Sketch of Alfred Petley, Audrain County, Missouri

>From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous
sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in 
Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan,
Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876.
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Joseph Petley, of Warren County, KY., married Nancy Hamilton, and they
had: Alfred, Allen, Alexander, John, George, Mary, Margaret, Rachel and
Nancy.  Alfred settled in Audrain County, in 1828.  He was married fir-
st to Malinda Meigs, by whom he had three children.  He was married the
second time to Cynthia Howard, by whom he had nine children. Mr. Petley
was the greatest hunter and trapper of his day.  It is said by those
who had opportunities of knowing, that he killed more bears, deer, pan-
thers, wild cats, racoons and wild turkeys than any two men in Missouri.
He was very stout, and was often seen carrying two deer, one strapped
on each shoulder, and his gun at the same time.  He would carry such a
load as this for miles without seeming to grow weary.  He lived to a 
very old age, and died in 1874.  While he was lying on his death bed he
had his gun and powder horn, a set of bucks' antlers, and the skins of
a wild cat, racoon and bear hung where he could see them, and they were 
the last objects that his gaze rested upon as his soul took its flight 
to the spirit land.  Allen Petley settled in Montgomery County, and
married Ellen Bishop.  Alexander also settled in Montgomery County. One
day during harvest he cut seven acres of wheat with a cradle, and drank
a large quantity of cold water while he was heated, from the effects of
which he died that night.  Margaret married Taliaferro Reed, who settl-
ed in Montgomery County in 1834.  Rachel married William Williams, who 
settled in that county the same year.

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