Peters, Charles F.

PETERS, NELLETHEN, GARTZ

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 11:18:47

PETERS, CHARLES F.

Charles F. Peters, farmer and stock raiser, has a handsome home on section 26, Dale Township, and is widely known as an upright and progressive citizen, an honest man, and a true friend and neighbor. Born in Prussia, May 7, 1850, he was the youngest of a family of fifteen children born to David and Fredrica (Nellethen) Peters, both of them died in the old country. Of this large family of children, Charles F. is the only living son, while he has three sisters still living who keep their residence in the old country.

His father died when Charles F. was seven years old, and he was given a good education. At one time in his boyhood he thought he would be a herd master, but when he learned his salary attached to that position was only $18 a year, his ambition weakened. His mother was a shrewd businesswoman and had a keen ambition for his future. It was at her instigation that he joined a neighboring family and embarked for the New World. After a voyage of seventeen days on the steamship "Baltimore" he landed at Baltimore, and made his way to Ashton, Illinois, where he found the harvest in full blast. This was in July 1868 and Mr. Peters found work at once. The next year he hired out to a farmer for $160. and continued working for the farmers for five years. Much of this time he was with English families and while his knowledge of the vernacular became very good; he had saved a thousand dollars. At this time he began trading horses quite extensively, and operating a threshing machine, but by several unfortunate deals he lost all he had saved. About this time he was married, and the following season his corn and hogs brought him big prices. Taking all the money he could command he got on the train and came to Lyon County where he purchased the southwest quarter of section 26, Dale Township in August 1882. He paid for this land $14.50 per acre. He remained in Illinois until the spring of 1884 when he removed with his family to his Lyon County possessions. In the fall of 1884 he borrowed a small sum of money at the bank for which he had to pay 24 percent. This was his first taste of money borrowing, and it was a lesson worth learning. He was a hard worker, and he had good crops, so that he soon had money to invest, which he put into lands rather than in buildings. In 1895 his wheat went thirty bushels to the acre. Starting in with but one cow he realized the advantage of the bottom range land near his place at that time open for the public benefit. He invested in twenty steer calves, which grew up with, but little expense, and when they were sent to market they brought a profitable price. From this time until the ranges along Otto Creek were all bought up he kept as many cattle as he could. He made a fine start financially in this manner, buying, feeding, and selling.

In 1896 Mr. Peters built himself a comfortable home, and he now has a set of five barns, the main one being 48 by 80 feet, with 20-foot posts, and a stone basement, making altogether the finest structures in this part of the county. His cattle barn is 42 by 64 feet, with 18-foot posts. The entire place appears to be cared for with close attention, the buildings and fences are painted, and every endeavor is made to maintain the farm in a condition that shall be a credit to the country. The grain barns have a capacity for ten thousand bushels, and loading is done from spouts. An abundant water supply completes a stock farm that cannot be surpassed, and farther improvements are contemplated in the very near future.

Mr. Peters is a Republican, and is known throughout the county as a man of influence. In religion he is a member of the German Lutheran Church. In 1878 he was married to Miss Christina Gartz, a native of Prussia, by whom he has had four children: Frederick, a normal school student at Spencer, Iowa; Charles, Jr.; William, a graduate of the commercial department of the Mount Morris College, of Illinois; and Lillian, a student of the same school. These children have all received superior educational advantages, and their parents spare no pains or expense to make their home attractive in every manner.

Mr. Peters met with a railroad accident in which he was badly hurt, and came near losing his life. It was in 1900 and he was going to Chicago with a shipment of cattle, when there was a rear end collision, and he was pinioned fast in the wreckage. The car took fire, and he was badly burned before his rescue from danger by a friend. For about two months he was in the hospital, and has never fully recovered the use of his right arm, which was very badly burned.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson