My Genealogy Hound

Francis M. Pitts is a native of Trigg County, Ky., born in 1842, and is a son of Barney and Catharine Pitts, who were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively. The father died in Hickory County, Mo., in 1876, when seventy years of age, and the mother in March, 1888, when extremely old. They came from Kentucky to Missouri about 1848, and located near the southern border of Hickory County, where they spent their days, having been among the wealthy farmers of the locality, being the second heaviest tax-payers of the county. Mr. Pitts was a Republican in politics, and he and his wife became the parents of thirteen children, three sons and two daughters of whom are now living: Francis M.; James Monroe, a prominent farmer of Hickory County; Barney, a farmer of Kansas; Mary, widow of Sandy Richards, lives in Hickory County; and Jane, wife of Michael Dorman, a farmer of Hickory County. Francis M. Pitts made his home with his parents until 1861, when early in the spring of that year he enlisted in the Home Guards, and afterward in the Eighth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, in which he served until discharged in 1865, a portion of the time being sergeant of his company. After the war he bought the farm on which he now resides, and has become one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of the county. He is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, a Republican in politics; and he and his wife, whom he married March 5, 1866, are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Her maiden name was Mahala Ann Zumwalt, a daughter of Adam and Loretta Zumwalt, and she was born in Polk County, Mo., March 17, 1843. She and Mr. Pitts are the parents of three children: Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Roberts; James M., and Oliver C., all of whom are farmers. Barney Pitts, father of our subject, was a son of Burrell Pitts, who was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and was also in the War of 1812, and at the battle of New Orleans. He died in Hickory County, Mo., when very old, and his wife died at the age of 104.