John Peters 1880-1966

John Peters was said to be born 14 Mar 1880, the son of James/Chaw shaw waw nay beece Peters and Sarah Barnhart. He is not listed in the 1880 census which was taken in June.

He joined siblings Mary (age 12 in 1870), Eliza (age 10 in 1870, age 17 in 1880), Benjamin (age 4 in 1870), Margert (age 15 in 1880), Daniel (age 13 in 1880), and Mary (age 1 in 1880)

1880 Federal Census - Hamlin, Mason, Michigan

Peters, James, 47, farmer

Sarah, 36, wife

Eliz. 17, daughter

Margt, 15, daughter

Daniel, 13, son

Mary, 1, daughter

Brother Daniel died 12 Apr 1889. His age was given as 23, cause of death consumption, occupation lumberman, parents James and Sarah Peters.

On 12 Apr 1894 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan, sister Elizabeth, age 32, married Peter Espiew. It was her second marriage, first husband surnamed Bennett.

Sister Mary died 5 May 1894 at the age of 15. Cause of death was consumption.

1900 Federal Census - Grant, Mason, Michigan

Peters, John, boarder, born Mar 1880, single, occupation bark peeler.

1903 Marriage to Elizabeth Alberts, daughter of Richard Alberts and Mary Naganse.

Son Fred was said to be born 14 Feb 1904 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan. [From his WWII draft registration.]

Sister Elizabeth died on 24 Sep 1905 in Grant, Mason, Michigan. Her age was given as 41 years, 8 months, 28 days; birth as 27 Jan 1856, daughter of Jim Peters and Mary Barnhart. Cause of death was ovarian tumors. 

Son James was born 28 Jul 1906 in Freesoil. John was 25, states he was born in Hamlin township and working as a riverman. Eliza was 23, and states James was her second child.

Durant Roll Field Notes - 1908

#7 page 59

Chaw-shaw-waw-nay-beece, dead, wife dead

Children

1) Lizzie, husband Peter Espiew, see #10 page 61 for children

2) Daniel Peters, dead

3) Maggie Peters, dead

4) May Peters, dead

5) John Peters, 27, resides Freesoil

wife Eliza Albert, 23, daughter of Richard Albert 3/52; 37/52

    1 Fred, 4

    2 James, 2

    3 Frank, born June 14, 1908, 2d roll

Son Frank was born 26 Jun 1908. John was 27 and gave his occupation as laborer, Liza [Elizabeth] was 24, gave her occupation as housewife, and states Frank was her third child.

Frank was baptized at the Riverton Methodist Indian Mission on 26 Jun 1908, son of John and Liza. 

1910 Federal Census - Ludington, Mason, Michigan

Peters, John, boarder, age 29, married, born Michigan, occupation - pier work

Son William was born 2 Jul 1911. John was 30, occupation laborer, Liza [Elizabeth] was 26, occupation housewife. Willie was her fourth child. Signing as midwife was her mother Mrs. Richard Albert.

Son William's baptism was recorded as 2 Jul 1911, at Riverton Methodist Indian Mission, son of John Peters and Eliza Alberts. 

Son Elevy (Levi) was born 28 Aug 1913. John was 32 and a laborer, Liza (Elizabeth) was 28 and a housewife. Elevy was their fifth child. Elizabeth's mother, Mrs. Richard Albert, signed as midwife.

John sent two of his sons, Fred and James, to Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School in Mount Pleasant, Michigan

1914-1915 Mount Pleasant Indian School Register

Peters, Fred, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 11, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Peters, James, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 9, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

1915-1916 Mount Pleasant Indian School Register

Peters, Fred, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 12, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Peters, James, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 10, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

1916-1917 Mount Pleasant Indian School Register

Peters, Fred, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 13, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Peters, James, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 10 11, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Son Levi died 6 Jan 1917 in Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan. His age was given as 3 years, 5 months, 8 days - birthdate of 27 Jul 1913, Mason county. Cause of death was tuberculosis with measles as a contributory cause. No burial place was given.

1917-1918 Mount Pleasant Indian School Register

Peters, Fred, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 13, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Peters, James, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 10 12, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

1918-1919 Mount Pleasant Indian School Register

Peters, Fred, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 15, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Peters, James, Ottawa, parent John Peters, Freesoil, Mich, age 13, admitted Oct 1, 1914 for 5 years

Son Paul Chester was born 18 Feb 1918 in Manistee, Michigan. [From his WWII draft registration].

John registered for the draft on 12 Sep 1918.

John Peters, address Filer City, Manistee, Michigan, age 38, born 14 Mar 1880, checked both white and Indian/citizen, laborer at Filer Fibre Co in Filer City. Nearest relative given as Eliza Peters. John was described as tall, slender, brown eyes and black hair.

