Pittsenbarger, Stephen Edward

Posted By: Wally Garchow
Date: 19 November 2001

Sources: clippings in Family bible

PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN DEAD:
STEVEN EDWARD PITTSENBARGER DIES WEDNESDAY

Death Occurred At Four in the Morning, After Illness of a Few Weeks -- Long Active in Municipal Affairs.

Steven Edward Pittsenbarger, prominent local stock shipper and President of the Versailles Board of Public Affairs, died at the family home on West Wood st. at 4 o'clock Wednesday [July 23, 1930] morning. Mr. Pittsenbarger had been ailing for several weeks, and had been confined to home since the first of July.

His death was due to complications of Pneumonia and diabetes. His age was 53 years, 8 months and 25 days. "Ed", as he was familiarly known, had followed in the footsteps of his father, as a stock buyer and shipper in association with his brothers, and had an acquaintanceship all through this section.

He served this community in a public capacity for many years; first Councilman, and later as a member of the Board of Public Affairs, of which he was President at the time of his death. As a member of the Board of Public Affairs he gave his time generously and without stint. The board has had a very busy time since they decided to make a change to alternating current in the municipal plant and much work had to be done in this connection.

He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the First Christian church of Versailles.

Ed was a familiar figure about town and could usually be found evenings on the public square, or at the Chamber of Commerce club. His friends and associates will miss him tremendously. He was twice married. His first wife was Phoebe Dunwoody, who died in 1909. His second marriage was to Ellen Rehmert, who survives to mourn his passing. Besides the wife he also leaves to mourn his passing, one son Earl, by his second marriage; three sons and one daughter by the first marriage. Charles of Detroit, Robert of Greenville, George of Dayton, and Mrs. Ray Hahn of Dayton, his mother, Mrs. George Cyphers, three brothers, Harry H. Pittsenbarger, and W. C. Pittsenbarger of Versailles, who were associated with Ed in the Stock business , and R. H. of Union City; five sisters, Mrs. E. L. Barnes and Mrs. Abner Jones, of Muncie, Ind.; Mrs. Fred Copeland, and Mrs. Earl England of Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. J. W. Marshal of Perrysburg, Ohio; several grandchildren and host of relatives and friends.

The services will be held from the Christian church at 2:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Rev. H. A. Smith of Dayton, former pastor here, will officiate.

The Electric Light plant will close for five minutes during the funeral services in honor of the past president of the board.

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Stephen Edward Pittsenbarger, the subject of this sketch was born at Willowdell, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1876, the son of William and Rachel York Pittsenbarger. At the age of two years his parents located their home in Versailles where the family grew to maturity.

After receiving his education in the Versailles Public Schools, he early showed an interest in the business affairs of the community as well as in the serious responsibilities of life. At the age of twenty one years he was married to Phoebe Dunwoody. There came to bless this union three sons, Charles, Robert, and George, and one daughter Stella. But after a few brief years the hand of death removed the devoted mother leaving this father with the responsibilities of rearing four small children. However, unflinching in his duties, he faithfully cared for them. After some years he was again united in marriage to Ellen N. Rehmert, July 19, 1910. To this union was born one son Earl.

Mr. Pittsenbarger for a long period of years was one of Versailles active business men. While still a young man he was engaged for quite a number of years with his father in the poultry business. After disposing of his interest finally to the firm of H. B. Hole, he was in the employ of Mr. Hole for almost a score of years. He then went into the stock business and later with his brothers, Harry, Harlan, and Carry formed the Pittsenbarger Bros. Stock Buyers and Shippers firm, which has been in active business for the past sixteen years.

As a citizen he was ever interested in the progress of his town and community. As evidence of this fact he served a number of years on the village council, and later as member of the Board of Public Affairs, being chairman of that body at the time of his death. Also for a great number of years he has been an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, where his interests in the welfare of his community were his first consideration. Here too in the latter organization with his cordial and friendly manner, he greatly enjoyed many social contacts with his fellow men.

However besides his business and social affairs, he was interested in the spiritual values of life. During the pastorate of Rev. McDaniel, he became a member of the First Christian Church of Versailles. In this affiliation he remained an active member till the close of his life.

In these various activities of life, he was earnest and ever ready to help those in need; with his kind interest in others he was a citizen who was an asset to his community; and as a husband, father, and brother his loss is irreparable.

By his untimely death which closed his busy life July 23, 1930, he leaves to mourn his loss, an aged mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. George Cyphers, his devoted wife and son Earl at home, a daughter Mrs. Stella Hahn of Dayton, and three sons George, Dayton; Robert, Greenville, and Charles of Detroit, three brothers, Harry, Carry, and Harlan, five sisters, Mrs. Della Barnes, Mrs. Mary Coupland, Mrs. Ella Marshall, Mrs. Lulu Jones, and Mrs. Earl England, and six grandchildren. These with many other relatives and friends join in the common loss of relative and valued friend. Yet though we feel our loss it can but be his eternal gain, for, [poem deleted].

** THOSE ATTENDING FUNERAL OF S. E. PITTSENBARGER **

Among those present from a distance at the funeral of Stephen Edward Pittsenbarger were: Mr. and Mrs. Abner Jones and son, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Barnes, Herbert Barnes, Harlan Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hole and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Stillwagon and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murphy, William York, Harri- son York, Mrs. Frances Burns, W. H. Hofherr, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lanich and son, Mrs. Harry Cartwright and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Clark and family, Mr. and Mrs R. Clark and son, of Muncie, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Pittsenbarger and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Coupland, Mr. and Mrs. Earl England and family, of Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. J. W. Marshall and daughter, of Perrysburg, O.; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hahn and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Pittsenbarger and family, Mr. and Mrs. James Ankey and daughter Mary, Sam Long, John Hahn, Mr. and Mrs. Farrell Hahn and son, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Dershem and family, Paul Dershem, of Dayton, O.; Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Pittsenbarger and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Selman and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Selman and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Steffin, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Meyers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lyons of Greenville, O.; Mr. and Mrs. Eber Rehmert, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Rehmert, Mrs Maggie Rehmert, of Arcanum; Mr. and Mrs. E. Selman, of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Nancy Reigle and son, of Ansonia; Mr. and Mrs. Riggs and son, of Beamsville; Mr. and Mrs. John Finkbone, Mr. Joe Levering, of Piqua; Mr. and Mrs. Niswonger, of Pitsburg; Mr. and Mrs. Della Wright and daughter, of Gettysburg; Mr. Philip Heck, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dershem, of Yorkshire; Mr. and Mrs. Perry York, of Cambridge City, Ind.; Mr. Maxwell, of Buffalo, N.Y.; Henry Mamert of Minster; Blain Pittsenbarger and son of Anderson, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Pittsenbarger and family, of Union City, Ind.; and Mr. and Mrs. William Dunwoody, of North Star.

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