Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 1887, contains the following article:

REV. N. C. PETTIT was born in Pendleton County, Ky., five miles east of Falmouth, October 30, 1826. His father, Absalom Pettit, was born in the same county in 1802, was a farmer and tanner, and for twenty years was a magistrate. In 1825 he married Elizabeth Hart, who bore him ten children, of whom eight survive. Amos Pettit, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Loudoun County, Va., and came to Kentucky in 1800, settling in Pendleton County, on the Licking River. Although too young to become a soldier, he nevertheless took part in the Revolutionary War. He married a Miss Glenn, of Virginia, who bore him a large family of children. He died, a member of the Christian Church, at the age of ninety. N. C. Pettit received his rudimentary education in the common schools of Pendleton County and subsequently attended Georgetown College from 1847 to 1853, but never graduated. After a ministerial course of study under the auspices of the Baptist Church, he was ordained a preacher in 1853, and has since labored actively and earnestly in Pendleton, Campbell, Kentucky and Grant Counties at preaching and teaching. From 1857 to 1875 he had charge of Walnut Hill Academy, seven miles from Newport, Ky., and from 1875 to 1880 taught in Rising Sun, Ind. April 25, 1854, he married Miss Elizabeth Morin, daughter of Rev. William and Juliet (Smalley) Morin, both natives of Kentucky, and to this union have been born seven children, of whom five are living: Howard Malcolm, Sallie A., William E., H. S. and Paul B. The deceased were named Judson and Pearl. On Mr. Pettit's return to Kentucky from Indiana, he taught at the Pendleton Academy, Falmouth, for three years, and for two years a select school at Fiskburg. He is now preaching to the congregations of Hickory Grove, Kenton County; Concord, Gallatin County, and Short Creek and Gum Lick, Pendleton County. Mr. Pettit has also served as commissioner of schools for Campbell County four years. He is a Freemason and a Prohibitionist.

His death certificate records Nicholas C. Pettit, age 88, born 30 Oct 1826 in Pendleton Co., Ky, died 17 Mar 1914 in Campbell Co., Ky, widowed, minister, father Absalum Pettit, mother’s maiden name Mrs. Hart, both born in Ky, cause of death senile gangrene, informant Miss Sarah Pettit, Covington, Ky, burial in Flags Springs.

Campbell Co., Ky marriage records list the marriage on 25 April 1854 of Nicholas Pettit, age 28, to Elizabeth Morrin, age 27.

1860 census of Campbell Co., Kentucky, Cold Spring P.O., enumerated 24 July, lists on p. 109 as family #764:
N. C. Pettitt, 33, teacher; Sarah, 33; Howard, 5; Sarah, 1; Josaphine Dancen, 10; Bell Steel, 18, domestic. All born in Kentucky.

I cannot find this family in the 1870 census.

1880 census of Dearborn Co., Illinois, Moores Hill, Sparta township, enumerated 17 June, lists on p. 34 as family #378:
Petit, N. C., 53, teacher, born Ky Va Ky; Sarah E., 53, wife, b. Ky Ky Ky; Sarah A., 21, dau, teacher; William E., 19, son; Harry S., 16, son; Paul, 14, son. All children born Ky Ky Ky.

1900 census of Campbell Co., Ky, California precinct, enumerated 7 June, lists on p. 7A as family #148/149:
Pettit, Nicholas C., 73, b. Oct 1826, school teacher; Sarah E., wife, 72, b. Nov 1827, married 46 years, mother of 7 children, 5 living; Sallie A., dau, 41, b. Feb 1859, single; Paul B., son, 34, b. Sep 1865, single. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1910 census of Campbell Co., Ky, California precinct, lists with his son William E:
Micholis C., father, 83, widowed, born Ky Ky Ky.