[3] At age sixteen, he began teaching school, and attended the Seneca County Academy and Heidelberg College in Tiffin.

He was admitted to the bar at age 21 and commenced practice at Lima, Ohio, in 1855.

In 1862 he was made commandant of Camp Lima by Governor Tod with rank Colonel, and organized the 99th, 118th and 81st Ohio Infantry regiments.

He also authored a minority report in favor of abolishing capital punishment, with a summary of arguments:[3] In 1877, Pillars was elected Ohio Attorney General, defeating Republican George K. Nash.

[3] Pillars married Susan Fickle of Lima in February 1866,[3] or perhaps 1856.,[1] and she died in 1870.