The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-08-28
MORTUARY.
Edward Klnkaid pltman.

EngllSn STOCK Wllie MS mOCler was OF
Irish origin.
In 1888 the family moved from Ken
lucky TO Illinois and fourteen years
later came to Decatur county, Iowa,
settling on a farm in Eden township, n
miles south of Leon, where the subject
of this sketch endured the hardships
common to the pioneer farmers son.
In the spring of 1852, he enlisted as u
private in Co. Il, 3rd Missouri cavalry,
in which he served until the following
December, when the regiment was
broken up by hard service and divided,
his company being assigned to the 9TH
Missouri cavalry. From that time until
the close Of the wal he was connected
with the quartermaster's department.
In the winter of 1866, he taught
school near Pleasanton and the follow
ing autumn was elected clerk of the
courts, which office he filled for 70 ur
years, after which he purchased and
for two years edited the Leon Pioneer,
the first newspaper published in Leon.
Deceased has always affiliated with the
democratic party and in 1872 was APP
pointed a delegate to the national con.
y%ention which nominated Horace
Greeley for the Presidency.
Mr.. Pitman was postmaster of Leon
from 1856 to 1889, prior to which time
he had been for som years engaged in
merchandising. Since his retirement
from the postofice he had built up an
extensive real estate and loan business
and enjoyed the entire confidence of
all his patrons and business associates.
Early IN life deceased became a menu
Der of the Christian church and has al
ways been active in benevolent and
p~hllanthropic enterprises. The ten.
perance cause especially found in him a
jealous and untiring worker, and he
was always found ready to aid and sue
cor the unfortunate and oppressed. His
generosity was only limited by his
ability and many are the unseltish deeds
which he performed in an earnest en-
deavor to follow in the footsteps of the
Master who said: "Do unto others as
We would have them do unto you.n
For many years he had been a member
of the Masonic fraternity and had filled
numerous Offices within the gift of that
society.
MIR. Pitman had been a resident OF
Leon since 1867 and had continuously
labored for the %upbuilding of the town.
He, with others, promoted a movement
to secure the entrance into LeonlMn ahe
Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska Ihd,
of which ex-governor Drake wayAs,then
president and whichtis now a part Of thet
keokuk,& Western system. Failing in
that efforts were made which resulted in
the building Of the Charlton branch Of
the G. B.& Q. and later the Des Meinesg
g. Osceola Railways which have proved
of great'benefit to the town and country.
Deceased was married on September
is, 1854, to Miss Louisa Osborn, the
mother Of all his children. Her death
occurred January 30, 1874, and in 1875,
he was married to Mrs. Sarah l. Caster,
mother of j. NJ. and j. A. Caster, of this
city, who died August IL, 1890. On
December 8, 1891, deceased was united.
in marriage with Mrs. Sarah l.. Dale, a
lifelong acquaintance.
Mr.. Pitman was the father Of five
children, four of whom, Mrs. NJ. p.
Lindsey and Mrs. Ora Gardner, Of
Leon; Mrs. ii. A. Hilliker and Ed X
Pitman jr., of Des Moines, together
his bedside during his illness and death.
Two brothers, John w. Pitman, of
Havana, ILL.,, and j. Ii. Pitman, of Leon,
with three sisters, Mesdames Mary Z.
Stanley, of Concordia, Kansas, Rena
Mcdowell, of Davis City, and Margaret
Poole, of Leon. are left behind.
He was a kind, loving husband, an
indulgent, afiectionate father and a
truly loyal brother.
The funeral services were held from
the family residence Monday afternoon
at 2:30 o'clock, conducted by Elder H..
Fl. Hubbell, pastor of the Christian
church, the services at the cemetery be-
ing in charge Of the Masonic lodge, of,
which be had been an honored mem.
Der for many years.
May his memory always remain green
in the hearts Of those he loved aud
served.
The following tribute to the memory
of Mr.. Pitman was paid by a lifelong
friend and business competitor which is
an evidence Of the esteem in which he
was held:
ED, as he vas Familiarity known, was
always on the side of the people. To
make them better, wiser and happier
was to him a genuine pleasure. He will
be missed by the many to whom he
gave sympathy and announcement in