Dick Morris, who is Hiram Pitts' great, great, great grandson, in an article in Flywheel News, states that Hiram Abbial Pitts and his brother, John Avery Pitts, were agricultural machinery inventors. John founded the Buffalo Pitts Co. in Buffalo, NY, while Hiram moved to Alton, IL and was probably associated with the Alton Machine Shop & Iron Foundry, which manufactured machinery under his patents in 1849-1850. In 1851, Hiram moved to Chicago, IL and founded the H. A. Pitts Co., also know as the H. A. Pitts & Sons at 7 South Jefferson and 108 West Randolph near downtown Chicago. Hiram died in 1860 and 3 of his sons, Marcellus H., Aurelius V., and Florison D. took over the business. In 1871, they moved to Marseilles, IL and reorganized as the Pitts Thresher Works. About 1890, they again moved to Joliet, IL and reorganized as the Pitts Mfg. Co.
Information Sources
- The Flywheel News by Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association Inc., Sep-Oct 2004 page 1