Early Life, Education and Family
Peter Hitchcock was born in Cheshire, Connecticut, the youngest son of Valentine Hitchcock (1741–1809) and Sarah Hotchkiss (1743–1802). His father was a tailor and landowner. Peter taught in a district school during the winter and worked on a farm in the summer to earn the money for his education. He entered college in the sophomore year, pursuing classical studies and was graduated from Yale College in 1801. He studied law with Barzillai Slosson (Yale 1791), of Kent, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1804 and commenced practice in Cheshire. On December 12, 1805 in Cheshire, he married Nabbe Cook (1784–1867) (sometimes written Nabby Cook).
In 1806, they moved to Burton, Ohio, becoming one of the first families to settle in that township of Geauga County, Ohio in the Western Reserve. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters, all born in Ohio. One son and one daughter died in infancy. Two of the sons also were graduated from Yale. Hitchcock spent the early years improving his farm, establishing his law practice and teaching. Peter Hitchcock was the first teacher at Burton Academy, which eventually became a part of Case Western Reserve University.
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