Bio: Peters, William 

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Peters, Emmes, Berg 
 

----Source:  Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood County, Wis.) 12 July 1930 
 

William Peters, who has been farming near Chili since 1891, was born in Gruenwald, Germany, March 24, 1854, and received a common school education in his native land, after which he learned the shoemaker’s trade at which he worked for 12 years. He then entered the Krupp Factory, where the German guns were being manufactured, but was called home eight months later by the death of an older brother, which made it necessary for him to assist in operating the home farm. In 1884 he came to America with his father, Joseph Peters, locating at Forest Junction, Wisconsin. Several months later moved to Hollandtown, and in 1891 came to Chili, where the father died in 1898, at the age of 80 years. The son continued to make his home on their 80-acre farm one half-mile north of what later became known as Chili. The farm is now operated by several of his sons. He has a herd of 20 head of high-grade Holstein cows and a purebred sire; two horses, Chester White hogs and a flock of Rhode Island Red chickens. 
 

He was married in June 1891, to Miss Anna Emmes of Hollandtown. They have seven children, one of whom, Jacob, died in infancy. The others are: George, on the home farm; Frank of Staten, Oregon; Peter, John and Nellie, at home; and Mrs. Vernon Berg (Mary), of South Gate, California.  
 

He has been a member of St. Stephen’s Catholic congregation since coming to Chili, and has served three years as treasurer. Politically, he is a Democrat. His hobbies are reading and smoking a clay pipe.