Family lineage spans 145 years, seven generations
Johann Ernst Peters was born in Kirschapiel Tonning Schleswig, Germany on May 1, 1832. He acquired his education in the common schools, working in the meantime on a farm until he was 18 years old. At that age he began learning the trade of a cabinetmaker, which he pursued for four years. The government then allowed three years for improvement of his skill and gave him time off for the required military service. Following this, he worked in several towns and at the end of two years, he went to Hamburg where he took a ship to America.
On arriving in the new world, he went to Milwaukee where he worked in 1857 and 1858 receiving 75 cents a day. A roommate who went to New Orleans in 1858 wrote that he had found work at $2.50 a day so Peters went there in December, 1858.
On December 3, 1859, he married Caroline Sophie Schau who was born in Rockendorf Regiering Berzirk Enfont, Germany. He worked in New Orleans until May, 1860 when he went to Plaquemine to work as a carpenter. He worked several years in south Louisiana and Mississippi before coming to Monroe with his wife in 1866.
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Ron Downing, a local historian and businessman, received the 2005 A. O. Evans award for his
contributions and commitment to maintaining the historical significance to our community. When he is not researching local historical events or designing floral arrangement at his shop, R. Downing, Ltd., Ron dotes on his two grandsons. |
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