Reedsburg Free Press

September 5, 1873

FRANK PETTEYS brought part of a load of whopping big watermelons into town last Monday; and left [his] team standing right [in front of] PERRY’s store, while he went and hunted up a customer for them, and the colt part of the team wouldn’t stay worth a cent, but ran off down [the] street, towards the bridge likitty-larrup, accompanied by “old mare” part of the team; and GEORGE STEWART very gallantly and valiantly and courageously rushed out of his tavern room, right in front of the team and by sundry shoutings and gesticulations and yankings at the bits, succeeded in bringing the “flying steeds” to a standstill; and FRANK gave GEORGE the biggest melon in his wagon as a Reward of Merit, and gave us another not to say anything about it; and we vow it was bigger than a great big round green “punkin,” and looked muchly like one and we took it to the lair of ye young editors, and they did feast on it for two whole days, and pronounced it by all odds the bust watermelon tasted this year; in consequence of which we had concluded not to say a word about the runaway or the present to GEORGE or ourselves, but only that everybody who wants a tip top good watermelon should buy it of

FRANK PETTEYS

Note that this entire paragraph is a single sentence!

.

Name From Enlisted Mustered Out

Sauk County Court Records

4 June 1866 – 14 November 1871

Volume 3 – Page 48

The State of Wisconsin to all whom it may concern and especially to Amos Pettyes of Reedsburg in the aforesaid county greeting: Know ye that whereas application hath been made to the judge of our county court of said county for the appointment of a guardian toFrank Pettyes aged 17 years AD 1866 of Reedsburg in said county minor child and heir of said Amos Pettyes and in appearing to our said judge that Amos Pettyes of Reedsburg in said county is a fit and proper person to be the guardian of said minor and whereas the appointment of guardian in such cases may be made by said judge; and it appears satisfactory that it is necessary to appoint a Guardian to the said minor and said Amos Pettyes having given bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of said trust (which said bond has been affirmed by said judge) now therefore transferring in your care and fidelity, and have appointed and do by these present appoint you the said Amos Pettyes guardian to said minor hereby authorizing and empowering to take and have the custody and _____ of said minor and the care and management of his estate until he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or until you shall have been discharged from said trust according to law. And you are hereby _____ according to the terms of your bond filed and appointed aforesaid, to make an inventory of all the estate real and personal of said minor that shall come to your possession or knowledge and to return the same into the Probate Registry of the said county court within six months next ensuring the date of these present: To dispose of and manage all such estate according to law and for the best interest of said minor, and faithfully to discharge your duty in relation to the care custody and education of said minor; to make an account on oath of the property estate and moneys of said minor in your hands and all proceeds or interest derived therefrom and of the management and disposition after same within one year next ensuring the date of these present and at such other times as the said county court shall direct; and as the expiration of your trust to settle your account with the judge of said court or with the minor if he shall be of full age or with his or their representative legal representative and to pay over and deliver all the estate moneys and efforts remaining on your hands or due from you on such settlement to the person or persons who may be lawfully entitled thereto. In testimony where of ____

_____caused the seal after said county court to be hereto affixed witness the honorable J. B. Quimby Judge of said court this 6th day of November AD 1866 at Baraboo in said county. J.B. Quimby, County Judge.

(The reason for this action is unknown)

Reedsburg Area Veteran’s Memorial Wall

“This Memorial Wall tells a story…a story of what it took to keep this country free.” The wall was dedicated on July 4, 2011, and “it now stands as a place of gratitude and reflection,” notes the memorial brochure. Frank Pettis, Reedsburg’s drummer boy during the Civil War, is depicted on the left side of the “Courage” panel with his drum.

REVIVE OLD TIMES: October 24, 1907

One of those rare reunions which always leaves a bright spot in memory's casket was held last Sat. by a number of members of COMPANY A, 19th. WIS. VOL. INF.

This company was remarkable in a number of ways and has some records which are hard to duplicate in the magnificent service in the whole Union Army. Of the one hundred five men originally enlisted there were but seventeen left at the final close.

