Life History

Notes

• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
  John Calvin Pitts
  Birth 20 Oct 1873 Crawford County, Arkansas
  Father Virgle H Pitts
  Mother Susan J Orick
  SSN 447103088
  Jan 1938: Name listed as JOHN CALVIN PITTS
  
  The person referred to above in the Social Security record as John Calvin Pitts appears to be the same person the FAG burial memorial calls Calvin James Smith.  His grave has his name simply as Cal Pitts.  The social security record reports John Calvin's father as Virgil Pitts.  Calvin James Pitts had a son named Virgil.
  
  I would normally think the Social Security record would be more likely correct, since this should have come directly from the individual himself.  However, the registration was late in his life.  The year of birth reported from family info for Cal (ref the FAG memorial) is the same year as reported in the specific date in the Social Security record.  But then I found that his WWI record with matching birth date and residence information has the name John Calvin Pitts, signed with the full name.  The WWI registration also has the name of his wife as Jessie, matching the 1917 record for his second marriage.
  
  U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  John Calvin Pitts
  Age 44, Birth 20 October 1873
  Residence Route 1, Dalby Springs, Bowie, Texas, USA
  Farming
  Nearest relative (wife) Jessie Pitts
  Tal, Medium Build, Gray Eyes and Hair
  Registered 12 September 1918 Texarkana, Bowie County, Texas
  
  Most records have just his initials as J C.  Witness his two marriage records in the same county.
  
  Texas, County Marriage Records, 1817-1965
  J L [Lucy Jane] Forsyth, Female
  J C Pitts
  Marriage 13 Jan 1901 Bowie County, Texas, USA
  
  After Lucy died in 1914, James (or John) remarried in 1917.
  
  Texas, County Marriage Records, 1817-1965
  J C Pitts, Male
  Jessie Anderson, Female
  Marriage 14 Jan 1917 Bowie County, Texas, USA
  
  Only the FAG memorial has the name James.  Calvin, however, must have been the name he went by, as FAG indicates.  His grave has only Cal Pitts.
  
  Calvin James Pitts
  Birth 1873 Arkansas, USA
  Death 1946 (aged 72-73) Porum, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA
  Burial Coleman Cemetery, Porum, Muskogee County, Oklahoma, USA
  Spouses:
  Jessie Elizabeth Dalby Anderson 1878-1958
  Lucy Pitts
  Son James Virgil Pitts 1909-1986
  Created by Juanita Pitts 25 Jul 2010
  --  Find a Grave Memorial 55420145, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55420145/calvin-james-pitts

Sources

• 1. 1910 Federal Census, Bowie County, Texas
  • 16 April, Precinct 4, District 17, page 2A, Hse/Fam #13
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 4. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 5. Texas, County Marriage Records, 1817-1965