Family Group Sheet
NameThomas Stevenson Pettit
Birth21 Dec 1839 (?), Frankfort, Franklin Co., Kentucky
Death29 Nov 1931, Owensboro, Daviess Co., Kentucky
FatherFranklin Duane Pettit (~1801-1846)
MotherElizabeth Zook (~1804-1853)
Other spousesMargaret Blair
MarriageSep 1916, Owensboro, Kentucky
SpouseAlice Frakes
Notes for Thomas Stevenson Pettit
Prominent businessman and politician (Democrat). Publisher and editor of the Owensburo Monitor from 1864-?. Candidate for Congress in 1882, candidate for Governor of Kentucky in 1895 (both times defeated.) Reading clerk in the national House of Representatives from 1874-1878. Biography on pp.121-122 of Kentucky Biographies. Also on pp. 157-158 of History of Kentucky by Wm. Perrin.
Both biographical sketches give his birthdate as 21 Dec 1843, which seems to have been his accepted birthdate, but he is listed as age 10 in the 1850 census of Franklin Co., KY (page dated 18 Sep), with a sister Emmaline age 7, and as age 20 in the 1860 census, and there is a male under 5 in the 1840 census, so 1839 seems most likely.
His death certificate records Thos S Petit, age 88, born 20 Dec 1843 in Ky, died 29 Nov 1931, in Daviess Co., widowed, retired businessman, father Franklin Duane Petit, mother’s maiden name Elizabeth Zook, both born in Ky, cause of death adrenal neurasthenia, informant H. Blair Petit, Owensboro, Ky, burial in Elm Wood Cemetery.
Both biographical sketches give his birthdate as 21 Dec 1843, which seems to have been his accepted birthdate, but he is listed as age 10 in the 1850 census of Franklin Co., KY (page dated 18 Sep), with a sister Emmaline age 7, and as age 20 in the 1860 census, and there is a male under 5 in the 1840 census, so 1839 seems most likely.
His death certificate records Thos S Petit, age 88, born 20 Dec 1843 in Ky, died 29 Nov 1931, in Daviess Co., widowed, retired businessman, father Franklin Duane Petit, mother’s maiden name Elizabeth Zook, both born in Ky, cause of death adrenal neurasthenia, informant H. Blair Petit, Owensboro, Ky, burial in Elm Wood Cemetery.
Census
1860 census of Franklin Co., Ky, Frankfort district 1, enumerated 26 July, lists on p. 92 as household #637/634:
George W. Lewis, 45, editor, b. Virginia; Mary J. Lewis, 40; Joseph B., 18, printer; John F., 15; George A., 13; W. H. Hardin, 50, photographer; Amanda Hardin, 43; Thos L. Pettit, 20, printer. All except the elder George born in Ky.
The middle initial L is exactly the same as the one in Lewis, and there are some S’s on the page (Sally, Susan, etc.) that are distinguishable from L, so the name does not say “Thos S”. But there is no other Thomas Pettit working as a printer in Frankfort.
1870 census of Daviess Co., Ky, Owensboro ward 1, enumerated 1 July, lists on p. 1, in household 1, which is a hotel run by E. Allen Hathaway:
Pettit, Thomas S., 27, editor, b. Ky.
George W. Lewis, 45, editor, b. Virginia; Mary J. Lewis, 40; Joseph B., 18, printer; John F., 15; George A., 13; W. H. Hardin, 50, photographer; Amanda Hardin, 43; Thos L. Pettit, 20, printer. All except the elder George born in Ky.
The middle initial L is exactly the same as the one in Lewis, and there are some S’s on the page (Sally, Susan, etc.) that are distinguishable from L, so the name does not say “Thos S”. But there is no other Thomas Pettit working as a printer in Frankfort.
1870 census of Daviess Co., Ky, Owensboro ward 1, enumerated 1 July, lists on p. 1, in household 1, which is a hotel run by E. Allen Hathaway:
Pettit, Thomas S., 27, editor, b. Ky.
