His WWI draft registration card, issued in 1917/1918 (the images on Ancestry do not show the side of the card that has the date it was filed), says John William Pettit, age 45, residence Sharpsburg, Ky, born 22 Dec 1872, occupation farmer, self-employed, nearest relative Mrs. Lillie Lee Pettit, wife.

I have not been able to find him as a child in the 1880 census (he should be age 6 or 7). Nor could I him in the Ky vital statistic death index, but since he went by both John and William, and records of his birthdate vary, and I don’t know his date of death, it is kind of hard to tell which records might match. It might be worthwhile checking out the Crown Hill Cemetery in Sharpsburg to see if he is buried in the same cemetery as his sons Millard and Everett.

John William may be a descendent of Thomas of Montgomery Co., perhaps through his son Asa. He is of interest to me primarily because several of the present Bath Co. Pettits are descended from him.

Death Certificate (from KY Vital Statistics Dept) for Mrs. Lillie Gray Pettit, d. Feb 16, 1959, in Sharpsburg, Bath Co., widowed, date of birth Jan 27, 1876 (the 6 is an overstrike over a faint 1), age 82 (the 2 is an overstrike over a faint 7 - note that neither pairing is consistent - assuming January is correct, an age of 82 would imply birth in 1877, and an age of 87 would imply birth in 1872 - which is what the 1900 census says), birthplace Nicholas Co., KY, father's name Harvey Gray, mother's maiden name Margaret Hopkins, informant Ben Pettit, cause of death generalized arteriosclerosis.

I should look for her obituary in the Bath County newspaper microfilms. It might say when her husband died.

In 1930 she was listed as Lillie Petitt, age 58, widowed, mother-in-law, with her daughter Anna who was married to Luther McCarty.

1900 census of Montgomery Co., Ky, district #2, p. 1B, lists as family #20:
William Petet, age 25, b. June 1874; Lillie, wife, 28, b. Jan 1872; Milerd, son, 6, b. May 1894; May (or Mag), dau, 1, b. May 1899. All born in Ky.

I have not located this family in the 1910 census.

1920 census of Nicholas Co., East Union precinct, enumerated 22 Jan, lists on p. 9B as family #83:
Pedit, John W., 46; Lillie, wife, 47; Millard, son, 24, married; Jennie, daughter-in-law, 20; Nettie, dau, 18; Everet L., 16; Ben F., 13; Andora, dau, 11; Tonly F., son, 9. All born Ky Ky Ky. (The youngest son’s name might be Toney instead of Tonly. The clerk often made his e’s very tall.)

1930 census of Sharpsburg, Bath Co., Ky, enumerated 4 April, lists on p. 12A as family #30:
McCarty, Luther, 27, farm laborer, age at first marriage 22; Anna, wife, age at first marriage 16; Nancy, dau, 5; Ruby, dau, 6/12; Peditt, Lillie, mother in law, 58, widowed; Peditt, Everett, brother in law, 26. All born Ky/Ky/Ky.