The Republican journal., 1921-11-03
THOMAS WHITTIER PITCHER


occurred Saturday, October 29th, at 8 p.
m., followed brief illness caused by
prostatic infection. With him passes the
last of the Belfast male descendants of
Fisher Ames Pitcher, who with his BROTH
ers, Jonathan, William, Luther and CAL
vim. came to this city at the beginning of
the last century. Born in the Pitcher
district, November Is, 1880, Thomas W.
was the youngest of the seven children
OF Fisher A. and Eliza (Whittier) Pitcher.
his education was confined to the schools
OF Belfast. AS boy he began to- clerk in
the dry goods store of the late Sherburn
Sleeper. With his sister, Eliza A., Thomas
spent i've years in Boston applying him.
self to learning the business as conducted
by Blanchard, Converse & Co. of that
city, and in 1860 the sister and brother
returned to Belfast. Thomas became
partner with Sherburn Sleeper in the store
now occupied by Harry W. Clark & Co..
and Eliza was forewoman of the cloak de-
partment. The two subsequently bought
out the former owner, and became asso-
ciated as T. w. Pitcher & Co. Thew
later changed their location to the pres
ent site of the City Drug Store, on whose
poor panels may still be seen the letters.
I. W. P. & Co. In 1887 the brother and
sister retired from business to their
home at 5 Franklin street. The home
that Thomas Pitcher had provided for his
wife and sister was known as the Gov.
Crosby place and was acquired about
1870 Several years later he built the
residence now on this location. In May,
1862, he had married Olivia Maria Mill
er. who died in May, 1891, with no issue
from this union. The following eight
years were quietly lived by sister and
brother. until in September, 1909, Eliza
died. Her death was not only a deep
grief to Thomas, but a peculiar loss.
Their mother dying while Thomas was
still baby,s had left his care and up
bringing entirely to the older sister,
Never did an older sister feel the respon-
s.bility more keenly or fulfil the obli-
CATION more punctiliously. While Mr..
Pitcher was home-loving person, he
did not forsake numerous interests out
side. He was for many years a director
OF the City National Bank, a constant
attendant of the Unitarian church where
he was long member of the standing
committee. He acceptably handled the
Hazeltine fund for the worthy poor and
was member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A.
Nj. Before the death of his sister, Mr..
Pitcher had the good fortune to secure
the assistance of Miss Rachael Anderson
as housekeeper. For 81 years Miss An
derson has not only been faithful and
competent manager, butlalso companion
and confidant of these last years. Hell
faithfulness will long be remembered by
Mr.. Pitchers friends and appreciated by
his survivors. These include nieces, Mrs,
Annie M. Pierce of Washington, d. C.,
Mrs Frank l.. ToWle and Mrs. Byron L.
Pitcher of Belfast; a grand nephew, Al
bert L. Pitcher of Waltham, Mass, and
grand daughter of his late wife, Mrs
Arthur G. Melcher of Newton Centre
Mass. The funeral was held from his
late residence Tuesday, former pastor
Rev. Harry Lutz of Newton Centre, Mass,
| officiating, assisted by Rev. George C.
Sauer of the local Baptist church, a per.
sonal friend. The honorary bearers were
Mayor c. Wa Wescott, Hon. R. F. Dun.
ton, Selwyn Thompson and Charles P
Hazeltine, and the active bearers wer,
Messrs. James H. Howes Elmer A. Sher
mrn, Ben D. Field and Ralph A. Bran
hall. The burial was in the family lot i,
Grove Cemetery.