
(Photo courtesy of Vernon Hayward)
Asking me if I have a favorite photograph is like asking me if I have a favorite song. Favorite of who? What time frame? Just by themselves? Or with others? I worked in the photo-finishing business for more than 35 years and I love photographs. My favorite, though, probably changes quite often. Right now, my favorite photograph is one that I acquired not so long ago. I had been trolling around on the Ancestry site looking through other people’s trees for a clue to a mystery that I had been turning over in my mind and up popped a photograph of one Mace Pittman. Wait! What?
After looking over the information and realizing that it was my great-grandfather, I was pretty excited (and that’s a huge understatement). It didn’t click with me at first because, to me, his name was Jeremiah Mason Pittman and I had only seen my great-grandfather named as Mason or Jerry in the records that I’d found. This was also a good lesson for me in not using tunnel vision while searching for names. I’ve seen very few photographs of my father’s family over time and this was a great photo. I sent off a message to the man whose tree the photo was on and asked permission to attach it to my tree and received back a timely reply not only granting permission but offering up the photo to me if I’d like it. To make a long story short, around the Christmas holiday I received a package containing the framed photo. Never underestimate the kindness of strangers.

So, a little about Mace. He was born on Sunday, 08 May 1870, in Sunsbury Township near Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio to Jeremiah Pittman and Lydia “Jane” Gray, the second of five known children born to them in this marriage. Each had children from previous marriages. Jeremiah had two daughters from his marriage to Rachel Mellott and Jane had four- three sons and a daughter from her marriage to Archibald Mellott. (I haven’t figured out the exact relationship between these two Mellots yet, but I’m fairly certain there is one.) On the 1870 census of Monroe County, we find Jeremiah and Lydia with their three-year-old daughter, Lillie, and Jeremiah Mason, who was a month old. Three of Lydia’s sons from the previous marriage were also living with them.

Jeremiah was a farmer with a modest farm compared to those of his neighbors (mostly Mellott and Pool families). Within six years Jeremiah will be dead, leaving Lydia Jane widowed with four young children again. Her older Mellott sons have moved on and in the 1880 census, we find “Jane” in Switzerland Township, Monroe County, 12-year-old daughter, Lillie, and our 10-year-old Mason, along with the two additional young sons, George and Calvin. Lydia Jane is probably surviving on a widow’s pension going back to her first husband Archibald Mellott. It has been found where Mason’s father, Jeremiah, registered for service in the Civil War, but not if and when he actually served.

On the 28th day of November in 1892, Mason Pittman married Lena Pool in Monroe County, Ohio.
The 1900 census finds Mason and Lena back in Sunsbury Township renting a farm. They have added three young daughters to their family- Lottie, born in October of 1893; Francie, born in February of 1898; and, Esther, born in September of 1899.

By 1910, Mason and Lena have moved to Wayne Township in Belmont County, Ohio where Mason is still farming, but now as an employee. He and Lena have been married for 18 years and Lena has birthed seven children, all of whom have survived. They have added four more daughters to their family (yes, seven girls!), Eva, born in 1901; Lillie, born in 1904; Elma Jane, born in 1906; and, my grandmother, Erma, born in 1907. During the time of the census enumeration, Lena would have been carrying her eighth daughter, Celesta, who would be born in November of 1910.

Come the 1920 census, we find that the family has moved once again to a new farm, this time to Flushing Township in Belmont County, Ohio and Mason is working the farm on his own account. They have added two sons to their family! Raymond was born in 1913 and George was born in 1914. Mason was nearing the age of 50 and I can imagine, that being a farmer, he was glad to see two boys come along. One thing that I found notable while looking at this particular census is that all of the members of the family except for the five and six-year-old boys were able to read and write. After looking at hundreds of census records of farming people, I can tell you that this is not often the case.

It is not known how much the beginning of the Great Depression affected the family but by the time of the 1930 census. We find Mason and Lena living on Sandal Place N.E., near-in to downtown, in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Mason is still listed as a farmer but is noted as being unemployed. Daughter Elma, now 23, is working as an inspector at the bearing works and son Raymond, 18, is working as a laborer at a gas company. Son George, 15, has not attended school at any time since September of 1929. We also find that Elma’s son, Arnold, 5, is living here also. Although he is listed as the son of the head of household, we know that this is Elma’s son, born in January of 1925 in Berea, Ohio.

In the 1930-31 Canton City Directory, we find Mason, Lena, and children’s address is 1011 Sandal Pl. N.E. with Elma Jane working at the Timken Company, Raymond working for the Cable Company, and George as a laborer.


Then the family moves again the next year to 1550 Greenfield Avenue S.W. (This home no longer exists.) George has moved out and Raymond, and Elma, and her son, Arnold, are the only ones still living with Mason and Lena.

