Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT HENRY
PETTIT
R. H. PETTIT, one of the popular business men of Sacramento, is a native of England, born at London, December 18, 1836, his parents being Joseph E. and Ann (Bennett) Pettit. When he was a mere child, his parents came to Baltimore in the United States, and from there removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and afterward to Wisconsin, and from there subsequently to Quincy, Illinois. In the latter city R. H. Pettit learned the cigar makers’ trade with Henry Hind. After acquiring his trade, he worked for a time at Canton, Illinois, and afterward at Keokuk, Iowa. He was in the latter city in 1859, when, with a man named John Stone, he decided to go to California. They proceeded to St. Joseph, Missouri, and thence to Nebraska City, where they fitted out for their long journey, which was undertaken by them in the company of three others--young Frenchmen. The landmarks of their journey to California may be designated in a general way as Ft. Kearney, Ft. Laramie, Independence Rock, Echo Canon, Salt Lake City, Sink of Humboldt, Carson River and Genoa. They left Nebraska City on the 31st day of March, and arrived at Genoa on the 5th of August. Mr. Pettit went to work at Mono, where he was engaged until November. He then proceeded to Placerville, and thence came to Sacramento, arriving about the 18th of November. He obtained work with Smith & Headman, on Fourth street, between J and K, opposite Odd Fellow’s Building (formerly St. George Hotel), and remained with them until the flood of December, 1861. He soon afterward started in business for himself in the alley between L and M, Fourth and Fifth streets, and a year and a half later bought the property on K street where he now does business. He gave up manufacturing in 1880, and now gives his entire attention to wholesaling and retailing tobacco, cigars and everything pertaining thereto. He does an extensive business, which extends throughout all the territory tributary to Sacramento, and no business firm in Sacramento enjoys a higher reputation among its customers than does R. H. Pettit. He has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in December, 1864, was Miss Ellen Hickey, whose parents came to Sacramento in an early day. She died in 1868. His present wife was formerly Miss D. D. Hoagland, whose father, John Hoagland, came to California in 1849, and was a member of the Pioneer Society. Mr. Pettit is a member of Eureka Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., and of Occidental Encampment; of Columbia Lodge, K. of P.; of A. O. U. W.; of California Lodge, K. of H.; of Red Jacket Tribe No. 28, Red Men, and of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was a member of Confidence Company, No. 1, which he joined in 1861. Mr. Pettit is an active and enterprising citizen, and a successful business man.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Pages 737-738. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.