Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-02-09
sENATOR-ELECT PETER.
A Sketch of His Life.-His Boyhood and
Army Superintendent the EAnxAand

as Editor.
William Alfred PETER Is man of ed
ucation, ability and culture. He is a
pioneer of southern Kansas. His grand
father, William PETER, was soldier in
the war of 1872. His bovhood was spent
upon farm near his birthplace, Cumb-
erland county Pennsylvania, until he
was 10 years of age. He applied all his
savings to acquiring books and at that
age had library of 100 volumes. From
the age of Is to 10 he taught school a
portion of each year, principally in the
winter months. At 10 he was attracted
to California, where he spent nearly two
years in the mines, with little pecuniary
success, but as young man of ability so
attracted public attention as to be ten
dered q nomination to the legislature,
which he was compelled to decline on
account of his age, though older heads
advised him to avade the question of mi
nOrity and accept.
In 1852 he returned to his old home
and his pursuits as farmer and teacher,
but in 1853, being married, he immi-
grated to St. Joseph county, Indiana,
where he spent six years as farmer
In $50 he removed to Morgan county Mo-,
where he Notwithstanding and farm
ing-until the breaking out of the war,
when he removed to Warren county, H.
linois, and enlisted as private in COM
pany F, Eighty-third regiment Illinois
volunteer infantry. He was soon pro-
noted to lieutenarcy. He participated
in the second battle at Fort Donelson,
the battle of Nashville and other engage
mentS and was mustered out at the close
of the war. On account of his peculiar
business qualifications he was selected
as Judge advocate for the trial of civil
Offenses and was afterward selected by
General Thomas as depot quartermaster
of the engineers department at Nash
vile and had control of the receipt and
shipment of all the engineers supplies
for the nilitary division of the Mississ-
ippi, under General Sherman.
On being mustered out of service the
young lieutenant settled at GAINESVILLE,
Tenn, where he practiced law from
1865 to 1870. From Tennessee early in
1870 he immigrated to Kansas and
located in Wilson county, pursuing his
profession, and in December of the same
year purchased the Wilson County
Courier which he conducted for three
years. In 1874 he was elected senator
from Wilson and Montgomery counties
on the republican ticket. He was
chairman of the centennial committee
and committee on public printing and
active, useful member of the judiciary
committee. AS laborious, working
member he had few equals and to his
legislative labors was largely due the
success of the centennial display at
Philadelphia.
In 1875 Judge PETER removed to
COtfeyville, established the Coffeyville
Journal and continued the practice of
law.
He was originally democrat, but on
the organization of the republican
party became republican. Some time
ago Judge PETER joined the farmers
alliance and became devoted to the
principles of the new party which has
come into power in Kansas. For 10 years
he has edited the Kansas Farmer
He is 90 years old.
Judge PETER is tall, slender, thin
faced man with long, dark beard. He
has the step but not the erect form of
a soldier. A frequent cough betokens
a delicacy of health. He is the author
OF the book entitled, 1.-THE Way Out"
advocating the lending of money by the
government to the people.