Complex sentence: Born in Fabius, New York, Pettit attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1839.
Split into simpler sentences: Born in Fabius, New York, Pettit received an academic education. He attended Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1839.