Samuel Hitt

SAMUEL W. HITT.

It ian important public duty to honor and perpetuate as far as possible the memory of an eminent citizen — one who by his blameless and hi notable life and distinguished career reflected, credit not only upon the city in which he made his home, but upon the state. Through such memorials as this an individual and the character of hiservices are kept in remembrance, and the importance of those services acknowledged. His example, in whatever field his work may have been done, thus stands as an object lesson to those who come after him, and though dead he still speaks. Long after all recollection of his personality shall have faded from the minds of men, the less perishable record may tell the story of his life and commend his example for imitation. No man was ever more respected in Urbana or ever more fully enjoyed the confidence of the people than Samuel \V. Hitt. For many years he was actively associated with mercantile interests in Urbana. and his efforts contributed not alone to his own prosperity, but also to the welfare and commercial activity of his city.

Mr. litt was born on a farm about one mile north of the city of Urbana. in the year 1817, his parents being Rev. Samuel and Ann (Smith) litt. About the year 1N14. two brother-..Martin and Samuel Hitt. both.Methodist ministers, came from Virginia and purchased a section of land, which they divided between them and most of which now lies within the present bounds of Urbana. Samuel Hitt was not only a pioneer settler of Champaign count) but also a pioneer Methodist minister in the county, and possessed many sterling qualities of heart and mind. His wife was a native of Maryland and was a wo o] many graces. Samuel W. Hitt began his business career at the age of fifteen years, by accepting a clerical position in the general store then ated by John Reynolds, a pioneer merchant of Urbana. By dint of industry, integrity and remarkable talent for mercantile affairs he Mse to a high position and in the year [852 purchased an interest in the business. About 1840 P. B. Ross had purchased an interest in the business and the firm style became John Reynolds & Company, which was changed to Ross, litt & Company on the admission of Mr. litt to a partnership. Up n the death of Mr. Reynolds in 1857, the name was changed to Ross & litt and in [866, upon the retirement of the senior partner, Mr. Hitt became sole proprietor. Fur a time he was alone and then admitted his brother-in-law, Mr. White, and his son-in-law, Mr. Mitchell, to an interest in the business, under the name of Hitt, White & Company. The successors of this firm were Hitt & Mitchell. The next change made the firm style Hitt. Fuller & Rhoads, and this was followed by Hitt & Fuller. In 1888 George W. Hitt, the son of our subject, and James R. Fuller, his son-in-law, together with Edward Rhoads, succeeded to the business and on the retirement of Mr. Rhoads 111 [892 the style of the firm became Hitt & Fuller, and was maintained even after the death of Mr. Fuller. Since his demise Mr. Hitt has been manager and owner of the business, maintaining the high standard which has ever characterized the house. This store is the oldest in Urbana, having been established by Mr. Reynolds about 1806. Until after the war a general retail business was carried on. Butter, eggs, wool and country produce were purchased and a general line of merchandise was sold. However, a change was gradually made in the stock and for more than twenty years the store has been supplied only with a line of drv goods, notions, cloaks and carpets. Throughout the years of its existence, the management of the store has ever been along lines of conservatism, strict integrity and honesty. This system was inaugurated and strictly maintained by Samuel W. Hitt and has been continued by the present management. Samuel W. Hitt deserves more than passing notice in this connection. From the humble capacity of errand boy he gradually worked his way upward until he became a partner and then sole proprietor of the oldest and leading dry goods house of Urbana. His business methods were attended with gratifying success and moreover he enjoyed in an uncptalified degree the highest confidence of his fellowmen, for his reputation in trade circles was unassailable.

In the year 1843 Samuel VV. Hitt was united in marriage to Miss Sara!) B., daughter of Joseph and Rebecca White, who were early settlers and highly respected people of this community. When the First Methodist Episcopal church endeavored to erect a building, Mr. White mortgaged his property in order to aid in the enterprise. He was a native of this state and his wife of Pennsylvania. In 1836 he removed to Urbana, becoming a pioneer shoe manufacturer and dealer of this city. His life was ever honorable and upright, in perfect harmony with Ins Christian principles and at his death he left to his family an untarnished, name. His children were Mrs. John Young-. Mrs. F. W. Winston, Mrs. Malinda Smith, Joseph, and Mrs. Hitt. The last named was born near Glendale, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, April 9, 1834, and when only two years old was brought by her parents to Urbana, where she has since made her home. By her marriage she became the mother of five children, namely: Joseph, who was killed while in action at Atlanta, as a soldier in the Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Anna R., the widow of John T. Mitchell; George W.; Lizzie, the widow of James R. Fuller; and Mary, who married J. E. Burchard.

.Mr. Hitt died April 20, 1892, in his seventy-sixth year, leaving a widow and four children to mourn his loss. Mrs. Hitt is yet living in Urbana and is uniformly respected for her many sterling qualities and Christian graces. She is identified through membership relations with the First Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Hitt was a worthy and honored member through many years, contributing liberally to its support, both of his time and money. For many years he served as chorister of the church and otherwise was an active Christian worker, lie was generous and public spirited and aided largely in the upbuilding of Urbana. He is yet and for many years to come will lie held in affectionate remembrance by his numerous friends, as well as by his immediate family.

George W. Hitt. -on of the late Samuel W. Hitt. was born in Urbana, January 14. [850, and educated in the schools of the city.

Early in life he entered the store of his father, under whom he received his business training. For more than ten years Mr. Hitt has been the active member of the dry goods firm of Hitt & Fuller, conducting the business with marked success and enterprise, and is to-day recognized as a leading and capable business man among merchants. He was married in 1878 to Miss Julia Van Meter and they have one son— Joseph W. -Mr. and Mrs. Hitt are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and are prominent in social and Masonic circles.

As printed in A centennial biographical history of Champaign county, Ohio .. (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.