Stockton News - Feb. 16, 1910

"L. D. Pitcher Dead"
Expired Feb. 5 at his home in Daytona, Florida.

L.D. Pitcher, a former resident of Pitcherville, and for whom that hamlet was named, died Feb. 5 at his winter home in Daytona, Florida, the result of a paralytic stroke. His age is given at 71 years. We understand the remains have been put in a vault and some time early in the spring will be brought to Dixon for interment..

From the Dixon Evening Telegraph:

L.D. Pitcher is dead.Mr. Pitcher died very suddenly at his winter home in Daytona, Fla., the cause of his death being a paralytic stroke. He was ill but a few days.

His son, Louis Pitcher, manager of the Home Telephone Company, received a message of the death of his father that afternoon in Daytona. He will reach that city some time tomorrow. The remains of Mr. Pitcher will be placed in a vault until spring when they will be brought to the city for burial. Mrs. Pitcher’s health is such that she cannot make the trip north this winter. Lester D. Pitcher was the father of the rural telephone system in this part of the state. He was president and originator of the Lee County Telephone system, and originator of the Jo Daviess County telephone system.

Mr. Pitcher was born in Lewis County, NY, July 28, 1839, son of Philander and Mary Pitcher. He obtained his elementary education in the common school and when a youth worked on a farm. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fifth New York Heavy Artillery. Later he came to Jo Daviess county and engaged in the mercantile business at a place called Pitcherville in his honor and was afterward appointed postmaster during Lincoln’s administration. He came to Lee county in 1871, being them patentee of the Bradley fork, a tool much used in handling grain without binding but later superseded by the self-binder. Mr. Pitcher sold this implement to jobbers over a territory extending from the New England coast to California and realized a fortune. Later he engaged in the implement and coal trade in Dixon, which he conducted successfully until 1900. In 1896 he inaugurated the County Telephone system, a sytem covering Lee county and connecting it with other counties and adjoining states. The enterprise proved to be a great success and was much appreciated by rsidents of the village and rural districts in that territory.

In 1860 he married Harriet Graves, by whom there were three children: R. Evert, at one time mayor of Alma, Neb.; Mary, wife of Wm. Peters, Stockton, Ill., and Greant., Galena, Ill. Mr. Pitcher was married to his second wife, Abbie Cramer, in 1871 and to this union there are two children, Bessie E. and Louis A.

Mr. Pitcher served in the city council several terms. Was a member of the board of education fifteen years and was a member of the G. A. R. and A. O. W. Through all his residence in Dixon he was a useful member of the community and his passing brings sadness to hosts of friends.

Mrs. Wm. Peters received a message Sunday, Feb. 6, announcing the death of her father, Mr. L. D. Pitcher at his home in Daytona, Fla. It came as a great shock to her. His son Mr. G. W. Pitcher of Galena, Ill is a very successful businessman and General manager of the Jo Daviess Co. Telephone system known as the Pitcher Telephone Co.; his grandson Mr. Roy Peters of this place has been in the employ of the above Co. for the past seven years. R. Evert Pitcher resides at Alma, Neb., where he owns a large farm and also conducts a large jewelry store.

The sorrowing family have the sympathy of their many friends in this time of sorrow.



Submitted by Submitted by Wendy Fjelstad