My Genealogy Hound

JOHN FITTING, one of the highly respected retired citizens of New Cumberland, Pa., was born in that city March 31, 1830, a son of Peter Fitting and his second wife, Mary George.

Peter Fitting was of German ancestry, but was born in Hanover township, Dauphin Co., Pa., and engaged in farming almost all of his life. Later he resided at New Cumberland and Harrisburg, and died at the latter city in 1874, aged over eighty years. He was survived a few years by his widow. Their children were: John, of this sketch; Peter, who died aged sixteen years; Susan, the widow of John Stoner, of near Harrisburg; Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Bumgardner, near Harrisburg; and Caroline, Mrs. John Kuhns, deceased.

John Fitting was reared on the farm and obtained his education in the common schools. At the age of eighteen years he learned the milling business with Henry Brenneman, serving an apprenticeship of two years, and then followed the business for twenty-one years. After disposing of his milling interests Mr. Fitting built a home in New Cumberland and engaged in a butchering business for about ten years or more. A few years later he took charge of the loading gang at the Pennsylvania Steel Works and continued until the spring of 1903, when he retired from active business life.

On Aug. 13, 1850, in New Cumberland, Mr. Fitting married Miss Catherine Brownwell, who was born Oct. 24, 1832, near Carlisle, a daughter of Joseph and Fanny (Brandt) Brownwell, and a granddaughter of John Brownwell, a farmer of Cumberland county, who died at Roxbury. Joseph Brownwell was born several miles above Mechanicsburg and was a farmer all his life. When Mrs. Fitting was three years old he located on the Mumper farm, near New Cumberland, where she grew to womanhood. When he quit farming he settled in New Cumberland, where he bought property, and died there in 1884, aged eighty-four years. His wife died in 1842, aged thirty-six years. In religious faith they were Lutherans. In politics he was a Democrat. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brownwell were: Mrs. Fitting; Mary, Mrs. Curtis Hefflefinger, who died in New Cumberland; Julia Ann, who married Jacob Sheeley, of Shiremanstown; Joseph, who died young; and Lizzie, Mrs. John G. Malehorse, of Steelton.

Mr. and Mrs. Fitting have had six children: Joseph P., a mine operator in Nevada, makes his home in Colorado Springs; he married Elmira, daughter of Rev. Elisha Butler, of Tyrone, Pa. John Alfred, of Manitou Springs, Colo., married Sarah Jury, of Millersburg. Susan is the wife of William E. Heckman, of New Cumberland Frances died in childhood. Ulysses G. and Emma died in infancy.

Both our subject and his wife are valued members of the M. E. Church in which Mrs. Fitting has been an active worker for more than forty years, for many years being a teacher in the Sunday-school. She is one of the leaders in the work of the Ladies’ Aid Society and the Epworth League, and a prime mover in all the social functions of the congregation. Her interest also has been shown as a member of the Foreign Missionary Society and in all the charitable and benevolent enterprises of that religious body. In politics Mr. Fitting is a Republican, and at different times has served as a member of the borough council. The family is held in universal esteem.