The forenoon was spent in the G.A.R. hall visiting and at noon all went to the Hotel Grand for dinner. The members present were: J.C. Fosnot, Henry Grote, W.T. Swetland, D.M. Shelden, Frank Pettyes, A.L. Brooks, C.F. Sheldon, C.A. Danforth of Company "A", A.L. Brooks the adopted member of the regiment, and the following invited guests:-Nelson Payne Mrs. H.C. Ellinwood, Mrs. C.F. Sheldon, Mrs. Frank Pettyes, Mrs. D.M. Shelden, Mrs. P.M. Winnie and daughter Alma and Mr. and Mrs. G.J. Seamons.

Clarence Danforth who was a guest of the local members of the company, now lives in Tacoma, Wash. where [he] has accumulated enough of this world's goods so that he can spend his declining years in peace and happiness. But with all the enjoyment to be found in a comfortable home and congenial surroundings, he says he yearned often for the companionship of his former comrades, and well did he improve the times while in this vicinity and not a single one was slighted.

At the close of the war he returned to Reedsburg, but lived here only a year when he moved west and with the exception of a few days spent here in 1881, has not been back since.

Mr. Danforth had been to Virginia where he visited many of [the] scenes, battle fields and places of historical interest, made famous by the army of which his company had a lively part. He has many views, relics and other tokens which were of intense interest to his former comrades and none the less enjoyed by the others present, so the time passed all too quickly.

The company also had the honor of having one of the youngest, if not the youngest enlisted member in the state. His name is Frank Pettyes, and he enlisted with his father eleven days before he was twelve years old.

He went with the company to the front and when his term expired he re-enlisted and served till the close of the war, taking his discharge April 9, 1865. He is now in the milling business near Camp Douglas, respected and honored as a citizen. Only one other musician of the thirty in the 19th regiment is now living as far as can be learned.

Mr. Grote had kept a memorandum of the doings of the company while in the service, but they were burned out at the time his house was destroyed by fire several years ago. (Reedsburg Free Press)

Officers of the Wisconsin 19th Infantry, Company A

Reedsburg Free Press

Thursday, August 22, 1918

Obituary Pettis

Frank Pettis was born in Cranesville, Erie Co., Pa. January 22, 1850. He came to Wisconsin with his parents when about three years old and settled in Reedsburg which was then a very small town. Here he attended school which was taught by A.P. Ellenwood of this city until he was in his eleventh year when he enlisted with his teacher, Capt. Ellenwood in 1861 and served as a drummer boy in the Civil War for three years, then he re -enlisted for the remainder of the war. He was with his captain in every battle in which they engaged: Suffolk, Carsville and Bottom Ridge, VA. Newburn, N.C., Deep Creek, Swift Creek, Proctor’s Creek, Durry’s Bluff, Petersburg, Va., Fair Oaks Siege of Petersburg and Spring Hill. The regimental colors were the first to float from the confederate capitol, Richmond, Va.

At the age of 20 he learned the miller’s trade and was in the milling business until seven years ago when he retired. He was married when about twenty to Jane Pomeroy. Five children were born to them, one son and four daughters, all of whom are living. Oscar of Camp Douglas, Mrs. Alfred Deal and Mrs. William Storandt of Kilbourn, [now Rock Springs, WI] Mrs. C.A. Williams of Gary, Minn., one sister, Mrs. Electa Worden and a half brother, Fred E. Pettis of Endeavor.

He had been to Rochester to the Mayo Bros. hospital for examination on account of poor health and was on his way back to his daughter’s at Kilbourn when he was taken with a stroke at Mauston [WI] and died Thursday morning, August 15th at the hospital in that city.

The body was brought to Reedsburg Friday where it was met at the station by members of the G.A.R. and the Reedsburg Drum Corps of which he was a member, who with muffled drums proceeded the hearse to the home of his cousin, Mrs. Delia Weidman on 2nd street, with whom he had made his home since the death of his wife two years ago. The funeral was held from the home Saturday afternoon conducted by Rev. J.E. Cooke of the Methodist church and the military rites of the G.A.R.

Relatives who were present at the funeral were Oscar Pettis of Camp Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rumpf and daughter Pearl of Appleton, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Deal and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Storandt, Kilbourn, Mrs. C.J. Williams and son of Gary, Minn., Mrs. E. Worden, Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Pettis, and Mrs. W. Holcomb of Endeavor, Arnold

Pomeroy,

Reedsburg, Wisconsin