1925 Biography - William A. Peters

William Asbury Peters is one of the vital, popular and successful workers in connection with the public schools of the capital city parish of East Baton Rouge, and is giving most effective and constructive service as principal of the high school in the Village of Zachary.

Mr. Peters was born at Burrville, Tennessee, October 3, 1882, and is a scion of the fourth generation of the Peters family in the United States. His paternal grandfather, James Peters, was born in Germany, in 1798, and was a mere boy at the time of the family immigration to the United States, the home being established in Anderson County, Tennessee, where he was reared to manhood. In 1825 he established his home at Burrville, and in that locality he became an extensive and successful exponent of agricultural and live stock industry, his death having there occurred in 1874. His wife, whose maiden name was Rachel McCart and who long survived him, was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, in 1806, and at Burrville, that state, her death occurred April 8, 1890.

On the maternal side William A. Peters is a direct descendant of John Howland, one of the Pilgrim Fathers who came from England on the historic ship "Mayflower." On the maternal side Mr. Peters can claim as a kinsman Hon. Luke E. Wright, who served as secretary of war in the cabinet of President Roosevelt.

Tobias Peters, father of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Morgan County, Tennessee, May 27, 1835, and died at Burrville, that state, September 27, 1901, his entire life having been passed in his native county. Prior to the Civil war he had there been a successful school teacher, and after the war he there continued a representative exponent of farm industry during the remainder of his active career. He was a republican in politics, and he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Peters, whose maiden name was Mary Jane Wright, was born at Chanute, Tennessee, September 13, 1850, and at Burrville, that state, her death occurred August 13, 1917. Worcester, eldest of the children, is now (1924) principal of the junior high school at Deerlodge, Tennessee; Barton, who was born in the year 1871 and whose death occurred July 15, 1923, maintained his home at Burrville, Tennessee, and was county superintendent of education in his native county at the time of his death; Annis, who became the wife of John C. McGuffey, died at Burrville, Tennessee, October 26, 1905, and her husband now resides at Wartburg, that state; James O., who was born March 16, 1875, died at Burrville October 30, 1896, he having been a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Robert K., a traveling salesman, resides at Tyler Texas; Carrie died in infancy; Rula is the wife of Dillard G. Gunter, a farmer near Burrville, Tennnessee; William A., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Timothy V., a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, resides in the old home town of Burrville; Edmond is teacher of English in a missionary school at Shanghai, China; and Deborah May is the wife of Stephen Trascher, a locomotive engineer, their home being at Columbia Mississippi. It will be noted that the children of this large and interesting family have stood exponent of culture and high ideals and have signally honored the family name in lives of usefulness and honor.

The public schools of his native place afforded William A. Peters his early education, and he had the further advantages implied in his having been reared in a home of culture and refinement. After his graduation from the Burrville High School in 1900 he was for four years a successful teacher in the schools of his native state. In 1903 he became principal of the graded school at Sunny Hill, Louisiana, where he remained two years. During the ensuing two years he was principal of the school at Spring Creek, and he then assumed the position of principal of the Agricultural High School at Chesbrough, Tangipahoa Parish, where he continued his effective services six years. He then, in 1915, became principal of the Junior High School at Natalbany, that parish, where he remained three years, the following year having found him in service as principal of the Junior High School at Roseland. He then entered the Teachers' College of the Louisiana State University, where he completed a general course and also specialized in history and mathematics, and where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1921 and with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At the university he was a member of the Glee Club and the Square and Compass Club. From 1921 to 1923 Mr. Peters was principal of the high school at Denham Springs, this state, and he has since continued his admirable service as principal of the high school at Zachary, where he has supervision of the work of seven teachers, the enrollment of pupils showing a total of 165.

The principles of the democratic party well represent the political views of Mr. Peters. He is affiliated with Spring Creek Lodge No. 184, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is a member of the executive committee of the Parish Rally Association of East Baton Rouge Parish.

August 30, 1911, recorded the marriage of Mr. Peters and Miss Winnie McDaniel, a daughter of Elias and Mary (Sylvest) McDaniel, of Kentwood, Louisiana, where the father died June 22, 1924. The early educational advantages of Mrs. Peters included those of McComb Female College at McComb, Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have no children.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, page 118.