| William H. Pettit is buried in the Monte Vista Veterans cemetery
Thanks to the family for this biography William H. Pettit was born on
January __, 1844 in __________, Ohio in Henry County, the son of Harvey
Pettit and Phoebe E. (Whitman) Pettit. Harvey Pettit was born on October
14, 1818 in __________, New York, the son of Joseph Pettit and Polly
(Nichols) Pettit, while Phoebe E. Whitman was born in Milton, Saratoga
County, New York, on September 11, 1824, the daughter of Artemas Whitman
and Susan (Whalen) Whitman.
Harvey and Phoebe were married on January 26, 1843. From 1840 to 1843,
Harvey lived in Henry County, Ohio where his father eventually gave him
160 acres of wild timber land. Harvey returned to New York State to
marry Phoebe and then later that year returned to his land in Henry
County, Ohio, where their first son, William H. Pettit, was born in
January of 1844. The following year, they continued on west, moving to
Illinois, where they settled in Penn Township, Stark County, Illinois,
where Harvey engaged in farming.
At the time of the 1860 census, the Pettits are found in Penn Township,
Stark County, Illinois;
Harvey Pettitt 40 NY
Phebe E. Pettitt 35 NY
William H. Pettitt 16 Ohio
Susan A Pettitt 14 Ill
Elijah Pettitt 10 Ill
Sylvester Pettitt 8 Ill
Joseph Pettitt 6 Ill
Mary Pettitt 4 Iowa
George Pettitt 2 Ill
Arthur Pettitt 0 Ill
At the time of the 1870 census, the Pettits are found in Stark County;
Harvey Pettit M 54y New York
Phebe Pettit F 42y New York
Elijah Pettit M 21y Illinois
Joseph Pettit M 16y Illinois
Mary Pettit F 14y Iowa
George Pettit M 11y Illinois
Arthur Pettit M 9y Illinois
Carrie Pettit F 7y Illinois
Alonzo Pettit M 4y Illinois
William Johnson M 23y Ireland
At the time of the 1880 census, Harvey and his family are found in Penn
Township of Stark County, Illinois;
Self Harvey Pettit M 61 New York
Wife Phoeba Pettit F 56 New York
Son Arthur Pettit M 21 Illinois
Son Lony Pettit M 15 Illinois
Other Katie Harmon F 16 IL
From the History of Stark County, Illinois; M.A. Leeson, Chicago, M.A.
Leeson & Co., 1887, p. 386, comes the following biography;
"Harvey Pettit, son of Joseph and Polly (Nichols) Pettit, was born at
Galloway, Saratoga county, N. Y., October 4, 1819. At the age of
fourteen years he went to Knowlesville, Orleans county, where he served
an apprenticeship in a mercantile house. Subsequently, he moved to
Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and there learned the woolen
business. From 1840 to 1843 he resided at Napoleon, 0hio. Returning in
the latter year, he married Miss Phoebe E. Whitman, a native of New York
state, born at Milton, September 11, 1824. Moved with his family to
Napoleon, 0hio in 1844; one year later (1845) to Peoria county, Ill.; a
few years after, they settled in Stark county, where their seven sons
and three daughters were raised and educated. Their children are named
as follows: William H., of Texas, born in Henry County, Ohio January 21,
1844; Susan A., wife of Abram Buffington, of Trego county, Kan., born in
Peoria county, Ill., February 22, 1846; Elijah B., a farmer of Stark
county, Ill., born in Peoria county, Ill., October 14, 1849; Sylvester
L., a merchant of Sterling, Col., born in Bureau county, Ill., October
8, 1851; Joseph, born in Marshall county, Ill., October 23, 1853; George
C., of Peoria, born in Marshall county, Ill., May 18, 1857; Mary, Arthur
and Alonzo, residing at home; Clara B., who married Ezra King, is dead.
She was born in Stark county, Ill., August 22, 1862; Mary A. was born
May 29, 1858, in Jasper county, Ia.; Arthur was born March 13, 1859, in
Stark county, Ill; Alonzo was born June 10, 1865, in Stark county, Ill."
In about 1884, Harvey and Phoebe Pettit retired from farm life and moved
to Wyoming, Illinois, where they lived for the remainder of their
lives. Harvey Pettit died at Wyoming, Illinois, on November 9, 1904.
