His death certificate records Thomas Pettit, age 57, born 1873 in Kentucky, died 2 Jan 1931 at Athens State Hospital, Athens, Athens Co., Ohio, usual residence Millfield, Dover township, Athens Co., Ohio, occupation unemployed miner, father unknown born in Kentucky, mother unknown born in West Virginia, cause of death general paralysis of the insane, informant commitment papers, burial in Green Lawn.

According to a newspaper notice of his death, grief over the death of his brother Floyd in the Millfield mine disaster caused him to become deranged, and his commitment to the state hospital followed. This may be a polite cover story, though, because the term “general paralysis of the insane” was what the advanced stage of syphillis used to be called.

1910 census of Athens Co., Ohio, York township, enumerated 20 April, lists on p. 6B as family #112/122:
Petitt, Thomas W., 36; John H., brother, 29; Floyd D., brother, 19. All single, all born Ky Ky Ky, all coal miners.

In 1920 he was listed as Thomas Pettit, brother, age 46, single, with his brother Floyd.