The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-05-24

The following obituary notice OF II. w. PETIT
which we take from the Iowa State Re0ister, pub
lished at Des Mones the home of Mr. Petit, will bt
read by his friends in this city with melancholy in
terest.
H. W. PETITE Editor of the ZotoG Honesstedd died
in this city Sunday, May 18th, after illness
four weeks. He had been subjected to the most
ciating bodily pains from rheumatic fever for some
thing more than three weeks, when the violence Of
the disease seemed to give way and his friends sup
posed his speedy recovery assured. On Saturday
evening however the malignant force of the disease
induced by exposure, returned, and twelve hours a
terward death ensued. The intelligence of this event
fell with startling effect upon our citizens and to the
writer OF this arcJice the bereavement is like that
casioned by the loss of brother. The deceased was
associated with us for many months in the editorshp
the Dubuque Times. and during his publication OF
the Homestead in this city. our professional labors
brought us anew into intimate personal relations
His characteristics OF mind did not lead him to seek
acquaintanceship and friendship extensively. but
with him social ties once formed were not easily
dered.
Mr. PETIT was a native of Pulaski Oswego Co..
n. Y. At an early age he removed with his fathers
family to Perry, Wyoming Co. in that State, and
when at the age OF twelve years, he proceeded 10
Rochester to learn the art of wood engraving under
the instruction of brother of Mark Miller OF this city
1t was there that his gift in the of the pencil
first took practical form and when he left Rochester
he had few superiors as delineator or engraver He
taught school several months in Perry and at the age
of nineteen he removed to Kenosha, Wisconsin, In
company with his fathers family. While sojourning
at that place he engaged to travel through large por
ton OF the Northwest agent for the sale of med
icalspecfcs 1t was while he was thus engaged that
he collected the material for and wrote that inimita-
bic series of humorous Letters entitled Seven ears
In 1e Western Land, published in the Great RepU6
Tic Monthly. Subsequently he engaged in the lum
Der trade the Wisconsin River, but the enterprise
proved unsuccessful and caused him considerable
financial embarrassment He followed the employ
merit of bookkeeping in Waubeek and Dubuque for
time, and in 1860 accepted the position of Local Ed
itor of the Dubuque Times. He discharged the du-
he appointed Adjutant OF the 3Sth Iowa Infantry,
from which he was detailed to act Aid on Gen.
Herrons staff, and also discharged the duties of Q.
master He served nearly year in this capacity,
when he resigned, and proceeded to Memphis, Tenn.
He Local Editor OF the Memphis Bulletin for
about six months, and then returned to Dubuque.
In the spring of 1864 he purchased the Iowa Home
stead from Mark Miller, and devoted himself to its
publication until his last sickness aring his edi-
torial abors he found time to prepare the matter for
two books Of humorous character and they are now
in prrss in the publishing house of Messrs. Blelock
q Co., New York.
These the outline events in the history of wri
ter of State reputation and who possessed the ability
to establish enviable fame anywhere His gift for
delineation with his pencil enabled him to give his
an attractiveness which could not 9TH
erwise be attained and the universal opinion of the
public was that his productions possessed merit
equal to that of the most humorous writer's
But in the midst of his professional labors at peri
Cd in life when his experience had but just common
ced to ripen into durable benefit to the public sur
rounded by devoted friends and family whose love
amounted almost to idolary his labors suspend
ed and all of him which is mortal lies as cold and still
as the marble which will cover his clay As sit at
our office table to chronicle his decease think
of him only still in life and health and as likely to
greet us with cheerful sautaton any other friend
Loving hands will strew flowers upon his grave, and
Borrowing hearts bound to him by ties stronger than
death will worship his memory, but to us the well
come privilege will be given of cherishing the recol
lection OF his fraterna friendship until kindly hands
shall render for the last offices of devotion which
nave been rendered for him.