Father married 4 times, had brothers Hershel, Harry and brother Leon in Escalon and sister Ethel.
Grew up on McKinley Ave, Modesto on the Bald Eage Ranch.
1930 census: Modesto, Stanislaus, CA
Arthur b abt 1894 Illinois
Marjorie R 30
Betty Jane Pitts 8
Herschel Pitts is listed in LDS records as b abt 1859 St Clair, Illinois, USA to Blarney Pitts and Ellen Burton, d 1937 ??
Father possibly Loren Edgar Pitts born 21 May 1862 Of, Freeburg, St Clair,
Illinois
Loren's parents possibly James Pitts and Mary Varner m 25 Apr 1861 Illinois
Loren's brother James Elmer Pitts, b 05 Feb 1865 Freeburg, Ill, d 24 Mar
1946 Freeberg, St Clair, Illinois
Loren's father James Pitts b 02 Dec 1829 Illinois, d 02 May 1865
Mary Varner b abt 1842 St Clair, Illinois, d 21 Apr 1928 Geyserville, Stanislaus,
CA
David says Arthur's parents were from Freeberg, so William below has to be out
LDS reports same Loren with same birth but diff parents William and Margaret
Stookey
William b 22 Feb 1836 Illinois, d 10 May 1910 buried Linkville Cemetery,
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Margaret Stookey b 31 Oct 1842 St. Clair, Illinois d 24 Jan 1930
William's parents Kinchen Pitts and Elizabeth Elder m 21 Jan 1824 Rutherford,
Tennessee
Margaret's parents Daniel Stookey and Margaret McGuire m 14 Jun 1827
Kinchen b 25 Dec 1800 South Carolina d 17 Nov 1874 Nashville,Washington,
Illinois
Elizabeth Elder b Jan 1799 Virginia d 12 Mar 1874 Nashville,Washington,
Illinois
Elizabeth's parents James Elder and Mary m 09 Sep 1789 Campbell,Virginia
Father James Elder b abt 1765/70 Brunswick,Virginia d 1824 Rutherford,
Tennessee
Mother Mary b abt 1770 Virginia, d bef 1820
1870 census: New Athens, St Clair, Illinois
Lucius Stantz 33, b 1837 Illinois
Mary Stantz 26, b 1844 Illinois
Edgar Pitts 8, James Pitts 6, George Stanz 7
1900 census: New Athens, St Clair, Illinois
Edgar L aged 39 b May 1862 Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
Anna E aged 37 b Aug 1862 England, parents both born in England, married
1885
Children Bessie M 15, Herschel J 13, Ethel S 11, Leon L 9, Arthur A 6, Harry
M 8 mos
1910 census: Freeburg, St Clair, Illinois
Edgar L aged 47 b May 1862 Illinois, both parents born in Illinois
Anna E aged 47 b Aug 1862 England, parents both born in England, married
1885
Bessie E 24, Hershil J 23, Ethel S 21, Arthur A 16, Harry W 10, Edna E 7.
1920 census: Modesto, Stanislaus, CA
Edgar L aged 57 b May 1862 Illinois, mother is Mary Stuntz, he is
widowed
Bessie M 35, Arthur A 25, Harry M 20, Edna 17, Mary Stuntz 76 (mother)
Mary Stuntz b abt 1844 in Illinois, parents from Illinois.
Father is John Pitts per Edgar's Passport application 08 Jan 1920, living in Modesto, father is dead. Listed residence as Freeburg May 27 - 1862 to Sept 1910, Modesto Sept 1910 to present time, farmer.
Per his death cert, mother's maiden name Stuntz, birth May 27 1862 Ill, death 5 Jan 1949 Fresno.
Story from ancestry tree as follows:
EDGAR L. PITTS. — A fruit-rancher of experience and ability, well-known for his enterprise, is Edgar L. Pitts, manager of the famous ranch owned and operated by Metzger, Pitts & Son, some eight miles north of Modesto on the McHenry Road, where he is assisted by his son, H. J. Pitts. He was born on May 27, 1862, at Freeburg, St. Clair County, 111., the grandson of Kinchon Pitts, a native of Tennessee, who was married in that state to Elizabeth Eldredge, with whom he came to Central Illinois in pioneer days. One of their three children was James Pitts, the father of our subject, who came to own 100 acres of land and died in 1865; he was married in St. Clair County to Miss Mary J. Varner, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Abraham and Edna (Million) Varner, born in Illinois and Kentucky, respectively, also pioneers in Illinois. Two children blessed the union- — Edgar L. Pitts, the elder and the subject of our review, and James Pitts, who is still a resident of St. Clair County. Mrs. Pitts married a second time, choosing as her husband L. D. Stuntz, but he died in that county, leaving one child, Lucius D. Stuntz.
Edgar Pitts attended the local country schools and, growing up, took up agriculture and became an extensive grain farmer at Freeburg. He was married in St. Clair County, 111., on May 27, 1884, to Miss Annie D. Sawyer, a native of England, who came to Illinois when she was eight years old and settled with her parents in Perry County, later removing to Freeburg. Her father was James Sawyer, an operator in the coal mines. She had a lovable disposition, and was highly esteemed for her womanly qualities; and when she passed away, on November 4, 1918, she was mourned by a wide circle of friends. She was the mother of seven children.
