William Peterson

William Peterson, born in Franklin county, Ind., August 23,1842, is the son of Henry and Ziporah (Halberstadt) Peterson, and grandson of John Peterson, of Trenton, N. J., who settled in Indiana in 1823, eight years after his marriage with Miss Edith Gaines. After spending thirty-four years in Indiana the family moved to LaSalle county, Ill., where they resided nine years, when they removed to Philo, Ill., where parents died, each in the eightieth year. Of their fourteen children thirteen became heads of families, of whom seven are still living. John Peterson held a claim to a tract of land on which the Union depot and other valuable buildings of Philadelphia now stand, but this claim was set aside by sharpers, who produced false titles. Being a man who desired peace he submitted to this robbery, but his heirs contemplate taking steps to recover the millions of which Mr. Peterson was defrauded. Henry Peterson was born at Trenton, N. J., where his twin brother died at the age of one year. He shared his parents' labors and travels until the age of twenty-one years, when he married Miss Halberstadt. In 1850 he moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he remained until 1862, when he removed with his family to the Missouri boundary. His sons, Samuel and William, who enlisted, did not join in this migration. Later the family removed to Philo, Ill., where, on March 14, 1873, he bid farewell to his church brethren, stating that he would never meet them again. On the succeeding day, while drawing corn across his meadow—the sky showing but a single cloud—he was struck by lightning and instantly killed. His widow resides upon the homestead at Philo. Of their family of ten children: Samuel G. is in Missouri; William resides here; Nelson, deceased; Mary E. is in Missouri ; B. F. in Iowa; C. W. in Kansas; Margaret A. at Philo; John in Missouri; Thomas at Philo, and Charlotte in Iowa. Samuel was one of the first to respond to the call for troops in 1861, then entering the Twenty-first Missouri Infantry, served ninety days and enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, serving to the close of the war; was promoted several times for bravery in different battles. William Peterson removed to Lee county, Iowa, with his parents when eight years old, and at the age of eighteen enlisted in the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, participated in the battles of Shiloh, Bolivar, Iuka and Corinth; was discharged for wound received at Corinth, Miss., in October, 1862. On returning he married Mrs. Mary Woodin, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Town) Jackson. After his marriage they settled on their present Valley farm, where all their children were born: Florence, Mary, James W., Belle, Albert M., Henry A., Orion E., all residing at home, and one, Henry, deceased. In politics he is decidedly Republican, but takes no active part in political contests—his farm and stock claiming the attention of all his business hours. Himself and family are all members of the Congregational church, and prominent in all matters relating to the welfare of the county. In Masonic circles he belongs to the Chapter. James Jackson, his father-in-law, was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1796; married Miss Town, of London, when twenty-five years old ; six years later came to America and settled in Dutchess county, N. Y., and in 1841 moved to Peoria county, Ill., and to Stark county in 1852. Here James Jackson died in 1870 in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife in 1876 in her eighty-second year, leaving seven children, of whom four are living—Mrs. Peterson being the youngest member of the family.