In 1880 Polk County, Iowa, John D. Petefish is 8, with Henry 55 and Catherine 45, farming, both born in Ohio. Calara C. 19, Charles 17, Sarah C. 15, WIllis 14, John D. 8, adn Samuel C. 4 were all born in Iowa.
"Harmon Petefish was the son of George (Johann Georg) Petefish (1790-1868) and his first wife Mary Aughe (abt 1798-1823). He was born in Warren County, OH, then moved with his family to Morgan County, Illinois in 1830. Harmon married both his first wives (probably sisters) in Morgan County. He first married Elmira Taylor on Nov. 28, 1844, who bore him one son, David Franklin. She died on Nov. 15, 1847. On Oct. 11, 1848 Harmon married Susannah Taylor in neighboring Cass County, who gave him four children. She passed away eight days after the birth of her daughter Cordelia, in September of 1857.
By this time, Harmon had moved from Illinois to Jasper Co. Iowa, the move having come sometime between 1854 and 1857. He settled near the little town of Clyde (no longer extant), where he became a pillar of the local church. He was known to preach from time to time, and, after Susannah's death, having five children at home without a mother, he was introduced to his third wife by a fellow member of the Clyde church. Mary Catherine Conner became Harmon's wife on May 22, 1859, bringing her daughter Alice to the family. Mary went on to give him six children, and outlived him by seven years.
In later years Harmon sold his farm land at Clyde and moved to Polk County, perhaps near the ghost town of Ivy. He worked on Ezra Plummer's farm, and raised and sold meat in the Des Moines area. He was active as a Mason. By his three wives Harmon had eleven children.
He died on Aug. 9, 1883 from injuries sustained in a tragic train accident. After a visit and dinner at his daughter Mary Jane Williamson's home, Harmon and his daughter Sarah Catherine (Kate) headed off toward home in their buggy. At a train crossing they waited for a passing train, then after it cleared they immediately drove the buggy into the path of another train they had not seen or heard because of the dense grove of trees at that spot. Kate was caught up on the locomotive's cow catcher, unconscious and with a broken collar bone. She survived. Harmon was thrown from the crushed buggy, and suffered severe injuries. He and Kate were carried onto another train headed into Des Moines, and were conveyed from the East Side depot back to Mary Jane's home on E. Locust and 17th. Harmon was placed tenderly on a bed at his daughter's home and passed away within two hours of being brought there.
John's mother Mary Caterine (Conner) Petefish, the third wife of Harmon, is buried in Polk County 1834-1890 # 54158318.
July 1914 Elbert County, Colorado
"H. E. Petefish and wife have been in
Calhan the past week, at the bedside of
Mr. Petefish's father who is very sick.
J. T. Adams is taking care of things at
Mr. Petefish's place during their absence."
John is alone in 1900 Glendale precinct,
and married Catherine Wiley, 29, on March 31, 1901 in Wray.
John proved up a quarter in section 34, 2S 45W in 1908.
James Warriner proved up 280 acres in 10 and 11, 3S 45W in 1920, and Stock-claimed
forty acres next to it , also in 1920. Witnesses were John D. Petefish,
Rollie G. Easten (probably should be Eastin), Henry Vogel, Allen Keith, all with
Vernon, Colorado addresses.
In 1910 Yuma County, John is farming, 37, with
Catherine 35 born in Missouri. They have Lillian 7, Lena 4, and Ray 1, all born in Colorado.
They're still farming in 1920, with just the three kids.
In 1930 John and Kate are farming, with Raymond W. 21.
John is buried in Vernon 1870-1935 # 79960640.
On the same stone is Katherine (Wiley) Petefish 1873-1944 # 79960667.
Katie was widowed in 1940 Yuma County, 69.
LILLIE
Lillie Petefish, 22, and Roy Newton married on March 26, 1924 in Wray.
In 1930 Yuma County, Roy Newton is 27, Lillie B. 26.
Roy, born July 7, 1903, died in June 1980.
November 15, 1973 "The Otto Newtons took Mr. and Mrs. Roy Newton to Denver Sunday, and Mrs. Roy Newton entered the Rock Mountain Hospital.
Roy 1903-1980 # 11569049 and Lillie 1902-1982 # 11569050 are buried in Vernon.
LENA
Earnest Leland Nash of Canon City and Evelyn Lena Petefish of Vernon married in Wray on March 2, 1925, J.L. Tyner, ministoer of the Wray Christian Church.
In 1930 Adams County, Colorado, Earnest L. Nash is 30, Evelyn L. 24, with Earnest 3.
They're back in Yuma County in 1940,
Earnest L. 41, Lena 34, Earnest 13, Ora Gene 8, and Wm. Edwward 3.
Evelyn, born Sept 19, 1905, died in March 1982.
William Edward Nash, born Aug 8, 1936, died February 28, 1997.
He's buried in Crown Hill, Wheat Ridge # 65335206.
RAYMOND
Raymond, 24, married Anna Hoyt on April 15, 1933 in Kiowa, ELbert County.
They're in Denver in 1940, farming. Ray is 31, Anna 27, Rae Caroline 5, John M., 4, and Royce 1, all born in COlorado.
Ray is buried in Mount Olivet # 126383206, and so is Anna 126383219.
So are John Edwin Petefish 1935-2001 and Royce Arnold etefish 1938-2015 # 14773060, dying in Rifle, Colorado.
Bob G. Cothran of Copper Spur had married Carolyn Petefish - serving in Japan in 1954 with the 3rd Marine Division.
