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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of David W. PITTMAN 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Louise Brown and Alice Stipak. 

[Surnames: AYERS, ANDERSON, DEWITT, KEIMS, MARTIN, MASON, PITTMAN, SIPES] 

[starting on page 1034] 

    
PITTMAN, David W., a well-known farmer and grain-dealer of Lewistown, Fulton County, Ill., and one of the prominent and successful business men of his community, was born at Independence, Putman Township, Fulton County, May 6, 1861, a son of John and Caroline (Ayers) Pittman, natives of Harrisonville, Bedford County, Pa. The paternal grandfather, Richard Pittman, was also born in that State. The great-grandfather on the same side was a native of Scotland, and the great-grandmother was of German descent. John Pittman, the father, was born in 1821, while his father, Richard Pittman, was born in 1791 and died in 1874. Richard Pittman had a family of three daughters and one son. The daughters died [page 1035] between the ages of sixty-eight and eighty-two years. 
    
John Pittman settled in Fulton County in 1857, locating in Putman Township, where he bought a farm of 240 acres, which he owned at the time of his death, eighty acres of it being the home place. For many years he was a teacher in his native State. His wife, Caroline, passed away December 25, 1864. Their union was the source of seven children, namely: Richard E.; George S., deceased; Mary, deceased wife of James W. Mason, a resident of Canton, Fulton County; Elizabeth, wife of Herbert Sipes, a farmer in Waterford Township; Jacob, of Cuba, Ill., David W. and William F., deceased. 
    
John Pittman married as his second wife Elizabeth Keims, this union resulting in three children: Charles L., a farmer in Putman Township; Frank O., a farmer and hardware merchant in Cuba, Ill., and Jennie E., wife of Jasper DeWitt, a farmer in Joshua Township, Fulton County. The decease of Mr. John Pittman, the father of this family, occurred August 30, 1905. Beginning in Fulton County with limited means, he had, by industry, frugality and perseverance, accumulated a handsome competency. In politics he was a Democrat and filled with credit nearly every office in his township, his fellow townsmen insisting on imposing public trusts upon him as long as he would accept them. For many years he discharged the duties of Supervisor. He was public-spirited, always identified with the best interests of the county. Church and school alike ever found in him a strong advocate. He was a man of absolute integrity, his word being considered as good as his bond. 
    
David W. Pittman, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the paternal farm, where he made his home until he was twenty-four years old. He meanwhile received his mental training in the district schools and has passed his entire life in Fulton County. In 1885 he engaged in the grain business at Civer Station, remaining there one year; then spent one year at Bryant, Fulton County, and in 1888 located in Lewistown, Ill., where he devotes most of his attention to buying and shipping grain. In addition to this he owns and manages a farm of 250 acres in Sections 10 and 15, Waterford Township. His business and farming operations have proved successful, and he is ranked as one of the substantial men in Fulton County. 
    
On September 8, 1886, Mr. Pittman was united in marriage with Mattie J. Anderson, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of William and Sarah (Martin) Anderson. Six children have been the offspring of this union, namely: Mary E, Hazel M., David E., Ross F., Verna L. and John W., all of whom have received a thorough mental training in the schools of Lewistown. 
    
In politics Mr. Pittman is a Democrat and has held office as a member of the Board of Review of Fulton County and served as a member of the Lewistown City Council. Fraternally he is affiliated with the K. of P., M. W. A. and Court of Honor.