JAMES SUMNER PETTIT
PETTIT, JAMES SUMNER, United States army officer, was born in Lisbon, Ohio, August 4, 1856. His parents were Stacy and Grazella (Clark) Pettit. His father was a mechanic and contractor, a man of high moral and religious character, who was influential in the community in which he lived, and for two terms served his county as auditor. His earliest known ancestor in America was John Pettit, who was living on Long Island in 1686.
James Sumner Pettit studied in the public schools of Ohio, and was graduated from the United States military academy at West Point in 1878, ranking sixth in his class. He commenced the active work of life as second lieutenant United States Infantry, at Fort Sully, Dakota; was instructor in drawing and tactics at West Point, 1880-84; served in the Geronimo campaign in Arizona and New Mexico, 1885-86; was instructor in natural and experimental philosophy at West Point, 1888-92; and professor of military science and the art of war at Yale university, 1892-96. In the war with Spain he organized and commanded two volunteer regiments, of each of which he was appointed colonel. He was military and civil governor of the province of Manzanillo, Cuba, from October 1898 to May 1899. During this period he reorganized the government, established practical school and tax systems, and greatly improved the sanitary conditions. When relieved from duty he received the thanks of the department commander, and by act of the council he was made an adopted citizen of Manzanillo. In July, 1899, in command of a volunteer regiment of infantry, he sailed to the Philippines. He was commander of the Moro district of Mindanao and Jolo for four months and was then appointed civil and military governor of the second district of Mindanao, which position he held with honor for two years. He took part in the first Moro campaign, Lake Lanao, in 1902; served as assistant inspector-general and assistant-adjutant-general, and was elected vice-president of the United States infantry Association.
