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Private WILLIAM H. PETTIT, Co. E, 86th Illinois
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,...
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Private WILLIAM H. PETTIT, Co. E, 86th Illinois
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 February 15, 1925 in the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Monta Vista, Rio Grande County, 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.) |
