The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-16
From the Elkhorn Independent.
OBITUARY.

| WILLIAM HARRISON PETIT, Esq. was born
| at Fabias, Onondsga, Co. n. Y.,Septembe", u,
1918, and died at the City of Washington, Oct
Der 25, 1865, aged 50 years.
He studied Law at Pulaski, Oswego Co., N.
Y. in the Office of his brother lanes J. Petit,
Esq (now OF Kenosha, Wis., and was admitted
to practice in the Supreme Court of that State
in 1888. He was married to Mrs. Hannah S.
Barlow in 1912, and in the next year he remov-
ed to Delavan. Wisconsin. After short resi-
dence in that place he moved to Elkhorn where
he has since resided. For six years Mr.. Petit
held the Office OF Clerk of the Circuit Court of
Walworth County About two and half years
ago he accepted clerkship in the General
Land Office in Washington City, leaving his
family in Ekhorn.
On Wednesday, October 25th, he started out
from his boarding house to take a walk after
dinner, and at street-crossing, about two blocks
from home. he was knocked over by horse
ridden furioasIy and recklessy oy negro boy.
He thrown violently against the cGrb-stone
and carried insensible into neighboring Drug
store where he had the best medical and surgi-
cal aid. But it was to no avail. Without any
return of consciousness he died on that Same
evening. His body was embalmed under the
direction of his fellow clerks, and at their ex-
pense sent to Wisconsin. The funeral services
were celebrated on Saturday Nov. 4th in st.
Johns Church, Elkhorn. A very large number
of Borrowing friends were in attendance at the
church, and part of them went afterwards
to Delavan where the remains were taken for
interment
Mr. Petit was man of modest and retiring
disposition, and none but those who knew him
intimately and saw him in his once happy home
could fully appreciate his worth his abili ties.
His reading was extensive and his hough Is
clear and original. He was true patriot, and a
most unselfish philanthropic man. Very much
of his spare time at Washington was devoted to
sick Wisconsin soldiers in the hospitals about
the city. He wrote fuently and well on thu
passing events of the day, and his letters to his
family during his residence at the Capital are
full of graphic descriptions and Of shrewd com
ments on national affairs in the most eventful
crisis of our countrys history. But il in
the study of the Holy Scriptures that he most
delighted The poetry, history, chronology and
antiquities of the Bible were always topics of
unfailing interest. When MIR. Petit came to
Wisconsin HE prejudices against the Episcopal
Church were extremely violent. But by read
| ing and observation these prsjudlces were at
| length removed. ana Tor several years past ne
has been devout communicant of that church
which he loved with his whole heart. On the
| day of his death his room found in the
evening just as he had left it expecting very
shortly to return. The wood was arranged in
his stove ready for lighting; the chimney was
removed from his lamp and box of matches
| placed beside it; and on his table lay the Book
OF Common Prayer open at the Psalm for the
25th evening OF the month. He never came
back to read his daily portion of that precious
book; but this affecting incident shows the ma
ture of the man, and it speaks to all, in most
thrilling language, "Be ye alsO ready; for in
such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man
cOmeth p j. G. P. u
| The following resolutions of thanks were
adopted by our citizen while assembled at the
general election yesterday:
| Whereas, An lnscrutable Providence has re-
Gently removed by death one of our former es-
teemed fellow-citzens, WM. II. PETIT, Esq.
and
sTheyeas His fellow Officers and Clerks, in
the General Land Office at Washington kindly
performed every act possible to perform, to al
Ieviate the sufferings of the deceased in the ab-
sence of his relatives, and in forwarding the re-
mains of Mr.. Petit to bis home In this place at
their own expense, and other kind offices there
tore
Resolved That the thanks of the citizens Of
i Elkhorn are due, and hereby cordially rendered
to the Officers aud Clerks in the General Laud
lOffice at Washngto nfor stheir many kind acts
aud Christian duties performed during the la
hours and alter the death of late fellow
citizen, Mr.. Petit