South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-08-10

John Wesley Peters. up TO about five
months ago city sealer of weights and
measures, died at his home, $40 n. st.
Joseph St. Sunday evening at 6
o'clock. within four days OF 81 years
old. About one and a half years ago
he experienced a stroke of paralysis.
For months he was confined TO his
bed. Improvement set in by which
he was enabled to go about the house
on crutches. BY and by he improved
to a still greater extent, so much so
that with assistance he was able to
go out and attend TO his official duties.
But the insidious foe that undermined
his vitality continued its work. TWO
weeks ago his condition became criti-
cal. The end came on Sunday evening
when his spirit took flight into the
realm of eternity
John Wesley Peters was born in the
town of New Berlin, then the seat of
justice of Union county, Pa At that
time five or six newspapers were print
ed in that town. 1t is now almost
deserted village. A division Of Union
county was effected during the ffties.
Lewisburg became the seat of justice
of Union county; Middleburg, a mere
village, was made the seat of justice
of the newly formed county of Snyder,
so named in honor of one OF Pennsyl-
vania's earlier governors, Simon
Snyder. John Wesley'S father, An
drew Jackson Peters, had come in pos
session of a small German print shop
and moved it to Middleburg, where he
published Der .VOlksfreund Peoples
Friend) a five column folio. In 1888
A j. Peters was elected to the office
of register and recorder. The per
Torrance of his official duties render
ed it necessary for Mr.. Peters to hire an
all around printer to issue his paper.
For this purpose he secured the SER
vices of John b. Stoll of Harrisburg,
Pa Under the latter's supervision
John Wesley learned the art of print
ing Not having had any German
schooling. the newly installed appren-
tice had at the same time to be taught
TO spell and read German in order to
be enabled TO set type in German. he
showed remarkable proficiency in
both, and in due course OF time be-
came an efficient disciple of Faust
and Gutenberg. In 1863 Mr.. Stol
became owner of the little print shop.
John Wesley was retained as an en-
ploye. When, early in the year 1856,
Mr.. Stoll decided TO Ego west and grow
up with the country" he took with
him John Wesley and four other young
HRnnSNlNduldIlS
publication of The National Banner at
Ligonier, Ind. For seventeen years
young Peters remained in this en-
ployment In 1883 Mr.. Stoll sold
one-half interest in the Ligonier Ban
ner TO the late James +. Mcdonald
and moved to South Bend to rehabll-
tate The Times and establish daily
in connection with the weekly. About
that time Mr.. Peters acquired one
fourth interest in the Ligonier Banner
which a year afterward he transferred
10 the late Col. Isaiah Il. Mcdonald.
Soon after Mr.. Peters came to South
Bend to reenter employment in the
printing esta blishment of Mr.. Stol
This relation was maintained until
1910. Upon the advent of the Goetz
administration Mr.. Peters became city
sealer In this capacity he proved
himself an energetic and painstaklng
public servant. When the public mar
ket project became a reality Mr..
Peters injected all the enthusiasm or
his nature into the work. Its success
greatly elated him, and he labored
increasingly 10 render the market
genuine benefiCence to the commu-
nifty. But for his unfortunate affllc-
ton he would doubtless have intro
duced some features that would stll
further have added TO the popularity
of the public market.
Oct. Is, 1899, Mr. Peters was mar
ried to Ida B. Reyes of Indianapolis.
The fruit of this union was one daugh-
ter. Ruth. Children by former mar
riage surviving the departed are: John
&C. Peters, indianapolis; Mrs. Ada
Gross. South Bend: Mrs. Henry Slsson'
Highland Park, Ill; Mrs. r. {. Lake,
Chicago Heights, Ill. He is also sur
vived by several brothers and sisters
in Pennsylvania
Mr.. Peters was a member OF the
South Bend order b. p. .. e, go,
and of Typogra phical union, 12S.
Mr.. Peters came Of large FAMILY:
His father. besides filing the office or
register and recorder of Snyder
county. repeatedly filled subordinate
positions in the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture at Harrisburg.
During the los he dropped dead
while digging potatoes in patch at
his suburban home.
The funeral will be held from the
residence Tuesday afternoon at 2;5V
O'Clock and will he in charge of a
Christian Science reader. Burial VIII
be In the City cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Charles l..
Goetz. Charles HagedOrn, representing
the F,lks: George L. GOetz. Wilson w
SNYDER, representing the Typographi-
cal union; William p. Furey and John
DeHaVen