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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

OCTAVE PETIT

Octave Petit, an active, energetic farmer who owns and cultivate one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 19, Ashkum township, and also has thirty acres on section 36 of the same township, where he resides, was born October 27, 1866, and is the eldest son of Adolph and Matilda (Pasken) Petit, both of whom were natives of Belgium. They came to the United States in 1856 and located near Clifton, Illinois, where they resided until 1861, when they removed to Ashkum township, settling of section 36. upon the old homestead farm the widow still resides, but Mr. Petit passed in 1905. In their family were the following named: Octave, of this review; Alexander, a farmer living on section 1, Danforth township: Zilia, the wife of James Sousie, a farmer living on the old Petit homestead; Antoinette, the wife of J. D. Lanone, a general merchant of Marshall, Minnesota; Matilda, who is with her mother; and Joseph. a farmer living on section 30. Ashkum township.
As the years passed by the father prospered, becoming a substantial farmer. Although he was in limited financial circumstances when he crossed the Atlantic he was possessed of a handsome competence at the time of his death.
Octave Petit received good educational privileges and was amply trained in farm labor upon the old homestead, gaining thereby a practical knowledge that has been of much benefit to him in later life. He has always followed farming and, receiving some assistance from his father, is now in very comfortable circumstance. He lives on section 36, Ashkum township, where he owns thirty acres of land, and he also has one hundred and sixty acres on section 19, which well developed and cultivated and brings to him a good financial return.
Mr. Petit was married February 3, 1891, at L'Erable, Illinois, to Regina Lemone, a daughter of David and Celina (Desseau) Lemone Three children grace this marriage: Lucien, Dorena and Adolph, all yet under the parental roof.
Mr. Petit casts an independent ballot, although he is somewhat in sympathy with the democracy. He has served as school director far the past nine years and is still in the office. He belongs to Ashkum lodge, No. 2782. M. W. A. also to the Forresters camp of L'Erable. and he is a zealous and faithful communicant of the Catholic church at L'Erable.

Source : Kern, J. W. : Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois; Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1907, 739 pgs.