Marion Peterman

MARION PETERMAN.

Marion Peterman, of Miami, Saline county. Missouri, who for many years was prominently identified with the development of the farminginterests of this community, was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, January 26, 1829, and is a son of John and Susan (Hamilton) Petennan. Both of these parents were natives of Virginia, where they were reared, married and both died. The father was the son of John Peterman. Sr., a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He settled in Virginia in an early day and there spent the remainder of his life. He reared a good family, though the names of all but John are forgotten. The subject's father, who was born in 1797, was reared to the life of a farmer, which occupation engaged his main attention. During his active years he was a member of a company organized for the manufacture of brick. He sense his country through the war of 1812 and was ever afterwards a strong Jackson Democrat. He never asl)ire(l to public office or notoriety, being but a simple, honest farmer, though of strong social instincts and enjoying fully the companionships of many friends. He died in August. 1852. his wife having died in 1833. She was a rresl)terian in her religious belief. She bore her husband seven children, namely: William, who became a resident of Ohio; John, who married and died in Wirginia; George, after marrying and rearing a family, died in Maryland: Emily. Mrs. Simpson; Joseph came west and died near Warrensburg. Missouri, leaving a number of children; Marion is the immediate subject of this sketch; Susan, Mrs. Watson.

Marion Petennap was reared on the home farm and secured a good practical education in the common schools. He remained with his parents until old enough to earn his own living, working at such employment as he could find and helping his father financially as he was able. At the age of eighteen years he was employed as an overseer in Virginia, and remained in this employment five years. In 1852 he contracted the "western fever" and, with two other families, he came to Saline county, Missouri, arriving here on October 12th. Soon after coming here he was engaged as overseer by John Eustis, with whom he remained two years, during which time he married. In 1854 he engaged in farming on his own account, renting land for several years, and in about 1859 he bought a tract of poorly improved land in Carroll county, to which he moved and which he began cultivating. Subsequently he traded this tract for a farm in Saline county, near Miami, where he made his permanent home. His farm at first comprised one hundred and sixty acres, but he later added by purchase two tracts of one hundred and sixty acres and twenty acres, respectively, making his total holding three hundred and forty acres. Here he devoted himself to the raising of general crops and also gave considerable attention to the handling of live stock, buying, feeding and selling, in all of which he was able to realize satisfactory profits. He was but fairly settled in his new home when he hearkened to the call of duty and in the winter of 1862 he enlisted under the command of General Shelby and saw much hard service in the Southland, remainingin the army until the close of the conflict. He participated in a number of hotly contested battles and many skirmishes, but was not wounded nor taken prisoner. His command served in southern Missouri, Kansas. Indian Territoiy. Arkansas and Texas. At Shreveport, Louisiana, the command surrendered and were furnished transportation home by steamboat, the subject arriving at his home in the latter part of June. 1865. During his absence from home, his home had been robbed and ransacked and practically eveiwthing of value was taken by raiding parties. However, Mr. Peterman at once went to work and was soon busy g'getting the farm into shape again for operation. He was thereafter successful and eventually was enabled to buy another farm, so that today he is considered one of the solid and substantial farmers of the county. About 1885 Mr. Peterman moved to Miami, where he bought a good residence property. This he has improved in many respects and made of it a very desirable and attractive home. He continued to operate the farms until about 1901, when he retired from active labor and now rents the farms. Mr. Peterman has been a witness to the wonderful transformation which has taken place in Saline county, and has himself had a large part in this wonderful development. AMien he came here the county was new and sparsely settled, but the early settlers were a steady and sturdy class of people, who considered the correct moral development of the community as important as its material growth, and thus laid the foundation for the splendid civilization which now characterizes this section of the country, in the lead of which stands Miami township, which stands second to none in regard to morals, churches, schools and the high class of its citizenship. When Mr. Peterman came here Miami was but a small village, though it enjoyed some prestige because of its steamboat traffic, which stimulated its growth until it became one of the commercial centers of the county, a position it enjoyed until the railroads superseded the steamboats, when in some respects it lost importance, though today it is one of the good towns in the county. Mr. Peterman has long enjoyed a wide-spread reputation because of the old Virginia spirit of hospitality which has always characterized him. Friends and acquaintances have always found a cordial and hearty welcome in his home and wayfarers have never been turned from his door.

Politically Mr. Peterman is a strong Democrat, though in no sense is he an office seeker. Religiously he has for many years been a devoted and worthy member of the Methodist church, to which he has given an earnest and liberal support.

In December, 1853. - Peterman was married to Sophia Williamson, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Leonard and Margaret (Crosse) Williamson, both natives also of that state, the father having been a prominent farmer and slave owner. In 1852 Mr. Williamson came to Missouri and located in Miami township, Saline county, where he bought a farm and continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1872. He was a member of the Methodist church and a Democrat in politics. He was the father of the following children: Elizabeth was twice married, first to Thomas Davis, and second to Isaac Kile; Sophia, wife of the subject; Jackson, deceased; Mary, who became the wife of Benjamin Davis. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter-

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Peterman is a man of splendid personal qualities and enjoys an enviable standing in the community where he lives. He gives a generous support to all worthy objects and is numbered among the sturdy and substantial citizens of the township.

As printed in Past and present of Saline County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.