Clarence H. Pitkin

Clarence Horatio Pitkin was born in East Montpelier, Vermont, on August 26, 1849, the son of Perley P. Pitkin and Caroline Matilda (Templeton) Pitkin.[1] Pikin's father was a prominent Montpelier businessman and banker, served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, and later attained the rank of brigadier general as quartermaster of the Vermont Militia.[2] Clarence Pitkin was educated in Montpelier, and attended Amherst College.[3] Deciding on a legal career, he studied law with Benjamin F. Fifield of Montpelier, and attained admission to the bar in 1872.[1]

Pitkin practiced in Montpelier as the partner of Fifield and Charles W. Porter, and continued with Pitkin after Fifield's retirement.[1] Pitkin later practiced in partnership with Hiram A. Huse, who had studied law in his office.[1] Among the other prospective attorneys who studied under Pitkin was John H. Senter.[4]

A Republican, from 1880 to 1882, Pitkin served as State's Attorney of Washington County.[1] In 1881, he was one of the commissioners appointed to revise the state statutes.[1]

In 1887, Pitkin succeeded Kittredge Haskins as United States attorney for the District of Vermont.[5] He served until 1890, and was succeeded by Frank Plumley.[6]

The Pitkin family's business interests included the Lane Manufacturing Company, of which Perley P. Pitkin became president in 1888.[1] As the company expanded, it required more involvement from the family members involved in its management, including Clarence Pitkin.[1] He became the company's secretary, and soon after resigning as U.S. attorney he gave up the practice of law to devote his full attention to Lane Manufacturing.[1]

Pitkin continued to serve as secretary of Lane Manufacturing, and resided on a farm near Montpelier Junction in the town of Berlin.[1] His health began to decline in early 1901, and he died at his Montpelier Junction home on May 31, 1901.[1] Pitkin was buried at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier.[1]

In 1884, Pitkin married Catherine (or Katherine) Lamora (or Lamery) (1855–1924).[7][8] They were the parents of a son, Harold (1879–1900).[9] Harold Pitkin died of tuberculosis,[9] and Clarence Pitkin's obituaries indicated that his son's death contributed to his own declining health.[1]