Fitch - Alexander Peter - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Dr. Alexander Peter Fitch -- see also his biography on this site

From the banquet of life rose a satisfied guest, theanked the Lord of the feast and went to his rest. Thus truly it might be written of Dr. Alexander P. Fitch, whose sudden death greatly shocked the community and caused profound sorrow to all who knew him. He retired to his room apparently in his usual health and on his failure to appear at breakfast was found dead in his room. His eyes were closed as though in sleep, to open, we believe, on the eternal glories it had not entered into the mind of mortal to conceive. Alexander P. Fitch was born near Waynesboro, VA where he spent his boyhood days up until during the Civil War of 1861, when he enlisted and served in the cavalry of the Confederate Army for three years. When General Lee surrendered he returned hom and soon after left, for Baltimore, Maryland where he entered medical college. After graduating in medicine he practice his profession in Pennsylvania a short time. In January, 1875, he came to Crawfordsville, Indiana expecting to form a partnership with the late Dr. Samuel G. Irwin, but on arriving here he found an opening at Waynetown so located there. He practiced medicine in Waynetown until 1886 when he received an appointment from President Cleveland to go to South Dakota as physician at the Yankton Indian agency. After spending our years there he returned to Chicago and took a post-graduate course. Later he located at Lebanon, Boone County, Indiana where he practiced surgery and medicine until August 1910 when he accepted the appointment of assistant medical examiner for the Supreme Tribe of Ben Hur, with which he has been identified since. While in Waynetown, Dr. Davidson, the present supreme medical examiner, read medicine with Dr. Fitch, thus making the association a very pleasant one during the last years of his life. Brought up as he was under that era known as the "old regime," its grace cultre and courtesy fell upon him as a mantle. Always the gentelman the manner born air came as naturally as the ether breathed in from his own blue mountains - and his cheerful, hopeful nature never failed him. And so he died as he had lived, unafraid, became conscious of good will to men and a life devoted to their service, and thereby serving the Great Master who has said, "inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of thes emy brethren ye did it unto me." He will be greatly missed from his accustomed place in the Ben Hur office, the employees of which will long cherish a grateful memory of him. - kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 7 December 1918 p 1

Short funeral services were held this morning for the late Dr. A.P. Fitch at the home of Dr. J.F. Davison, West Main Street. Rev. M.H. Appleby read the scripture and prayer was given by Rev. W.H. Kerr. The Rev. Demtrius Tillotson, a close friend of the late Dr. gave the address. The body was taken to the train by members of the Knight Templars of which he was a member. W.W. Goltra accompanied the body to Waynesboro Virginia, Dr. Fitch's former home where interment was made. - kbz

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal 6 December 1918 p 1

Dr. Alexander P. Fitch, assistant medical examiner for the Supreme Tribe of Ben Hur died early this morning at his rooms, corner west Pike and Walnut Streets from heart trouble. He was found at 5:30 o'clock in his bed and had only been dead a short time. There was no evident of any suffering prior to his death. Dr. Fitch is well known in Montgomery County and throughout the state of Indiana. He came to Waynetown, Indiana in 1876 to practice medicine. He had then just completed his education for his profession. He was graduated from the schools of Virginia and took a post graduate course in Chicago. Following his stay in Waynetown he moved to Lebanon where he also practiced medicine and in 1910 came to Crawfordsville to assume his duties with the Tribe of Ben-Hur. The deceased fought with the confederates during the Civil War. His home wa sin Waynesboro, Virginia until he came north to complete his education and where he remained in the practice of his profession until the end. He is survived by three brothers and three sisters, all of whom live in Virginia. Dr. Fitch was well known to all because of his prominence in all the activities of the county. He was a Shriner and 32nd degree Mason. He was a most likeable man with an ever pleasant greeting for all who knew him. In his early days he was known as a great surgeon. His death will come as a big shock to the community since he apparently was in excellent health the night previous to his death and attended a picture show in the evening. Short funeral services will be held at the home of Dr. J.F. Davidson on West Main Street, Saturday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Following this the remains will be taken to his former home, Waynesboro, Virginia for burial. - kbz