----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

J. A. PETTET, who took a prominent part in the early development of Unity, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1842, his parents being Ozias and Mary P. Pettet. In speaking of his, early life, Mr. Pettet said:
"I came to Sheboygan County, Wis., with my parents in 1850, my father buying 160 acres of land in that county. I staid on the farm with them until I enlisted in the army, June 1, 1861, in Capt. David B. Conger's Company B, Eighth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, which was the famous 'Eagle' regiment. I served until 1864, was discharged and re-enlisted, serving until the close of the war. I was wounded May 22, 1865, in the battle of Spanish Fort, and lost a leg. I returned to Sheboygan, and, after my marriage kept a store at Glen Beulah. In 1876 I moved to Campbellsford, in Fond du Lac County, where I remained two years. Then, in 1878, I came to Unity and opened a store in a rented building. There were two other stores, one run by S. A. Cook and one by D. J. Spaulding, in connection with his sawmill. A hotel was built by Mr. Duval. The Wisconsin Central Railroad owned the land and plotted the town, which was started for the loggers. After six years I closed out my store, remodeled the building and ran a hotel for eight years. The building was afterwards destroyed by fire. Later I built a small store on the lot, and in 1906 built Pettet's Opera House. We used to be able to get up a dance in two hours. Everyone went to dances, and all were on an equal basis and had good times. I have sat in the hotel and seen black bears go down the street, and not later than six years ago deer came right into my yard. At one time I killed two four-pronged bucks at one shot. The country was all timber, and roads were made of sawdust and slabs. We used to carry supplies on our backs and on hand sleds."