John Fitts
1843-1928
John Fitts
John Fitts was born on March 25, 1843 in Caldwell County, Kentucky. His parental lineage is unproven at this time. However, many researchers believe him to be the son of Mary Woodson Fitts from Halifax, Virginia and many list Henry as his middle name.
Earliest records indicate this Fitts family as they "Fitz" family (Mary, Manerva, Eliza, John and Willard) living in the Elijah J. and Sarah A. (Fitts) Jones household in the 1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky Census. Eliza is listed as a pauper in this Census. By the 1860 Census we find one remaining "Fittz" family member, John in the same Jones household. It is unclear where the other Fitz" family members have gone. There is a death certificate for Eliza who died in Caldwell County from consumption on April 15, 1852. It is possible the rest of the family met the same fate.
John joined the Civil War effort on the union side, serving in the 48th Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry, Company G. Serving along side him were many Lyon County residents including George W. West and Samuel S. West (Future In-law), William T. Dunning (Future brother-in-law), Elijah L. Jones (Uncle), George W. Jones (Cousin). Not much has been printed on this Infantry, however fellow researcher Jordan Carroll does include some of John's military background in his "John Fitts: Examination of His Life" biography as well as his descendants. (Read More)
After the war, John married Mary E. Dunning on October 30, 1867 in Lyon County, Kentucky, the daughter of Naham and Julia Ann (Sheridan) Dunning. This union was blessed with nine children, all living into adulthood. Some researchers do list a daughter by the name of Jane Fitts, however it is unproven at this time as no birth or death records have been found. One record would have been helpful in establishing this, the 1890 Census, but those records were destroyed in the fire.
The bond between the Fitts and West family proves to be life long as John's daughter Ellen marries Samuel's son William some 29 years later.
Earliest records indicate this Fitts family as they "Fitz" family (Mary, Manerva, Eliza, John and Willard) living in the Elijah J. and Sarah A. (Fitts) Jones household in the 1850 Caldwell County, Kentucky Census. Eliza is listed as a pauper in this Census. By the 1860 Census we find one remaining "Fittz" family member, John in the same Jones household. It is unclear where the other Fitz" family members have gone. There is a death certificate for Eliza who died in Caldwell County from consumption on April 15, 1852. It is possible the rest of the family met the same fate.
John joined the Civil War effort on the union side, serving in the 48th Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry, Company G. Serving along side him were many Lyon County residents including George W. West and Samuel S. West (Future In-law), William T. Dunning (Future brother-in-law), Elijah L. Jones (Uncle), George W. Jones (Cousin). Not much has been printed on this Infantry, however fellow researcher Jordan Carroll does include some of John's military background in his "John Fitts: Examination of His Life" biography as well as his descendants. (Read More)
After the war, John married Mary E. Dunning on October 30, 1867 in Lyon County, Kentucky, the daughter of Naham and Julia Ann (Sheridan) Dunning. This union was blessed with nine children, all living into adulthood. Some researchers do list a daughter by the name of Jane Fitts, however it is unproven at this time as no birth or death records have been found. One record would have been helpful in establishing this, the 1890 Census, but those records were destroyed in the fire.
The bond between the Fitts and West family proves to be life long as John's daughter Ellen marries Samuel's son William some 29 years later.
John and Mary's Children:
James Tolliver "Mr. Jim" Fitts 1867-1946
Ollie "Oll" Fitts 1870-1950
Florence L. Fitts 1873-1948
Mary Alice Fitts 1873-1957
Sarah E. Fitts 1875-
Ellen Rose "Rosie" (West) Fitts 1876-1917
Nellie Gray Fitts 1881-1962
Minnie Fitts 1838-1936
Nina Fitts 1897-1979
Ollie "Oll" Fitts 1870-1950
Florence L. Fitts 1873-1948
Mary Alice Fitts 1873-1957
Sarah E. Fitts 1875-
Ellen Rose "Rosie" (West) Fitts 1876-1917
Nellie Gray Fitts 1881-1962
Minnie Fitts 1838-1936
Nina Fitts 1897-1979
John and Mary were married 61 years until John's death on April 2, 1928 in Lyon County, Kentucky. Mary passed away a few years later in 1925. Neither John or Mary's death records have been found as of yet. The couple are buried at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Lyon County, Kentucky.
Sources:
United States Census
United States Census