Person:Eli Pitman (1)

Research Notes

Eli Pitman was born about 1800 in North Carolina. Information about his parents and his early life is unknown.

Eli migrated to Indiana as a young man. In 1829, at the approximate age of twenty-nine, and married Hannah Reed in Wayne county, Indiana. At about that same time, Eli purchased a cabinet-making business in Dublin, Wayne, Indiana from the company of Peck and Matthews, one of the earliest cabinet making firms in the area.

In 1835, Eli and his young family moved to Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana, where Eli's business grew to include undertaking, in addition to the cabinet shop. He ran both of the businesses out of the "Old Stoddard Building" in downtown Cambridge City. In 1836, Eli assisted in laying out the plans for the downtown area and in 1843, he served as a Trustee for the city.

As Eli's business grew, so did his family. By 1849, he and his wife Hannah had 7 children - 5 sons (Ithamer, Leonidas, John, William and George) and 2 daughters (Mahetable and Mary). Three of the Pitman sons served in the Civil War, survived, and returned to Indiana to raise their families.

Eli and Hannah remained in Cambridge City for the remainder of their lives. In 1860, at the age of 60, Eli was still serving the town of Cambridge City as an undertaker. Eli Pitman died 27 May 1861¹¹, at the age of fifty-eight. Per cemetery records, he was buried in the old Capitol Hill Cemetery in Cambridge City. His gravestone was unearthed in 1975 as part of a cemetery restoration project¹³, but a 2011 search for the stone at the site by researcher cos1776 was unsuccessful.

Theories

• birth date = 19 May 1803. Source: some online trees, with no source, which suggests tradition. Additional evidence to support this date is needed.
• death date = 27 May 1861. Update --cos1776 21:09, 29 November 2017 (UTC) : found the source of this traditional date - an old typewritten manuscript of cemetery readings in Cambridge City¹¹

For Further Research

• Update --Cos1776 22:28, 9 December 2015 (UTC) : I believe that this Eli Pitman MAY be connected to the Quaker family of Person:James Pitman (7) (pos a brother) who immigrated from Guilford County, NC in 1821 and finally settled in Parke County, Indiana. In 1829 our Eli Pitman supposedly came to Wayne County, Indiana. That same year James Pitman had a son and named him "Eli Pitman". More research is needed to secure the connection between these families.
• Update --cos1776 14:59, 18 February 2017 (UTC) : This Eli Pitman may also be connected to the family of Anthony Pitman who was received in the White Water MM in 1839 from Miama MM, but later disowned for disunity in 1846. Of interest - also disowned in 1847 was an "Elias Pittman" ("1847-3-24. (H) Elias (Pittman) disowned for disunity.") who was not recorded elsewhere and who might be a match.
• Thoughts --cos1776 12:11, 28 September 2017 (UTC) : It is possible that Eli Pitman did not know his parents or family history very well. He appears to have come to Indiana without any family members, and in a time when most parents used family names for their children, Eli and his wife chose hero names instead. "Ithamer Warner" was a prominent local physician. "Leonidas" and "Lycurgus", were Greek historical heros, which indicates some education on the part of the parents. But, what about son "John Spencer"? Is this a family name? More research needed.

1. ↑ Young, Andrew White. History of Wayne County, Indiana from its first settlement to the present time: with numerous biographial and family sketches; embellished with upwards of fifty portraits of citizens and views of buildings. (Cincinnati, Ohio: R. Clarke, 1872)
   263.

   "The first cabinet-makers in Dublin are said to have been Peck & Matthews, as early as 1829, who sold to Eli Pittman."
   -----
   [cos1776 note: In 1915, local historian S.B. Huddleston published a newspaper article in which it was claimed that "Young's history was in error in the statement that Peak [sic] and Matthews and Eli Pitman operated a cabinet shop in this building before [Thomas] Allen did ...", referring to a log house still in existence on the property of William Riser. No further information or explanation was provided. [Huddleston, S.B. "Girl's Courage Opened School to Both Sexes", Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana), 08 Jul 1915, page 10.] This is a confusing statement, as earlier in the month an article had appeared in the Cambridge City Tribune (referenced below), which stated that Eli Pitman had operated his cabinet shop out of a building then known as the Stoddard building.]

2. ↑ United States. 1830 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M19).

   1830 U S Census: Washington, Wayne, Indiana, Page: 79; NARA Roll: M19-29; Family History Film: 0007718.
   -----
   Name: Eli Petman [Eli Pitman] Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Washington, Wayne, Indiana Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 2 Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1 Free White Persons - Under 20: 1 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 3 Total Free White Persons: 4 Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 4

   
3. ↑ United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704).

   Year: 1840; Census Place: Cambridge, Wayne, Indiana; Roll: 98; Page: 314; Image: 642; Family History Library Film: 0007731.
   -----
   Name: Eli Pitman Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Cambridge, Wayne, Indiana Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2 Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1 Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 Persons Employed in Manufacture and Trade: 2 Free White Persons - Under 20: 4 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2 Total Free White Persons: 6 Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 6

   
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana).

