BIOGRAPHY: John W. Peters; Brigham City, Box Elder co., Utah

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for The USGenWeb Archives Project
************************************************************************
The USGenWeb Archives Project notice
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm
***********************************************************************
History of Utah
The Storied Domain
A Documentary History of Utah's Eventual Career
by J. Cecil Alter
Vol. 2, published 1932 (expired copyright)
The American Historical Society, Inc.

HON. JOHN W. PETERS, who for two terms represented Box Elder County in the
State Senate, was Senate floor leader of the Republican party and more
recently was Republican nominee for secretary of state, is a resident of
Brigham City, one of the most successful business men and orchardists there,
and all of his activities substantiate the claims of his enthusiastic friends
and admirers that he is one of the ablest men of affairs in Utah today.

Mr. Peters was born at Brigham City, October 12, 1877, son of John D. and
Louisa (Bingham) Peters. Both his grandfathers came to Utah with the pioneers.
His grandfather, David Peters, was born in North Wales, and was a carder and
spinner by trade in that country. He was converted to the faith of the Mormon
Church and in 1849 came to America, crossing the plains to Utah. He was
designated by President Young in 1852 to help settle
Brigham City. He developed a ranch in Box Elder County, was a leader in his
church and a citizen of the very highest type.

Senator Peters' maternal grandfather, Perry Bingham, was born in the United
States, and after joining the Mormon Church came to Utah in 1853, settling at
Perry, and later moved to Idaho, where he acquired a large ranch.

John D. Peters celebrated his eighty-first birthday on May 10, 1931, and in
spite of his advanced years is still active in the performance of his duties
as president of the First National Bank of Brigham City. He was born at Salt
Lake City, and has to his credit a wide range of activities. He was a rancher,
school teacher, served as probate judge of the county, county school
superintendent, county clerk, mayor of Brigham City, and was a member of the
State Constitutional Convention. He is a Democrat in politics and has been a
leader of his party for many years in Northern Utah. He has been bishop of the
Perry Ward, stake superintendent of the Sunday School, and is now a member of
the High Council. His wife was born in a covered wagon while her parents were
coming to Utah, on June 22, 1853.

John W. Peters while a man of affairs is also one of the best educated men in
the state. He attended grade school in his native county, graduated Bachelor
of Science from the Utah Agricultural College at Logan, and had a year of
post-graduate work in the University of California. For three years he taught
social science and history at the Box Elder High School. He has continued the
studies of his early years, particularly the subject of government and social
science, and is a progressive in thought and action. Mr. Peters was largely
instrumental in securing the city manager form of government for Bingham City.
He effected that reform during the two terms he was mayor.

After giving up school work Mr. Peters established a jewelry business at
Brigham City. That business is still carried on by his son. The profits of the
business he invested in a ranch, and has been one of the leaders in the
development of the fruit growing interests of Box Elder County. In addition to
his individual business as a fruit grower, with large orchards of peaches,
apricots, cherries and other fruits, he conducts a wholesale fruit business in
Brigham City.

Mr. Peters served for many years as a member of the Box Elder School Board. He
served in the State Senate in the sessions of 1921, 1923, 1925 and 1927. At
the first session he was chosen Republican floor leader, at the same time that
the present Governor Dern was Democratic floor leader. Thus much of the
wholesome legislation passed in the session was impressed by his leadership.
He had the unusual honor accorded to a new member of being appointed chairman
of two important committees, the committees on education and on public
affairs. In 1927 he was a member of the important appropriations committee and
of other committees. Senator Peters took the lead in securing the legislation
providing for a gasoline tax in Utah. In 1928 he was Republican candidate for
secretary of state, being defeated by the small margin of 288 votes. He has
served on the Republican Central Committee. Mr. Peters since leaving the
Senate has again become a member of the Box Elder School Board. He is a past
president of the Rotary Club, a past president of the Brigham City Chamber of
Commerce, and since early boyhood has been a loyal member of the Latter Day
Saints Church.

He married, May 10, 1899, Miss Anna Jenkins, of Logan, daughter of David and
Lena (Coburn) Jenkins. Her people came from Wales to Utah. She attended school
at Logan. She is a past president of the City Improvement Club and a church
worker. Mr. and Mrs. Peters had two children, Milton D. and John Royal. The
latter died at the age of twenty months. Milton D. Peters was born November 6,
1903, was educated in the Box Elder High School and is conducting the jewelry
business established by his father. He married Miss Elizabeth Shumway, of
Garland.