Pitkin, Caleb

Pitkin, Caleb a Presbyterian minister, was born in New Hartford, Litchfield Co., Conn., Feb. 27, 1781. He graduated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1806; studied theology privately under Rev. Asahel Hooker, of Goshen, Conn.; was licensed June 10, 1807, by the North Congregational Association of Litchfield, Conn., and supplied for a time the churches of Derby and Oxford. In 1808 he became pastor of the Church in Milford, being ordained and installed by the West Consociation of New Haven, Conn.; in 1816 he acted as missionary in Ashtabula and Portage counties, Ohio; and in 1817 he was installed pastor of the Congregational Church of Charlestown, Portage Co., Ohio, where he remained about ten years. Previous to the close of this period measures had been taken by the presbyteries of Grand River and Portage towards the establishment of a college. Mr. Pitkin had been an active agent in this work, and henceforward it was the principal object of his attention. In 1828 he removed to Hudson, where the Western Reserve College was established, and remained there till his death, Feb. 5, 1864. See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Almanac, 1865, p. 169. (J. L. S.)