PETTUS, William Albert, Beeville Picayune, Friday, 12 Apr 1912:

The town of Pettus, April 8th.
Reading the article in the Express which gave a short biography of the late William Albert Pettus, 
(March 11, 1912) I noticed a mistake made as to the man of his birthplace, of this I am taking the 
liberty to correct. Mr. W. A. Pettus, grandfather of the deceased was a Virginian, being born in the 
year 1781 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. While living there he married a Miss. Elizabeth Patrick. 
They, with their two sons came to Texas with the first Three Hundred and settled in Washington 
County near San Felipe. One of their sons was killed by Indians or Mexicans and the other son, 
John Freeman Pettus grew to manhood here and married Miss. Sarah "Sallie" York, the youngest 
daughter of the York family. This family also came from Virginia about a year after the Pettus family.

Among the first slaves brought by Mr. John Freeman Pettus was a twelve year old girl now known 
to many by the name of "Aunt Liza," and who still lives in Beeville. One day Liza was going with her 
Mistress to a neighbor's house. She was walking and her Mistress was riding a horse back with Buck 
behind her and a baby in her lap. Going along the Brazos bottom, Liza, who was a little ahead, first 
saw a monstrous panther coming toward them. She screamed, turned and ran with all her might for
the house two miles away. Although she was afoot, she reached the house before her Mistress and 
babies.

Our friend and comrade, W. A. Pettus, born near San Felipe, was at the time of his death, 74 years old. 
He married Miss. Myra Amanda Lott of Goliad County, a daughter of one of the first and best families 
of that section of the country, Thomas Peter Lott and Christian Susan Stuart. With this marriage two 
most excellent families were united; for a worthy person never was known to leave the door of a Pettus 
or Lott without assistance. To them eight children were born, four boys and four girls, seven are living, 
one boy, John having preceded his father to the Great Beyond.
H. Dahl.