1889 History - Biography - Lycurgus Pitman

Hon. Lycurgus Pitman, son of Hon. G. W. M. and Emeline (Chubbuck) Pitman, was born in Bartlett, April 9, 1848. His early years were passed at home, and he received the school advantages his native town afforded. Possessing a fine musical taste and nature, his inclination was to qualify himself to become a teacher of vocal music, and he went to Boston and acquired his musical education under the instruction of the distinguished Prof. S. B. Ball, and on his return taught several terms with success, but was compelled to relinquish this pursuit on account of throat trouble. In 1870 he engaged in business at North Conway as a pharmacist, and has since resided here. Mr. Pitman married, December 25, 1870, Lizzie I., daughter of Caleb and Emeline B. (Kenney) Merrill, of Conway. They have three daughters: Minnie E., Lena E., Millie I.

Mr. Pitman is an active and leading Democrat. He has been a delegate to every state convention since 1869; numerous times to district conventions, and to the national convention at Cincinnati in 1880. He was nominated September, 1886, as the Democratic candidate for state senator in District No. 2, embracing a part of Carroll and Grafton counties, in opposition to J. M. Jackman, and was elected, receiving 2,703 votes to Jackman's 2,035; scattering, 153; making his plurality 673. He served on the committees on military affairs, claims, asylums for the insane, and judiciary. To this last committee was assigned the duty of investigating the charges of bribery made in the famous railroad controversy. In his political and official life, honor, equity, and devotion to principle have been his characteristics, and it is most probable that yet higher duties and positions will be worthily filled by him.

He has been prominent in Freemasonry since becoming a Mason in 1870. He has occupied nearly every office in Mount Washington lodge, has been three terms its master, and is in his second term of office of grand district lecturer for the sixth Masonic district. He belongs to these other masonic bodies: Oriental chapter, No. 13, Fryeburg, Maine; Orphan council, Dover; Portland commandery, Knights Templar, No. 2, Portland, Maine; Aleppo temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Boston, Mass. On the termination of his third year's service as master of Mt. Washington lodge, the brethren presented him with an elegant testimonial of their esteem — a magnificent masonic jewel. Mr. Pitman has been a member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows since the reestablishment of Saco Valley lodge, and is a live factor in the Knights of Pythias, serving as district deputy two terms.

Mr. Pitman is a public-spirited citizen, and many of the improvements and conveniences of North Conway are mainly due to his energy and enterprise. He organized the North Conway Water-works Company, and through his efforts their plan was brought to a successful completion. He was the originator of the North Conway and Mt. Kearsarge railroad, and is one of the directors and clerk of the corporation. He has given much of his time and attention to developing the attractions of North Conway, and Pitman's Arch takes its name from him.

Mr. Pitman is a genial, whole-souled citizen, and possesses the happy faculty of making friends; that these are many is evidenced by the numerous testimonials that have been presented him — one, a valuable gold watch and chain on his thirty-fourth birthday.

"He is a young man of great business ability, always ready to forward any enterprise that may be beneficial to the town or to the state. As a neighbor and townsman he is open-handed and generous; no one, irrespective of party, ever called on him for assistance in vain. His circle of acquaintances, both in and out of the state, is large, and no one stands higher as a man, a citizen, and a gentleman, among his friends and intimates."

Contributed 2022 Jul 12 by Norma Hass, extracted from History of Carroll County, New Hampshire by Georgia Drew Merrill, published in 1889, pages 903-905.