Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-05-25
From the Iowa State Register.
Death OF ii. W. Petit.

. Death OF II. W. Petit.
Henry w. Petit, Editor of the Iowo
Homestead, died in this city on Sun
day, May 18th, after an illness of foul
weeks. He had been subjected to the
most excruciating bodily pains from
rheumatic fever for something more
than three weeks, when the violence
of the disease seemed to give way, and
his friends supposed his speedy recov.
cry was assured. On Saturday evening
however, the malignant force of the
disease, induced by exposure, returned
and twelve hours afterward death en-.
sued. The intelligence of this event
fell with startling effect upon our citi-
zens, and to the writer OF this article
the bereavement is like that Occasioned
by the loss of brother. The deceased
was associated with us for many
months in the editorship of the Du.
6uQue Times, and during his publication
of the Homestead in this city, our pro,
fessional labors brought us anew into
intimate personal relations. His char
acteristics of mind did not lead him to
seek acquaintanceship and friendship
extensively, but with him social ties
once formed were not easily sundered.
Mr.. Petit was 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 pro-
ceeded to Rochester to learn the art OF
wood engraving under the instruction
of a brother of Mr.. Mark Miller of this
city. 1t was there that his rare gift in
the use of the pencil first took practical
form, and when he left Rochester he
had few superiors rs a delineator or en-
graver. He taught school several
months i'm Perry, and at the age of
nineteen he removed to Kenosha, Wis
consin, in company with his fathers S
family. While sojouruing at that place
he engaged to travel through large
portion of the Northwest as an agent
for the sale of medical specifics. II
was while he was thus engaged that he
collected the material for, and wrote
that inimitable series of humorous let
ters entitled "Seven Years in Ye West
ern Lande," published i'm the Great
Republic Monthly. Subsequently he
engaged I'M the lumber trade on the
Wisconsin River, but the enterprise
proved unsuccessful, and caused him
financial embarrassment
He followed the employment of book
keeping in Waubeek and Dubuque for
a time, and in 1850 accepted of the posi-
ton of Local Editor of the Dubuque
Times. He discharged the duties of
this Office with marked ability until
1862, when he was appointed Adjutant
of the Thirty-Eight Iowa Infantry,
from which he was detailed to act as
Aid on Gen. Herron's staff, and. also
the duties of Quartermaster.
He served nearly year in this capaci-
ty, when he resigned and proceeded
to Memphis, Tenn. He was Local
Editor of the Memphis Bulletin for
about six months, and then returned to
Dubuque. In the spring of 1864 he pur-
chased the fOUa HOnaestead of Mark
Miller, and devoted himself to its pub
lication until his last sickness. During
his editorial labors he found time to
prepare the matter for two books of a
humorous character, and they are now
in press In the publishing house of
Messrs. Blelock & Co., New York.
These are the outline events in the
history of writer of State reputation,
and who possessed the ability to estab-
lish an enyiable fame anywhere. His
gift for delineation with his pencil ena-
bled him to give his compositions an
which could not be 9TH
erwise attained and the universal opin-
ion of the public was that his produc-
lions possessed a merit equal to that of
the most successful humorous writer's.
But In the midst Of his professional la
1ors, at a period in life when his expe-
-ience had but just commenced to ripen
nto durable benefit to the public, sur
'ounded by devoted friends aud n fami-
y whose love amounted almost to idol
ltry, his labors are suspended, and all
If him which is mortal lies as cold and
'tiilGas the marble which will cover his
lay. AS we sit at our office table to
chronicle his decease, we can think Of
linn only as still in life and health, and
- likely to greet us with cheerful sa-
ution, as any other friend. Loving
lands will strew flowers upon his grave,
md sorrowing hearts bound to him by
les stronger than death will worship
lis memory, but to us the welcome
privilege will be given Of cherishing
he recollection of his fraternal friend
hip until kindly hands shall render
or us the last offices of devotion which
ave been rendered for him.
CoUNTERFEITERs BRoUGHT HERE
several days ago, Marshal Melendy
vent down to the Penitentiary to bring
Ip a couple of chaps, Reed and Whit
ley, whose names and exploits have
lgured largely in tina criminal history
II Iowa The Marshall succeeded in