From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1378
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

W. D. PETERS

   W D Peters who has passed the seventy-third milestone on the journey of life and who has left behind him a career untarnished, is now a well known and honored resident of Rice county.  He claims Indiana as the state of his nativity his birth having occurred in Switzerland county, January 10, 1828, a son of Michael and Ann (Culver) Peters, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Maryland.  The father, who was of German descent, removed to Indiana in an early day, where he was married and engaged in farming.  He located on a heavily timbered tract of land, which he cleared and improved, and there he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1886, his wife surviving him for some time.  They were the parents of seven children, - John, Henry, W D, Abraham, Isaac, Polly and Barbara.  The parents were worthy members of the Baptist church.  Mrs Peters was the daughter of Samuel Culver, a native of Maryland, and of English descent.  He followed farming as a life occupation and was a prominent early settler of Indiana, where he spent his remaining days.  His children were:  James, John, Jane and Ann.

   W D Peters, the subject of this review, remained under the parental roof until about fourteen years of age, when he went to Madison, Indiana, where he learned the tinner’s trade, and also became a sheet-iron and copper worker, following those occupations for many years.  He first worked as a journeyman in Indianapolis and at other places.  At the inauguration of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union, and in 1861 became a member of the Third Indiana Cavalry, Forty-fifth Regiment.  He entered Company C, under command of Colonel Carter, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, with General Pleasanton in command.  He took part in many skirmishes and some hotly contested battles, among them being the second battle of Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Upperville.  At the last named engagement he received a bullet wound in the right shoulder which rendered him unable for active duty, and he has never fully recovered from the wound.  After spending two months in the hospital he rejoined his command and remained in active service until the close of hostilities.  He was ever found in the front ranks, faithfully defending the old flag, and when the long and terrible struggle was ended and the country no longer needed his services he returned to his home at Madison, Indiana. 

   Mr Peters again took up the work of his trade and also followed farming to some extent.  He subsequently removed to Clark county, Indiana, spending three years on a farm there, and in 1875 he sold his property and came to Kansas.  On arriving in this state he secured a homestead claim in Rice county, which he has since improved and there he yet makes his home.  However, during the intervening period he has worked at his trade in Sterling, Great Bend and Lyons, and for five years conducted a shop at Chase.  On the expiration of that period he returned to the quiet pursuits of the farm, where he has been a diligent and indefatigable worker.  For the past few years he has rented his land and has devoted his time to looking after his business interests.  He has never aspired to public notoriety, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs.  His social relations connect him with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the GAR Post of Chase.

   In Indiana, in 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr Peters and Miss Ozena Hogg, who was a native of the Hoosier state, and a daughter of John Hogg.  The father was a farmer by occupation, and his death occurred in Indiana.  Both he and his wife were members of the Christian church.  The union of Mr and Mrs Peters was blessed with one son, Mike, who is now a butcher of Chase.  Mrs Peters passed away in 1869, in the faith of the United Brethern church, of which she was an active member.  In 1871 Mr Peters was again married, his second union being with Mrs Sarah Howard, who was born in Indiana, May 29, 1840, a daughter of Gerrard G and Elizabeth Ryker.  She was the widow of Allen Howard, who was an engineer and farmer.  During the Civil war he entered the service of his country, and his death occurred at Louisville, Kentucky.  Mr and Mrs Howard had two sons, - Ryker J and Samuel T, who have been reared by our subject.  The father of Mrs Peters still resides in Madison, Indiana, but her mother passed away in 1850, in the faith of the Baptist church, of which her husband is also a worthy member.  They were the parents of two children, - Sarah, now Mrs Peters; and Mary, the wife of D Kinney.  After the death of his first wife Mr Ryker was again married, and by his second union had two children, - Amelia, the wife of George Brown; and John A.  The mother of this family also passed away, and for his third wife the father chose Anna Harris, by whom he had six children, - Benjamin, Walter A, Hadda, Gerrard, Albert and Edgar.  After the death of his third wife Mr Ryker married Kate Oberly, but no children were born of that union.  The marriage of Mr and Mrs Peters has been blessed with three children, namely:  William T, a resident of Oklahoma; Ella, the wife of K D Harding, of Bushton, Rice county; Edward J, who is engaged in the butchering business with his brother.  The parents hold membership in the Congregational church.  Mr Peters has led an active and useful life and his well directed efforts have brought to him a handsome competence,  He enjoys the high esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and he is widely known throughout this locality.