Ezra Fitch
| Ezra Fitch | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Ezra Hasbrouck Fitch September 27, 1865 Coxsackie, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 16, 1930 (aged 64) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Co-founder of Abercrombie & Fitch, 1900 Sole owner, 1907 to 1928 Law practice, New York |
| Years active | 1900–1928 |
| Known for |
Fitch, part of company's modern name A&F Clothing line, "Ezra Fitch" Fragrances "Ezra Fitch cologne" and "Ezra perfum" RUEHL No.925 apparel |
Ezra Hasbrouck Fitch (September 27, 1865 – June 16, 1930) was the co-founder of the modern lifestyle brand Abercrombie & Fitch and is attributed with the introduction of Mahjong to the United States.
A wealthy New York City manager, Fitch began as one of the company's first customers, until finally joining into the company with David Abercrombie. Fitch is attributed with much of the company's successful growth in its early years and a collection of now-defunct upscale apparel and fragrances were introduced in his name.
Ezra Hasbrouck Fitch was born September 27, 1865 in Coxsackie, Greene County, New York. He was the only child of Roswell Reed Fitch and Margaretta Wyanna Hasbrouck, both were Christians. Roswell Reed Fitch (1841-1888) was the son of Ezra Fitch (1805-1870) and Margaret Reed. Margaretta Hasbrouck (1846-1865) was the daughter of Benjamin L. Hasbrouck and Margaret Rim. Ezra’s mother died shortly after his birth. Ezra spent his early years growing up at the Fitch estate on the banks of the Hudson in Coxsackie built by his grandfather around 1850. The estate included a large Gothic Revival mansion, numerous dependent structures and a dock on the river from which the family conducted a profitable freighting business. R. R. Fitch lived in Brooklyn for a time, working as an agent for an asphalt company.
He married Sarah Huntington Sturges in Brooklyn in 1897. She was the daughter of Stephen Buckingham Sturges (1827-1897), a banker, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, and Sarah Minerva Cary (1833-) of Syracuse, New York. He was engaged as a real estate developer in Kingston, New York, trading as Jenkins & Fitch. The company built the Huntington apartment house there, among other projects.
According to the A&F company, Fitch was "restless and bored with his profession". He enjoyed the outdoors, and spent his leisure time yachting, climbing the Adirondacks and fishing in the streams of the Catskills. When David Abercrombie opened his excursions store Abercrombie Co. in 1892, Fitch became the store's "most devoted customer." In 1900, Fitch bought a major share into the ever-successfully growing company and thus became partners with Abercrombie: supposedly he had to "[convince]" Abercrombie into it. By 1904, Fitch's surname was incorporated into the company's name as "Abercrombie & Fitch Co." A&F calls Fitch an innovator, and claims that "it can't be done" was not in his vocabulary.
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