Bio: Moses J. Pittman, Claiborne Parish, LA Source: Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. *********************************************************************** Moses J. Pittman is a man of more than ordinary energy and force of character, and no agriculturist of this region is deserving of greater success in the conduct and management of his plantation than he. His birth occurred in Dallas County, Mo., on December 23, 1837, but his father, James H. Pittman, was a native of the Hoosier State. The latter was a son of John Pittman, a native of Ireland, and when a young man went to Illinois, and was there married to Miss Julma Martin, a Knox County, Tennesseean by birth. For some time after their nuptials were celebrated Mr. Pittman followed the plow in Sangamon County, Ill., but about 1835 moved to Dallas County, Mo., of which he was one of the pioneers. He made a farm there on which he resided until the opening of the Rebellion, when he helped to swell the ranks of the Confederate Army, and died while in the service in 1863. His widow still resides in Dallas County, where she reared a family of five sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch being third in order of birth, and all are now living with the exception of one son. Moses J. Pittman was given a fair country school education, and made the most of his opportunities, but as he had learned the details of farm labor of his father, he began devoting his attention to this calling, and was actively engaged in following the plow when the South seceded. He immediately joined the State Guards, but about three months later entered the regular Confederate service. He was in the engagements at Dry Wood, M., and Elk Horn, Ark., in the last named engagement receiving gunshot wounds in the thigh and heel, which permanently disabled him, and he was soon honorably discharged. In the spring of 1863 he had so far recovered that he determined to re-enlist in the service, and until the close of the war served in the Thirty-fourth Arkansas Infantry. He first held the rank of sergeant, but was afterward promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, the duties of which he was filling when he received his final discharge. He was in the engagements at Helena, July 5, 1863, Jenkins' Ferry, April 30, 1864, and also in a number of skirmishes. After surrendering at Marshall, Tex., he located in Bossier Parish, La., where he farmed the following ten years. January 7, 1866, he was married to Miss Mary E. Sligh, a native of Louisiana, reared and educated at Minden, and a daughter of George B. Sligh. After tilling his large plantation in Bossier Parish until December, 1876, he came to Claiborne Parish and purchased land in Ward 5, a considerable portion of which was improved. He has purchased different tracts from time to time, and now has about 1,500 acres, all in one body. He has cleared up 150 acres, and has otherwise greatly improved his property. He commenced his independent career empty handed, but the property he now has, has been accumulated in Bossier and Claiborne Parishes, and he is now considered, and justly so, one of the wealthiest planters of this section. He raises on an average 125 bales of cotton annually, but other Southern products are given considerable attention. He has always been Democrat in politics, but has never been an aspirant for office, although he has often been solicited to make the race for the Legislature. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and have a family of three sons: Thomas S., Nicholas Wade and James H. A daughter, Augusta, died at the age of four years. Mr. Pittman has on his land a fine stream, saw and grist mill, which adds much to his annual income. It may with truth be said, that there is not a more public-spirited or honorable man in the parish than Mr. Pittman, and by every action he has shown that he has the interest of his fellow-man, and country at heart.