Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-17
NORMAN B. CRITCHFTELD
CARVED HIS OWN CAREER

, record. He was early identified with
various activities. Starting on a
farm he became a merchant, a
Sehool teacher and then a minister.
Few knew that he was a clergyman
until they got into some religious
discussion and then he was found
10 be fortified. He was long
Identified with the Jersey Baptist
church near Confluence, one of the
Oldest religious organizations in
southwestern Pennsylvania After
ne had taught school a time he
displayed so much energy that he
was put in charge of inspections
and was eventually elected superin-
tendent of the schools of Somerset
county. 1t was then that he became
active in politics and was chosen
prothonotary. Next came election
as senator from the Somerset-Bed-
ford-Fulton district, which has pro-
duced many able men for Pennsyl-
Vanla Legislatures and has played
an influential part in legislation, DR..
Crltchneld was a Republican from
early years of the party and he had
some battles with the men who later
became famous as the Frosty Sons
of Thunder" before he reached the
Senate. Then they let his alone.
DR.. Critchfield speedily demon
strated that he knew the posibili-
ties of agriculture in the state when
ne got to the Senate. He wanted
on the committee on agriculture and
they did not know why he should
be. But he got there and started ont
, to get the state government inter-
ested IN farming. In the session of
1873 he introduced a. bill for a de-
partment of agriculture and whiIa
ne did not get it through he had
things so lively that next session II
passed. Not only did he sponsor the
piIi 10 create the department. but
uhtll TOUR years ago he had a hand
III every piece of legislation which
enlarged lts activities. He drew a
number of bills which should have
been enacted and which will nroho
aDly appear on the books later an
You gentlemen go out and drive
over this state and-you will sec
What 1T can do. This is n great
farming state. but it needs some
expert attention from the state /"
he would tell legislators and visitors.
ana incidentally, DIR. Critchfield was
IN every county in the state in the
course of his career and personally
ne knew possibilities.
When he told Governor Martin
q. Brumbaugh in the fall of 1915
that he desired to retire many per-
sons were astonished at his age. Few
knew that the energetic secretary
was beyond seventy-five wears and
that he was closing a good half cen
tury of public service.
In addition to his various activi-
ties, Mr.. Critchfield was q member
or number of boards of educa-
tional and other institutions, had
substantial business interests, made
1t point to look after his farm.
was prominent in the Masonic and
other fraternities, wrote extensively
and was given couple of degrees.
One of the things OF which he was
proudest was that he had been in
: the Civil war. His first service being
with the 171st Pennsylvania Militia,
| a nine months regiment. At the
close of his first term of service he
entered the 28th Pennsylvania Vol
unteers, with which regiment he
served until the close of the war.
He was attached to General Sher-
mans, contingent in the famous
march from Chattanooga to Atlanta,
serving as chaplain with the rank of
, captain. He was also prominently
identified with the Grand Army Of
the Republic and a member of r.
+. Cummings Post of Somerset, Pa.
He was one of the survivors of his
regiment having the honor to carry
the flag of his regiment when the
flags were removed from the State
Library building to the Capitol ro-
tunda five years ago, one of the most
notable ceremonies ever seen on
Capitol Hill.
He is survived by his wife, who
was Eliza Jane Burnworth, and the
following children: Elmer E., of
Critchfield and company, Chicago:
Mrs. r. NJ. Stiteler, Philadelphia:
Miss Made at home; Mrs. w. John
Stiteler. .Danville, and Lieutenant
John b. Critchfield. Medical Corps.
U. S. A., who just returned from
foreign service, arriving at Hoboken
February =. He is also survived by
thirteen grandchildren and five
great grandchildren. Two of his
grandchildren are in the U. s. A.
! seyYice in France.