Pitts Family - Ourfolk

Stephen Pitts, father of Mrs. McCormick, was born near Nashville, Tenn., and passed his early life in that state. His father died when the family, Stephen, James and several sister Elizabeth, Margaret and others, were young, and Stephen was bound out to a strict Presbyterian family. When sixteen years old he enlisted in the war of 1812, after which he settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, where he learned the tailor s trade, becoming an usually skilled workman. He always made the clothing he and his sons wore.Stephen Pitts was married in Ohio to Rachel Hendricks, a native of that state, daughter of David and Rose Hendricks. David Hendricks was a Revolutionary soldier and an early settler of Ohio, made his home in Eaton, that State, and died in Ohio.

After his marriage Stephen Pitts came to Indiana, settling in Richmond, where he worked for old Mr. Mansur, whose son, William Mansur, married a daughter of David V. Culley. David and George, the first two children of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pitts, were born in Richmond, whence in 182.1 or 1822 the family moved to Indianapolis, where Mr. Pitts owned, the ground now occupied by the Soldiers Monument. They remained there, however, only a short time, removing to Pendleton, where he took a claim. His wife always said her happiest days were spent on that place. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pitts: David never married: George W., of Indianapolis, married Mary Ann Beechart; Julia Ann was the wife of John L. McCormick; Eliza Ann died in infancy; Cynthia married Joseph Butsch, of Indianapolis; Mary E. married Truman French, of Indianapolis; Martha married Granville Mathews, of Indianapolis, and died nine months afterward; Frank M. married Fredonia Morrell; Rachel died in infancy; Hiram died at the age of sixteen. Only three of this family are now living, Mrs. Julia A. McCormick, Mrs. Cynthia Butsch and Mrs. Martha Mathews.

Mrs. Pitts died at the age of fifty-nine years, and Mr. Pitts survived her a year, reaching the age of sixty-one.He drew a pension for his services in the war of 1812. In his early days he was a great hunter.

Came to the vicinity of this place in the year 1827,
and soon rose to distinction in his profession --
that of trapper and hunter;
indeed, there were but few coons within twenty miles of this place but knew him by reputation,
and none wished to extend it to a personal acquaintance;
or if they knew of his intention to call on them,
would make it convenient to be far from home,
or, like the ladies of the present day, have told him so;
or, if he should come upon the unexpectedly,
they would, like Captain Scott's coon, come down and surrender,
sometimes without a struggle.

He was familiar with every 'otter slide,' or musk rat hole,
between Strawtown and the bluffs of White River,
and many an unsuspecting mink fell a victim to his deep laid schemes.

Mr. Pitt was a man that minded his own business,
paid his debts, voted the unterrified DEmocratice ticket,
and worshipped God according to his own conscience;
he was a back-woods-man in every sense of the word.
He died many years since.

His only surviving son, Geore W. Pitts, yet resides in the cuty,
and is one of the coolest men,
in his business transactions, we have ever known:
howe3ver, he is not willing to confive his coolness to himself,
but is anxious to keep his neightbors cool,
also, at the rate of twenty-five cents per hundred weight:
where his father once seared the salmon, trapped the otter and shot the musk rat,
George now vuts and gathers his beautiful crystal ice.

He also has a daughter, the wife of John L. McCormick,
one of our most enterprising and industrious master carpenters,
who is the nephew of John McCormick,
who build the first log cabin in Indianapolis.

(from Early reminiscences of Indianapolis)