John B. Pettit

PETTIT, BENJAMIN, STEELE, FOLEY, CLARK, SMITH, GROSS, BROWN, REEDY

Posted By: Volunteer - Conley Wolterman
Date: 1/13/2002 at 22:39:01

John B. Pettit, member of the firm of Pettit & Son, proprietors of the City Steam Laundry, and manufacturers of washing-machines and boxes for commercial business, was born at Malta, Morgan Co., Ohio, Sept. 27, 1832. His parents were William and Laura (Benjamin) Pettit, the father a native of New York State, and the mother of Vermont.

Our subject was reared in the Buckeye State, where he learned the trades of carpenter and mill-wright. In 1850 he came to Iowa and settled in Van Buren County, where he worked at his trade until 1874, when he came to Burlington and continued in the same business. In the spring of 1883 he established his box factory, at the corner of South Fifth and Market streets, and soon added to the manufacture of boxes that of washing-machines, in company with his sons. In 1884 they started their steam laundry and carpet renovating works, and have carried on the business continuously since. The excellence of their laundrying has won them the reputation of doing the best work in this line in the city. The son of our subject, A. F., is his only partner, and a young man of more than ordinary business ability.

Mr. Pettit was married in Ohio, in May, 1851, to Miss Deborah, daughter of Henry Steele, of Zanesville, where Mrs. P. was born. This marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, two sons and five daughters: Laura is the wife of Z. B. Foley, of Denver, Col.; Jennie, Mrs. Wright Clark, lives in Burlington; Hannah is the wife of Winfield Smith; Alfred married Miss Anna Gross; Carrie is the wife of George Brown; John R. married Miss Martha Reedy. With the exception of the eldest daughter all the children are residents of Burlington.

A History of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa : Lewis Publishing Co., 1893