Samuel Pinkney Pittman

capt. Samuel Pinckney Pittman, deputy sheriff, and one of the prominent

men of Washington County, Ark., was born ten miles southwest of Fayetteville,

in what is now Prairie Grove Township, June 27, 1836, and is the san of James

C. and Mary (Tuttle) Pittman, and grandson of Samuel Pittman. The parents

were natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and were frugal,

industrious people. They were married in Arkansas in 1835, at the home of

Solomon Tuttle. Their son, Samuel P. Pittman, grew to manhood in Prairie

Grove Township, and adopted his father's business, that of farmer and stock

raiser. In 1858 he married Miss Sarah Boone, daughter of William Boone (deceased),

and niece of Col. Noah Boone, of Rocky Comfort, Mo. They became

the parents of two children: William, who died in his eighteenth year of typhoid

fever (June 17, 1878), and Mary, a young lady of education and refinement. Mrs.

Pittman is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and an active

worker in the same. In June, 1862, Mr. Pittman entered the Confederate service,

and after serving as orderly-sergeant one year was elected lieutenant of

Company K, Thirty-fourth Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, Col. Brook's regiment,

and rendered active and honorable service for three years. He surrender~d his

company, Company K, at Fort Smith, June 12, 1865. He was taken prisoner

twice, but escaped each time. After the war he returned to hia farming and

stock raising, which he continued until 1882, when he retired. He took an active

part in the organization of the Washington C0unty Bank, became a member

of its directory, in 1886 its vice-president, and is its present honored president,

by election in 1888. Mr. Pittman served as trustee of the State University for

several years, served as captain of the militia for several years after the war, and

still holds that position. Upon the organization of the Grange movement in

Washington County, Capt. Pittman rendered important aid, and became a

charter member of Prairie Grove Grange. He was county master of the Grange

for several years, and served as delegate to the State Grange and lecturer of this

district. He owned a half interest in one of the first reapers and mowers brought

into Northwestern Arkansas, was the first one to bring a wheat drill into the

county, and he brought the first herd of Cotswold sheep and thoroughbred Short

horn cattle into the county. Upon the organization of the county fair of Washington

County, Ark., Mr. Pittman gave important support, and has held official

connection with that institution since. He is one of the county's best citizens,

and is universally respected.

PITTMAN, Samuel P. – A large concourse of the Civil War comrades of the deceased and other friends were present at 9:30 o’clock Friday morning when funeral services were held at the old family residence two miles north of Fayetteville over the remains of Captain S.P. Pittman, an old and respected resident of Washington County who died Thursday morning at 6:40 o’clock at City Hospital as the result of a complication of maladies with which he had been suffering for some time. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. M.L. Gillespie, Pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church who was assisted by N.M. Ragland, Pastor Emeritus of First Christian Church. The remains were then taken to Mount Comfort Cemetery, five miles west from Fayetteville where they were buried beside the graves of other members of the Pittman family. Bruce Holcomb, George Appleby, E.G. Combs, Dr. T.W. Clark, George Deane and J.C. White served as pallbearers. Captain Pittman was born in Prairie Grove seventy-nine years ago and had always retained his citizenship in this county. He made a splendid record as a Confederate soldier in the War Between the States, entering as an orderly and mustering out as a Lieutenant. Returning to civil life he took an active interest in the development of Fayetteville and came to exert much influence as a business man. He was one of the first directors of the Washington County Bank and was its first president when later it became known as the First National Bank. The only immediate surviving relatives are his widow, who resides at the only family homestead northwest of Fayetteville and Ed Pittman, who resides on a farm near Prairie Grove. [Fayetteville Democrat 7/23/1915]

Capt. Pittman Declines – Editors Democrat: In your last issue I notice that a “new ticket” has been placed in the field, on which I am honored with the position as the candidate for sheriff. While I appreciate the compliment some of my friends have paid me, I must be permitted to decline being a candidate for the office of sheriff. I am of the opinion that the people are content to make their choice from the material already in the field; and moreover, I have no disposition to divide the vote so that a small minority may elect. Very Respectfully, S.P. Pittman, Prairie Grove, July 24, 1876 [Fayetteville Democrat 7/27/1876]

Capt. S.P. Pittman, of Prairie Grove is now giving his whole attention to the raising of thoroughbred cattle. At our fair in September he will show us what can be done in the way of breeding fine blooded cattle in old Washington. Capt. P. has a fine farm, well suited for a stock farm, and he is a man of sound judgment and integrity, and parties purchasing stock from him can rely upon his word, besides they will get cattle acclimated to this country. [Fayetteville Democrat 7/27/1878]

Some fine stock from Capt. Pittman’s stock farm will be on exhibition at our Fair. (more) Capt. S.P. Pittman, of Prairie Grove, sold sixty head of fine hogs this week, to Mr. J.K. Martin. [Fayetteville Democrat 9/1/1881]

