Oliver Perry Petty

Oliver Perry Petty was born on 23 January 1871 in Logan County, Kentucky.¹“U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901 : accessed 3 Oct 2021), Oliver Perry Petty, SSN 259093321; from Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936–2007. He was the seventh child born to John R. Petty and Margaret E. Thomas.²1870 U.S. census, Logan Co., KY, population schedule, Keysburg Dist., p. 33, dwelling 185, family 185, John R. Petty; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163 : accessed 5 Nov 2009); from NARA microfilm M593, roll 483; six older children listed.

Perry was one of the six children who went to Forsyth County, Georgia, to live after Margaret’s death in 1876. The other five children lived with their aunt Mary Thomas Echols.³1880 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, population schedule, Coal Mountain, enumeration district (ED) 78, p. 24, dwelling 240, family 240, J. M. Echols; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742 : accessed 5 Nov 2009); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 147. Perry lived with James W. and Angeline Tribble in 1880 with the relationship of adopted son in that census.⁴1880 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, population schedule, Cumming, enumeration district (ED) 73, p. 357B, dwelling 49, family 52, James W. Tribble; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742 : accessed 3 Sep 2010); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 146. It is unclear if this was a legal adoption or if the Tribbles simply took him in. While his surname name in that census was Tribble, no evidence exists that he ever went by anything other than Petty for the rest of his life. The reason Perry lived with the Tribbles, rather than with his aunt Mary and siblings, is unknown. But he apparently had a long-term relationship with them. After the death of Perry’s first wife, his son Elmer lived with the Tribbles in 1900.⁵1900 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, population schedule, Settendown, enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 20A, dwelling 331, family 331, James W. Tribble; digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 4 Sep 2013); citing NARA microfilm T623.

On 28 August 1890, Perry married Vada L. Bramlett in Forsyth County, Georgia.⁶“Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4766 : accessed 20 Jan 2021), Petty-Bramblett, 28 Aug 1890, Forsyth Co.; County Marriage Records 1828-1978, Georgia Archives, Morrow. Vada was born on 13 April 1875 in Georgia, probably Forsyth County.⁷Friendship Cemetery (Forsyth Co., GA), Vada L. Petty marker, photographed by Linda McCauley, 10 Nov 2012. James A. Bramlett and Armenda Redd were her parents.⁸1880 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, population schedule, High Tower, enumeration district (ED) 74, p. 7, dwelling 54, family 54, James A. Bramlette; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742 : accessed 2 Oct 2021); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 147. “Georgia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1914-1940,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2562 : accessed 23 Oct 2021), death certificate no. 01043 (1922), Arminda Bramblett; from Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics, Atlanta; maiden name Redd.

Perry and Vada had a daughter and three sons born between 1891 and 1898. Odell was born about 1891, probably in Forsyth County.⁹Jeanette Gilliam McCauley, “Descendants of John Petty;” copy shared with Linda McCauley, Mt. Vernon, KY, 25 Apr 2003; family group sheet for Oliver Perry Petty lists daughter Odell, information provided to Jeanette by Joenne Petty Cathcart, granddaughter of Perry. 1910 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, population schedule, Grassy Knob, enumeration district (ED) 129, sheet 3B, dwelling 60, family 60, Edd Thomasony; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884 : accessed 22 Oct 2021); from NARA microfilm T624, roll 203; wife Odell age 18. Elmer Washington was born on 10 September 1894 in Forsyth County.¹⁰“U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1002 : accessed 3 Oct 2021), Elmer Petty, serial no. 438; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri. Daniel Paul was born on 15 December 1895 in Cherokee County.¹¹“Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/92278 : accessed 23 Oct 2021), Daniel Paul Petty, serial no. 17875; from Virginia Department of Health, Richmond. Claud was born on 6 August 1898, probably in Cherokee County.¹²1910 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, population schedule, Dug Road, enumeration district (ED) 125, sheet 8A, dwelling 137, family 140, Perry Petty; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884 : accessed 3 Sep 2013); from NARA microfilm T624, roll 203; Perry had son named Claud. Friendship Cemetery (Forsyth Co., GA), Claud Petty marker, photographed by Linda McCauley, 10 Nov 2012. Vada died on 9 August 1899 and was buried in Friendship Cemetery in Forsyth County.¹³Friendship Cemetery (Forsyth Co., GA), Vada L. Petty marker.

In 1900, Perry boarded with Fred Phillips in Pickens County, Georgia, and worked as a house carpenter.¹⁴1900 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, population schedule, Townsend enumeration district (ED) 112, sheet 6B, dwelling 116, family 116, Fred Phillips; digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 2 Oct 2021); citing NARA microfilm T623. Paul and Claud lived with Vada’s parents in Forsyth County and Elmer lived there with the Tribbles.¹⁵1900 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, population schedule, Settendown, enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 15B, dwelling 251, family 251, James Bramblett; digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 2 Oct 2021); citing NARA microfilm T623. 1900 U.S. census, Forsyth Co., GA, pop. sch., Settendown, ED 35, sheet 20A, dwell. 331, fam. 331, James W. Tribble. Odell’s whereabouts are unknown.

