Charles Carroll Fitch (July 19, 1842June 28, 1899) was an American politician.

Early life and education

Charles C. Fitch was born on July 19, 1842, in

Cuylerville, New York Cuylerville is a hamlet in the Town of Leicester, in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 297 at the 2010 census, which lists the community as a census-designated place. History The community was named for W. T. Cu ...

. In 1848, Charles' father, Ferris S. Fitch, settled in

Bunker Hill Township, Michigan Bunker Hill Township is a civil township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the township population was 1,966. History Bunker Hill Township was established in 1839. Communities *Bunker Hill Center is an unin ...

. Ferris was one of the largest landowners in Bunker Hill Township, and had extensive farming interests. Charles was first educated at the district schools of Bunker Hill Township, and later studied at the

Michigan Agricultural College Michigan State University (Michigan State, MSU) is a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, the first of its kind in the United States. It i ...

Career

After graduating from college, Fitch moved to

Mason Mason may refer to: Occupations * Mason, brick mason, or bricklayer, a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork, or who lays any combination of stones, bricks, cinder blocks, or similar pieces * Stone mason, a craftsman in the stone-cut ...

. Fitch was initially a farmer. From 1863 to 1865, Fitch stopped farming and began working in the Ingham County abstract office, and also served as the Deputy Register of Deeds for the county. After this period, Fitch returned to farming until 1875. Fitch ran the county abstract office from 1878 to the summer of 1886. In 1884, Fitch was elected Register of Deeds, and was re-elected in 1886. Fitch also served twelve years on the Mason Board of Education and as president of the Mason Water and Electric Lights Company. In October 1888, Fitch was unanimously nominated in the Democratic convention for the

Michigan House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2010 ...

seat represented the Ingham County 2nd district. In the general election on November 6, 1888, Fitch won election against Republican nominee Henry L. Henderson. Fitch was renominated for the same position in October 1890, by a convention in Dansville. He won re-election in November, against Republican nominee H. Rix Jr. Fitch did not seek re-election in 1892.

Personal life

In 1876, Fitch married Mary Kate Clark. Together, they had one daughter, Fannie. On February 22, 1900, Fannie married

Alva M. Cummins Alva Marvin Cummins (February 24, 1869August 8, 1946) was an American lawyer. Cummins was admitted to the bar in 1891. From there, he went on to serve in leadership positions of multiple bar associations. Cummins also had a political career marke ...

, a prominent lawyer. Fitch was a

Freemason Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

. Charles' brother,

Ferris S. Fitch Jr. Ferris S. Fitch Jr. (February 1, 1853January 21, 1920) was an American politician, educator, and journalist. Early life and education Ferris S. Fitch Jr. was born on February 1, 1853, in Bunker Hill Township, Michigan. Ferris S. Fitch Sr. was ...

, served as

Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

Death

Fitch died on June 28, 1899, suddenly of heart disease. At Fitch's funeral, his eulogy was delivered by Lawton T. Hemans.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitch, Charles C. 1842 births 1899 deaths Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives People from Livingston County, New York People from Mason, Michigan Farmers from Michigan County officials in Michigan Michigan State University alumni 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century Michigan politicians