Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-07-20
col. ]. Il. PETERS
Dies in 93RD Year
PIONEER LAWYER OF COUNTY,
LAST ONE WHO HAD PART in
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
FUNERAL THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Participated In Forty Battles During
Four Years Of the Civil
War.

Colonel John H. Peters, civil war
veteran, and one of the members OF
the Constitutional Convention of 1875,
died at his home on East Union street
in this city, Tuesday morning, July
18th. 1921, at the remarkable age OF
90 years, 5 months and II days. Al
though in feeble health for many years
Col. Peters was able to get about the
house and would enjoy visiting with
his many old time friends, until about
two weeks ago, when he was stricken
with an infection in his limb. After
two weeks of intense suffering he was
granted release on Tuesday morning,
The funeral services will be held at
the late home on Thursday afternoon
at 2:30 Rev. s. r. Beatty will have
charge Of the services and interment
will be made in Oakland cemetery.
Members of the Delaware County Bar
Association. and the Masonic Frater-
nifty will attend the services in bodies.
The Masonic service will be read at the
grave. The American Legion will also
attend the services in a body.
Col. John III. Peters was born In
Kent, Litchfield County, Connecticut.
February End, 1929. and was a son OF
Eber and Harriet Peters, also natives
of Connecticut, who passed their en-
J tire lives in that state. Col. Peters
remained at home until eighteen years
OF age, when he went to Cuba for his
health, remaining there for two years.
during which time he took up the study
OF the law. He then returned to Kent,
where he completed his law studies.
In 1852 he went to Freeport, Illinois,
where he engaged in the practice or
law with Thomas ]. Turner, at that
time member of congress. In Feb
ruary, 1858, he located in Delhi, where
he praeticed his profession.
At the outbreak of the Civil War
Mr.. Peters enlisted in the Union army
and was made captain OF his company.
He soon rose to the rank of a major
and finally was commissioned coll
onel. serving in all four years and
eight days He was engaged in forty
battles and proved himself loyal
soldier, AID gallant officer under all
conditions, his courage rising to meet
the dangers that confronted him. He
was injured by fall of his horse in
July. 1865, and was brought home on
stretcher and for years he was COM
PEELED to use crutches. In fact he
was never entirely free from pain be-
cause of the injury received while in
! A. 10 Ia c
mustered out at Atlanta, Georgia, in
August. 1866, and on his return to
this county he resumed the practice of
his profession, which he followed un-
til 1900, when he retired.
Col. Peters was united in marriage
with Miss Helen nj. Kneeland, at
Freeport, Illinois, September 3rd,
1853 To this union were born three
children: Harry X. Peters and Hugh
e. Peters, now deceased; and Girard
X. Peters, of Wenatchee, Washington.
The wife and mother passed away in
California, March 1st, 1885. Mr..
Peters is also survived by one grand
daughter, Mrs. T. w. Delaney, of Milo
Township.
Mr. Peters had travelled in every
state in the Union and was man of
wide learning and broadminded views
of life. He was a democrat in his
political belief, and fraternally was a
member of the Masonic order and the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He filled all of the chairs in the Odd
Fellows order of Delhi and was well
known in the organization. He has
served his country as faithfully in
time of peace through performing
conscientiously the duties that lay
close at hand as he served her during
the terrors and hardships of war in
the SOS. His life has been a long
and useful one and is in itself an ex-
ample of upright conduct and the sue
cessfuI performance of things worth
doing which the present generation
will do well to heed.