginning to put lines on
the face; his memory kept drifting back
to those good old happy days down on
the farm prior to bidding mother that
fond goodbye. The fire of ambitious
youth had mellowed after thirty-six
years of strenuous contact with this
hard old world, and the farm life to
which he was first born began to look calm
and sweet and peaceful His yearning
took on action and in 1910 Mr.. Pitcher
bought picturesque little farm down
at Freeport, where he hopes to spend the
remaining years allotted him near to
natures heart, amidst God-fearing
neighbors and without any further
thought of train schedules, prices, or
heated rivalry. Here George has cult
waited well-appointed little garden
upon which he raises quite a bit of gar
den truck and allows he is extremely
happy.
George Pitcher is great fishing en-
thusiast, and is right handy to happy fish
ing grounds. He is also lover OF horses
and for a year has been securing Cum
berland County for horse as faithful
and kind as the one which carried his kit
through Maine in those early days.
Such critters are indeed scarce at the
present writing.
Besides belonging to the Maine Com
mercial Travellers and Quarter Century
Travelling Mems Club, George is we'll up
in Masonry. During his life upon the
road he was termed square as BRICK"
to which his present day neighbors add
an amen. Since taking up his present
peaceful existence his health has rapidly
recuperated. He comes to town occa-
sionally to see his old-time cronies and
they in turn return the compliment, and
the Journal joins with all his friends
in wishing George long life of continued
happiness.