Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-04-01
HUGO PETERS DIES
ONE OF WAUSAU'S FORE
MOST CITIZENS PASSED
AWAY SATURDAY

"A w "A SA ORDA
Was Clerk of Court For Twenty Years
Lived in City Fifty.Five Years, and
Held Many Public Offices During
That Time
Wausau will hardly seem the same
to the present generation without Hugo
Peters. For fifty-five years this most
excellent man mingled with our peo-
pie, sympathized with them in their
miSfortuneS and rejoiced with them in
their successes. He was a man of
rare judgment; endowed with the abil-
ity to detect the shams and sophistries
with which we so often come in con-
tact in this life, he lost no opportunity
to expose such, having at all times,
the full courage of his convictions.
There are many who have cause to be
thankful to him for timely and abso-
lutely sound advice. Mr.. Peters deep
ly sympathetic nature made him a
sincere friend and a source of help to
all who had the honor of his acquaint-
ance. This assistance came voluntar-
lily in the shape of kindly words of
stantial way.
HOnOred by People
He was honored many times by our
people by being placed in high posi-
tons of trust, and their confidence
was never misplaced. Hugo Peters
will be remembered by all who knew
him as one of the old school gentle
men, possessing a rugged honesty, and
man who believed in spending his
time in making those about him happy
Mr.. Peters had been in failing health
for several years, but his troubles be-
came aggravated and about the first of
March, when he gave up his position
as assistant clerk of court of this
county, his condition grew steadily
worse until the end came at $50 Sat
urday morning, March 20, 1919. That
there are hosts of old and tried friends
who will deeply mourn the death of
Hugo Peters, goes without the saying
Came to U. s. in 1868
Hugo Peters was born in Germany
on the 18th day of December, 1S47.
He came to the United States in 1863,
locating in Milwaukee, where he re-
manned until 1864, when he came to
Wausau. In those days all was lum-
bering and Mr.. Peters, being an ac-
tive and powerful young man, helped
in the manufacture of this product
during the winter months and diligent-
ly cleared up his farm in the town of
Stettin during the summer season. In
1876 he had the misfortune to meet
with an accident in the saw mill at
Pine River, which resulted in the loss
OF his left foot and from that time on,
he had to change his life work. He
could no longer work in the woods
and in the mills, nor work on his farm,
so he studied photography and con-
Quoted studio for several years in
this city. In 1878 he was appointed
clerk of the circuit court for Mara
thon county by Judge Park, to fill the
unexpired term of Judge Marchetti.
who had resigned to enter into the
practice of law. At the following cleo
ton he was elected to that position
and held that Office for twenty years,
and since that time he has at times
been assistant clerk to those elected to
that position.
He was for many years member of
the Board of Education and for five
member of the Asylum board and
was it's president for three years. In
1896 he was elected a member of the
County Board and also of the City
council. He was again elected to the
County Board and City Council in
1910 and served for six years, and
during the last two years was presi-
dent of the Council. During the time
that Mayor Ringle was in Europe, Mr..
Peters acted as Mayor of the city
He was member of the building COM
mittee which had charge of the erect
ing of the new city hall. He was
interested in the Farmers Co-opera-
tive Packing Co., of which he was
treasurer, and director. Mr.. Peters
was also a stakeholder in the Ruder
Brewing Co., and one Of its directors
up to the time of it's consolidation with
the Mathie Brewing Co.
Married i'm 1868
Hugo Peters was united in marriage
to Miss Antonio Schmieden on the goth
of September 1868 in st. Pauls church
in this city, and they have resided in
Wausau ever since. They celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary on
Friday evening, Sept. 20, 1918 and it
was one of the great events Of their
lives. Only the family, relatives and
a few old time friends were present.
At this event nine children were pres
ent with the exception of Irving, who
was serving in the United States navy.
Mr.. Peters is survived by his widow
and nine children, Mrs. John Merklein,
Mrs. w. o. Schmidt, Paul H. Peters,
Mrs. c. S. Cone of Wausau, Mrs. ]. B..
Coleman of Rhinelander, Louis F. Pet
ers of Amigo, Irving Peters and Mrs.
H. A. Kiefer Of Wausau, and four
grandchildren.
The funeral services took place from
the home, 521 Mcclellan street at 2:3O
o'clock Monday afternoon, the Rev. E.
G. Grauer officiating. Interment was
in Pine Grove cemetery. The pail
bearers were, John l.. Sell, John
Ringle, G. G, Adams, F. X, Under,
John Lull and Henry Ruder. Those
from out of the city attending the
funeral were: j, B. Coleman and fam
lily of Rhinelander; Louis F. Peters
and family of Amigo; Mrs. William
| Roekin of Milwaukee: Arthur Marcan
| and son, Oakley, of Milwaukee.