The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-15
OBITUARY.
william W. Petit, SON of the Late Judge
Petit, of this City.

William W. Petit, Son of the Late Judge
Petit. of this City.
w. w. Petit, son of the late Judge
j. j. Petit, of this city, was born in
Pulaski, N. Y, Jan. 18th, 1886. Two
years later the family moved to Ere
donia, and from thence to Perry, n Y,
where his boyhood days were spent,
and in 1851 they moved to Kenosha,
coming around the lakes from Buffalo
on the then famous side wheel steamer
Globe. Here he attended the High
school and learned the machinist trade
and in all the years of his life showed
an aptness for the work.
He was one of a family of five chill
dren, all of whom can readily be called
to memory by the citizens OF this city.
The living members OF the old Park
City Gray Rifle Co. will remember with
what promptitude he joined in to fill
| the company and with what zeal he
filled the Office of first lieutenant in
that organization at the outbreak OF
the civil war. From sturdy stock, he,
with his two brothers and brother. in
law responded to his country's call. He
first was assigned TO the old Fret Wis
consin Infantry Regiment and with
them first smelled the smoke of battle
at the engagement of Falling Waters,
Va. Serving his time and being mus
tered out, he again cast his fortunes
with the Thirty fourth Wisconsin In
fantry as a commissioned officer, both
positions he filed with honor and
bravery.
The government at this time was in
great need of engineers, and in De-
cember, 1862, he was transferred to
the Engineers Corps and run train
over the Memphis and Charleston
road, and having several times thrilling
experiences with the guerilas. At one
time, observing gang of rebels
ahead, and experimenting their evil in
tentions, he put on the whole power OF
steam and threw himself on the bottom
of the cab until they had run the
gauntlet TheI rebels fired, and when
he had passed safely he counted thirty
seven bullet Loles through the cab and
one through the cap on his head. By
reason of the expiration of term he was
mustered out September, 1868, at
Milwaukee, Wis.
He then returned to Kenosha and
worked as engineer in large machine
= shop until September, 1864, when he
came to Brocton and married Laura E.
Reynolds, and since that time has made
farming his business.
; Five children came to their homei
Fred r., who died when 4 years of age,
Henry W., George R., Edith S. and
Ruth Hall
One brother is now living, James b:
Petit, of Chicago, ILL.,, and the sister;
Mrs. E. T. Wells, of Denver, Col.
Mr.. Petit was a christian man, al
though be never united wish any
church, but was regular attendant
upon divine service until poor hearing
and failing health prevented. In poll
tics he was an answering Republican,
and while he held to party under all
circumstances, he steadfastly refused to
hold office. He was an unrelenting foe
to intemperance and never would listen
to compromise on the liquor question.
His life was a synonym for stainless
integrity, conscientious discharge of
duty, unassuming m0desty and high
courage. In all his relations with the
community in which he was placed, and
in the service of his country during the
civil war he challenged and command
ed respect, confidence and affectionate
regard. He represented type that
should be more numerous in our COM
munity. Hospitable in an un0stentious
way, his house was always open to the
multitude CT friends that surrounded
him
He was charter member of the @.
A. r. Post, located at Portland, N. Y,
and for twenty four of the twenty five
years of it's existence was it's treasurer,
Living at Brocton, N. z, within
easy reach of famous Chautauoua he
was an attendant there, early and late,
and was never better pleased than
when he could take with him the
friends of his early youth to help him
enjoy its pleasures.
His old war comrades will well re-
member the many stories told of his
action in the first battles of the war of
the rebellion.
In the every day affairs of life and in
his intercourse with his fellow men he
was always honorable, liberal charita-
bile and enterprising, and no man ever
passed to the great beyond with q
better record.
G. Il. Goodman was a Waukegan
visitor Sunday.