Phoebe Pettit died October 16, 1924, at the age of 100 years, one month
and four days. Phoebe Pettit was respected, loved and revered by the
entire citizenship of Stark County, Illinois. In all 14 children were
born to Harvey and Phoebe Pettit. They include;
1. William H. Pettit, born on January 21, 1844 in Henry County, Ohio;
later lived in Texas (1880's) and in Sterling, Colorado.
2. Susan Ann Pettit, born February 22, 1846 in Stark County, Illinois.
She married Abraham Buffington Jr; They resided for a time in Trego
County, Kansas; Susan Ann died in 1891.
3. Elijah B. Pettit, born October 14, 1849 in Peoria County; farmed near
Castleton, Illinois in Stark County.
4. Sylvester L. Pettit, born possibly in Bureau County, Illinois on
October 8, 1851; He was a merchant in Sterling, Colorado.
5. Joseph Pettit, born October 23, 1853 in Marshall County, Illinois.
6. Mary A. Pettit, born May 29, 1855 in Jasper County, Iowa; Mary
married __________ Dilbern; they resided in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
7. George C. Pettit, born May 18, 1857 in Marshall County, Illinois;
later lived in Peoria, Illinois; died on __________ __, 1878.
8. Arthur Pettit, born March 13, 1859 in Stark County, Illinois.
9. Clara Belle Pettit, born August 22, 1862 in Stark County, Illinois;
married to Ezra King; Clara died on __________ __, 1884.
10. Alonzo Pettit, born June 10, 1865 in Stark County, Illinois.
Harvey Pettit died on Nov. 9, 1894 in Stark County, Illinois, while
Phoebe died on Oct. 16, 1924 in Stark County, Illinois. Their mortal
remains were laid in the Wyoming Cemetery in Wyoming, Stark County,
Illinois.
Now to continue with the biography of William H. Pettit;
On August __, 1862, William H. Pettit volunteered to serve in a company
which was being raised in Marshall, Stark and Bureau Counties by a local
well known farmer by the name of Orlando Fountain for service in the
Union Army during the Civil War. At the time he enlisted, William gave
his place of residence as Peru Township in Stark County, Illinois.
ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report
Name PETTIT, WILLIAM H Rank PVT
Company E Unit 86 IL US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence PERU, STARK CO, IL
Age 18 Height 5' 4
Hair BROWN Eyes BLUE
Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE
Occupation FARMER
Nativity HENRY CO, OH
Service Record
Joined When
Joined Where
Joined By Whom
Period
Muster In
Muster In Where
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out
Muster Out Where
Muster Out By Whom
Remarks DISCHARGED OCT 29, 1862 AT LOUISVILLE KY
When Orlando Fountain had about 100 volunteers, he led the company on a
march into Peoria, Illinois, where they went into camp at Camp Lyon,
near present day Glen Oak Park.
On August 27, 1862, Fountain and 88 of his volunteers, including now
Private William H. Pettit, were mustered in as Co. E of the 86th
Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Fountain was elected by the men
of Co. E to be their Captain.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois marched out of
the gates of Camp Lyon, with much fanfare, through the streets of Peoria
to the railroad depot, where they boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt
in Jeffersonville, Indiana, located across the Ohio River from
Louisville, Kentucky. Three weeks later the men of the 85th & 86th
Illinois were in the field in Kentucky as part of Colonel Daniel
McCook's Brigade in pursuit of Confederate troops.
On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those
Confederate troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, suffering
their first casualties. There would be many more in the next few years.
After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from
Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville,
Tennessee, where they would go into winter camp.
However, even before the men of McCook's Brigade had left Camp Joe Holt
back in Indiana, the green troops were already having health issues from
the change in diet and living conditions, which were not cunducive to
good health. Many were left behind sick in Army Hospitals in Louisville
when McCook's Brigade went on the Kentucky Campaign. One of these
soldiers who is believed to have been left behind at Louisville was
Private William H. Pettit.
Whatever his ailment, nothing the army doctors did seemed to improve his
condition. Finally, in late October, the army doctors decided that the
best thing they could do for Private Pettit was to discharge him and
send him home in hopes that with the help of family and some home
cooking he could regain his health. So On October 29, 1862, after having
served his countty in uniform for just over two months, Private William
H. Pettit was discharged from the service at Louisville, Kentucky and
sent home. Once back home William H. Pettit survived his ailment and
went on to live a long life with the help of family and that home
cooking.
