Descendents of John Tom Pettit (in particular, his daughter-in-law Bearl (Haney) Pettit, and his granddaughter Mabel (Slusher) Forman, and his grandson Wilbur Moore) say that John was illegitimate, and his father was John Link and his mother "Lizzie Pettit". He is listed with the family of Benjamin Pettit & wife Louisa in the 1870 census (age 2) and the 1880 census (age 10.) None of John Tom's descendents knew the parents or siblings of Lizzie Pettit, but since John Tom was raised by Benjamin Pettit, she was almost certainly his sister Elizabeth, who never married.

His death certificate (from KY Vital Statistics Dept) records John T. Pettit died 27 June 1930 in Morgan Co., age 61y 2m 23d, married, surviving spouse Belle Pettit, date of birth Apr 4, 1867, birthplace Morgan Co., KY, occupation farming, father John Link b. Pennsylvania, mother Liz Pettit, informant Belle Pettit, Craney, KY, cause of death "heart failure died suddenly". (There is no death record for Isabell in Frankfort. I suspect that she probably died in Ohio or Indiana, since 5 of her children were living there at the time.)

Joint stone in New Alfrey Cemetery says:
Pettit John T. Isabell
1866-1930 1874-1949
(The year of birth for John is probably wrong. Note census has him marked as 2 in 1870, 10 in 1880, 29 in 1900, and 40 in 1910. I consider 1869 to be the most probable date, 1868 second most likely.)

John is listed in the 1870 census with the family of Benjamin Pettit (his mother’s brother), and in the 1880 census, as John D. Link, age 12, boarder, with the family of his first cousin Bluford Elliott (whose mother was Mary Ann Pettit).

Although there is a double stone in New Alfrey Cemetery with her name on it, I don’t know if Isabell is actually buried there, or if it was engraved when John Tom died and she was later buried with her second husband. I should look for an obituary.

Rowan County Marriage Register, Book A, p. 42, records marriage of John T. Pettit and Bell Brown, 10 Nov 1891, at “my storehouse”, by W. W. Phillips, witnesses Levi Morefield, Joseph N. Phelpp.

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pierce precinct, enumerated 12 June, lists on p. 9A as family #155:
John T. Pettitt, Apr 1871, age 29, works at sawmill; Isabell, Apr 1875, age 25, married 8 yrs, 3 children, 3 living; Loretta, Dec 1894, 5 yrs; Lizzie B., Feb 1897, 3 yrs; John W., May 1900, 0 mo. All born in Kentucky.

1910 census of Morgan Co., Ky, North Fork precinct, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 2B as family #24
Petitt, John T., 40; Belle, wife, 34, first marriage for both, married 19 years, mother of 6 children, 6 living; Icy, dau, 16; Lizzie, dau, 13; Arville, son, 9; Asa, son, 7; Hopy, son, 4; Minnie, dau, 1; Lizzie, mother, 65, single, mother of 6 children, 4 living. All born in Ky Ky Ky.

Our great-aunt Ola (Petitt) McBrayer says that John Tom & Bell's oldest child was named Isy, and she married Harve Middleton. (The list that Ola gives is Isy, Lizzie, Asy, Orville, Minnie, David, Lenora.) Since Loretta appears in the 1900 census b. Dec 1894, but not at all in the 1910 census, and Icy appears in the 1910 census age 16 but not at all in the 1900 census, it is likely that they are the same person. John W. (the baby in 1900) apparently died young, unless for some reason they decided to change his name to the very different Arville Green.

1920 census of Morgan Co., Ky, Panther’s Branch precinct, enumerated 28 Jan, lists on p. 12B as family #226/231:
Pettit, John T., 52, farmer; Isabell, wife, 48; Arvel G., son, 19; William A., son, 17; David H., son, 14; Minna J., dau, 11; Lenora M., dau, 7. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1930 census of Morgan Co., Ky, Blaze precinct, enumerated 8 April, lists on p. 5B as family #36:
Pettitt, John Tom, 61, farmer, age at first marriage 21; Belle, wife, 56, age at first marriage 18; Lenora, dau, 18. All born Ky Ky Ky.