BIOS: Captain John H. HITE, Stoystown, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sharon Trosan

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/
________________________________________________

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of 
Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, Biographical Review 
Publishing Company: 1899, pp 236 and 239.

  Captain John H. Hite, the genial proprietor of the Hite Hotel at Stoyestown, 
Somerset County, Pa., is also an extensive farmer and landholder and a 
representative native-born citizen of the place.  The date of his birth was 
February 16, 1833.  His parents were John and Catherine (Kennedy) Hite.
  His paternal grandfather, whose given name was Conrad, was one of the very 
early settlers of Stoyestown, having come here from Virginia in the latter part 
of the eighteenth century.  Conrad Hite followed the trade of a butcher during 
his active life, and here reared his seven children, five sons and two 
daughters.
  John Hite, the third child of the seven, was born in 1798.  He learned the 
blacksmith's trade when a young man, and followed it for a few years.  
Preferring, however, some other mode of earning a living, he built a public 
house in Stoyestown, which he conducted for a number of years as the Hite Hotel, 
but which has since been somewhat enlarged and changed and is now known as the 
Custer House.  In his hands it was well patronized; and he continued its 
management until his decease, which occurred at the age of fifty-five years, one 
month, and one day.  He was a Democrat in politics and a regular attendant of 
the Baptist church, to which his wife belonged.  He married Catherine Kennedy, 
who was born in Stoyestown in 1800, and died in this place in 1860.  They had 
nine children, of whom three are living, namely: Julia A.; Caroline; and John 
H., the special subject of this sketch.
  John H. Hite received a good common-school education; and, having completed 
his studies, he assisted in the management of the Hite House until the death of 
his father.  He and his mother afterward conducted the hotel six months, and 
then sold the property.  He subsequently erected his present hotel, which under 
his judicious management since 1853 has become one of the best known and most 
popular houses of public entertainment in this section of the State.  On 
September 17, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, and was mustered into service as Captain of Company B.  He served 
three years, during which time he participated in some of the decisive battles 
of the war, including those at New Market, Cedar Creek, Lynchburg, Piedmont, and 
Winchester, and was in several skirmishes.  At Paw Paw, W. Va., he was taken 
prisoner, held as hostage, and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, where he was 
confined two months.  After his return he resumed the management of the Hite 
House, which had been well cared for during his absence by his sister.  Captain 
Hite is also extensively engaged in general farming, having a farm of one 
hundred and thirty acres in Quemahoning and farms in two other townships 
adjoining.  On these are large coal and lime beds, that are being developed, and 
a magnificent grove of sugar-maples, in which he sets one thousand buckets each 
season.
   The Captain is a man of sterling integrity, a citizen of influence, and is 
one of the heaviest tax-payers of the county.  He is an earnest supporter of the 
Democratic party.  He served as Burgess at one time, and has been a School 
Director for the past thirty years.  Fraternally, he is a Mason, having united 
with the Cambria Lodge, F. & A. M., of Johnstown, in 1865.
  On February 27, 1881, Captain Hite married Malinda Ferner, daughter of Joseph 
and Susan (Miller) Ferner.  They have been bereft of two children, and they have 
three now living, namely: John K., born December 4, 1882; Charles H., born 
January 10, 1886; and Robert P., born December 24, 1888.  Mrs. Hite is an active 
member of the Methodist church.