David appears in the 1850 census for LaPorte Co., Indiana with his wife and two children. By 1860, they have moved to Floyd Co., Iowa, where they appeared in the 1860 census. In that census, there is an Isaac Pettit, age 47, farmer, born Ohio, living in David's household. In the 1854 Iowa state census, David and his family appear in Penoach Twp., Dallas Co.. It is not certain that this David is son of John Pettit; perhap's he is son of one of John's brothers. See other David listed as John's son.