Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry
Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. 
Cass County.

JACOB PETEFISH was born in Rockingham County, Va., and came with
his father and family into the present limits of Cass County in
1853.  A settlement was made in Tp. 17 north, range 10 west,
where his parents continued to reside until taken away by death.
His father departed life in 1849, and his mother in 1853.  They
were members of the Lutheran Church, and had the reputation of
being devout Christian people.  They raised the following family: 
Mrs. Mary (Reuben) Faltz, and William (twins), Dinah, Mrs. (Rev.
Daniel) Short, Elizabeth, Mrs. Sarah (Robert) Maxfield, and Mrs.
Helen (Joseph) Crum, Jacob, Samuel H., and John A.  Of these,
Andrew was in the Union service during the late rebellion, and
was mortally wounded at the battle of Look Out Mountain.  Thomas,
the youngest, resided in Kansas.  In May, 1855, our subject
married Miss Nancy C., daughter of Benjamin and Margaret
Strickler, of Rockingham County, Va., by whom he had the
following children:  Benjamin S., Berryman S., Edward E., Joseph
H., Andrew J., Marcellus C., Nellie, Frank, and Lizzie L.  Mr.
Petefish's paternal grandfather, Christian, was one of the
Hessians, hired, or rather sold, into the English service against
the Infant Colonies, confederated against British oppression. 
True to the native instincts of a noble manhood, he deserted the
English army and espoused the cause of patriotism.  After the
close of the war, he settled in Virginia, where he died.  In this
State his son Jacob, father of our subject, was born and resided,
and there married Miss Elizabeth Price, the mother of the
children previously mentioned.  Mr. Petefish, when about of age,
purchased on his own responsibility, about 200 acres of land and
commenced farming.  With industry and perseverance he has added
to his estate until he now owns about 600 acres of finely
improved land, which includes his father's old homestead.  It may
justly be said of Mr. Petefish and his family that they form one
of the honest and trustworthy elements of Cass County.  Mr.
Petefish, being a successful agriculturalist, has done something
in the way of grazing and stock feeding.

Petefish Faltz Short Maxfield Crum Strickler Price
=
Rockingham-VA