Notes for William Gittins

The Generations of Thomas Pine Petznick

Generations

Thomas Pine Petznick

Notes for William Gittins

The Gittins Family
This information was provided by Dorothy Gittins

It is believed the Gittins family first came from Germany, that is, originally. Mr. Oliver Gittins, son of a Thomas Gittins (now deceased) of Carno, N. Wales gave this information to Beatrice Gittins, wife of Thomas Gittins, Griswold, Iowa when she visited Wales in 1937.

William Gittins came to America from Carno, N. Wales between 1865 - 1868. He settled in Pittsburgh [Philadelphia], PA, where he worked in the iron foundries. In 1869 he married Isabella Dines, who came to America when she was sixteen, from the northern part of Ireland and also settled in Pittsburgh [Philadelphia]. From Pittsburgh [Philadelphia] they moved to Stacyville, near Albia, Iowa in 1870, where
they farmed.

William, Anna, Hannah and John were born while living there. From Staceyville, they moved to Cass County, Iowa in 1874, and cut corn on the George Johnson place, which is now known as the Herb Thompson place, two miles north of the Fellows Corner.

While in Cass County, in 1874, he purchased 160 acres of land, now known as the Thomas Gittins place. He purchased this land for fifteen dollars per acre. The post office was located one mile south on the DeWitt place.

It was necessary to haul livestock and grain either to Red Oak, or to Atlantic until around 1878 - 1890 at which time the railroad line connected Red Oak to Atlantic.

Hogs hauled to Red Oak brought 2 - 3 cents (per pound) and corn 10 cents per bushel. Before railroads, it was necessary to travel to Carbon for coal, a distance of about twenty-five miles. Other fuel was corn and cobs.

In 1902 Thomas Gittins, son of William married Beatrice Mary Stevens. They lived with Thomas' father and mother one year, then Thomas & Beatrice moved to the corner place about 1/2 mile away. In 1905, William & Isabel moved to Atlantic, Iowa. They lived there until their death. Isabel died Feb. 1911 - William August 1917.

In 1905, Thomas & Beatrice took over the farm for good. In 1917 the old house was torn down & a new one erected in the same place. Thomas and Beatrice had three children, all born in the old home. They were Burt, Thomas and Lois.

Thomas farmed until he was taken ill in 1941. He died May 19, 1941.

After his death, his wife, Beatrice tried to keep the farm going, but with good help scarce and living alone on the big farm too much, she leased it to Gus Shellburg and moved to Griswold, four miles away. Later an Ed Shellburg took over the farm, leasing it, and moved there with his family.

WM. GITTINS PASSED AWAY
Death Comes Suddenly, Thursday Morning at home in Atlantic.

Wm. Gittins, one of the best known men in Cass county, for many years a resident of Pleasant township, but who for the past few years has been making his home in Atlantic, passed away Thursday morning after a short illness from acute indigestion. Everything which could be done for the stricken man was done, but it was of no avail and he passed away. His relatives in this part of the county hastened to his side, but death had claimed him before they arrived so rapidly did he sink.
Mr. Gittins was born in Wales, seventy-three years ago, and came to the United States in 1865. He located in Cass county in 1875. He resided on the farm now occupied by his son, Thomas, for many years and it was there that his family was raised. The children who survive him are: W.J, Thomas and John, and Mrs. P.E. Lamborn, of this locality, Miss Anna at home, Mrs. H.S. Linn and Mrs. L.H. Pine, of Atlantic. There are twenty-one grandchildren who also survive him.
Mr. Gittins was a good man. He lived at peace with all the world. His passing away will be widely mourned.
The funeral services were held at the home in Atlantic, Saturday morning at 10:30 being conducted by the Rev. Clarence Bigelow, assistant pastor of the University Place Church of Christ of Des Moines. Services were also held at the Lowman chapel at 2:30. After the services at Lowman the remains were laid away by the side of Mrs. Gittins, who died some six years ago. Another good man has been called to that other home.
For the many acts of kindness the family wish to express their heartfelt thanks.

Gittins Family Tree Information

This information sent to me by my Mother, Mary Louise (Pine) Petznick

Dates are listed where they appeared in the original document. Additional dates will be provided as soon as I get a chance to collect all of the data.

