John W. Peters

JOHN W. PETERS for a number of years has been one of the leading ranchers and stock raisers and dealers in Wabaunsee County. His home is at Eskridge and he has spent the greater part of his active life in that community.

Mr. Peters was born in Monroe County, West Virginia, March 2, 1862. His birth occurred after his father died and he was only two or three years old when he was orphaned by the death of his mother He is of substantial Holland Dutch ancestry. His forefathers came from Holland and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, John Peters, was a native of Pennsylvania, and became a pioneer in Monroe County, West Virginia, or Old Virginia as it was then. Peterstown and Peters Mountain in that vicinity were named in his honor. He had a large plantation for the raising of tobacco and other crops and also kept a tavern and was a man of more than ordinary local prominence. His death occurred at Peterstown. J. A. Peters, father of John W., was born at Peterstown in Monroe County in 1817, and died there in January, 1862. He spent his active life as a farmer, was a democrat, and was a working member of the Missionary Baptist Church. He married Sarah Peck, a sister of Senator Peck of West Virginia. She was born in Monroe County of that state in 1819 and died there in 1864 John W. was the youngest of their children. A record of the others is as follows: Ann, wife of B. M. Shumate, a farmer at Gardner, Kansas; Elizabeth, living in Monroe County, West Virginia, widow of Charles Walker, who was a farmer; S. G. Peters, a stockman, banker and capitalist at Union, West Virginia; Henry C., likewise a prosperous farmer and stockman at Union, West Virginia; J. P. Peters, in the livestock commission business at Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah, living at Kansas City, Missouri, widow of W. T. Blacker, who conducted a coal and feed business and was a large property owner in Kansas City, Missouri, his widow being now manager of his estate; and John W.

John W. Peters after the death of his parents was reared by his sister Mrs. B. M. Shumate. With her he came to Kansas in 1870, first locating at the Town of Doniphan in Doniphan County, next to Troy in 1871, and in 1875 to the vicinity of Rochester, Missouri. In the fall of 1879 the Shumate family came to Alma in Wabaunsee County. Mr. Peters attended public schools in these different localities, and his education was finished at the age of seventeen. He then went to work for a livestock firm feeding and herding cattle on the prairies of Wabaunsee County. Four years later he and his brother J. P. engaged in the mercantile business at Eskridge, conducting a store there for four years. Since then Mr. Peters has given his time and attention to the cattle business on a large scale. He feeds, grazes, buys and sells cattle, and his main ranch comprises 1,160 acres in Wabaunsee County, besides eighty acres adjoining Eskridge. Mr. Peters is unmarried and has his home on Pine Street in Eskridge. He is a democrat in politics and in Masonry is affiliated with Eminence Lodge No. 205, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Burlingame Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, and Topeka Commandery No. 5 of the Knights Templar.

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