Bessie E. lives at home. Herschel J. is married and maintains his own home on the same ranch. Ethel resides in San Francisco; Leon lives at Escalon ; Arthur and Harry are assisting their father; Edna is Mrs. Green of Modesto. Mr. Pitts was married a second time in February, 1921, being united with Mrs. Jennie (Pledger) Hughson, who was born in Franklin County, Ark., a daughter of Marshall and Eliza Pledger. Marshall Pledger served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War, after which he moved to Arkansas, where he died and later his widowbrought the children to Los Angeles and she now makes her home in Manteca. Mrs.Pitts was reared and educated in Los Angeles. Her first marriage was to Ora M.Hughson, a son of the late Hiram Hughson. The family attend the Baptist Church, and are standpat Republicans and hearty supporters of President Harding. Mr. Pitts and son, H. J. Pitts, and J. E. Metzger own an excellent ranch of ninety acres planted to wine grapes, peaches, apricots and almonds, and they operate under the firm name of Metzger, Pitts & Son. Mr. Metzger lives in Sonoma County, where he is an extensive ranch owner; and Mr. Pitts, aided by his son, gives personal attention to the Stanislaus County project. Mr. Metzger is the husband of Wilmos Varner, a sister of Mr. Pitts' mother, that is, an uncle by marriage, and he was the ineans of inducing Mr. Pitts to come to the Golden State in 1910. They bought the ranch in 1911, and moved on the place. When they first acquired the land, all but three acres was planted to grapes, peaches, apricots and almonds; and since then Mr. Pitts has set out the remaining three acres to apricots, so that the entire ranch is now in full bearing. Mr. Metzger and the Messrs. Pitts also were organizers and builders of the California Cooperative Canneries, which was organized at Modesto in 1920, and which has already given fame to its brands of peaches, apricots and other kinds of fruit. This cannery was built in 1920 and Mr. Pitts has been a director since its organization. He is a member of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Almond Growers Association. Mr. Pitts served as school trustee in Illinoisand was trustee of Stoddard school district in Stanislaus County for one term, servingas clerk of the board and now his son, H. J., is clerk of the same board.
1850 census: District 4, St Clair, Illinois
Blaney Pitts ,38, born North Carolina abt 1812
Ellen Pitts, 30, born in Tennessee abt 1812
Benjamin Pitts 16, Elmyra 14, John Pitts 7, Mary 5, Blaney 3, James
0
1860 census: Township 1, Range 7, St Clair, Illinois, Freeburg Post Office
Blaney Pitts 48, born North Carolina abt 1812
Ellen Pitts 39, born in Tennessee abt 1812
Benjamin Pitts 26, John Pitts 17, Mary Pitts 14, Blancey Pitts 13,
James Pitts 11, Hanson Pitts 8, Perry Pitts 5, Kinchin Pitts 3, Herschel
Pits 6 mos.
1870 census: New Athens, St Clair, Illinois
Lucius Stantz 33, b 1837 Illinois
Mary Stantz 26, b 1844 Illinois
Edgar Pitts 8, James Pitts 6, George Stanz 7
Kinchen b 1800, married a Nancy, had many children, died in Washington, Ill 17 Nov 1874.
1850 Census District 4, St Clair, Illinois
Blaney Pitts 38, born North Carolina abt 1812
Ellen Pitts, 30, born in Tennessee abt 1812
Benjamin Pitts 16, Elmyra 14, John Pitts 7, Mary 5, Blaney 3, James 0
1860 census: Township 1, Range 7, St Clair, Illinois, Freeburg Post Office
Blaney Pitts 48, born North Carolina abt 1812
Ellen Pitts 39, born in Tennessee abt 1812
Benjamin Pitts 26, John Pitts 17, Mary Pitts 14, Blancey Pitts 13, James
Pitts 11, Hanson Pitts 8, Perry Pitts 5, Kinchin Pitts 3, Herschel Pits 6
mos.
1870 census: Raccoon, Marion, Illinois
Blaney Pitts 58, born North Carolina abt 1812
Ellen Pitts 49, born in Tennessee abt 1812
Blancey Pitts 23, James Pitts 21, Hanson Pitts 18, Perry Pitts 15, Kinchin
Kenton Pitts 11, Herschel Pits 10.
1880 census: Raccoon, Marion, Illinois
Ellen Pitts 59, b abt 1821 from Tennessee, parents from Tennessee, widowed
Kinchin Pitts 21 single, Hershall Pitts 20 single, Perry Pitts 25 Married,
wife Hardy Pitts 21.
William Ellsworth / Mary Elizabeth Pitts/Kinchin Pitts
William Ellsworth set out early in life to earn his own livelihood, working first upon a farm in St. Clair County, Ill., and employing himself for a number of years at whatever his hands could find to do. After reaching manhood he was married to Sarah Tolbert, of St. Clair County, Ill. Three children were born of this union: John, who lives in Wichita, Kan.; George, a resident of Cowley County, that State, and J ane married Joseph Bishop, and they are living at Heyworth. Mrs. Sarah Ellsworth died in St. Clair County, in 1847. The second marriage of our subject took place in St. Clair County, Ill., Nov. 8, 1848, with Mrs. Mary E. Chesney, widow of Robert Chesney, and daughter of Kincheon and Elizabeth (Elder) Pitts. By her union with Robert Chesney there was born a daughter, Harriet, who married John S. Bishop, and they live in Randolph Township. Mrs. Ellsworth was born near Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 10, 1823. Her parents were natives of the same State, her father being engaged in farming. They left their native State in 1828, and came with their two children, Mary E. and Nancy, to St. Clair County, Ill., where they located upon a farm. Afterward, in 1873, they removed to Nashville, Washington County, this State, where the father died in November, and the mother in March, 1875, both aged seventy-five years, and both members of the Baptist Church, as also were John Ellsworth and his wife before they died." [Portrait and biographical album of McLean county, Ill., Chapman Bros., 1887]