The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-09
BANKER is DEAD.
Brights Disease Claims A. Z.
Stitch, Pioneer Kansan.
Was Mayor of independence
and Wealthy Business Man.

independence, Kan. Oct. "a. &.
Stitch, pioneer banker and former
mayor of Independence, died here Fri
day night of Bright's disease. He had
been in ill health for the last several
months. Mr.. Stitch would have been
SO years old next "Wednesday.
A c. Stitch was born at Stad IN the
province of Hanover, Germany, Octo-
Der 10, 1876. He was the son OF Car!
and Eleanor HilderS St1ch, ana nat.
two brothers, John and William, ana
one sister. Lorette.
In 1857 his parents emlgrateo 10
the United States and settled in Kali
amazoo, Mich, where Stlch, then
eleven years old, completed his edu-
cation in the grammar schools OF that
city.
hand for So a month, and out of TINS
meager salary saved enough to start
into the agricultural! implement busi-
ness in Kalamazoo. Before ne was
twenty-one he had invented a bed
spring and patented it.
Went Through Panic.
Independence was only three years
old when he came here in September,
1872, and with his brother John en-
gagged in the mercantile business
Since that time he has been promi-
nently Identified with the social, busl-
ness and civic life of the community
mercantile firm founded in 1872 pros
per, and eleven years later Mr.. Stlch
combined with Henry Foster in the
purchase of HulIs Banking house,
one of the few financial institutions
to weather the storms of the seven
ties The bank was renamed the Cit
liens bank. In 1891 he reorgan1zed
it as the Citizens National bank and
became the president of the new in
stitution, which position he held at
the time of his death.
Built Railroad, Too.
In 1885 in company with his bank
ing partner he started the promotion
of the Verdigris Valley, Independence
and Western railway and built the
road from Leroy, between Yates Gen.
ter and Neodesha, south seventy-five
miles to the southern part of hide
dependence township. The line was
completed in 1886 and sold to the
Gould interests and is now in use as
part of the Southern Kansas division
of the Missouri Pacific. Mr.. Stitch
failed, however, in getting his home
town made a division point OF the
new railroad.
In 1892, Mr. Stitch, together with a
business partner, built the Carl-Leon
hotel, then the finest hotel building
in southern Kansas. What seemed to
have been a poor business venture
soon proved a big success for with
the discovery of oil in southern Kan
sas the building was soon taxed to its
capacity by oil men, and it was nee
essary to build an annex. He also
was instrumental in the establish
ment of a library at Independence.
Was Trustee of Washburn.
In 1907 he was elected mayor of In
dependence and immediately started
the enforcement of the state prohibi-
tory law. During the panic of 1907
Mr.. Stitch, as mayor, authorized
many public improvements in order
to employ the many idle men.
Mr.. stitch was married twice ice; IRIS il IS
Mich, who was the mother of thre@
of his children, Eleanor, Adelaide anC
Carl, all decea sed. His second wife
Miss Kathleen E. Rainer, to whom
he was married in 1888, survives him
In politics Mr.. Stitch was staunei
Republican.
Mr.. stitch contributed heavily t
washburn college in Topeka. HI
was one of the trustees of that in
stitution.
Mr.. Stitch retired from active man
agement of his business affairs II
| 1914.