Honoring Native Ancestors: Scott Henry Peters

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Scott Henry Peters

Scott Henry Peters was born 14 Sep 1877 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella, Michigan, son of Henry Negawnekezhick Peters and Jane Ann Que-a-wish Snake

Scott joined siblings Phillip (b. 1856); Valentine (b. c1862); Pricilla (b. 1865), Mariah (b. 1867), Jacob (b. 1873), and Edward (b. 1875). Sister Amelia who was born 12 Jun 1869, had died 27 Jun 1875, before Scott's birth.

Sister Ida Jane was born 13 Aug 1879

1880 Federal Census - Isabella township, Isabella, Michigan

Peters, Henry, 50, farmer

Jane, 45, wife, keeping house

Valentine, 18, son, farm hand

Mariah, 13, daughter, keeping house

Jacob, 7, son, at home

Edward, 4, son

Scott, 3, son

next family:

Peters, Philip, 24, farm hand

Mary, 24, wife, keeping house

Earnest, 2, son, at home

Sister Annie Alice was born 1 Jun 1881 in Mount Pleasant

Sister Phoeba Ann was born 21 Jun 1884 in Mount Pleasant

Brother Atkin was born 31 Jul 1885 in Mount Pleasant. He died 29 Aug 1886

Sister Grace was born 2 Aug 1886 in Alger, Isabella, Michigan

Brother Phillip died 16 Aug 1888

Brother Jacob died 21 May 1892

On 27 Apr 1894, Scott was admitted to the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. His father was Henry Peters of Alger, both parents were living, he was 2/3 blood, age 16, home on vacation 27 Jul 1894.

Scott was re-admitted to the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School on 21 Aug 1894, residence Alger, tribe Chippewa, son of Henry Peters, both parents living, 3/4 blood, age 16.

Scott was re-admitted to the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School on 1 Jul 1895, residence Alger, tribe Chippewa, son of Henry Peters, both parents living, 3/4 blood, age 17.

On 1 Oct 1896 Scott was admitted to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School for a 5 year period. His tribe was Chippewa, home address Caldwelll, Michigan, parents both living, 3/4 blood, age 19. He was sent "to country" on 30 Apr 1897 to G. Bond of Ringoes, N.J., returning to school on 11 Sep 1897, and on 5 Apr 1898 to Dr. Richards of Fallsing, PA, returning to school on 10 Sep 1898.

1897 Picture taken at Carlisle

Letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs - 20 Jan 1900, states Scott H. Peters was the assistant disciplinarian during the month of December.

1900 Federal Census - Carlisle Indian Industrial School, North Middleton township, Cumberland, Pennsylvania

Peters, Scott H., born 1879, age 21, born Michigan, can read, can write, can speak English, full Chippewa, not taxed

Scott left Carlisle on 28 Jun 1900 - time out.

Isabelle County Enterprise 26 Jun 1903

Isabelle County Enterprise 26 May 1905

1905 Picture of Scott in Grand Rapids

Isabelle County Enterprise 18 May 1906

Isabelle County Enterprise 25 May 1906

1906 Advertising booklet

Isabelle County Enterprise 7 Jan 1907

Sister Grace was married 17 Feb 1909 in Greenwood, St. Clair, Michigan to Benjamin Ives Gilmore

Mother Jane died 9 Mar 1910 in Isabella township, Isabella, Michigan

1910 Federal Census - Chicago, Cook, Illinois

Peters, S. H., lodger, 22, born Michigan, parents born Michigan, speaks English, tailor for a mail order house.

Father Henry died 28 Nov 1912 in Hayes, Charlevoix, Michigan

Waukegan News - 14 Aug 1917

Scott registered for the draft on 12 Sep 1918. He gave his address as 216 Fairview Place in Waukegan, Illinois, age as 41, birthdate as 14 Sep 1877, occupation as proprietor cleaning & dying establishment. Nearest relative was Marian Catherine Peters, his wife. Scott was described as medium height and build with black hair and eyes.

Sister Grace died 5 May 1919 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan

1920 Federal Census - Waukegan, Lake, Illinois

Peters, Scott, roomer, 42, divorced, can read and write, born Michigan, father born Michigan, mother born Canada/English, proprietor of a cleaning establisment

Leek, Edith, roomer, 32, divorced, can read and write, born Wisconsin, father born Wisconsin, mother born Germany/German, bookkeeper at a store.

[Since Scott and Edith marry, was she bookkeeper at his store?]

1923 Aurora Illinois city directory

Peters, Scott H., (Edith), tailor, r 105 Walnut.

1930 Federal Census - Evanston, Cook, Illinois

Peters, Scott H., head, rents for $80 per month, owns a radio, 54, 1st married at 34, born Michigan, full blood Chippewa, spotter at dry cleaning

Edith, wife, 42, 1st married at 17, born Wisconsin, no occupation

1940 Federal Census - 3rd Ward, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Peters, Scott, head, 62, born Michigan, lived in same place in 1935, assistant guidance and placement officer for the Department of Interior

Martha, wife, 52, born Wisconsin, lived in same place in 1935

Scott registered for the draft on 22 Apr 1942. He gave his address as 760 Thayer Blvd, Northville, Wayne, Michigan, age as 64, birthdate as 14 Sep 1877 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Mrs. James E. Watkins of Garden City, Long Island, NY was the person who would always know his address. Scott was employed by the Kelsey Hayes Wheel Company in Plymouth. He was described as 67 inches tall [5 foot 7], 174 pounds, with brown eyes, gray hair and a light brown complexion.

1950 Federal Census - Isabella County Farm, Isabella, Michigan

Peters, Scott, patient, 72, born Michigan

Mount Pleasant Daily Times-News 25 May 1952

Scott Peters, 75, past president of the Grand Council Fire, American Indians and an authority on Indian lore and life died Saturday at a convalescent home in Everett. Peters, a Chippewa Indian was born Sept. 14, 1877, in Isabella county, the son of Henry and Jane Peters.

Before ill health forced him to retire, Peters was assistant guidance and placement officer with the Department of Interior. His work covered a nine state area where he was engaged in securing employment for Indian mena and women. In his work, Peters had to talk the dialect of 21 different Indian tribes.

Peters' father was one of the five missionaries among the Indians in Isabella county. At the age of 14, his young son Scott was sent to the Mt. Pleasant Indian School to begin his education. He completed it at Carlisle Institution at Carlisle.

After finishing his schooling, Peters was a custom tailor in the Chicago area. He had been with the Department of Interior for many years. During the Century of Progress exposition in Chicago, Peters was named on the planning committee for the exposition. During the exposition he was presented with a gold medal for his work in behalf of the American Indian.

Peters was fond of relating how his father became a citizen during the civil war so he could join the Union army. It was then that the family Indian name of "Pe-Da-We-Dum" (Noise Coming Toward You) was changed to Peters.

Funeral services for Peters will be held dWednesday at 2 p.m. from the Indian Nazarene church with the Rev. Samuel Mackety officiating. Burial will be in the Rosebush cemetery.

Peters is survived by his wife who resides on Long Island, New York; a niece, Mrs. Lenora Pego and a nephew Isaac Pelcher, both of Isabella county.