The following information comes from page 3, column 1 of the March 14, 1903, Lowell Souvenir:
EDITOR LOWELL SOUVENIR. -- Please announce my name as a candidate for Marshall of the Town of Lowell, subject to the will of the voters at the election on May 4, 1903.
JAS. CHITWOOD.
The same add ran on April 25 (page 4, column 1). Another article on page 10, column 1, of the March 14 paper added this further information:
Jas. Chitwood has announced his name as a candidate for marshall, and says that if elected he will devote much of his time to looking after the street and road work, and see that everything is kept in good repair and clean.
This May 2, 1903, Lowell Souvenir article was found on page 5, column 4:
Declaration Day Committee
At the Burnham Post meeting Monday night last arrangements were made for the observance of Decoration Day in Lowell and the following committees were appointed:
Committe of Arrangement -- Y.C. Vosburg, E.R. Bacon and C.C. Pattee, J.W. Chitwood.
Program -- H.H. Ragon, P.D. Clark and H.H. Purdy.
Music -- _.R. Clark, R.W. Bacon, and H.H. Ragon.
On Hall -- Leslie Gragg and J. W. Chitwood.
Marking Graves:
Lowell -- George W. Davis, T.D. Dickinson and Leslie Gragg.
West Creek -- C.T. Bailey.
Lake Prairie -- Edwin Michael.
Fuller -- Mrs. Chas. M__vin.
German Methodist -- Will Einspahr.
Creston -- Benjamin Palmer.
Orchard Grove -- J.P. Spalding.
Hanover Center -- John A. Hoffman.
Sanders -- D.C. Pulver.
Another article on page 8, columns 3-4, of the same issue of the paper carried an article on a baseball game in which Mr. Chitwood participated:
Defeated by the Scrubs
The scrub ball team defeated the regular team by a score 18 to 5 on Sunday, April 26th.
The features of the game were the battery work of the scrub team and "punk" batting of the regulars.
The line up was as follows:
SCRUBS ---------------- REGULARS
Chitwood, C. ------------ Hepp, C.
Lawrence, P. ------------ Wood and Lynch, P.
Burnham, 1st B. ---------- F. Lynch, 1st B.
D. Comeford, 2nd B. ----- Shusser, 2nd B.
E. Johnson, S.S.
M. Griesel, R.F. ----------- Northrup, R.F.
Ainsworth, L.F. ----------- Calkins, L.F.
E. Brownell, C.F. ---------- Purdy, C.F.
The regulars, with their new additions, will play at Lake Village next Sunday.
This May 9, 1903, Lowell Souvenir article on page 1, column 3, carried the election results, for which Mr. Chitwood was a candidate for Marshal:
THE ELECTION
Tuesday Quiet But Very Interesting.
Polls Opened Early and Voters Showed Keen Interest.
The city election Tuesday was one of the most interesting and uncertain in the history of Lowell, because of the fact that there were so many candidates in the field for marshal and clerk, each respective office having four candidates, all of whom were considered equal so far as a choice was concerned, which made it a hard task for the boters to arrive at a decision. It is understood that several of the ballots were thrown our, on account of being marked wrong.
There were 278 votes cast. The polls opened early, and before a number of voters had their breakfast, carriages called to take them to the polls. The candidates in the main were our early and on the alert, each one seeming to have their lieutenants at work and, while everlything was quiet, the feeling was naturally intense, and the anxiety among the people was great as the time drew near to receive the election returns. Be it said to the credit of all candidates that, to all outward appearance, a clean fight was made, and, in defeat, there should be no ill-feelings anywhere, and there is no evidence there is. That it was a queer election, and one that none but bold betters would take any chances, was positive. So far as we personally have heard the people, though even the ones of their choice may have been defeated, philosophically express themselves as satisfied, and believe the new board will do the best they can for the welfare of the city of Lowell.
The following is the vote:
MARSHALL Eugene E. Duckworth ----- 86
Howard Slocumb ----- 76
Howell H. Purdy ----- 61 Jas. Chitwood ----- 44
Total vote ----- 266
Duckworth's plurality ----- 10
CLERK AND TREASURER
Ernest E. Woodcock ----- 99
Chas, W. Pulver ----- 86 Geo. Kimmet ----- 70 Calvin Pixley ----- 11
Total vote ----- 266
Woodcock's plurality ----- 13
TOWN TRUSTEES
First Ward
Wm. Kobelin (short term) ----- 213
Wm. Kobelin (long term) ----- 204
Third Ward
Jas. Johnson ----- 163 Geo. W. Heilig ----- 84
Total vote ----- 247
Johnson's majority ----- 79
The following May 16, 1903, Lowell Souvenir article was found on page 3, column 1:
Ran Pratt, Jas. Chitwood, Wm. Nichols and H.H. Ragon attended the state encampment of the G.A.R. held at Anderson on the 12th, 13th and 14th of this week.
An April 5, 1917, Lowell Tribune article on page 1, column 3, lists James Chitwood as having earned $11.25 from the town board for labor. Another article int he Sept. 6, 1917, paper (page 1, column 4) lists him as earning $2.50 from the town board for labor.
A May 24, 1917, Lowell Tribune article on page 1, column 4, lists James Chitwood as being on the 1917 Decoration Day Grave Marking Committee in Lowell, along with T.D. Dickinson, S.A. Brownell, Harry Gordon, and H.J. Stowell.
This September 13, 1917, Lowell Tribune article was found on page 8, column 2:
Mr. and Mrs. Perry Chitwood, of Gary, came Friday night to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Chitwood.
This obituary from an unknown source can be found in the Local History Files of Lowell Public Library (LH--Vital Statistics, vol. 2, page 18):
James Chitwood was born near Lebanon, Ind., Sept. 27, 1847. He united in marriage with Amanda J. Brannock, Sept. 30, 1876. Three children were born to them. Three died in infancy. One son, Perry, died Apr. 26, 1918. His wife died Apr. 15, 1891. On Nov. 4, 1892, Mr. Chitwood married Florence Belshaw, who, with his daughter, Mrs. Dessie Steward, his step son, James Brannock, and adopted daughter, Mrs. E.L. Worley survive him. James Chitwood was of thet rapidly increasing host of Union soldiers who nobly served their country in saving the Union. He enlisted as a private in Co. F. 52nd Ind. Vol. Inft. on Mar. 24, 1864, and was given an honorable discharge Sept. 10, 1865 at 18 years of age. He was a faithful member of the G.A.R. Post at Lowell until age and depletion of ranks compelled its disbanding. Funeral services were held at the Christian church, Wednesday at 2 o'clock by Rev. C.A. Brown, pastor of the Methodist church. Lowell Post American Legion had charge of the service at the cemetery. Pallbearers: Edward Minninger, Guy Dickey, Del Hayden, M.L. Ragon, Floyd Hamilton, H.W. Brownell. Interment to the Lowell cemetery in charge of Undertaker Weaver.
Last updated on August 5, 2008.
Go to James Chitwood, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.