Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Peter Peterson

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Descendants of Peter Peterson

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN² PETERSON (PETER¹) was born 1792 in Salem County, New Jersey, and died March 21, 1873 in Philo, Illinois. He married EDITH CLIFTON. She was born 1796 in Salem County, New Jersey, and died September 03, 1877 in Philo, Illinois.

Notes for JOHN PETERSON:
In his early childhood he had the misfortune of losing his mother. His father soon took unto himself another wife and the home life became unpleasant for young John. He being of an independent nature departed from home at the early age of 8 years and went out into the world fully determined to support and educate himself and seek his fortune. He no doubt spent his early days on the farm for this proved to be his chosen vocation. In his early manhood he chose for his bride Miss Edith Clifton. Both being of an ambitious and progressive nature decided to leave their New Jersey home and go west to seek their fortune. In the year 1819 when railroads were unheard-of and there were no wagon roads through the mountains, just mere trails that could be traversed only by foot or horseback, this courageous family with three small children made the journey of more than 1000 miles on horseback to their destination in Franklin County, Indiana. In this rough hilly locality of rocks and dense timber they purchased government land which they cleared and then built their cabin and started to rear their family. They were blessed with 16 children. Two dying in infancy. Fourteen reaching maturity. The plowing was done by oxen, corn drop by hand and covered and cultivated with a hoe. Small grain scattered by hand and harvested with a hand sickle(or reap hook) and threshed with a flail. They raised their sheep, spun and wove their material for their clothing, and also the yarb fir their stockings, blankets and coverlets. Flax was raised, and by home methods was converted into beautiful table linens and bed furnishings. They gathered their fruits from the forest. Their sweets were the product of the sugar maple trees and the honeybee. Their chief industry was stock racing. Mostly sheep and hogs. Also poultry was raised. It being 50 miles to the market at Cincinnati, Ohio, neighbors would bunch their herds and flocks together and drive them to market. Market quotations at this time were: 3c @ lb for hogs; 5c @ lb for turkeys; 5c @ lb for geese; 2c @ lb for chickens; eggs were 5c @ doz; wheat 40c @ bu; corn 25c @ bu; oats 15c @ bu; coffee 75c @ lb; tea $1.50 @ lb; whiskey 25c @ gallon.

The first Circuit Court of Franklin County assembled June the 24th, 1811. The first brick was molded in the county in 1810. The first cookstove in that part of the country was purchased by the Peterson's in 1829. Previous to that cooking was done on the crane in front of the fireplace, and baking in a Dutch oven built in the yard. Their lighting system consisted of tallow dips and pine knots. Their children were educated in a log cabin schoolhouse with puncheons floors and slab benches and greased newspapers for Windows. The pupils usually paid 1 dollar and a half per quarter for tuition and the teacher boarded around in the homes free of charge. Many pupils had to walk several miles to attend a few months school held each year which came in midwinter. Many were obliged to attend barefooted and enjoyed skating under like conditions. The Peterson family was fortunate to live near the school building and had the full benefit of all the educational advantages of afforded them. The daughters were noted for the beauty and many accomplishments. Especially their needlework. They lived near and helped erect the first M. E. Church in that locality. This church was known for many miles and was called the"Old Franklin Church". In this church they worshiped and reared their family of fourteen children to maturity along with several grandchildren and nieces and nephews. In 1858 the sold their land interest in Indiana and located in La Salle County, Illinois, where they purchased 320 acres of land. In 1868 they located in Philo, Champaign County, Illinois, where they spent the remaining year surrounded by their children and numerous grandchildren.

More About JOHN PETERSON:
Burial: Alice Chapel Cemetery, Philo, Illinois
Moved: 1819, Located in Franklin County, Indiana

More About EDITH CLIFTON:
Burial: Alice Chapel Cemetery, Philo, Illinois

Children of JOHN PETERSON and EDITH CLIFTON are:

3.	i.	SAMUEL³ PETERSON, b. January 09, 1815, Salem County, New Jersey; d. February 22, 1856, Schuyler County, Illinois.
4.	ii.	BENJAMIN PETERSON, b. 1816.
5.	iii.	MARY PETERSON, b. 1817, New Jersey; d. 1845, LaSalle County, Illinois.
6.	iv.	HENRY PETERSON, b. May 11, 1819, Delaware County, New Jersey; d. March 15, 1873, Champaign County, Illinois.
7.	v.	JOHN PETERSON, b. November 20, 1820, Franklin County, Indiana; d. March 23, 1892, Farmersburg, Indiana.
	vi.	SARAH PETERSON, b. 1822; m. MALON BROOKS.

Notes for SARAH PETERSON:
Died at an early age leaving two sons, no trace of descendants.

8.	vii.		ELIZABETH PETERSON, b. 1824, Franklin County, Indiana; d. 1848.
	viii.		KATHERINE PETERSON, b. 1825; d. 1901; m. GEORGE STONE, 1844.

More About KATHERINE PETERSON:
Burial: Mt. Hope Cemetery, Champaign, Illinois

9.	ix.	AMY JANE PETERSON, b. July 18, 1827; d. 1912, Hoopeston, Illinois.
10.	x.	CHARLOTTE PETERSON, b. May 10, 1828; d. June 20, 1904.
11.	xi.	RUTH PETERSON, b. December 18, 1829, Franklin County, Indiana; d. January 15, 1916, Philo, Illinois.
	xii.	ANNA PETERSON, b. 1831; m. WILLIAM NEFF, August 01, 1882.

Notes for ANNA PETERSON:
Anna and William Neff met a tragic death. They were living on an orange plantation, Spring Garden, Valencia County, Florida. Their property was burned after they were murdered. Robbery was supposedly the motive. The guilty parties were never apprehended.

More About ANNA PETERSON:
Burial: Ottawa, Illinois

Notes for WILLIAM NEFF:
Of LaSalle County, Illinois.

More About WILLIAM NEFF:
Burial: Ottawa, Illinois

12.	xiii.		CLARA I. PETERSON, b. February 16, 1834, Franklin County, Indiana; d. May 31, 1887.
13.	xiv.		HANNAH PETERSON, b. August 1839, Indiana; d. May 31, 1917.

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