My Genealogy Hound

DAVID PITTMAN. The year 1883 witnessed the arrival of this gentleman in Pettis County and his settlement on section 29, township 45, range 22, where he still resides. It had been his intention in removing westward from Ohio to settle in Kansas, but in his tour through that state he found nothing satisfactory, so came to Missouri and purchased one hundred and sixty-six acres where he now lives. Here he has erected a good house, granary, blacksmith shop and windmill, and he has also placed the land under excellent tillage, thereby enhancing its value.

The parents of our subject, William and Delilah (Eddy) Pittman, were natives, respectively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania, the former having been born across the river from Wheeling. He was a farmer by occupation, and made his home in Ohio until about 1888, when his death occurred. Throughout life he operated as a renter, never owning land. His family numbered six children, of whom the eldest, Nancy, married Levi Malson and died in Bartholomew County, Ind., leaving four children. Our subject, the second of the children, was born in Monroe County, Ohio, March 17, 1845. Alexander, who is married, is a farmer and blacksmith of Brown County, Ind. Elsie, wife of Job Litman, lives in Monroe County, Ohio. Christina, Mrs. Oliver Dinkins, has four children, and lives in Omaha, Neb. Fannie, who is married to Marion Gilmore, lives in Monroe County, Ohio, and has six children.

Upon his father’s farm our subject passed the years of boyhood, receiving a common-school education. At the age of seventeen he began to learn the blacksmith’s trade with William Young, receiving $150 for three years’ work. At the age of twenty he opened a shop of his own in the country, and there he carried on business for fourteen years. Prior to completing his apprenticeship he was married, at the age of nineteen, and had two children by that union, namely: William, a farmer by occupation; and Mollie, who died September 5, 1886, at the age of twenty-one. The wife and mother died when her younger child was an infant.

March 29, 1866, Mr. Pittman married Miss Hannah Jane Fox, who was born and reared in Monroe County, Ohio. Her parents, James W. and Susannah (Myers) Fox, were natives of Greene County, Pa., the former born October 8, 1803, and the latter March 10, 1799. They were married in Greene County, January 3, 1822, and continued to live there until after the birth of four children, when they removed to Ohio. Their eldest child, Joseph, was born January 16, 1823, and is a farmer and shoemaker of Monroe County, Ohio. Mary, who was born November 28, 1824, married Henry Eddy, and at her death, in 1848, left two children. Next in order of birth was a child that was born June 24, 1827, and died unnamed in infancy. Elizabeth, born October 11, 1828, died at the age of twenty-two. Jacob, whose birth occurred November 26, 1830, died in 1884, and his wife passed away the same year, leaving six children. John, who was born May 6, 1833, lives near Holden, Mo. Frederick, born May 7, 1835, lives in Wetzel County, W. Va.; he was a soldier during the Civil War. Mathias, born January 23, 1839, is a farmer in Wirt County, W. Va. Mrs. Pittman, the ninth in order of birth, was born in June, 1841. The youngest was Catherine, born July 4, 1844, and who died at the age of nine years.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Pittman were born, the grandfather in 1772, and the grandmother October 3, 1776. The former, who attained to the advanced age of eighty-seven years, served in the War of 1812, and in that conflict his wife was taken prisoner by the Indians, remaining a captive for a year and a-half. She then escaped and returned to her home, where she died at the age of forty-nine. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pittman there were born five children, the eldest of whom, Francis Marion, operates a sawmill in Benton County, Mo., where he resides; he also owns a farm in Pettis County. He is married and has four children, one of whom, Lulu, was born June 18, 1886, and makes her home with her grandparents. She is a bright and winsome child, and her grandparents are tenderly devoted to her. Sarah C. is the wife of Charles Butler, of Elk Fork Township, and they have one child. James W., a farmer, is living with his parents. Mattie, an accomplished young lady, and Mason D. are also at home. The children were born in Monroe County, Ohio, and were the recipients of excellent educational advantages.

In 1873 Mr. Pittman retired from the blacksmith business and purchased an interest in two sawmills, also purchased some shares in a cheese factory. In the latter enterprise he was closely interested, buying milk, making the cheese, and selling the products of the factory through different parts of the country, some as far west as Sedalia. In 1883 he disposed of his interests in Monroe County, Ohio, and came to Pettis County, where he has since resided. Politically a Democrat, he has been prominent in local affairs in his community. While in Ohio he was a School Director, and has served in the same capacity in Pettis County, being Clerk for a time and also serving as President. At the age of seventeen he united with the Christian Church, which his wife joined at the age of nineteen, and they have since been consistent members of that church, in which he is a Deacon. Two of his children are also connected with that religious body. Socially he is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance and the Woodmen of the World. He was one of the number who helped to drive Morgan out of the state when that famous general made his celebrated raid into Ohio. As a citizen he favors measures calculated to promote the welfare of his fellow-men, and is regarded as one of the progressive and liberal-spirited men of the county.