John Franklin Pittman born May 30, 1879 in McKinney Collin County Texas and the son of John Henry Pittman and Elizabeth Ann Cannedy Pittman. Franklin came to Harmon County in 1879 with his parents. He built a half dug out and farmed the land while tending and running his race horses, as had his father. It has been said that no one in Harmon Co. knew as much about horse flesh as he did.

He married Clara McNatt on July 31, 1910 in Hollis, the daughter of Thomas Mathew and Cynthia Ann Wiley McNatt, also of Harmon Co. Clara was born Feb. 26, 1889 near Memphis, Tennessee. Frank built a four room frame house for his bride complete with all the conveniences of the day. Kerosene lamps for light, a wood stove for cooking, a large outdoor kettle for laundry, and a shiny new #9 tub for bathing. Out of 4 children, 3 survived: Zelder Marrhe 1911 at Gould, Valdhe Frankin "Red" born 1922 at Hollis, Ivan Jefferies born 1925 at Hollis…