The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-04-04
Thomas Fitch
Old Veteran and Early Settler In
Grant County Passes On In
his 79th wear.

Grdnt County Passes On In
his 79th year.
Again has the universal summons
come to me Of the pioneer settlers
of our county and early residents of
Milbank, when Wednesday morning
at IL 30 Thomas Fitch surrendered
to the invincib!e foe Of earthly lite.
Mr.. Fitch. had been in failing
health for the past year, but had
shown wonderful vitality, and dur
ing the past winter had been maxi
ing trips from his home down town
even in the stormy weather. as if to
battle against the inevitable with a
soldiers persistency and determine
ton.
The decreased man was born in
Trumbull county. Ohio. on July 7th
1910. As boy he moved with his
parents to Nc Henry county Ill.,.
and in 1856 the family moved to
Fillmore county. Minn., being
among the early pioneers of that
county, and when the deceased was
about sixteen years Of age. He at
tended an academy at Chatfeld, and
later engaged in teaching in the
country schools. He was engaged
in this work when President Lincoln
made the call for volunteers, and on
the 26th of June, 1861, enlisted for
three months as a member Of Co. A,
Second Minnesota volunteer infan-
try. He continued in active SER
vice for three years and month.
participating in the battles of Mill
Springs and Chickamaugua, being
mustered out as corporal on the
2lst Of July, 1864, having been re-
tired from service by reason of Sc.
we're injuries received AT the battle
of Chickamaugua on the goth of
September preceding his discharge.
He carried the evidence Of his
wounds in his face and arm all
during his life. Fifteen pieces of
bone were taken from his arm. in
which the ball had remained for
eighty-one days.
!. After the war Mr.. Fitch resum-
ed teaching in the same school in
which he had been teaching at the
time of his enlistment. and con-
tinued in that line of work and
farming for fourteen years. In the
year 1880 he came to Grant county
and took up soldiers homestead
in Kilborn township. He moved
from the farm to Milbank in 1883
and engaged in the coal and wood
business in which he continued un-
til few years ago, when failing
health compelled him to give it up.
Mr.. Fitch was for q term of
years member Of the board of
control of the state soldiers home
at Hot Springs, and has ever taken
a great interest in his comrads Of
the G. A. R., being member of
Gen. A. A. Humphrey post No. AZ
Of this city. In 1900 Mr. Fitch
was elected one Of the presidential
electors on the republican ticket.
The deceased was married to Miss
Sarah P. Shaw at Preston, Minn.,
on the 7th of December, 1865, and
his wife survives him. One son.
Frederick Fitch, died q few years
ago. but the deceased veteran has
grandson, Jean Fitch, who is in his
service in France.
Uncle Tom," as he was called
by old and young was one Of your
optomistic happy characters, with
always . CHEEKY greeting and jolly
word for the passer by, and this
characteristic will long be remem.
bered Of him. for we don't meet
with any too much of it on the road
we are all travelling. We can
remember q number of years ago
when one of Uncle Toms soldier
comrades who had been given to IN
dulging too freely in the cup that
sparkleth paid tribute to this
Characteristic by saying: well,
Tom most Of US need to take q little
something to make us happy, but
you don't need to do this, because
you are always happy, anyway. =,
The funeral service will be held
1T the Methodist church, Of which
the deceased was . life long men,
Der, on Sunday afternoon at 2
o clock.
Grant County n World War
Il the title Of I book soon