Eliza Duckett also lived in Pickens County in 1900 and worked as a cook in a boarding house run by Mason Fowler.¹⁶1900 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, population schedule, Townsend, enumeration district (ED) 112, sheet 6A, dwelling 103, family 103, Mason Fowler; digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 2 Oct 2021); citing NARA microfilm T623. Perry married Eliza between 1900 and 1903.¹⁷“U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238 : accessed 3 Oct 2021), Oliver Cicero Petty, serial no. 1295; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri; Perry and Eliza’s oldest son born 19 Jun 1903. Eliza was born on 18 February 1873 in Georgia to Jacob B. Duckett and Sarah J. Thomas.¹⁸“Georgia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1914-1940,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2562 : accessed 23 Oct 2021), death certificate no. 24250 (1929), Mrs. Eliza Perry Petty; from Georgia Department of Health and Vital Statistics, Atlanta; birth date and state, father Jake Duckett, mother Sarah. “Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1828-1978,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4766 : accessed 20 Oct 2021), Jacob B. Duckett and Sarah J. Thomas, 7 February 1872, White Co.; County Marriage Records 1828-1978, Georgia Archives, Morrow.

Perry and Eliza lived in Pickens County in 1910 with their children Oliver, Edward, Eula, and Jennie Mae, along with Perry’s sons Paul and Claud.¹⁹1910 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, pop. sch., Dug Road, ED 125, sheet 8A, dwell. 137, fam. 140, Perry Petty. Oliver Cicero was born on 19 June 1903 in Tate in Pickens County.²⁰“U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947,” Oliver Cicero Petty, serial no. 1295. James Edward was born on 9 July 1905.²¹Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 20 Oct 2021), memorial 83249430, for James Edward “Red” Petty, (Marietta City Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 10 Jan 2012, by MHardy. Eula Mae was born on 28 October 1907.²²Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 20 Oct 2021), memorial 83305456, for Eula Sarah Petty Martin, (Marietta City Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 11 Jan 2012, by MHardy; buried in Petty plot with Perry and Eliza. Jennie Mae was born on 8 July 1909.²³Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 20 Oct 2021), memorial 136055687, for Jennie Mae Petty Sarratt, (Riverview Memorial Park Cemetery, Smyrna, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 17 Sep 2014, by Cameracrazy. Edward, Eula, and Jennie were probably all born in Picken County.

By 1920, the family lived in Fullers in Cobb County, Georgia, and two more children had been born.²⁴1920 U.S. census, Cobb Co., GA, population schedule, Fullers District, enumeration district (ED) 43, sheet 4A, dwelling 60, family 64, Perry Petty; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061 : accessed 4 Sep 2013); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 245. Lou Vada was born on 27 December 1911 and Joe Dorsey was born on 6 July 1915.²⁵Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 10 Oct 2021), memorial 136055594, for Lou Vada Petty Leonard, (Riverview Memorial Park, Smyrna, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 18 Sep 2014, by Cameracrazy. “U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2238 : accessed 3 Oct 2021), Joe Dorsey Petty, serial no. 3468; from Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147, NARA, St Louis, Missouri. Joe was born in Cobb County and Lou Vada likely was as well.²⁶“U.S. World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947,” Joe Dorsey Petty, serial no. 3468.

Between 1920 and 1929, Perry and Eliza moved to Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia. They lived on Rt. 7 in Atlanta when Eliza died on 22 September 1929 of an intestinal obstruction.²⁷“Georgia, U.S., Deaths Index, 1914-1940,” death certificate no. 24250 (1929), Mrs. Eliza Perry Petty. She was buried in Marietta City Cemetery in Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia.²⁸Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 23 Nov 2012), memorial 83304711, for Eliza Catherine Duckett Petty, (Marietta City Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 11 Jan 2012, by MHardy.

In 1930, Perry and four of the children (Edward, Eula, Lou Vada, and Joe) lived on St. James Drive in Center Hill in Fulton County. Perry had changed occupations from farming, which he was doing in 1910 and 1920, back to carpentry.²⁹1930 U.S. census, Fulton Co., GA, population schedule, Center Hill, enumeration district (ED) 170, sheet 24A, dwelling 489, family 489, O. P. Petty; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224 : accessed 4 Sep 2013); from NARA microfilm T626. 1910 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, pop. sch., Dug Road, ED 125, sheet 8A, dwell. 137, fam. 140, Perry Petty. 1910 U.S. census, Pickens Co., GA, pop. sch., Dug Road, ED 125, sheet 8A, dwell. 137, fam. 140, Perry Petty. 1920 U.S. census, Cobb Co., GA, pop. sch., Fullers District, ED 43, sheet 4A, dwell. 60, fam. 64, Perry Petty.

Perry took a trip to Madisonville, Kentucky, around 1934 to visit his sister Samantha. While in the area, he and Samantha also visited their brother John Franklin in Harrisburg, Illinois. According to an undated newspaper clipping saved by John’s family, it had been forty-four years since the brothers had seen each other. Using Samantha’s age noted in the article, forty-four years ago would have been about 1890.³⁰“Brothers Reunited After 44 Years; Cobedn Relatives Celebrate,” undated clipping, ca. 1934, from unidentified newspaper (possibly in Harrisburg, IL), privately held by Steve Petty (great-grandson of John Franklin Petty), copy provided via email to Linda McCauley, Mt. Vernon, KY, 10 Mar 2012.

Perry died on 5 February 1943 at his home at 539 Luckie Street in Atlanta. He had been a building contractor for the past eighteen years.³¹“Oliver Petty, 72, Contractor, Dies,” Atlanta (GA) Constitution, 6 Feb 1943, p 6, col 7; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 3 Oct 2021). Perry was buried beside Eliza in Marietta City Cemetery.³²Find A Grave, (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 23 Nov 2012), memorial 83305363, for Oliver Perry Petty, (Marietta City Cemetery, Marietta, Cobb Co., GA), digital image, 11 Jan 2012, by MHardy.