William D. Pittman (1865-1947)

PITTMAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/3/2023 at 16:43:04

William D. Pittman
(July 29, 1865 – March 17, 1947)

William D. Pittman, one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of Calhoun Township, is the owner of an excellent farm of four hundred acres, conveniently located on section 16, within a mile of Lake City. His methods of farm management show scientific knowledge combined with sound practical judgment and good business ability, and the results have been most satisfactory. Mr. Pittman is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Piatt County, that state, July 29, 1865. His father, John B.Pittman, was born in Butler County, Ohio, September 19, 1833, and is a son of George Pittman, who was a native of New Jersey and at an early day removed to Ohio with his father, John Pittman, locating in Warren County, where the latter followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. There George Pittman grew to manhood, and in Butler County, Ohio, was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Baker, a native of that county. After farming in Butler county for some years he removed to Darke County, the same state, and opened up a farm. In the county of his nativity John B. Pittman was reared and educated, and remained with his father until grown. He was there married on the 6th of October, 1852 to Miss Loretta Bake, who was also born in the Buckeye state, and they became the parents of three children, but their only daughter, Mary J., died at the age of three years. Their sons were William D., of this review; and J. W., also a farmer of Calhoun County. The father continued his residence in Ohio until the fall of 1851, when he removed to Illinois, and located in Piatt County, where he followed farming for nineteen years. He next made his home in Champaign County, that state, for twenty-one years, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits. He then came to Calhoun County, Iowa, and is now living a retired life, enjoying a well earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business affairs. He has become quite well known and is honored and respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. His estimable wife died in Illinois, October 29, 1895.
William D. Pittman passed his boyhood and youth in Piatt and Champaign counties, Illinois, and received a good practical education in the common schools. Leaving the parental roof at the age of seventeen years he began life for himself as a farmer upon rented land, and was thus employed for several years. He was married in Champaign County, November 9, 1887, to Miss Nettie E. Warner, a native of that county, and a daughter of Jeremiah Warner, who was born 111 Ohio, and became one of the pioneers of Champaign County, Illinois. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two sons, Earl W. and Harry C, and they also have an adopted child, Velma Hudson, the daughter of Mrs. Pittman's sister. Mr. and Mrs. Pittman began their domestic life upon a farm in Champaign County, Illinois, he having purchased a tract of land near Mahomet, which he operated for six years and then sold in 1892. It was during that year that he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Calhoun Township, Calhoun County, Iowa, but continued his residence in Illinois until 1895, when he located upon his land in the Hawkeye state. He has since made many improvements upon this place and has added to it until he has a very valuable farm of four hundred acres under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he has carried on stock raising quite extensively for several years.
He is well known as a breeder of pure blooded shire horses, and today owns seven fine animals of that bred. In all, he has
twenty-five head of high grade horses. He commenced life for himself at the bottom of the ladder, but has gradually worked his way upward by his own industry, perseverance and good management, and is today one of the most substantial men of his community and the owner of a large and valuable farm. Mr. Pittman votes the Republican ticket, believing the principles of that party best calculated to promote general prosperity, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church of Lake City, while his father holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. The family is one of prominence in Calhoun Township. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.561]