1920 Federal Census - Filer township, Manistee, Michigan

Peters, John, rents, age 38, laborer at fiber mill

Eliza, wife, 35

Fred, son, 15, laborer at fiber mill

Jim, son, 13

Frank, son, 11

Willie, son, 3

Chester, son, 1 8/12

Son Ernest was said to be born 30 Jan 1920

Daughter Celia was said to be born in 1923.

1924 Manistee City Directory

Peters, Fred, laborer, 189 10th

Peters, John (Eliz) house 189 10th

Son Richard was said to be born in 1925.

Son Fred, 22, residence Cheboygan county, birthplace Ludington, occupation Laborer, parents John Peters and Liza Alberts, married Ella Miximong, 18, residence Cheboygan county, birthplace Charlevoix, parents John Miximong and Agnes Walker, on 24 Aug 1926 in Cheboygan, Cheboygan, Michigan.

Son Ernest died 21 Jul 1928. Address 2579 Cutler Ave., Muskegon, Michigan. Age given 8 years, 5 months, 21 days, birthdate 30 Jan 1920, place as Manistee township. He was a student at Bunker School. Cause of death was diptheria. Burial at St. Mary's cemetery in Muskegon [plot 3-1-1, no marker]

Son James, 21, residence Muskegon, occupation factory work, parents John Peters and Elizabeth Alberts, married Jennie C. Bailey, 19, daughter of Charles Bailey and Margaret Pete on 1 May 1928 in Muskegon.

Daughter Mary was said to be born in 1929. 

1930 Federal Census - Muskegon, Muskegon, Michigan

2579 Cutler St.

Peters, John, head, rents $15 per month, 49, married at 23, laborer at paper mill

Eliza E., wife, 45, married at 18

Frank, son, 22, laborer at paper mill

William, son, 19, laborer at paper mill

Chester, son, 12

Celia, daughter, 7

Richard, son, 5

Mary, daughter, 1

1930 City Directory

Peters John (Eliz) lab h2579 Cutler av

Peter Wm r2579 Cutler av

Son William, 21, residence Petoskey, occuapation hotel work, son of John Peters and Elizabeth Alberts, married Rose Mixmong, 16, residence Petoskey, daughter of John Miximong and Agnes Walker who gave their consent, on 26 Oct 1931 in Petoskey, Emmet, Michigan.

Son Frank, residence Freesoil, Michigan, died 18 Jan 1933 in Pentwater, Oceana, Michigan. His age was given as 23 years, 6 months, 24 days, birthdate as 24 Jun 1909 in Freesoil. Cause of death was accidental drowning. Burial was in Pentwater.

The Ludington Daily News - 22 Jan 1933

The Ludington Daily News - 24 Jan 1933

1940 Federal Census - East Lake, Manistee, Michigan

Peters, John, head, 59, rents, $2 per month

Eliza, wife, 53 (gave the information)

Chester, son, 23, laborer at foundry

Richard, son, 15

Mary, daughter, 11

WWII Draft Registrations

16 Oct 1940 - Son James registered in Muskegon. Gave his age as 34, birth as 28 Jul 1906, Mrs. Liza Peters, mother, as person who will always know his address. He was unemployed, described as 5 foot 7, 140 pounds, ruddy complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair, with a scar below left eye.

16 Oct 1940 - son Paul Chester registered in Ludington. Gave his age as 22, birthdate as 18 Feb 1918, John Peters as person who will always know his address, employed by Harry Hasenbank of Freesoil. He was described as 6 feet tall, 153 pounds, dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

16 Feb 1942 - son Fred James registered in Muskegon. Gave his age as 38, birthdate as 14 Feb 1904, James Peters as person who will always know his address, employed by Clinton Brown of Muskegon. He was described as 5 foot 9, 160 pounds, dark brown complexion, brown eyes and black hair.

27 Apr 1942 - John registered in Manistee. Gave his age as 62, birth date as 14 Mar 1880, Miss Ceil Peters as person who will always know his address, employed by the W.P.A. in Mansitee. He was described as 5 foot 10, 142 pounds, light brown complexion, brown eyes and grey hair.

1950 Federal Census - not yet located

Elizabeth died 10 Nov 1959. Obituary - Grand Rapids Press, 12 Nov 1959. [Note that Paul, Celia and Mary are not listed as surviving their mother.]

John died 20 Dec 1966. Obituary - Ludington Daily News, 21 Dec 1966

John and Elizabeth were buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Freesoil.

(c) copyright 2025 Vicki Wilson

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