Ware County GaArchives Biographies.....Pittman, David William 1872 - living in 1913
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 1:56 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 911-912

   DAVID WILLIAM PITTMAN. A man of mark and of recognized worth as a citizen,
David W. Pittman, of Waycross, sheriff of Ware county, enjoys the confidence and
esteem of his fellows to a high degree, and is filling the position to which he
has been chosen with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. A native
of Georgia, he was born December 10, 1872, in Ware county, which was likewise
the birthplace of his father, Rev. Travis Pittman.

   His paternal grandfather, Linsey Pittman, was born in Robinson county, North
Carolina, and there "did his growing." Attaining his majority, he boldly struck
out for himself, coming to Georgia and settling in Ware county, which was then a
frontier region. Indians still inhabited the woods, far outnumbering the whites,
and frequently terrorized the new settlers. He first purchased a tract of wild
land on Kettle creek, and later bought land including the present site of the
Congregational church. After improving a part of his land, he moved to the
southern part of the county, and on the farm which he there bought and improved
spent the remainder of his long life, passing away at the age of four score and
four years.

   Born in Ware county, Georgia, Travis Pittman assisted his father in the
pioneer labor of redeeming a farm from the wilderness, and well remembered
through his life many of the thrilling incidents of those early days. As a boy
he heard the report of the guns when the Wilds family was massacred, and saw the
soldiers rushing madly by in their pursuit of the fleeing savages, that having
been one of the worst crimes committed by the redskins within his memory. On
reaching man's estate, he bought land near the old homestead, and by dint of
heroic labor cleared and improved a farm from its original wildness. In his
early days, there being no railroads in this section of the country, he was
forced to team all of his surplus farm productions to Centerville, and on the
Saint Mary's river, forty miles away, that being the nearest market and depot of
supplies. Selling his farm in 1886, he explored Florida, looking for a more
promising location. After a thorough search in the more fertile parts of that
state, he became convinced that Georgia had much greater advantages and
resources, and came back to his native county. Purchasing land near Waresboro,
he subsequently resided there until his death, in 1906.

   Converted in his youth, Travis Pittman joined the Methodist Episcopal church,
and having been licensed preached for some years in Ware and adjoining counties.
He subsequently united with the Congregational Methodist church, which later
became the Congregational church, and continued a preacher in that denomination,
being for many years an earnest and zealous worker in the Master's vineyard.

   Rev. Travis Pittman married Kate Mills, who was born in Milledgeville,
formerly the capital of Georgia, being a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Mills.
She is now living on the home farm, near Waresboro, where she is enjoying all
the comforts of modern life. To her and her husband seventeen children were born.

   An ambitious scholar when young, David AV. Pittman attended the public
schools of Ware county, in his thirst for knowledge oftentimes walking a
distance of six miles to attend school. Assisting his father on the farm, he
received an excellent training in habits of industry and economy, and when ready
to begin life on his own account bought land in the vicinity of Waresboro, and
was 'for several years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. Removing to
Waycross, he opened a grocery, which he managed for two years, and was
afterwards similarly employed at Fort Meade. Florida, for a year. Returning then
his farm, which he still owns, Mr. Pittman continued general farming for some
time, being quite successful as a tiller of the soil. In 1910 he was elected
sheriff of Ware county and has since been a resident of Waycross.

   Mr. Pittman east his first presidential vote for William J. Bryan, and has
always been a stanch adherent of the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a
member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of the Knights of the
Modern Maccabees; and of the Woodmen of the World. Religiously both he and his
wife are valued and active members of the Missionary Baptist church.

   At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Pittman was united in marriage with Ida
Rigdon, who was born in Waresboro, Georgia, a daughter of John and Sally
(McQuaide) Rigdon, and into their home two children have been born, namely:
Geneta and Bradford.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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