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OBITUARY.I’KUK. JAMES PITCHER, I. 1).Prof. James Pitcher, 1). D., a former princinal of Hartwick Seminary ami a Lutheran c'ergytnan well known in this section of the State, died at Thanksgiving Hospital, Coopsrstown, Sunday evening, aged 59 years. The news of his death came with startling suddenness to his friends in this vicinity, few of whom knew that he was seriously ill.Dr. Pitcher was taken to the hospital on Friday, suffering from cancer of the 1 stomach, and on Saturday he underwent an operation |erformed by Dr. McDonald 1 of Albany, assisted by I)r. Sill and other local surgeons, lie failed steadily until the end came. 1 Its condition had not been considered serious long. In June last, while engaged in editing the Hart wick Seminary Monthly, he was ad ng anil consulted a physician, A tew weeks later he had failed perceptibly since that time, and a more careful diagnosis was made. Mis decline lias been speedy since the operation became imperative.The operation revealed that the cancer had clu-ed the orifice leadi g from the ' stomach to the intestines and had attached the back wall of the stomach. The best efforts «t the surgeons were giveu. nut it was looked upon as nearly ho[clc» when it was over.1 r. Pitcher was born at Knox. Albany county. Oct it, 1845. 11 is early education was received at the district school and the Knox Academy. At 19 years 01 age he entered Hartwick Seminary and at once took high rank as a student. Alter his graduation he was pastor of ihe Lutheran Churcti at Maryland tor two years, after which, iu 1871, he called to the seminary as assistant principal, tine year later, by unanimous vote 01 iht board of trustees, he wa- made principal nf the institution, and he remained 0 most successful and efficient principal until 1891. when he was, at his own request, relieved of the responsibilities lie, however, remained as professor 01 Knglish and natural ciencesj|aud hs influence was always for the best am' highest in scholarship and citizenship. He was also active in the Hartwick by nor of the Lutheran Church and had been for years its treasurer. He had represented that synod at the general synoi. always with credit to hinisdt and the church. His abilities, of no mean order have been devoted to the semuary and the church it represents, and his influence upon the church, the school and its ' graduates will long be felt for good.He was a life-ioag student of both sciences and letters, of both men and public affairs, and his attainments made , him most cntci tabling, and these, coupled with his genial, kindly nature, made him a most agreeable companion, lie received the degree of A. M. Ironi I'mon College mid I). D. from Hartwick Seminary. lie had a refreshing originality of thought and a pleasing literary style. He possessed also marked p, .etie instinct, hts best known and most appreciative poems being “The Hermit of Moss Pond and “The Mystery of Fairy Spring.' He also was the author of “Outlines of Survey ing and Navigation, a text book of wide use.Dr. Pitcher is survived by his wife. Mary Platt, a daughter of the late A. 11. Platt, long one of the best known re^i dents of Maryland, to whom he was married in 1871; one daughter, Mrs. E. L. Tucker of Syracuse, an 1 one son, James Pitcher, Jr., a student at the seminary. He leaves also his aged mitlier, Mrs. Sophia Pitcher, who resided with him. and four hall-brothers and a half sister.
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Cobleskill Index
Cobleskill, New York, US
Thu, Jul 27, 1905
Page 9
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