   6 May 1875 - In 1843, "Eli Pitman was a Trustee of Cambridge City"
   
   29 Jul 1915 - The old Stoddard building is no more. A.R. Feemster has torn it down and will sell the timber. It was built in 1836, the same year the town was platted, by Eli Pitman, father of Lee Pitman, who occupied it as a cabinet shop and undertaking establishment. At one time Mrs. Sarah Terhune taught a private school in the building and W.T. Markle was one of her pupils.

5. ↑ United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   Year: 1850; Census Place: Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana; Roll: M432_180; Page: 18B; Image: 42.
   -----
   Name: Eli Pitman Age: 50 Birth Year: abt 1800 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1850: Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana Gender: Male Family Number: 257

   
6. ↑ United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653).

   Year: 1860; Census Place: Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana; Roll: M653_308; Page: 402; Image: 403; Family History Library Film: 803308.
   -----
   Name: Eli Pitman Age in 1860: 58 Birth Year: abt 1802 Birthplace: North Carolina Home in 1860: Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana Gender: Male Post Office: Cambridge City

   
7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 History of Henry County, Indiana: together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens; also a condensed history of Indiana. (Chicago [Illinois]: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1884)
   520.

   "I.W. Pitman ... a son of Eli and Hannah Pitman, his father a native of North Carolina and his mother of Pennsylvania. His father dies in Cambridge City, in 1861..."

8. ↑ 39624671, in Find A Grave
   [No headstone photo].

   [cos1776 note: In 2011, I visited the cemetery and was unable to locate Eli's stone.]

9. ↑ ^9.0 9.1 Obituary for Mrs. Hannah Pitman, in Cambridge City Tribune. (Cambridge City, Indiana)
   28 Jul 1887.

   ... Mrs. Pitman was among the early settlers, having resided in this place for 52 years. Her husband, Eli Pitman, who died in 1861 was a cabinet maker by trade and for many years up to near the time of his death, was the only undertaker here. ...

   
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Probate , in Wayne County, Indiana Will Book
    4:68.

    [as Transcribed by cos1776]
    Record of the last will and testament of Eli Pitman filed in the Clerks office of the Wayne Court of Common Pleas 8 June 1861.
    
    Know all men by these presents that I Eli Pitman of the County of Wayne and State of Indiana do declare and make this my last will and testament.
    First. That my body be decently interred and all my just debts paid.
    I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hannah all my Real and Personal property after my debts are paid to have to hold the same during her widowhood or natural life. Then to go to my beloved children Ithamer Warner, Leonidas, John Spencer, William Henry, George Washington, Mahetable and Mary Elisabeth Pitman share and share alike.
    I further desire and request that my wife take charge of my undertaking business and attend to it the same as I was living.
    I hereby appoint E.W. Finney and Thos. Newby executors of this my last will and testament.
    Given under my hand and seal this 26th day of May 1861.
    Eli (his X mark) Pitman
    Signed in the presence of Thomas Newby, I.W. Pitman, A. McCoy
    
    State of Indiana SS Wayne County
    Before me Sol Meredith Clerk of the Wayne Court of Common Pleas personally came Alexander McCoy one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament of Eli Pitman late of Wayne County Indiana deceased and being duly sworn on oath says he was present at the execution of said last will, that the same was duly executed, that at the time of the execution the testator was of full age to devise his property, of sound mind and memory and not under any coercion or restraint, that said testator requested him to sign said will as witness thereto which he accordingly did in the presence of Thomas Newby and I.W. Pitman subscribing witness thereto.
    Subscribed and sworn to this 6th day of June 1861.
    A. McCoy
    Sol Meredith clk. State of Indiana. Wayne County. SS
    
    I Sol Meredith Clerk of the Wayne Court of Common Pleas do hereby certify that the above and foregoing last will and testament of Eli Pitman late of Wayne County State of Indiana deceased was this day duly admitted to probate and record and proof thereof duly made by Alexander McCoy one of the subscribing witnesses thereto which said will together with such proof has been duly recorded in Record of Will No 4 page 68 & 69 in this office.
    Witness my name and the seal of said court at Centerville this 6th day of June 1861.
    Sol Meredith clk of CCP
    -----
    [Will Records, Vol 1-4, 1812-1865]

11. ↑ ^11.0 11.1 Cemetery records, Cambridge City, Wayne County, Indiana [1].

    [Capitol Hill Cemetery Records]
    
    PITMAN.
    Eli, d. 27 May 1861, age 58 yrs. (Father).
    -----
    [cos1776 note: this source is a typewritten manuscript of cemetery readings done in Cambridge City with no specific author or date. It is the first time I have seen Eli's death date explicitly stated. Also note that wife Hannah Pitman is not listed although she is supposed to have been buried in Capitol Hill in 1887.]

12.   LVM8-H4S , in FamilySearch Family Tree
    [includes sources].
13. ↑ "Capitol Hill restoration officially underway", in National Road Traveler. (Cambridge City, Wayne, Indiana, United States)
    9, 08 Oct 1975.

    "... The first digging took place on the lot of Eli Pitman, Cambridge City's earliest recorded undertaker. ..."
    -----
    [cos1776 note: Restoration was performed by the Whitewater Valley Junior Historical Society. I visited the cemetery in 2011 and could not locate any stone for Eli Pitman.]