George Monroe Pittman 1832 – Carpenter and Soldier

George Monroe Pittman (1832-1879): Building Homes and Serving Honorably

78th Illinois Infantry, Company I

George Pittman, a resident of Industry, Illinois, answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Army on August 14, 1862. At the time of his enlistment, he was 30 years old, standing at a height of five feet eight and a half inches. George had auburn-colored hair and brown eyes, and he held the rank of Private. Fortunately, he survived the tumultuous years of the Civil War, serving for less than a year.

George’s service record indicates that he enlisted in Company I of the 78th Illinois Infantry Regiment on September 1, 1862, in Quincy, Illinois. He faithfully served until his honorable discharge on August 24, 1863. His discharge was attributed to a disability he incurred during his service.

During his time in the military, George Pittman participated in various campaigns and battles. He was among the brave soldiers who fought at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, and subsequently saw action in Franklin, Tennessee. He marched with the 78th Illinois Infantry to locations such as Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, where he played a role in the occupation of Shelbyville.

This information is sourced from “Illinois: Roster of Officers and Enlisted Men,” providing a glimpse into George Pittman’s brief yet significant service to his country during a challenging period in American history.

More about George Pittman

Interesting Fact: George Pittman was only three months old when Abraham Lincoln age 23, and 1200 other militiamen from different parts of Illinois marched north to fight Sauk and Fox Indians in the Black Hawk War in northern Illinois.

George Pittman was born on March 27, 1832, in Morgan County, Illinois. At the time of his birth, Morgan County was one of the most populous areas in the state. His parents, William and Nancy Pittman, had migrated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1829.

On October 28, 1858, George married Esther Dale in Macomb, Illinois. Together, they had four children: John, Nancy, William, and Emma. George worked as a carpenter, providing for his family through his skilled trade.

Tragically, George Pittman passed away at the relatively young age of 47 on December 2, 1871. Following his death, Esther Pittman remarried two years later.

George Pittman is remembered as the second great granduncle of Susan Landis Farr, his legacy carried through the generations of his family. His life and contributions as a carpenter and family man serve as a testament to the history of Morgan County, Illinois, during a significant period in its development.

Picture of George’s tombstone in Udall, Kansas. George was buried next to G.A. Jewitt, the man Esther married after George died. She outlived both of her husbands dying in 1916. Esther and daughter Susie’s names are on the other side of the tombstone pictured here.