The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-03-01
Former Mayor and Prominent
Citizen Of kenosha Died Sud-
denly in Chicago
AP0PLExY CAUSE OF DEATH
Mr.. Petit was Going to the North
Western Station to Take Train for
Home When He Fell On the
Street-Death Follows Later

died suddenly at st. Luke's hospital,
Chicago, just after 9 O'Clock Thursday
evening. Mr.. Petit was 81 years Of
age, and death came as a result of an
attack Of apop1exy. The announce
ment of the death Of Mr.. Petit was
received in Kenosha late Thursday
evening and it caused general sorrow
in all parts Of the city. The close OF
his active career as politician and
business man came almost without
warning and none of his relatives
was at the bedside when the final
summons came.
Mr.. Petit had gone to Chicago
early Thursday morning on business
and had started for the North Western
station to come to Kenosha on the
train leaving Chicago at S O'Clock.
Just before he reached the station he
fell on the street stricken with apo
plexy. He was alone when he fell to
the sidewalk but in short time ten
der hands picked him up and placed
him in an ambulance and he was re-
moved to ST. Luke's hospital where
he was known. AS soon as possible
Mrs. Petit and other members Of the
family were summoned and they hur-
ried to Chicago and to the hospital but
they reached the bedside too late, as
Mr.. Petit died shortly after 9 O'Clock.
He never regained consciousness after
being removed to the hospital.
The death of Mr.. Petit will come
as a personal sorrow to many people
in the city. The deceased was one OF
the best known men in the city and
he had taken such an active interest
in the affairs of the city that his
death is a public sorrow. Personally
Mr.. Petit was man of delightful
disposition and he had many strong
personal friends. Death came to him
in the very prime of his life, just as
the shadows were beginning to fall
toward the west. His health had not
been of the best lfor the past few
months, but when he started for Chi
cago on Thursday morning he stated
that he was feeling better every day,
and he had begun to take up his work
again. &. His life in Kenosha is well
known to the people Of the city.
Osian Marsh Petit was Kenosha
county boy born and bred and he gave
his entire life to the county. He was
son of the late Hon. Milton FL. Petit
and Caroline Marsh Petit and he was
born in the town of Somers June %,
1854. When he was ten months Of
age his parents removed to Kenosha.
Mr.. Petit was educated in the schools
of the city and was one of the early
graduates of the Kenosha High
school.
When yet boy he began his official
career as page in the Wisconsin
state senate, of which his father was
at that time member. After several
years as page in the senate Mr.. Petit
entered the University of Wisconsin
where he spent three years. AT the
end of the third year his farther died
and he was forced to give up his edu.
cation and return to Kenosha to take
charge of the large business interests
of the estate.
When the M. H. Petit Mating
company was organized in 1885 Mr..
Petit became the vice president OF
the company and he held this position
for many years. He was most success
full as travelling salesman and for
several years he had represented the
company on the road. His business
and to Mexico. In Mexico he was
signa11y honored by President Diaz
and on several occasions he was the
guest of honor at state dinners given
by the Mexican president.
More than year ago Mr.. Petit
was taken i'll and he spent many
months in the hospital. During the
last few months he had shown great
improvement and his friends were OF
the opinion that he would recover his
robust health. His illness had prac-
tical1y forced his retirement from
active business life.
On Oct. Is, 1877, in Kenosha, Mr..
Petit was united in marriage to Miss
Alma E. Robinson, a daughter of the
late Frederick Robinson, who with
three sons, Milton H., Frederick r.,
and Bertho1f M, survive.
The official career of Mr.. Petit was
one worthy of more than passing
mention. He served the city Of Ke-
nosha in the capacity of mayor fol
four terms, and the periods of his adj
ministration were periods of great
progress for the city. Mr.. Petit was
one Of the greatest cSlmpaigners ever
known in Kenosha, and while the city
has for years been a Democratic city,
it was an easy matter for Mr.. Petit to
secure an election. AS a presiding
officer he had no superiors and few
equals. During his administration
the city took rapid strides in public
improvements, Mayor Petit was al
ways IN favor Of public improvements
and his strong personality always had
an effect on the aldermen who were
under his direction.
Mayor Petit made a lasting mark