BIOGRAPHY: Peters, Richard O.
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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RICHARD O. PETERS was born in Johnston, N. Y., May 1, 1824.
   His ancestor in the paternal line came from England, and in the maternal 
from Germany, and settled in America before the Revolutionary war. On 
his father's side, being Quakers, they did not participate in the war for 
independence, but his grandfather on his mother's side served seven years 
-- during the entire struggle -- and at the conclusion would not accept a 
pension, and enjoined upon his children that they should not receive 
anything from the Government.
   Near the close of his life Mr. Peters' father moved to Iowa -- in 1859 -- 
retuned East on a visit, and died at the old homestead, and is buried there.
   In 1847 Mr. Peters moved to Illinois, stopped in DeKalb County, and 
engaged in farming, and in 1853 he removed to Anamosa, Iowa, where he 
has ever since lived.  He opened a tin shop and hardware store when he 
first arrived here, and continued that business about two years.
   Having learned surveying, he became a proficient in the science, and 
was first appointed Deputy County first appointed Deputy County 
Surveyor, and was afterwards elected County Surveyor of Jones County, 
and has served many years in that capacity.
   He is land Agent, and appointed Notary Public by Governor Carpenter.
   He married Henrietta Crawford -- her father being of the old Virginia 
stock, had moved north and settled in Ohio.
   His family consists of Dora, Richard, Frederick and Philip, who reside in 
Anamosa.
   Mr. Peters was engaged in the Government survey in Wisconsin, and he 
has also been employed extensively on the railroads of Iowa in 
engineering.
   He was educated at Johnstown Academy, having for instructors Ramsey 
and Hardenberg, and graduated at that institution.
   Mr. Peters is affable and genial in disposition, reliable as a man, and is 
highly respected by the community.