Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Pettit, Richard 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 7:42 pm

Author: History of Grundy County, 1914

Petty, Richard, who, after many years of industrial endeavor during which he 
has achieved a well-earned prosperity, is now living retired at Morris where 
he stands very high in the estimation of his fellow citizens. He was born in 
Limestone County, Ala., August 10, 1842, son of Abner and Kittie (Carrington) 
Petty, the former born in England, and the latter in Virginia. The father died 
when his son Richard was a child, but prior to his death made a number of 
changes, moving from Alabama to Mississippi when Richard was eighteen months 
old, and later to Arkansas where he bought a farm, but within a year returned 
to Mississippi.

Richard Petty grew up in the rural districts of Mississippi, and in the spring 
of 1861 enlisted in the Fiftieth Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, but after a 
year of service was detailed to take back home a number of sick. He then 
enlisted in Battery F. First Illinois Artillery, and was assigned to the Army 
of the Tennessee under General Logan and General Sherman. Two years later, he 
was transferred to Battery E. Although he was very sick at Bridgeport, Ala., 
he was never wounded and remained with his company during all of his service. 
On July 15, 1865, he received his honorable discharge at Chicago, and went 
from there to Ogle Station, where he worked on a farm. Having never had any 
educational advantages, during the winter of 1865-6, he attended school and 
studied hard. In the spring of 1866, Mr. Petty went to Dixon, Ill., and 
apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith trade. Later, he was employed in a 
plow factory as blacksmith. Going to Philadelphia, in the spring of 1869, he 
was married, and then coming back west as far as Chicago, he worked in that 
city at his trade until June 10, 1869, when he came to Morris to work on the 
river bridge, and later, for eighteen months, on the Ottawa canal. Afterward 
he worked at his trade at Morris, both independently and in the plow factory, 
and then began buying and selling poultry, meeting with considerable success. 
In connection with this business, he became interested in the grocery trade 
and later established himself in a grocery business, which he conducted until 
1892, when he sold at a profit. For a year he worked in a grocery as a clerk, 
and then opened up a dry goods store at Morris, which held his interest until 
1904, when he sold and since then has lived retired, owning one of the finest 
residences in the city.

On April 27, 1869, Mr. Petty was married at Philadelphia, to Martha Locke, 
born in England, daughter of William and Ann Locke. Mr. and Mrs. Petty became 
the parents of the following children: Harry, who lives at Pittsburgh; Minnie, 
who is Mrs. William F. Buck, of Morris, and Cora E., who is a high school 
teacher at Lincoln, Ill. Mr. Petty is a prominent Baptist, serving his church 
as deacon and trustee. He is a Prohibitionist and served four years as 
constable. The Modern Woodmen of America and the Grand Army of the Republic 
hold his membership. A man of strong convictions, he lives up to his 
principles and gains the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes into 
contact.

pages 884-885

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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