Sarah was a 5th great-grandchild of Elder John Crandall (1609-1676) [source: Steven Arthur Briggs]. Garrison Keillor, Minnesota writer and humorist, is also a 5th great-grandchild of Elder John Crandall [source: "Newsweek" magazine, 4 July 1988, "Laying on Our Backs Looking Up at the Stars" by Garrison Keillor].

Extract from the 1850 Census:
Name: S A Crandall
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birth place: New York
Race: white
Gender: female
Relation to head-of-house: daughter
Home in 1850: Smyrna, Chenango, New York
Occupation: none
Census place: Smyrna, Chenango, New York; Roll: M432_487; Page: 5; Image: 13
Date: 13 Jul 1850

Extract from the 1860 Census:
Name: Sarah Pettis
Age in 1860: 28
Estimated birth year: 1832
Birthplace: New York
Race: white
Sex: female
Relation to head-of-house: wife
Home in 1860: Fountain Prairie, Columbia, Wisconsin
Post office: Leeds
Occupation: not listed
Census place: Fountain Prairie, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll M653_1401; Page: 286; Image: 293; Family History Library Film: 805401
Date: 4 Aug 1860

Children living with parents in 1860:
Charles Pettis age 3 b. Wisconsin
Sarah Pettis age 2 b. Wisconsin
Dwight Pettis age 1 b. Wisconsin [source: 1860 Census].

Extract from the 1870 Census:
Name: Sarah Pettis
Age in 1870: 38
Estimated birth year: 1832
Birthplace: New York
Race: white
Gender: female
Relation to head-of-house: wife
Home in 1870: Eau Galle, Dunn, Wisconsin
Post office: Eau Galle
Occupation: keeping house
Census place: Eau Galle, Dunn, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1712; Page: 112; Image: 224
Date: 7 Jun 1870
Note: name listed as "Sarah Pellis" by Ancestry.com.

Children living with parents in 1870:
Charles Pettis age 13 b. Wisconsin
Sarah Pettis age 12 b. Wisconsin
Rosa F Pettis age 6 b. Wisconsin
Minnie Pettis age 5 b. Wisconsin
John K Pettis age 3 b. Wisconsin [source: 1870 Census].

Extract from the 1880 Census:
Name: Sarah A Pettis
Age: 48
Estimated birth year: 1832
Birthplace: New York
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-household: wife
Home in 1880: Eau Galle, Dunn, Wisconsin
Marital status: married
Father's birthplace: Rhode Island
Mother's birthplace: Connecticut
Occupation: keeping house
Census place: Eau Galle, Dunn, Wisconsin; Roll: T9_1424; Family History Film: 1255424; Page: 273.2000; Enumeration District: 150
Date: 15 Jun 1880

Children living with parents in 1880:
C T Pettis age 23 b. Wisconsin
Sarah S Pettis age 21 b. Wisconsin
Rosa F Pettis age 16 b. Wisconsin
Minnie D Pettis age 15 b. Wisconsin
John K Pettis age 13 b. Wisconsin
Willie S Pettis age 4 b. Wisconsin (grandson) [source: 1880 Census].
Note: the listings for "C T Pettis" and "Sarah S Pettis" are puzzling, as both Charles and Sarah (born 1857 and 1858) were married by 1880 and are listed separately in the 1880 Census with their spouses. However, Sarah S is crossed off, although C T is not. Perhaps their parents included them although they were not in the household, or C T was visiting on the day of the census.

Extract from the 1900 Census:
Name: Sarah A Pettis
Age at last birthday: 65
Date of birth: Sep 1834 [sic]
Birthplace: New York
Race: white
Sex: female
Relationship to head-of-house: mother
Living with: John and May Pettis, ages 33 and 31
Home in 1900: Washington, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Marital status: widow
Number of children: 9
Number of children living: 5
Able to read, write and speak English: yes
Father's birthplace: New York
Mother's birthplace: New York
Occupation: none
Census place: Washington, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Roll: T623 1788; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 40
Date: 19 Jun 1900

Extract from Wisconsin Deaths, 1820-1907:
Name: Sarah A Pettis
Death date: 23 Jun 1902 [sic]
County: Eau Claire
Volume: 02
Page: 0168
Reel: 025
Image: 2306
Index Volume -
Sequence #: 299747

Extract from the Obituary Index of the Genealogical Research Society of Eau Claire:
Name: Sarah Ann Pettis
Maiden name: Crandal [sic]
Spouse: Albert M Pettis, 1853
Death date: 23 Jun 1904
Burial place: Lakeview Cemetery
Source: "Eau Claire Weekly Telegram" 28 Jun 1904 p5
[source: http://www.eauclaire.lib.wi.us/obits/search.asp 24 Oct 2003].

Obituary:
Mrs. Sarah Ann Pettis died at the home of her son, John Pettis, in the town of Washington, Eau Claire County, June 23rd 1904.
Her maiden name was Sarah Ann Crandall. She was born in Smyrna, Chenango County, New York, Sept. 3, 1831.
She married Albert M. Pettis in 1853, and the following year they moved to Columbia County, Wisconsin. In 1865 they moved to Eau Galle, and in 1892 she went to live with her son in Eau Claire County.
Five children are yet living - Charlie T., Mrs. Sarah White, and John, of Eau Claire, Mrs. Rosa Livermore, of Augusta, and Mrs. Minnie Smith, of Cassian, all of whom were present at her death bed.
Funeral services were held June 25 at the home by Rev. F. W. Hatch, of Eau Claire. Internment made at Lake View cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shaffer, of Elmwood, and Mrs. Frank Harding, of Durand, were present at the funeral.

Burial: Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Gravestone inscription:
Sarah A.
Wife of A. M.
Pettis
1831-1904

The Rhode Family Tree has a photograph of this person and has a photograph of the gravestone.

• Married: 17 Feb 1853 in Hamilton, Madison, New York ¹
• Note: The marriage took place at the Boarding Hall, which was on the campus of Madison (now Colgate) University. Albert and Sarah were both from Earlville at time of marriage.

1. Caroline Pettis b: 18 Oct 1853 in probably Lebanon, Madison, New York
2. Levi Burdette Pettis b: 9 Oct 1854 in probably Lebanon, Madison, New York
3. Charles Timothy Pettis b: 25 Jan 1857 in Fountain Prairie, Columbia, Wisconsin
4. Sarah Susan Pettis b: 12 Mar 1858 in Otsego, Columbia, Wisconsin
5. Dwight Albert Pettis b: 9 Oct 1859 in Columbia County, Wisconsin
6. Freddie Elmer Pettis b: 14 Feb 1862 in probably Wisconsin
7. Rosa Francelia Pettis b: 23 Dec 1863 in Otsego, Columbia, Wisconsin
8. Minnie Diantha Pettis b: 24 Apr 1865 in Otsego, Columbia, Wisconsin
9. John King Pettis b: 26 Sep 1866 in Eau Galle, Dunn, Wisconsin

1. Title: Briggs, Steven Arthur
   Publication: 2002-2007
   Note: Steven Arthur Briggs email: sbk4733w-aol.com (use "@" for the "-")
   Repository:
   Note: Eagan, Minnesota
   Media: Electronic
2. Title: Genealogical Research Society of Eau Claire
   Publication: 2003
   Repository:
   Note: http://www.eauclaire.lib.wi.us/obits/search.asp
   Media: Electronic