Biography

08/09/1825 - 05/1877

Lafayette F. Fitch (R14) Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties, 1872-1874 

Early Life:

Lafayette F. Fitch, born August 9, 1825, Eaton, Madison County, New York; son of Stephen and Alta Sheldou Fitch; moved, Montrose, Pennsylvania, 1838; Montrose Academy; teacher; studied law with his brother-in-law Benjamin Bentley, law partner of his tutor, 1848-1866; law partner, Fitch and Watson, 1866-1877; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1872-1874; married, Mary Sayre, 1855, daughter, Hattie B. Fitch; died, May 1877 (aged 51) interment, Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Served, First Lieutenant, Pennsylvania Emergency Company, Civil War, sixty days, saw no active service, 1863; Ruling elder, Sunday school teacher, Montrose Presbyterian Church; foreman, Rough and Ready Fire Company. 

Read law with his brother-in-law, Benjamin S. Bentley, law practice, 1848-1866; law partner, Fitch and Watson, 1866-1877.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 14th district, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming Counties, 1872-1874; committee assignment, Congressional Apportionment, Judicial General, Judicial Local, Estates and Escheats; proffered a re-nomination, but declined, his law partner, W. W. Watson, was elected to take his place.

Legacy: 

Wife, Mary Sayre, a daughter of Mason S. and Mary Sayre Wilson, of Montrose, whose ancestors were the first settlers of Bridgewater Township.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members F". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1873). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 515, 517, 522-524.

Lafayette F. Fitch (1825-1877) - Find a Grave Memorial