Pitts, George M - d. 1927
Pioneer Missourian Dies
George Marion Pitts, Missourian, who came in Buchanan County by steamboat more than 70 years ago, died last night in the Methodist hospital in St. Joseph following an operation yesterday morning. He had been in failing health for 15 years and had undergone three major operations in less than a year. The end came at 8 o'clock.
Mr Pitts was born in Kentucky April 17, 1849. He was a small boy when his parents migrated with him by river steamer to the banks near Weston , MO. His mother died on the river journey with cholera that infested the boats of the time.She was buried somewhere on the banks of the Missouri river. George Pitts lived practically all of his life on the farm homesteaded by his father, located one mile east of Armour Junction. He married Miss Georgiana Dyer, also of the Sugar Creek neighborhood, 51 years ago. He was an industrious, bones, farmer, one of the men who knew the old days and the new, and could tell of the old as interestingly as he had accepted the new. He was a member of the Sugar Creek Christian Church.
He is survived by his widow and children, Mrs. Alois Philps and Mrs Harry Foley of Atchison, Mrs. Edith Gamble of St. Joseph, William Pitts of East Atchison, Mrs. Dora Frazier, Man and Frank Pitts of Rushville. Hillary Pitts of Kansas City, MO a brother is living as are three half brothers, Tom Pitts of Dekalb, MO, Jim and John Pitts of Rushville, Two half sisters, Mrs. Dora Dyer and Mrs. Maggie Grooms are livng in Rushville.
Surviving also are 25 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, most of whom are living in the vicinity of Armour, Rushville and Dekalb.
The Body will remain in the chapel of the Harouff funeral home until 11;30 am tomorrow at which time the funeral cortege will move to the Sugar Creek Christian church near Armour. The services will be at 12:30 o'clock in the Sugar Creek Church, conducted by Willaim Allison, lifelong friend of George Pitts. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pall bearers will be six grandsons, Leo Pitts, Arnold Pitts, Walter Frazier, Raymond Frazier, Frank Spenner and. Bert Spenner.
Source: The Atchison Daily Globe, Wednesday, Oct 12, 1927 p. 8.
Contributed By: Shirleen Gartin