The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-02-25
Well Known Former kenosha Man
Died in Oak Park Monday
After a Long Illness
HAD LONG TIME WAR RECORD
Was Manager for the Postal Telegraph
Company in Chicago for Many
Years-to be Buried Here
on Thursday Afternoon
(From Tuesday s Daily

James E. Petit, son of the late
Judge J. J. Petit and one Of the best
known Of the early school boys of
Kenosha, died at his home in Oak
Park, Ill, Monday at the age Of sc
years. Mr. Petit had been in feeble
health for some time and the announce
ment of his death will not come as a
surprise to his many friends among
the earlier residents Of Kenosha. The
funeral will be held from the late resi-
dence in Oak Park on Thursday morn
ing and the remains will be brought to
Kenosha for interment in the family
plat in the Kenosha City cemetery.
The remains will reach here at 12:45 p.
m. and be taken at once to the GENE
terry.
James E. Petit was in many ways a
remarkable man and his death will
come as a personal sorrow to many
people in Kenosha. Years of comrade-
ship with him had built up friend
ship which continued until death and
although Mr.. Petit had lived in Hi
nois for many years he had always
held a great interest in Kenosha. He
was one Of the leading members Of the
Kenosha High School Association and
was one of the regular attendants at
the biennial reunions. He was one of
the founders and for many years the
president Of the Chicago -Kenosha Club
and did much to unite the old Kenosha
residents in Chicago into a strong
social organization. He was always
one of the jolly members Of the bi-en-
NAL reunions in Kenosha and his face
will be sadly missed when the members
Of the association return to Kenosha
for the reunion this year.
James E. Petit gained renown early
in life. He was native of New York
but came to Kenosha with his father
when very small boy and lived here
until after the war. He was attending
the high school at the time the war
broke out, but when Lincoln issued his
call to arms Petit was in Madison and
fearing that there would not be room
for him in the Kenosha company he en-
listed as a member of the First Wiscon-
sin at Madison. He remained in the
service till the close Of the war; Early
in life he learned the business Of a
telegraph operator and as soon as he
entered the service he was elected as
a military telegraph operator. During
the years that he served in this capac
ity he became the friend of many fam
Gus generals in the Union army and it
is said that his collection of autographs
of war time heroes was the best in the
United States. Petit served with dis
tinction as a soldier and was captured
and spent nine months in prison. Up
on the founding Of the Military Tele-
graphers Association shortly after the
war heSwas named as secretary Of the
organization and he held this position
until short time ago. In Chicago he
served for nearly a quarter Of century
as head operator and manager for the
Postal Telegraph Company and he was
retired on pension by this company
two years ago.
Forty years ago Mr.. Petit was mar
ried in Kenosha to Miss Ella Stryke1
who died five years ago. He is surviv
ed by two children, Miss Alice S. Pet
tit and I'll. Eber Petit, both residents
of Oak Park.