BIO: JACOB KITCH, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/
  _____________________________________________________________

  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 399-400
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    JACOB KITCH, a farmer of Middlesex township, was born in what was then
  North Middleton, Cumberland county, Dec. 31, 1843. The name is an old one in
  Pennsylvania, where his great-grandfather, Martin, his grandfather, John, and
  his father, John (2), have all lived before him.
    
    John Kitch (2) was born and reared in Cumberland county, passing his days
  on a farm in North Middleton township. He married Miss Eliza C. Mickey, now
  deceased, daughter of Lewis Mickey, who was at one time a hotelkeeper in
  Shermans Dale, Perry county.
    
    Jacob Kitch grew up on the John Noble farm in Middlesex township, dividing
  his time between farm work and attendance at the country schools, until he
  was nineteen. Two years later, Aug. 20, 1864, he enlisted at Mechanicsburg in
  Company E, 200th P. V. I., under Capt. Levi M. Coover and Col. C. W. Diven,
  served till the close of the war, being at Fort Steadman and in the fight
  before Petersburg, and then returned home, which was practically at the close
  of the war. In 1866 he married, and for a year thereafter did work by the day
  among the farmers until he had earned enough to start for himself, beginning
  on a rented farm. By 1882 he was able to buy a farm of 106 acres, on which he
  lived ten years before moving to his farm of 212 acres, upon which he resided
  until April, 1904, when he moved upon a tract of twenty-two acres one mile
  south. He still owns the other place and has been uniformly successful in all
  his operations upon both farms.
    
    On Aug. 23, 1866, Mr. Kitch was married to Miss Hattie Kell, the daughter
  of Peter and Elizabeth (Shughart) Kell, both now deceased. The father was one
  of the prominent farmers of the county. A large family has been born to Mr.
  Kitch and his wife, as follows: Lizzie, now Mrs. David Baker, of Carlisle;
  Mary Ann, now Mrs. David Keller, of Carlisle; George, at home; Jennie E.,
  wife of J. E. Strickler, of Monroe township; William, a farmer, who married
  Miss Lizzie Wilson; Edward, who married Anna Wolf, and lives on the home
  farm; Alta, Agnes and Ida, all at home.
    
    Politically, Mr. Kitch has always supported the Democratic party, and has
  been an active worker in its ranks from the day when he cast his first vote
  for George B. McClellan. He has served as judge of elections, was twice
  elected township auditor,
    
    400	CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
    
  and has filled the offices of both annual and triennial assessor, discharging 
  the various duties most efficiently. He belongs to the G. A. R., Colwell Post,
  No. 201; his church affiliations are with the Lutherans. Mr. Kitch is a 
  prominent and influential citizen, and is widely known through the county.