More About the Children of
Narcisse and Edesse.

Paul Siméon Pettelle (1873-1959).

According to the baptism record at Immaculate Conception in Bay View, Paul was born January 1, 1873 and baptized on the 5th by Fr. Patrick Pettit. He was likely named after his mother Edesse's brothers: Paul, the oldest, had made a career in the railway industry and Siméon, a younger brother who had distinguished himself in Montréal. The godparents, Pierre (Peter) and Dulcine Goyette, were distant cousins on his mother's side, and Edesse reciprocated by acting as godmother to the Goyette's daughter Mary Dulcine born the same year. Paul was only seven years old when his father, Narcisse, died in 1880.

The 1890's were a golden age for bicycles. A new, modern design eliminated the larger front wheel, so that both the front and back were the same size, making the vehicle far safer. Bicycle clubs sprouted up around the country for this very popular sport and when bicycle races were held they often attracted large numbers of spectators. In Chicago, the Pullman Road Race was much anticipated. Paul was one of the participants in the 1892 Decoration Day event, starting with a handicap of 5 minutes 50 seconds. Riding a Columbia, he vied with 387 other starters for a chance at more than $3,000.00 worth of prizes which included bicycle shoes, medals, and new bicycles. The crowd lining Michigan Avenue cheered as the race began at 10:13. Starting from the front of the Leland hotel at Michigan and Van Buren Street, it went south for 15 miles to end at the Hotel Florence in Pullman.

In January 1893 Paul and his brothers Rocque, Eddie and Charles and others were at a masquerade party for their friend, Mrs. Robert Brown. Another attendee was Miss Annie McCartin. Her large family also attended Immaculate Conception and her father was a constable. This mention in the society section of the paper was one of several as he entertained friends or participated in a popular card game called cinch. (Although at least once or twice Paul was noted as having been the recipient of the booby prize.) Paul and Anna McCartin stood as witnesses to the marriage of Paul's brother Charles and his wife Corinne later that year.

He was present at a number of other church events, including as a performer in a celebration in March 1894. At that time he lived at home with his mother at 406 Russell Avenue and was employed as a stenographer. But he soon left for Chicago where his sister Matilda was living. Anna McCartin joined him and they married on June 4, 1895 at 7:00 pm in St. Sylvester Catholic Church . The witnesses at their own ceremony were John Offenbach and her sister Sarah McCartin. The Milwaukee Journal noted that the couple would reside permanently in Chicago. Their daughter Corinne was born in 1897. Paul and Anna were the sponsors for Matilda's child Esther at her baptism in 1899, and no doubt were present when his mother remarried later that same year. They had a child, Alice, who died at 4 months, and they returned to Anna's parents' home to bury her in Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee.

In the 1900 census, the young couple reported they had lost 2 children in their five years of marriage; only three year old Corinne survived. They lived at 1035 Belmont in Chicago. Their next-door neighbors were John and Sarah Offenbach. Paul was a private secretary at the Armour stockyards. That facility was quite volatile, bursting into flames on more than one occasion. On May 16, 1902 the newly built Lard Refinery of Armour & Co. was consumed by fire. The five story brick building totally collapsed, injuring a number of employees.

Paul and Anna divorced and family members report that he lived in Georgia for a while where he met Ruby, his second wife. An inconclusive listing for "Paul S Pettell, born Alabama, age 32, boarder, traveling salesman, widow, parents born South Carolina" was the only Petelle found in the Atlanta, Georgia 1910 census record. Paul and Ruby Webb were married November 21, 1910 and they are found in the city directory living on Spring Street.  He was the Sales Manager for Southern Gypsum Company. From this union a daughter, Virginia, was born August 22, 1911. The marriage, according to family sources, was annulled.

Still in Chicago, Anna, age 37 and divorced, worked as a dressmaker out of her home. Her daughter Corinne was 13. They lived at 3710 Janssen Avenue in 1910.

Paul made his way to Washington State where he met Cuma Whinery at the Bon Marche department store where she worked per family members. Perhaps he was visiting older brother Rocque, who had moved out there earlier. Travel was easy as the Milwaukee Road, a direct rail route to the West, was in full swing. Paul and Cuma were listed in the 1913 Seattle city directory living at 4803 Le Droit place. He was a salesman for PCC Milk Company. Son James Rocque was born in September 1913, Paul Shirley in December 1914, and Charles Francis in December 1918.

Paul took to spelling his last name with two t's, PETTELLE, presumably to help people pronounce the name correctly. This prompted his nephew Walter J. to joke that he was the only Petelle who did not know how to spell his name, though in truth the variant was used by his siblings from time to time. On his draft registration card dated September 12, 1918 he signed his name Paul Shirley [he used "Shirley" as early as 1910] Pettelle. He said he was 40, trimming five years off his age with a date of birth of January 1st 1878. He describes himself as: white, native born, gray eyes, brown hair, tall height, medium build. For his occupation he said he was an assistant sales manager for Carnation Milk Products Company in the Stuart Building in Seattle, his nearest relative being his wife, Cuma R. Pettelle.

The 1920 census reveals they moved across the country to a home overlooking the Hudson River at 66 Pinewood Drive in the village of Hastings, in Westchester, New York where Paul was a sales manager for a milk products company. Joseph Henry was born there a year later.

Anna, his first wife, had by this time returned to Milwaukee and lived with her daughter Corinne in rented space at 3316 Burleigh Street. Corinne married James Carey on August 17, 1915. Anna claimed to be a widow and was working as a dressmaker for a dry goods house. James was a salesman, and Corinne a telephone operator. Their daughter Rosemary was 2½ years old in the 1920 census.

Family members tell us that as a salesman, Paul traveled widely all across the US and into Cuba. Evidence of this is found in the Key West arrival lists of 15 April 1922. Paul, 49, came from Havana, Cuba aboard the SS Cuba and was returning to his home in Hastings.

Paul and Cuma returned to Seattle by 1924 to a 30 acre farm on Vashon Island in Puget Sound where their son Edwin Whinery was born in 1925.

When his brother Joseph died in 1940 he sent the following telegram to Joseph's children, his nieces and nephew: "Mabel-Walter-Stella in deepest sorrow read your telegram - its tough indeed leaving our kids and tougher for the kids we leave behind. You must take comfort that Lula was waiting with his new home prepared. Friday I'll be with you in spirit and prayer. Goodbye Joe Aufs Weidersehn" - Uncle Paul"

Paul died March 28, 1959. Cuma passed away in 1968 and is interred in Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park.

Ruby's daughter Virginia married Steve Butler and they lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Cousin Walter J. had photographs of Virginia Butler and her husband from when he visited. Of his sons, James married Mary, he died in February 1975. Paul had married Jean, and he died in November 1989. Charles died in February 2006. Joseph married Patricia, and had three children. He died in September 2005. Edwin married Shirley in 1950 and he passed away in May 2001.