John B. Pettit son of Roben and Margaret Pettit, was born February 20, 1825, in the state of New York and died at his home in Cheyenne county, Kansas, June 15, 1906, at the ripe age of 81 years, 3 months and 23 days. He was the first born son of 11 children, three boys and eight girls, seven of whom are still living, Drastus and Esther in New York, Mary, Sarah, Jennie and Ellen in Illinois, Anna in Cheyenne county, Kansas, the latter being permitted to be with him in his last days. Two sisters and a brother have preceded him to the other life, Harriet, Madge and Peter.

Mr. Pettit was married to Delva B. Watson February 20, 1849, in New York, and to this union were born seven boys and one girl, the two oldest, James and Maggie, have already gone to the other world; Henry, Frank and Ernest live in Cheyenne county, Kansas; Wesley and William in Illinois; Sylvester at Kennard, Nebraska.

After several years of life in New York he and the family moved to Illinois where on October 25th, 1867, the wife Delva died and October 1, 1868, he was married to Caroline T. Otman of Wyoming, Illinois. To this union there were born the following five children, Cora, of Kennard, Nebraska; Gertrude of Bird City, Kansas; Albert, Anna and Marvin, of Cheyenne county, Kansas.

At the call of Lincoln for men to defend the honor of the nation, he responded, enlisting as Corporal in Co. E. 112th Regiment Ill. Vol. August 12, 1862. On April 1, 1863, he was promoted Sergeant and was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, February 17, 1865.

While living at Wyoming, Illinois, Mr. Pettit was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church living a consistent life and dying full of faith in his Christ. The last few days were full of suffering but he spent them in almost constant prayer and rejoicing in a sure victory over all doubts and fears, resting from his labors and suffering he now awaits the coming of the loved ones he has left.

In 1880 Mr. Pettit moved to Blair, Nebraska, and from there to Cheyenne county, Kansas, in 1895, which has been his home until the coming of death, where with his children, with the exception of Wesley and William, of Illinois, around his bedside he welcomed his Lord looking for the fulfilment of the promises read by Mr. Heaton of Illinois, and found in I Cor. 15th chapter, and the beautiful services of song and prayer in the home with the solemn yet hopeful services as conducted by Rev. E. E. Crippen, of Benkelman, laying the remains in the grave on the hill.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~