Pittsburg in Camp County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

William Harrison Pitts

(1815 - 1898)

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

1. William Harrison Pitts Marker

Inscription. Born in Georgia to Hardy and Drucilla (Neal) Pitts, William Harrison Pitts moved his plantation household to this area by 1854. He purchased 200 acres and built a home near this site. A settlement began to spring up, and a post office was established with the name "Pittsburg." Pitts acquired more land over the next few years, setting aside 50 acres for the town's development. In 1874, his offer of $50 toward a new courthouse was a deciding factor in the election of Pittsburg as the seat of the newly organized Camp County. The town became a junction of two railroad lines in the late 1870s and by 1880 it had a population of 750. The "Pittsburg Gazette" was first published in 1884. William Harrison Pitts was married four times and had two children. A merchant, civic leader, and veteran of the Creek Indian wars, he died in 1898.

Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11791.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 32° 59.835′ N, 94° 58.204′ W. Marker is in Pittsburg, Texas, in Camp County. It is on Quitman Street (Texas Route 11) east of Moreland Street, on the right when traveling east. Located at Pitts Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 220 Quitman Street, Pittsburg TX 75686, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of

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America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pitts Family Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Shootout at the Pittsburg Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pittsburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cotton Belt Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Farmer's Feed and Seed Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Stafford-Paris House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Methodist Church of Pittsburg (approx. 0.2 miles away); W. L. Garrett Building (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsburg.

William Harrison Pitts Marker on right. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

2. William Harrison Pitts Marker on right.

Nearby Pitts family graves. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019

3. Nearby Pitts family graves.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 930 times since then and 82 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 9, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.