Capt. S.P. Pittman, of Prairie Grove, has sold his fine farm together with all of his stock, to a gentleman from Michigan by the name of Cole. Mister C. is a substantial looking man, and we are glad to learn that in all probability some of his old neighbors will follow him to his new home. We can assure them a hearty welcome from our citizens, and the good people of Prairie Grove valley in particular. We trust that Captain Pittman has no intention of leaving the country, because Washington can not afford to lose such citizens. [Fayetteville Democrat 9/22/1881]

Capt. S.P. Pittman is now a citizen of our city. Fayetteville is to be congratulated upon the accession of all such citizens. [Fayetteville Democrat 11/27/1881]

Capt. S.P. Pittman, of Nevada, Mo., is in the city this week. Capt. P, has purchased a very desirable lot on College Avenue, and will probably make Fayetteville his future home. [Fayetteville Democrat 1/18/1883]

We are pleased to state that our former country man, S.P. Pittman, Esq., who has been for several years a citizen of Missouri, has returned and will make Fayetteville his future home. We are informed that he will soon go into business here. [Fayetteville Democrat 9/11/1884]

Pittman – Bruno; Capt. S.P. Pittman and Mrs. Mary Bruno were quietly married yesterday evening at eight o’clock by Rev. N.M. Ragland at his home on East Dickson Street. Immediately after the ceremony, Capt. and Mrs. Pittman went to their country home north of town. The news of this wedding will bring great pleasure to the large circle of friends of the high contracting parties. The bride is a woman of great worth and attractive personality. She is gifted with all good graces that make a home. Capt. Pittman is one of the best known, most useful and highly respected citizens who ever lived in Washington County. He has the congratulations of his friends on the prize he has won. May he have many years of happiness in his new home. “A.” [Fayetteville Democrat 8/17/1911]

Capt. S.P. Pittman spent part of last week on his old farm near Prairie Grove. He had a most enjoyable visit, having gone on a possum hunt one night. [Fayetteville Democrat 11/24/1907]

Samuel Pinkney Pittman – Samuel Pinkney Pittman was born near Prairie Grove, Arkansas, June 27, 1836. He was the first born son of James C. and Mary A. (nee Tuttle) Pittman. He departed this life in the City Hospital, Fayetteville, Arkansas, July 22, 1915.

When a young man he worked on his father’s farm and attended school at Prairie Grove, Cincinnati and the Ozark Institute, near Mt. Comfort, these places all being in Washington County.

He was married to Sarah D. Boon, May 19, 1858. To this union were born William C. Pittman, April 22, 1859, who died in 1877, at the age of19 years, and Mary C. Pittman, April 18, 1868, who died in 1904, aged 36 years. Their mother followed them to there blessed, eternal home, in 1907.

He was again married, August 15, 1911, to Mrs. Mary Bruno, who survived him.

Judge J.M. Pittman and Mrs. Dudley Hinds (Dallas Pittman) brother and sister, preceded him to the beyond. One brother, W.E. Pittman of Prairie Grove, remain to mourn his departure.

In the year 1862, Capt. Pittman joined the Confederate army and was a member of Co. K, 34th Infantry. He was at first an orderly sergeant, but on account of his efficiency and bravery was rapidly promoted until he was First Lieutenant, and served throughout the war. He was in most of the battles west of the Mississippi River.

At the close of the war he returned to his farm and proved himself a successful agriculturist and stock raiser. In 1880, he sold his farm and moved to Nevada, Missouri, where he remained for two or three years, when he returned to Fayetteville, and remained until his death.

Captain Pittman was closely identified with the business life of Washington County since his young manhood. He was chosen as one of the first directors of what is now the Arkansas National Bank, and was the first President of the First National Bank. There never lived a man in Washington County whose name was more untarnished or whose honor was more implicitly trusted by all of the people. He was as nearly a man absolutely without guile as ever lived. As a soldier, as brave and courageous as any man who ever intelligently faced danger for the sake of a conviction; as a citizen, as honest, trustworthy and resourceful as the county possessed; as a husband and father, strong though tender, provident and kind; as a friend, true, considerate and just.

Captain Pittman possessed all of these characteristics because he was a devout, consistent, thoroughly consecrated Christian man. He was a valued member of Central Presbyterian Church of this city, having joined the church some years ago during the pastorate of Rev. R. Thomsen, his life-long friend, Dr. F.R. Earle, receiving him into the church. That day and service is one which will never be forgotten by the members of the congregation, as those two men whom they all loved so dearly, who had stood together in the hell of battle, who had been fast friends throughout the years, stood together in the altar of the church, the one receiving from the other the confession of his faith in Christ. This good man exemplified that faith in one of the most beautiful Christian lives ever lived in this community. His faith was as simple and sweet as that of a little child and his life as nearly perfectly consistent with it as is possible for imperfect humanity to live it. [Fayetteville Democrat 7/29/1915]