Julius Pitzman, 1837–1923

Julius Pitzman was born on 11 June 1837, in Halberstadt, Landkreis Harz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, the son of Frederick G. Pitzman and Amalia (Ebert) Pitzman. He died 31 August 1923 in St. Louis and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Pitzman worked in St. Louis as a surveyor and engineer. He volunteered for the Union army during the Civil War and became a first lieutenant of the Topographical Engineers. He was badly injured, but he went on to become a surveyor for St. Louis County.

Many of us know his name because of his 1878 Atlas of St. Louis County, but Pitzman and the Pitzman Company were responsible for planning and developing some of the most affluent neighborhoods in St. Louis City and County. He developed the concept of private places, perhaps a precursor to today’s gated communities, and, in an era with no zoning laws, a way to control development. His company established beautiful private streets in the Central West End, including Westminster and Portland Places. In University City, they helped create Parkview Place, and they went on to design Forest Park. Abandoning the strict straight lines of nineteenth century building, his firm featured “gentle, curving avenues that would go on to help inspire the modern suburban subdivision.” He cared about landscaping and wide, tree-lined vistas as well as the homes that went on the streets.

The firm Julius Pitzman founded is still in business as of 2025; its website is at https://www.pitzmans.com.

Julius married twice. In 1867, he married Emma Hildegarde Tittmann (1848–1872), the daughter of Edward Carl Tittmann (1812–1872) and Rosa Margaretha (Hilgard) Tittmann (1822–1920). Their children were:

• • Florence H. (1869–1965) In 1896, she married Edward A. Hermann (1857–1941).
  • Edwin Sherman (1870–1951) In 1918, he married Clara Belle Ramlose (1883–1956).
  • Otto Hilgard (1872–1872)

In 1879, Julius married Caroline Marsh Wislizenus (1858–1936), the daughter of Frederick Adolph Wislizenus (1810–1889) and Lucinda/Lucy (Crane) Wislizenus (1822–1895). Their children were:

• • Julius Frederick (1880–1880)
  • Dr. George Marsh (1882–1957) In 1937, Dr. Pitzman married Pauline Violet (Skipper) Eades (1912–1995)
  • Harold Wislizenus (1884–1906)
  • Frederick Adolph (1889–1951) He ran the Pitzman’s Company of Surveyors and Engineers after his father’s death.
  • Louise M. (1893–1972). In 1916, she married Oliver George Lucas (1889–1950).

(Sources for the above include the U.S. census, marriage licenses, death certificates, Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, FamilySearch.com, and Find a Grave.)

Written by Jim Bellenger
April 2025

© 2025, St. Louis Genealogical Society