James Pitts was born Abt. 1846 in Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), and died March 24, 1918 in Union Co. Il. (Anna). He married (1) Emiline Spurlock on October 17, 1862 in Cannon Co. Tennessee, daughter of Francis Spurlock and Sarah Ashford. He married (2) Matilda Brimm on December 16, 1888 in Cannon Co. Tennesee, daughter of Thomas Brimm and Susan Unknown.
Notes for James Pitts: James Pitts was born in Tennessee about 1845/47. The best evidence at this time suggest that his parents were "unknown Pitts" and "unknown Estes" or Essex. This information was provided by James Pitts' Granddaughter, Violet Pitts who recalled the surnames of her great grandparents but not their given names. The 1900 Union Co. IL. census records that James' Father was born in Alabama and his Mother in Tennessee. It appears that James himself provided the information to the Census Recorder because of details provided such as the length of time he had been married (27 years). Another less likely possibility is a couple named Josiah Pitts and Sarah Merriman. The 1850 Cannon co.Tn. census records Josiah at age 45, born in KY, and Sarah age 30, born in TN. They were married in Cannon Co. TN. on September 13, 1843. At the time of the 1850 census Josiah and Sarah have two children in their household. James age four and Elizabeth age two. A second daughter was born after the census was taken in 1850. Her name was Catherine. She is found on the 1860 Warren Co. TN census at age ten. Warren Co. borders cannon Co. on the east. By the time of the 1860 Census Josiah and Sarah Pitts had moved to this location. Information found in census records is often inaccurate. James Pitts can be found for certain under the (misspelled) name James Pittes on the 1870 Cannon Co. TN. Census, 1900 Union Co. IL. Census (Anna), and living in the household of his Grandson, Oakley Allen Pitts, on the 1910 Union Co. IL. Census. (Anna) Between these three records there are age conflicts and other inconsistencies. However, from the information provided some general conclusions can be made. James was born about 1845/47 in TN., probably in October. His Father was born in Alabama and his Mother in Tennessee.
James Pitts married Emiline Spurlock on October 17, 1862 in Cannon Co. TN. They raised their Family in and around the town of Woodbury TN. Emiline died in August of 1888 during or soon after the birth of her twelfth child , a son, named Wiley. The boy also died. According to Mary Pitts Hoyle the daughter of Luster Pitts, who has herself seen Emilines gravestone, Emiline is buried on the slope of a hill on private property in Woodbury TN. She has this quote on her gravestone: " Think of me as you pass by. As you are so once was I. As I am, you must be . So prepare for death and follow me." Mary Pitts Hoyle wrote down the quote and had it inscribed on her own tombstone in the Anna Cemetery in Anna IL. (Union Co.) Emiline's tombstone gives a birth date of September 4, 1844 and a death date of August 4, 1888. The birth year conflicts with the 1850 Cannon Co. TN. Census (Francis Spurlock, head of household) which gives Emiline a birth year of 1846. The death date on her tombstone is most likely accurate because it would have been inscribed near the time of Emilines death. Emiline is the daughter of Francis Spurlock and Sarah Ashford.
Sometime between 1889 and 1892, James Pitts and at least some his children moved from Cannon Co. TN. to Union Co. IL. where he and most of his family eventually settled. It is unknown if James Pitts ever went home to TN. again. A son, James B. was living in Union Co. IL. at least by 1895 where he married his wife Eliza Thomas in April of that year. His Father James signed a consent form so that James B. could marry Eliza Thomas who was considered a Minor. James B. and Eliza returned to Cannon Co. TN. and raised their family there. James B. and Eliza's first son, Shela (pronounced she-lee) was born in Union Co. IL. March 12, 1896. Mary, a daughter of James Pitts and Emiline Spurlock, may have visited Union Co. IL. but made her home in Woodbury TN. with husband, William Brown and their children. Another son, Thomas, moved with his wife and children from Union Co. IL. to Texas not long after 1900. Thomas passed away in Fort Worth Texas in April of 1953. Son, William Pitts with wife Della Thomas, settled in Union Co. IL. permanently around 1900 although they had most likely been there before. William and family did make several trips back to Woodbury (Cannon Co. TN.) The death certificate of James Pitts' daughter, Francis Pitts Brimm, states that she had been a resident of Union Co. IL. for 70 years(1889). 1959 Union Co. IL. Informant: Son, Ed Brimm. The October 1928 obituary of James' daughter Mattie, states that she had been a resident of Union Co. IL. for about 40 years(1888). So it appears that James Pitts and family settled in Union Co. IL. within 1 to 3 years after the death of his wife, Emiline Spurlock, in Cannon Co. TN. in 1888. James remarried to Miss Matilda Brimm on December 16, 1888 in Cannon Co. TN. Matilda was the Mother of James' son in law, Christopher Columbus Brimm. This marriage took place within a few months of the death of James' first wife and was probably a marriage born of necessity. James had several children still living at home at the time. James Pitts was a share cropper and had several employers in Union Co. IL. Among them were Thomas Pete Sifford and George Bacon. James had family ties to members of the Elkins, Spurlock and Merriman families who also traveled between TN. and IL. and worked for some of the same employers.
Daisy Pitts White, James granddaughter and daughter of John Pitts and Minnie Elkins recalls that James was soft spoken and that he was a small framed man. Cecil Pitts, son of William Pitts and Della Thomas, recalled that in old age, James Pitts had a long white beard. On the morning of March 24, 1918 James' Granddaughter Nova, daughter of John Pitts and Minnie Elkins, thought she saw her Grandpa walking up the country road leading to their home. She ran out to meet him but he was not there. She found out later in the day that he had passed away. James is buried in the Casper cemetery in Anna IL. as are many of his children and grandchildren.
More About James Pitts: Date born 2: Abt. 1846 Burial: Casper cemetery / Anna Il.. Source: Death date is according to Union Co. IL. death certificate..
More About James Pitts and Emiline Spurlock: Marriage: October 17, 1862, Cannon Co. Tennessee. Marriage license: October 17, 1862, Cannon Co. TN. marriage register book A2, page 105.
More About James Pitts and Matilda Brimm: Marriage: December 16, 1888, Cannon Co. Tennesee. Marriage license: Issued December 15, 1888. Source: Cannon Co. TN. marriage register: Book E, Page 108.
Children of James Pitts and Emiline Spurlock are:
+William Pitts, b. December 06, 1873, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d. June 29, 1965, union Co. Il..
+John Pitts, b. March 25, 1880, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d. March 31, 1955, union Co. Il..
+Mary J. Pitts, b. 1865, Woodbury Tn., d. July 27, 1944, Woodbury Tn..
+Julia Ann Pitts, b. 1864, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d., Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury).
+Thomas Pitts, b. 1867, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d. April 1953, Fort Woth texas.
+Francis Pitts, b. 1869, Woodbury Tn., d. January 29, 1959, Union Co. Il..
+Mattie Pitts, b. 1871, Woodbury Tn., d. October 13, 1928, Union Co. Il..
Denton Pitts, b. 1878, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d. October 12, 1903, Anna Illinois.
+Luster Pitts, b. May 06, 1886, Cannon Co. Tennessee (Woodbury), d. November 24, 1973, Johnson co. Il.
+Daisy Pitts, b. October 14, 1883, Woodbury Tn., d. April 09, 1922, Pulaski County Illinois.
James Pitts (b. Abt. 1846, d. March 24, 1918)
Notes for James Pitts: