JAMES RUSSELL PETERS - Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Iowa, Washington - 1800's and 1900's - Family Notes JAMES RUSSELL PETERS - Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Iowa, Washington - 1800's and 1900's

Compiled by LaVere Peters

October 10 & November 4, 1995


James Russell Peter was born July 9, 1866 at the South Lodge of Aden in Old Deer Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The surname in Scotland was PETER, but it was changed to PETERS when they came to America. Jim told us that his full name was James Russell Ferguson Wood PETER, but I've never found any record that shows the extra names. Apparently he was named for James Russell, Esq., the laird of Aden, whose family bought the estate in 1758 from James Ferguson.

[I have his original birth certificate, along with his certificate of vaccination, dated January 2, 1867.]

[I have photos of the ruins of the South Lodge.]

[I remember having been told that our family was qualified to wear a clan plaid, but I forget which one -- maybe MacGregor or Gordon.]

Old Deer is in the far northeast corner of Aberdeenshire, about 15 miles west of Peterhead, which is on the North Sea. Aden is a farm that is now a Historic Centre, where one can see farming as it was done 100 years ago.

James's father, Alexander, was employed as a gamekeeper at Aden.

James was the fourth child of Alexander PETER and Anne (ROSE) PETER.

[I have identified eight children of this family from the IGI at the LDS Family History Center. Apparently there was another child whom I haven't identified yet.]

The 1881 census for Old Deer Parish shows James as living with the family of his great-aunt Mary (DUNCAN) SLESSER and her husband Keith SLESSER.

James (age 14) is listed as a servant, which probably means a farm hand. I recall his telling us that he had served as an apprentice to a master gardener. [The census includes an interesting bit of information -- the number of rooms in the house with windows. Jim's parents' house had six, and the SLESSERS had three. The SLESSERS were farming 68 acres. Jim's father was still a gamekeeper, and his older brother Alex was an under-gamekeeper.]

[I have a picture of Jim when he was about 14 and another when he appears to be a couple of years older. There is also a picture of Jim and his older brother, Alexander, taken shortly before their departure from Scotland. These were taken at a photographic studio in Peterhead.]

In 1889 Jim and his brothers, Alexander and John, came to America. [This is the date Alec and John state on the 1900 federal census, and Jim on the 1910 census. On the 1920 census Jim said 1890.]

Becky remember hearing Jim say that he had made a trip back to Scotland and then had returned to America. Perhaps he returned to bring his parents to America. The 1900 census indicates that they arrived in 1891. [I don't know which of Alexander and Anne's children came with them.]

On April 17, 1895, Jim became a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A. in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa. [I have the certificate of citizenship, but have been unable to locate the application.]

On Dec 13, 1900, Jim acquired 3,000 shares (issuing price, 5 cents a share) of stock in Clackamas Gold Mining Co. of Republic, WA. [Bob checked to determine if the certificate had any value and was told that it was only a pretty piece of paper.]

Jim appears to have been missed on the 1900 census; at least; I haven't found him. But I know he was in Douglas Co., Washington as early as April, 1900. When he left his family in Iowa to come to the "wild west", he was given a revolver by his family for his protection.

[Brian has this little gun. It was functional until Bob and I cracked its barrel by using ammunition that was too powerful.]

On April 23, 1900, Jim filed a homestead application for 160 acres of land in Douglas Co., Washington, paying $16.00. The land is about 14 miles south of Waterville and 10 miles east of Douglas Creek (as the crow flies). He first settled on the land in April and started living there in October, 1900. On August 13, 1900, he registered a brand for horses and cattle -- a rainbow over JP.

According to Jim's 1905 statement, and those of witnesses, for the first two years of his five-year "proving up" period he worked away from the land three or four months a year to earn a living and to finance the improvements. It must have been during this time that he worked as a teamster, hauling freight from Ellensburg to Wenatchee via Colockum Pass.

By June 25, 1905, he had married and had made the following improvements on the land: fenced 160 acres, cleared and planted 120 acres, dug a well, planted an orchard, built a 14 x 24' house, a 16 x 24' barn, and a chicken house. He had harvested four crops, and the property was valued at between $1,000 and $2,500. On payment of an additional $6.00, he was issued a patent for the land on November 13, 1905.

[I have the certificate, maps, and copies of all the forms. This is a period of time when Jim was fibbing about his age; on the June 25 statement he declared himself to be 30 years old -- he was nearly 39.]

On February 28, 1903, Jim was married to Maggie Phillips (age 19) at Buckingham, Douglas Co., WA. She had been born in Iowa, and her parents were Joseph and Magge (Richman) Phillips. Their witnesses were W. E. and A. M. Phillips. Jim declared himself to be 28 years old, but he was really 36. Can't you imagine that this was to fool her parents, who might have frowned on having their daughter marrying a man almost twice her age?

The 1907 Polk's Directory for Douglas County lists James Peters as living at Farmer, with personal property valued at $485. Living at Buckingham were W. E. and J. S. Phillips [maybe Maggie's brother and father]. [I need to check the 1908 census for Douglas County.]

Jim was a fiddler, and he performed with a group that played for dances. I never did hear him play; he insisted that his old fingers were too stiff. [His violin is in my closet.]

The 1910 federal census shows Jim and Maggie living on their farm (which is mortgaged) in Owens Precinct, Douglas Co., WA. Jim lists his correct age of 43, and Maggie is 25. It says that Maggie has had one child, but none living. [I need to look at Farm Schedule #64 to know more about their farm.]

The 1914-15 Polk Directory for Douglas Co. WA, lists J. R. Peters as living at Farmer, with personal property valued at $110. [I need to check the Douglas County records related to the sale of the farm at Farmer and the purchase of the property at Bridgeport.]

The Bridgeport property was an orchard, with a house and possibly a packing shed and/or warehouse. It was located at the edge of the town.

The 1916-17 and 1920-21 Polk Directories for Bridgeport, Douglas Co., WA, list Jas. R. Peters with personal property valued at $55 and $25.

On February 27, 1916, J. R. Peters was elected as superintendent of the Bridgeport Water Users Ditch, that provided the water for 320 acres of fruit land. [Per Wenatchee World, 75 years ago]

Jim and Maggie had a son, Edward P. Peters (the P. is probably for Phillips). Edward was born August 15, 1916. He died in October, 1970, in California. [The Social Security Death Index indicates that he lived in Inglewood, zip code 90302 and that he had applied for his Social Security No. (536-03-2145) in Washington State].

I believe that Edward had three children, as reported by Edna for Jim's obituary.

I was told that Edward was raised by family members; I assume, the Phillips family.

Maggie A. Peters (age 33) died August 16, 1916 and was buried in the Bridgeport City Cemetery on August 20.

The 1920 census shows James living alone at Bridgeport in Douglas County,

WA. His age is shown as 41 (2 years younger than in 1910)

.

On May 21, 1921, James married Edna (using the surname GERHART) in Spokane, WA. Witnesses were George W. and Elizabeth Gerhart. Edna had just finished her first year of teaching first grade at Bridgeport. At the time of their marriage, Jim was 54 years of age, and Edna was 20.

Jim and Edna had a son, Robert Bruce Peters, on April 23, 1922.

About 1928 Jim decided to retire. They sold the Bridgeport property and bought a small orchard, with a house that they planned to remodel and modernize, near East Wenatchee, Douglas Co., WA. Then, as I understand it, a bank failure and the defalcation of the purchaser of the Bridgeport property wiped out their retirement income. The family lived in a state of genteel poverty, surviving with Jim's gardening skill and Edna's thrift. When they couldn't afford to buy spray for their orchard, the trees had to be removed.

Jim's speech always retained a little of his Scottish burr. Bob said that he hadn't ever recognized that until the first time he talked with his dad on the phone.

About 1943 Jim was diagnosed as diabetic. He continued to garden diligently, but his failing health placed great responsibility on Edna. He eventually lost parts of both legs. The last two years of his life were spent in a nursing home, where Edna went to work so she could continue to care for him.

James Russell Peters died January 12, 1958; he was 91 years old. He was cremated and his remains were placed in the grave of his first wife at Bridgeport, WA.


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