| John was born on March
22nd, and was the youngest son of Richard and
Susannah (Halstead). At the time of his birth the
family lived on what is known as "Rich
Hill" midway between Bloomville and South
Kortright, about 1.5 miles south from the river
road. In 1830 he married Jane
Blakely who was the first school teacher in
Kortright. She was the daughter of William and
Nancy McDonald, and she and John became the
parents of six children: Nancy, Sarah, William,
Elizabeth, Susan and John Peters.
When the
Civil War was raging, John had already passed the
age limit, but while the 144th NY Volunteer
Infantry of Delaware County were camped in the
city of Upton Hills, Virginia near Washington
D.C., John paid them a welcome visit, and a fire
was made in the center of the tent to warm them
through the night. After their fill of smokes,
stories and good cheer they fell asleep. In the
middle of the night, smelling leather burning, he
yelled out "Somebody's boots are
burning" but upon investigation realized it
was his burned to a crisp. Before he headed home,
the boys fitted him out with soldier's foot gear
which he wore back to the capitol.
Well
loved by the local Bloomville boys, John was
known as "Uncle John." Although
afflicted with rheumatism a great part of his
life, he always showed the greatest of courage
and fortitude. He died in Bloomville on 17 Sep
1896 at the age of ninety-two, and was laid to
rest at the Riverside Cemetery.
Photo taken from
"A History of Richard Peters of Halfmoon
..." by Leone Kleinheinz.
|