By 1940, Mason (who is going by Jerry now), Lena, son George, and Elma and her son, Arnold, have moved to New Cumberland in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

The next year, in October, Lena dies from Diabetic Gangrene.
Mason’s son, Raymond, died in January of 1945 from asphyxiation when he fell asleep in his car. Mason passed away in a nursing home in Tuscarawas County on 29 March 1958. He was 87 years old. Note that in the following obituary that his birthdate is stated as being in 1871. We know this not to be true because Mason appears on the 1870 census, being born in May of that year.
While it is true that every picture does, indeed, tell a story, unless we know that person intimately, we can only guess at the stories in the lives of those pictured. The documents that we find while doing genealogical research help us to piece that story together. Bit by bit.
This is my Week #14 post for Amy Johnson Crow’s
52 Ancestors 52 Weeks Challenge.
The optional theme for this week was “Favorite Photo”.
SOURCES:
H. F. Walling and O. W. Gray New Topographical Atlas of Ohio
Published by Stedman, Brown and Lyon, Cincinnati, 1872
Photo courtesy of Vernon Hayward
Database online. Year: 1870; Census Place: Sunsbury, Monroe, Ohio; Roll: M593_; Page: ; Image: .
Year: 1880; Census Place: Switzerland, Monroe, Ohio; Roll: 1050; Family History Film: 1255050; Page: 629B; Enumeration District: 134; Image: 0542
Database online. Year: 1900; Census Place: Sunsbury, Monroe, Ohio; Roll: T623_31077_4117770; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1241305.
Database online. Year: 1910; Census Place: Wayne, Belmont, Ohio; Roll: T624_1157; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0053; Image: 482; FHL microfilm: 1375170.
Year: 1920; Census Place: Flushing, Belmont, Ohio; Roll: T625_1349; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 4; Image: 193
Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Canton, Stark, Ohio; Roll: 1870; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 815.0; FHL microfilm: 2341604.
Database online. Year: 1940; Census Place: Warren, Tuscarawas, Ohio; Roll: T627_3161; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 79-68.
Canton City Directory 1930-31
Canton City Directory 1932
So wonderful that he sent you the original photograph!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is, Cathy! I was very touched by his thoughtfulness.
LikeLike
This is the second blog in a row where the author shared a photo of an unknown ancestor and exclaimed, “Wait. What?” I actually went back to the first blog; and those were her exact words. Your sleuthing skills, however, resulted in a completely different outcome. I feel like I’ve found my own ancestor when I come across a progression of life details like the ones you described. Great find! And awesome photo!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Miss Donna! (Did I ever mention to you that a LOT of people have called me “Miss Hollie” my entire life?) Usually when I say “Wait! What?”, which has been drawn to my attention that I do a lot, it’s followed by **blink, blink**. It is a great photo. As a child who read and, at one time owned, every single Nancy Drew mystery – I thought that I’d become some sort of detective (if I ever grew up). It occurs to me from time to time, that I’ve actually become that. 🙂
LikeLike
What a great story and outcome of receiving the original story! Was this man not an ancestor of your grandfather? I’m thinking not as he gave up the photo to you, and that is what genealogy is all about – helping and sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jeanne, it appears that the Pittmans were family friends of the man’s family who supplied the photo (and perhaps neighbors). The families lived around the same town. It turns out that we are related though through my DECKER line – through George Decker, who is my 4th great-grandfather.
LikeLike
Hollie , What a wonderful tribute to your great grandfather. I was blessed to be given all of the genealogy information and pictures that was left to me by my late father. Fortunately a lot of the pictures that belonged to my grandmother and great grandmother had the names of the person written on them, ( Mace Pittman) and yes we are related thru the Decker line. My great grandfather Normans brother Leonidas was married to Hannah Decker. And they were all neighbors. I don’t believe in coincidense, things happen for a reason. I was entrusted with these pictures and information to share with family members who didn’t have them. I have been fortunate enough to share pictures of other peoples great grandparents that I had with the family members who didn’t have any. And for this reason I feel very blessed. Today I think Mace is looking down on his great granddaughter with pride and saying Thank You for the nice article Hollie. Vern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vern, thanks for reading and for the kind words. Some day soon we’ll need to compare notes on the Deckers. I believe that I had a question or two and you might be able to help me out. Have a good weekend!
LikeLike
After 46 years of knowing very little of my dad’s family I am now getting answers… Dale Franklin Piatt Jr is my dad… Eva and Jeremiah were his grandparents… Eva’s daughter Thelma is my grandmother… Any one with more info I would love to know….
LikeLike
I love this picture! Jeremiah Mason was my great-great-grandfather (their daughter Frances Brandon was my great grandmother.) I came across your blog post through a google search for J. M. Pittman, and I’m so glad I did! You’ve filled in some gaps for me. 🙂
LikeLike
Susan,
Frances is actually Francie. She is my great-grandmother as well. My grandfather is James Brandon and Francie is his mother. He said some called her Frances, but that was wrong. He said her name is Francie for sure.
Just wanted to clear that up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for commenting, Eric. I will change that in my records as soon as possible. Please let me know if you spot any other errors.
LikeLike
Thanks, Eric. Your grandfather James and my grandfather Stanley were brothers then. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed in 2007 before I got into genealogy so I never got to ask him about family trees. I miss him!
LikeLike
Eric, my email is susanbguthrie@gmail.com I haven’t seen James in years and years. How is he?
LikeLike