MAJ. JAMES HITCHCOCK is a fine representative of the brave soldiers who fought so nobly in tin late war, and to whose unflinching courage and unswerving loyalty it is due that our glorious banner waves over a free and undivided country. He is a respected citizen of Mt. Vernon, where he has been engaged as photographer since 1870.

Our subject was born at Princeton, Ind., December 15, 1842, and is the son of Dr. J. W. Hitchcock, who was a native of Utica, N. Y. The latter was a man of a fine education, and during his college life was a classmate of ex-Governor Seymour of New York. He came west on horseback, and locating at Terre Haute, Ind., when it was little more than a frontier village, commenced the practice of medicine. Later he removed to Princeton, and in 1850 coming to Illinois, made his home at Peoria, where he published a newspaper called the Voice of the People. Five years later, however, he returned to Terre Haute, and not long afterward went to Louisiana, Mo., where he published a paper called the Union, and in 1857 again returned to Indiana, where his wife died three years later. Mrs. Hitchcock prior to her marriage was Miss Margaret Bazier; she was a lady of fine education and came of French ancestry.

Marcus Hitchcock, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New York, a physician by profession and a prominent man of his locality.

James, of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth of the six sous born to his parents, all of whom, together with the father, were soldiers in the Civil War. The latter was Surgeon of the Eighteenth Indiana Regiment, and was with Fremont in Missouri. Later he was placed in charge of the hospital at Ft. Monroe, also at Vicksburg, Miss., and later was appointed Surgeon of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Indiana Regiment. After the close of the war, Dr. Hitchcock practiced medicine in different places until his decease, which occurred in Mt. Vernon in 1885.

Edward Hitchcock, a brother of our subject, enlisted in the army during the first call, serving under Gen. Lew Wallace, who was then Colonel of the Eleventh Indiana Regiment. After the expiration of his term he returned to Terre Haute and engaged in publishing a temperance paper. In 1862, however, together with his brother Henry and our subject, he became a member of Company E, Seventy-first Indiana Infantry, of which company he was First Lieutenant. In 1863 the regiment was re-organized into cavalry, being designated as the Sixth Cavalry. The three brothers were all taken prisoners at Richmond, Ky., in 1862, being held a day or so, and were then paroled by Gen. Kirby Smith. James was again captured having been sent with the mounted portion of the regiment on what was called the Stoneman raid, which started from before Atlanta July 27, 1864. The purpose of the invasion was to destroy railroads, depots of supplies, and liberate the prisoners at Macon and Andcrsonville, the latter proving an utter failure. The result was General Stoneman 's surrender near Sunshine Church after an all-day's fight. But not relishing the idea of being captured again, and much less the thought of being sent to that hell upon earth, Anderson ville, our subject joined a hundred or more other comrades, under Lieut.-Col. C. C. Matson, determined not to surrender. They were successful in cutting their way through the line of the enemy, and were getting along nicely toward home and "God's Country," when, on the 2d of August, before dawn of day, they were surprised, scattered and some taken prisoners, but James, with five others, succeeded in reaching the Chattahoochee River, fifty miles above Atlanta. While endeavoring to find some way to cross the river he was captured and taken to Andersonville, where he was confined for about seven mouths. He was also at other prisons, being a prisoner for nearly nine months, and was turned loose April 28, 1865, within twelve miles of Jacksonville, Fla.

Frank and Lucius, the two younger brothers, were members of the One Hundred and Thirtythird Indiana Regiment, of which their father was Surgeon. Frank is now County Superintendent of Schools at Bedford, Ind., where he also conducts a newspaper. Lucius is a printer in St. Louis.

The eldest brother, John, is deceased. Edward is engaged with the Harter Medicine Company at St. Louis, in which city Henry is also in business. Thus it will be seen that the six sons and father were all soldiers and printers with the exception of our subject. The only daughter in the family was Kate, who is now the widow of Charles Lindley, of Wellington, Kan.

After being mustered out of the army, June 10, 1865, our subject returned to his home in Terre Haute, whence he soon went to Leavenworth, Kan., remaining but a short time, and then came to Illinois, and had charge of a drug store in Olney until the latter part of 1866.

In the spring of 1867 Dwight Burnett and himself started out as traveling photographers. They traveled until the early spring of 1868, when Mr. Hitchcock purchased the outfit and traveled until 1870. He then made a permanent settlement in Mt. Vernon, where he now has a fine business, turning out some of the best work in his line in that part of the state.

Our subject has been prominent in Grand Army circles, and has been Commander of Colman Post No. 508. He was Captain of Company E, Ninth Regiment, and afterward elected Major of the Ninth Regiment, Illinois National Guards, General Pavey commanding. Said regiment was part of the Third Brigade.

In politics, Mr. Hitchcock has always been a Republican. He is a member of Royal Templars of Temperance, Knights & Ladies of Honor and Knights of Honor.

In 1868 Mr. Hitchcock was married at Olney, this state, to Miss Anna Gardner, who was born in Maryland, and during the late war was Assistant Postmaster at Petersville, that state. During that period she saw both the Federal and Confederate armies pass and had many thrilling experiences. Their union was blessed by the birth of three children: Ruby, now Mrs. E. Duff Wilson, of Centralia; Ray W. and Ethel, at home.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Page 542-544
Submitted by Sandy Bauer