Robert Peters

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: MCNUTT, PETERS, SWEARINGEN

ROBERT PETERS. One of the oldest and most respected of the old settlers of St. Joseph township is Robert Peters, who has been a resident for over sixty years. His father’s name was William PETERS and his mother’s Sarah MCNUTT, both of Kentucky. They came to this county from Kentucky in 1830 and settled about a mile south of old St. Joseph. At this time there were about nine hundred Indians camped near Mr. Peters’ farm. He said they hauled all their grain to Chicago, grew their own flax and made all their own clothing. Robert Peters attended school in a log house near his father’s farm. Part of the time the school was held in the kitchen of his father’s house. The schools in those days were subscription schools, educational advantages being very limited. Mr. Peters was married in August, 1848, to Mary E. SWEARINGEN, who was born March 31, 1831. There have been born to them eleven children, viz.: Sarah Catharine, Isaac S., John H., Franklin, Susan J., Eliza J., Thomas J., Charles R., Alta Belle, William A. and Mary E., all living except Franklin, Thomas, Charles and Alta; all are married except John H. Mr. Peters was formerly a democrat in politics, but voted for Lincoln for his second term and has voted the republican ticket ever since. In religious matters he is very zealous. He has been for a number of years a consistent member of the Christian church. Mr. Peters was born January 8, 1827, in Rush county, Indiana, and is in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He has lived in St. Joseph for nearly sixty-two years and is known by almost every one in the eastern part of the county. He is very proud of his family and has good reason to be, as his children are among the best and most thrifty citizens of the community. "Uncle Bob," as he is familiarly called, has a reputation that any one might envy. We have been over the township, are well acquainted and we hear every one referring to Uncle Bob as one of the best men in the county and he is honorably entitled to this high opinion of his neighbors. He lives on the old farm near the thriving town of St. Joseph with his wife and in a few years will, if spared, celebrate their golden anniversary. Here, surrounded by their children and grand-children, loved and respected by their neighbors he and his wife are pleasantly spending their declining years and patiently waiting for the time when they shall be called to their home across the river.