For Pete's Sake (1915)

[Jesse Sheidlower]

On Wed, Jul 16, 2003 at 03:03:41PM +0100, Michael Quinion wrote:
> > 10 May 1915, EDWARDSVILLE INTELLIGENCER (Edwardsville, Illinois),
> > pg.2, col. 5: "For Pete's sake!  Much of the back porch?" gasped Mr.
> > Townsend.
>
> I'll raise you:
>
> 1907 C. E. Mulford "Bar-20" Chapter XVII "For Pete's sake, has any
> more of yu fellers been up to K. C.?" queried the proprietor in
> alarm.

And we have a 1903 example. The source is a bit confusing so I can't
be any more specific right now.

Jesse Sheidlower
OED