William H. Pettit was married to Ruth Maria Simonons on October 4, 1868
in Stark County, Illinois. Ruth was born on March 18, 1852 in
___________, Virginia the daughter of __________ __________ and
__________ (__________) __________. #_________ children were born to
William and Ruth. They include;
1. Sarah Pettit, born __________ __, 1869 in __________, Illinois.
2. Harvey Pettit, born c. 1872/73 in Kansas.
3. Phebe Pettit, born c. 1874/75 in Illinois.
4. Anna Pettit, born c. 1878/79 in Illinois.
5. William L Pettit, born __________ __, 1886 in Texas; died on
__________ __, 1943; his mortal remains were laid in the Riverside
Cemetery in Sterling, Logan County, Colorado.
6. Clara Ethel Pettit, born March 10, 1890 in __________, Nebraska;
married to Delroy Scull on ____________ __, 18__ at __________,
__________; Clara died on Feb. 8, 1933 at __________, ___________ and
her earthly remains were laid in the Riverside Cemetery in Sterling,
Logan County, Colorado.
By 1870, William H. Pettit had moved west to Kansas where he is found at
the time of the 1870 census. William was married to Ruth ___________ on
_____________ __, 186__ (c. 1868/69) at __________, __________. Here is
what is found in the 1870 census;
William Pettit M 26y Ohio
Ruth Pettit F 18y Virginia
Sarah Pettit F 10m Illinois
At the time of the 1880 census, William and Ruth are found back in
Illinois residing in Whitefield Township in Marshall County, Illinois.
He is farming;
Self W. H. Pettit M 34 Ohio
Wife Ruth Pettit F 28 Virginia
Son Harvey Pettit M 7 Kansas
Daughter Sarah Pettit F 10 Illinois
Daughter Phebe Pettit F 5 Illinois
Daughter Anna Pettit F 1 Illinois
At the time of the 1900 census, William and Ruth are found in Callaway,
Nebraska in Delight & Grant Townships in Custer County, Nebraska. They
are listed as having been married 31 years;
Head William H Pettit M 55 Ohio
Wife Ruth Pettit F 48 Virginia
Son William Pettit M 14 Texas
Daughter Clara E Pettit F 10 Nebraska
In 1912, William H Petitt is found in the Soldiers Home in Leavenworth,
Kansas.
At the time of the 1920 census, Ruth is found residing with her daughter
and son-in-law, Delroy & Ethel (Pettit) Scull, and their family in Logan
County, Colorado. William is not with the family at this time and may
very well be residing in the Soldiers Home in __________, Colorado;
SELF Delroy Scull M 33y Nebraska
WIFE Ethel Scull F 29y Nebraska
DAU Irma Scull F 6y Colorado
SON Harold Scull M 5y Colorado
DAU Doris Scull F 11m Colorado
Ruth Pettit F 68y Virginia
BRO Eugene Scull M 23y Colorado
William H. Pettit died on __________ __, 192__ at __________, Colorado
and his earthly remains were laid in the Homelake Cemetery at the
Colorado State Veterans Home & Center at Monte Vista, Rio Grande County,
Colorado. He may have died on or about February 15, 1925 as there is an
application for a Headstone for a U. S. Military Veteran placed for a
William H. Pettit in Monte Vista, Colorado filed on that date.
At the time of the 1930 census, Ruth is found residing with her son and
daughter-in-law, W. L. Pettit, and their family in Logan County,
Colorado. Ruth is listed as Widowed and her father and mother born in
Pennsylvania and Maine, respectively;
Head W L Pettit M 43 Texas
Wife Bertha Pettit F 33 Kansas
Daughter Ruth Pettit F 14 Connecticut
Son Clarence Pettit M 13 Connecticut
Son Donald Pettit M 11 Connecticut
Son Gerald Pettit M 5 Colorado
Mother Ruth Pettit F 78 Virginia
Ruth (Simonons) Pettit died on Dec. 3, 1932 at __________, Colorado and
her earthly remains were laid in the Riverside Cemetery in Sterling,
Logan County, Colorado.
by Baxter B. Fite III
(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of the
Pettit family, who might be able to add to the biographical material
that we have on William H. Pettit and the Pettit family. Baxter would
also love to see copies of any photographs of William H. Pettit, which
may have survived the years, especially any showing him as a young man,
added to his Find A Grave site for all to see.)
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