Bibb County AL Genealogical Research

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W. S. Fitts

History of Oregon, by Charles Henry Carey, Vol. I. Chicago-Portland: The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company, 1922.

One of the substantial and progressive business men of Salem is W. S. Fitts, who is associated with his son, Ira J., in the conduct of a large fish and poultry market, and he is also interested in the Newport Ice & Fish Company and is a stockholder in Hotel Marion of Salem. In the conduct of his business affairs he displays sound judgment, energy and enterprise, and success in substantial measure has rewarded his efforts. Mr. Fitts is a native of the south. He was born in Bibb county, Alabama, November 3, 1868, a son of T. J. Fitts, who was also a native of that locality and devoted his attention to the raising of corn and cotton. He married Rhoda Conwill, also a native of Alabama, who passed away at the age of eighty years, and the latter is also deceased.

In 1891 W. S. Fitts came to the west, first becoming a resident of Walla Walla, Washington. Subsequently he made his way to Oregon and for a time engaged in farming in the vicinity of Salem, after which he located in the city, where he entered business circles in 1901, establishing a fish market at No. 444 Court street. His progressive and enterprising business methods, reasonable prices and courteous treatment of patrons soon gained for him a large patronage and he now has most of tbe private trade of Salem. His son, Ira J. Fitts, is associated with him in tbe conduct of the enterprise and he is a most progressive and alert young business man. They deal in fish and poultry, purchasing their fish from all over the coast and handling approximately fifty tons annually. Their establishment is the leading fish and poultry market in the city catering to the retail trade and they intend within a short time to install a cold storage plant, which will greatly facilitate the conduct of their business. Mr. Fitts is also interested in the Newport Ice & Fish Company in association with J. F. Meehan, Mrs. C. M. McKillop and others, and he is likewise a stockholder in Hotel Marion of Salem. His interests are thus extensive and important, showing him to be a most capable business man, energetic, farsighted and sagacious.

In Bibb county, Alabama, in 1894, Mr. Fitts was married to Miss Lula Elliott, and three children have been born to this union: Ira J., who married Wilda Solomon of Salem, February 6, 1921; Inez G., who is employed by Hartman Brothers, jewelers; and Clifford W., who met an accidental death, being killed by a truck on the 12th of February, 1920.

Beginning business with a capital of but forty dollars, Mr. Fitts worked untiringly to gain a start and as the years have passed he has steadily progressed, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties in his path, and he now occupies a position of prominence in commercial circles of his city. The secret of his success lies in the fact that he has never been afraid of earnest labor and that his diligence and determination have been supplemented by unquestioned integrity and reliability. He is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Salem and his progressiveness has been a potent element in its continued development.

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