Bio: Peters, Donald Edward (1957)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Peters, Muscheid 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) August 8, 1957 
 

Peters, Donald Edward (1957) 
 

Did you know that Donald E. Peters met his Waterloo early in life (in fact he was born there), that he served in World War I in a Balloon company in France and Germany, that he played tennis in high school and at the university, was on the university of Wisconsin rowing team? 
 

Donald Edward Peters was born July 8, 1896, at Waterloo, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peters.  He has a sister, Frances, living in Waterloo with his mother, and a brother, Faye, who is head of the accounting department of a large brewing company in Milwaukee. 
 

He was graduated from Waterloo High School in June 1915.  That fall of 1915 he entered Milwaukee Normal, where he took a one-year rural course, then taught at Faville Grove School, in Jefferson County, for two years.  In the summer of 1917, he enrolled as teacher at the Industrial School for Boys at Waukesha, where he taught for seven months.  He left in February, 1918, to enlist in the air corps and was assigned to the 15^th Balloon Company.  Mr. Peters was sent to Kelley Field, Tex., and later to Fort Omaha, Neb. 
 

In July 1918, the unit sailed from Newport News, Va., and landed at Saint Nazaire, France.  Assigned to several areas of activity, Don participated in the Saint Mihiel drive, and when the armistice was signed, he remained in France until May, 1919, when his unit moved into Germany with the army of occupation. In July 1919, he sailed for home, landed at Newport News and was discharged at Camp Grant, Ill., in July. 
 

That September he entered the University of Wisconsin and in June, 1922, he was graduated.  The following month, on July 25, he was married to Gertrude Muscheid at Reeseville. 
 

In the fall they went to La Farge, where Mr. Peters became supervising principal, remaining there until 1925, when he went to West Salem.  A son, Robert Donald Peters, was born there in October 1925. 
 

In 1929, Mr. Peters became superintendent of schools at Neillsville, a position he has held since.  "There have been many changes in the school system at Neillsville and in teaching methods," states Mr. Peters.  "From 10 grade teachers and 11 high school teachers in 1929, we have 13 grade teachers and 18 high school teachers in 1957.  The full valuation of property in the district in 1929 was a little over $2 million.  Today it is $10,057,000.  Total high school enrollment in 1929 was (some lines are missing). 
 

Don’s father, who served for many years as postmaster at Waterloo, is now deceased.  His mother and sister reside there, and he enjoys a visit with them at regular intervals, as he does, also, with his brother at Milwaukee.