YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
JOHN F. PETERS
The career of John F. Peters has been one of steady progress from its beginning. In 1910 he purchased twenty-six acres one mile south of Yuba City, which had been devoted to growing market garden truck; this tract of land has been developed by Mr. Peters into a productive cling-peach orchard, which yields a fine profit in return for his labor. He was born near Bethlehem, Pa., March 5, 1862, a son of Joseph and Mary Ellen (Lynn) Peters, both natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph Peters served as captain of Volunteer Pennsylvania Infantry in the Governor’s Reserve, and was in the battles of Gettysburg and Antietam. Joseph Peters was a miller by trade, and in partnership with a brother owned a flouring mill which was finally destroyed by fire. He also worked in a slate quarry, extracting slate used for roofing, and was thus engaged until 1876 when he removed to Kansas and located fifteen miles from Topeka, where he engaged in farming for six years. In 1883, Joseph Peters came West to California and at Los Angeles outfitted three wagons, drawn by mules, and the family started north; their destination was Oregon, but reports somewhat discouraged the party and in the winter of 1883 was spent near Gridley. Joseph Peters made a trip into Oregon, but after three weeks returned to Gridley and finally settled in Sutter County, six miles south of Yuba City. Six sons were born to Joseph and Mary Peters: Henry J., deceased; John F., of this sketch; Thomas L.; C. P.; M. S.; and Fred, deceased. Joseph Peters passed away at Yuba City in 1899, his wife preceding him in 1888.
John F. Peters began working in the harvest fields in Kansas at the age of fourteen years. Then, when the family removed to California, he went into partnership with a brother in grain-farming and the dairy business, and for twenty-three years conducted the Meadow Farm Dairy. Later he sold his interest to his brother and invested the proceeds in orchard land, which he developed to cling peaches; and this property he sold thirteen years ago, and reinvested the money in his present orchard home place.
The first marriage of Mr. Peters united him with Miss Nellie McMullen, born in Yuba County, and three sons were born to them: Joseph, of Oakland; Fred L., of Yuba City; and Raymond, of Oakland. The second marriage of Mr. Peters united him with Mrs. Annie (Young) Sutton, a native of Kansas, but a resident of California since her seventh year. She has one son by her former marriage, Jesse Sutton. Since 1888 Mr. Peters has been a member of the Yuba City Odd Fellows, and is Past Grand of the lodge. He is also a Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment, I.O.O.F., and is a member of the Rebekahs of Yuba City. Mr. Peters is also a member of Marysville Lodge, No. 783, B.P.O.E. In politics he is a Republican.
(Since this biography was written, Mr. Peters passed away, on August 21, 1923.)
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 539-540
G. F. KEELER
The hope of winning success by removal to the West has found fulfillment during the years G. F. Keeler has resided in Sutter County; and his sixty-one-acre ranch located at Harkey’s Corners, three miles west of Oswald, is indicative of his well-directed efforts. Forty acres of this ranch are in peaches and grapes, which are a source of fine profit to Mr. Keeler. His birth occurred in Dover, England, April 26, 1862; and his parents were William and Elizabeth Mary (Gillam) Keeler, both natives of England. William Keeler was a brick-mason and contractor; and when, in 1873, he left his native land and came to the United States, he located at Salina, Kans., and followed his trade. He also purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he turned over to his sons to operate; and he added to this acreage until he owned 400 acres. There were eight sons in the family, our subject being the eldest. William Keeler passed away at the age of seventy-seven, and the mother was sixty-eight when she died.
G. F. Keeler’s early education was obtained in the public schools of England. He was eleven years old when the family came to the United States and he went to work. At the age of twenty-one he left home and bought eighty acres of land near Salina, Kans., which he farmed for a number of years. He sold his eighty-acre farm and removed to Rush County, Kans., where he bought a quarter-section of land and farmed for seven years; then he removed to Oklahoma, homesteaded a quarter-section, proved up on it, and farmed it for twenty years. During this time he purchased land adjacent until he had 1000 acres, which he continued to farm until 1913, when he came to California and bought his present ranch of sixty-one acres. He still owns 540 acres in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, which is rented. He returned to Oklahoma and remained there for two years, but came back to California and settled on his ranch, which is devoted to peaches, grapes and alfalfa. He improved the place with a good house and installed a four-inch pump for irrigating.
On February 26, 1885, at Salina, Kans., Mr. Keeler was united in marriage with Miss Anna C. McGaughey, born at Chetopa, Kans., a daughter of Samuel and Almira (Lee) McGaughey, both natives of Illinois. Samuel McGaughey, who served for a short time in an Illinois regiment during the Civil War, settled in Kansas in 1868 and engaged in freighting from Kansas City. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keeler. George W. resides at Applegate, Cal.; Grace E., is now Mrs. McGaughey and resides in Illinois; Thomas E. assists his father on the home place; Elizabeth Mary is now Mrs. Beard and resides at Harkey’s Corners; Ruth, Mrs. Putman, lives at Live Oak; and Charles T. is associated with his father on the home ranch. Mr. Keeler served thirteen yeas on the board of school trustees of the school districts of Oklahoma and three years on the board of the Grant school district of Sutter County; and he was justice of the peace of Pioneer Township in Rush County, Kans.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 540-543
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