William Pettit was born in Ohio, in Athens County, September 22, 1840. His father, Daniel Pettit, a son of Thomas Pettit, a teacher by occupation, and one of the first educators in Morgan County, Ohio, was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, but at the age of twelve years left his native State with his parents, going to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1823, where they were among the first settlers. Daniel Pettit grew to manhood in Morgan County, and after reaching years of discretion chose farming as his occupation through life. He was married in Athens County, Ohio, to Miss Caroline Shaw, daughter of Dr. John L. Shaw, a pioneer of Marietta, Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Pettit entered land in Athens County, where he farmed in 1855, at that time moving to Lawrence County, and there resuming farming operations until 1885, when he came to Nebraska, and has since made his home with our subject. He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in October 1842, and afterward took a second wife. William Pettit grew to manhood in Athens and Lawrence Counties. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth West Virginia Infantry, and served until August, 1862, when he was discharged for disability. He enlisted as private, but soon was promoted to Corporal, and did a good deal of scouting and guard duty. The year following his discharge he spent in teaching and farming, following this business until 1868, when he came to Omaha, remaining there until the fall of 1870, when he came to Webster County and homesteaded the land on which he now lives, on the Republican River. He afterward purchased 160 acres more, making him a fine farm of 320 acres, nearly all which is fenced. Of this land 200 acres are farm land under cultivation, while the balance is meadow and pasture land. Mr. Pettit has a good two-story residence, good barns, cribs, sheds, wind-pump, stock scales, etc., and a fine young orchard of over 100 trees, all select fruit. When Mr. Pettit commenced here, he knew absolutely nothing about farming, but has succeeded well as an agriculturist, all of his possessions having been made here on the farm. He raises good graded stock, and has some pure Berkshire hogs. In Sarpy County, Neb., February 27, 1871, Miss Lucy M. Pusey, a native of Hartford County, Md., but reared and educated in Nebraska, a daughter of Eliphaz Pusey, became his wife, and his family now consists of Orpha (a young lady), Ida, Amy and Martha, and Frankie Martin (thirteen months old, a child of Mrs. Pettit's sister). Mr. Pettit is a Master Mason, and belongs to the G.A.R.