This information was provided by Dorothy Gittins & Beatrice I. Gittins

Thomas Gittins (of Lancaster, Eng) married Hannah Morgan (born in Carno, S. Wales)

Children: (1) Thomas, (2) Robert, (3) John, (4) William, (5) Edward, (6) Elizabeth, (7) Mary, (8) Hannah *

Of the William Gittins branch (came to America in 1865)

William Gittins (Montgomeryshire, Carno, N. Wales) (b. 1844 - d. 1917, acute indigestoin)

(at 18 in 1868) married

Isabella Dines (Dublin, Ireland) (b. 1848 - d. Feb. 2, 1911 kidney disease)

Children:
(1) William b. 1870 d. 8/25/55
(2) Anna b. 1872 d. 1947
(3) Hanna b. 1873 d.
(4) John b. 1874 d. 1950
(5) Thomas b. 1876 d. 1941
(6) Margaret b. 1879 d. 1958
(7) Mary Jane b. 6/12/1880 d. 10/20/1941 (Went by Marie)
(1) William Gittins married Della Shifflett

children
(A) Theron Gittins
married
Mary Redman

children

(i) Mary Catherine

(ii) Ruth Jean

(B) Harlan Gittins
married
Evelyn Nash

children

(i) Betty Lou

(2) Anna Gittins married George Senholz

(March 1872)

(3) Hannah Gittins married Perry Lamborn

children
(A) Leta Lamborn
married
Max Brown

children

(i) Flora Mae

(ii) Jerrald
married
Natina Morace
(iii) Elizabeth (Betty)

(B) Ruth Lamborn
married
Everett Ostrus

children

(i) Curtiss

(ii) Carol

(iii) Ronald

(C) Mildred Lamborn
married
George Shaffer

children

(i) Isabella

(ii) Margaret

(iii) William

(D) Curtiss Lamborn
married
Elsie (?)

(E) Lucille Lamborn
married
(1) Harry Swartz (d)

(2) Gilbert Wehrman

(F) Genevive Lamborn
married
Charles Renick

children

(i) William

(ii) Robert

(iii) Virginia

(G) Samuel Lamborn
married
Ruth (?)

children

(i) Samuel Richard

(ii) Harold Scott

(H) Charles Lamborn
married Aesel Low

children
(i) Thomas Robert

(ii) Robert Charles

(4) John Gittins married Etta Mae Auld

b. 1877 - d. 1945

children
(A) Cecil Gittins
married
Esther (?)

(B) Guy Gittins
married
Hazel Hurlburt

children

(i) James

(ii) Ruth Ann

(iii) Larry

(C) Margaret Faye Gittins

(D) Beatrice Gittins

(E) John Gittins
married
Elsie Pogue

(F) Grace Gittins
married
Orlie Nelsen

children

(i) Phyllis

(ii) Dale

(iii) Patricia

(G) Anna Mae Gittins
married
Chester Book

children

(i) Glenn Gittins

(ii) Larry

(H) Robert Gittins

(5) Thomas Gittins married Beatrice Stevens

children
(A) Burt Stevens Gittins
married
Gretchen Steensen

(June 18, 1938)

(b. June 6, 1905)

(b. Oct. 14, ?)

children

(i) Jane Agnes (b. July 8, 1939)

(B) Thomas William Gittins
married
Dorothy V. Locke

(b. Mar. 20, 1907)

(b. Oct. 14, ?)

children

(i) Mary Anne (b. Oct. 23, 1936)

(ii) Thomas William, Jr. (b. Mar. 27, 1940)

(C) Lois Gittins
married
Walter E. Heinlen

(b. June 16, 1911)

(b. Mar. 19, ?)

children

(adopted twin boys - b. Sept. 12, 1940)

(i) Richard

(ii) David

(6) Margaret Gittins married Scott Linn

children
(A) Ruth Linn
married
Robert Hansen

(Jun. 19, 1949)

(Mar. 22, 1918)

(b. Jan. 14, 1912)

(7) Mary Jane married Louis Pine

(b. 1880/d. April 13, 1942)

children
(A) Leon Gittins Pine
married
Dorothy Arlene Knapp

(July 5, 1942)

(1912 - 1992)

(d. 1979)

children

(i) Mary Louise (b. August, 1946)

(i) Leon Howard (b. August, 1948)

(B) Mary Louise Pine
married
Harold Jay Petznick

(b. Jan. 29, 1917)

(b. Dec. 14, 1912/d. Nov. 15, 1992)

children

(i) Harold Jay (II) (b. Jan. 14, 1948)

(ii) J. Louis (b. Apr. 4, 1952)

(iii) Thomas Pine (b. July 27, 1953)

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