Sixth Generation

396. Alva Edward Peters^157,251,254.
Birth: 14 October 1870, Scarbrough, Anderson County, Tennessee.^{153,158,251,252}
Evidence that Alva was born in Scarbrough is that the family was living in Scarbrough at the time of the 1870 census, and he was born shortly after the 1870 census was taken. In addition, the birth record for Alva's son Arthur states that Alva was born in District 9 of Anderson County and Scarbrough was located in District 9. The best source for Alva's birthdate is the Peters family bible. A family history was created from the bible by Alva's daughter Ella, but the current location of the bible is unknown.
Parents: John H. Peters and Hulda Asberine (Asberine) Cross.¹⁵⁷ Names: Known as Alva or as Alvy. His wife called him Alvy and his grandchildren called him Grandpa.²⁶² Namesake: Alva A. Oliver.²⁶³
It is possible that Alva Peters was named for Alva A. Oliver. Alva A. Oliver married Susan Emily (Emily) Peters. Emily was Alva Peters' grandaunt, having been the sister of Alva's grandmother Zipporah Peters. So Alva A. Oliver was Alva Peters' granduncle by marriage. Alva A. Oliver had a grandson named Alva Scarbrough, and Alva Peters and Alva Scarbrough were second cousins. Alva A. Oliver in turn was almost certainly named for his granduncle Alva Oliver who was an early settler in Anderson County. Namesake: William E. Peters.²⁶³
It is possible that Alva was named for his father's twin brother William E. Peters who was killed in the Civil War. William's middle name is not known. However, given the propensity at the time Alva was born to name children after family members it seems possible that William's full name was William Edward Peters and that Alva's middle name came from William.
Census: 1880, Anderson County, Tennessee.⁸⁸
Household of his father John H. Peters, Dist. 9, 12 Jun 1880.
Alva 9 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school.
Marriage: 28 November 1893, Anderson County, Tennessee, age 23, to Sallie Jane Cole.^251,254
Birth of Child: 28 February 1895, Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr., parent age: 24.
Birth of Child: 21 December 1898, Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters, parent age: 28.
Census: 1900, Anderson County, Tennessee.¹⁶¹
Head of household. Dist. 9, 14 Jun 1900.
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Alva was listed as the head of household, but his mother owned the farm. She purchased it in 1895 shortly after she was awarded a widow's pension for the Civil War service of her husband John H. Peters. She and John never owned any land during John's lifetime.
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page 129a, dwelling number 7, family number 7, enumerated by Calvin H. Scarbrough, owns farm, has mortgage
Peters Alva E. 29 head male married 6 years, white, born Oct 1870, farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Sallie J. 29 wife female married 6 years, white, born Jun 1870, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 2 children, 2 living
Earnest L. 5 son, male, single, white, born Feb 1895, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Elsie C. 1 daughter, female, single, white, born Dec 1898, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Hulda A. 54 mother female widowed white, born Dec 1845, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 14 children, 6 living
John W. 23 brother male single white, born Mar 1877, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Martha E. 12 sister female single white, born Jan 1888, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Henry H. 10 brother male single white, born Mar 1890, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
Birth of Child: 28 September 1902, Ella Mae Peters, parent age: 31.
Birth of Child: 17 March 1905, William Birchell (Birchell) Peters, parent age: 34.
Birth of Child: 17 March 1905, Johnny Clyde Peters, parent age: 34.
Birth of Child: 6 July 1907, Robert Earl (Bob) Peters, parent age: 36.
Birth of Child: 16 April 1910, Samuel Arthur (Arthur) Peters, parent age: 39.
Census: 1910, Anderson County, Tennessee.¹⁶²
Head of household. Dist. 9, 27 April 1910.
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Alva was listed as the head of household, but his mother owned the farm. She purchased it in 1895 shortly after she was awarded a widow's pension for the Civil War service of her husband John H. Peters. She and John never owned any land during John's lifetime.
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page 126a, Bear Valley Road, dwelling number 63, family number 65
Peaters Alva E. 39 head male, first marriage, married 16 years, white, farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Sallie 39 wife female, first marriage, married 16 years, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 7 children, 6 living
Lester 15 son, male, single, white, farm labor, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school
Elza 11 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school
Ella 8 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, attended school
William B. 5 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Robert E. 2 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
----- dwelling number 63, family number 66 (same house and a different family number)
Peaters Hulda A. 64 head female widowed white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 14 children, 3 living
Hudsel H. 20 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
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Arthur was born 16 April 1910. The number of children for Sallie was correct if Arthur was counted, but Arthur was not listed in the census. Hulda Asberine Cross Peters age 64 was Alva's widowed mother.
Census: 1920, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁵
Head of household. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 10, 22 Jan 1920.
page 131a, family number 167
Peters Alva 49 head male married white, farming home farm, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Sallie J. 49 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Ella M. 17 daughter, female, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
William B. 14 son, male, single, white, farming home farm, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Robert E. 12 son, male, single, white, farming home farm, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Arthur 9 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Henry H. 29 brother male single white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN. Membership: Victory Lodge 446, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 1924, Anderson County, Tennessee.^264,265
The Victory Lodge was organized on 16 Oct 1904 in the Scarbrough community, and the lodge consolidated with Clinton Lodge 18 on 11 Mar 1924. Alva was not a charter member of the Victory Lodge in 1904, but he was listed as a member of the Victory Lodge living in Edgemoor at the time of the consolidation in 1924. So he joined the lodge at some point after it was organized and prior to the consolidation.
Census: 1930, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁶
Head of household. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 1-12, 18 Apr 1930.
page 125a, Bear Creek Valley, dwelling number 60, family number 60
Peters Alvie E. 58 head first married at age 23 white, farmer, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Sallie 59 wife female white first married at age 23 white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Robert C. 22 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN
Arthur 20 son, male, single, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
Census: 1940, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁷
Head of household. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 1-14, 20 May 1940.
page 243a Sheet 12a, dwelling number 171, owns property worth $600
Peters Alva 69 head male married white, farmer, 8 years school, born in TN, lived 1935 same house, no salary income
Sally J. 69 wife female married white, 5 years school, born in TN, lived in 1935 in same house.
Death: 21 April 1942, age 71, his home in Bear Creek Valley, Scarbrough, Anderson County, Tennessee.^158,266,267
Death Certificate:¹⁵⁸ Anderson County, Tennessee, 1942, certificate 27359.
1. Full name - Alva Edward Peters
2. Date of death - 4/21/42,
3. Place of death - Anderson County, Civil District 9, Edgemoore, Tenn., R.F.D. #1
4. Legal residence - state Tenn., county Anderson, Civil District 9, city Edgemoore, Tenn., street R.F.D.#1
5. Race - white
6. Sex - male
7. Status - married
8. Age - 71 years 6 months 7 days
9. Date of birth - Oct 14 1870
10. Place of birth - Tenn.
11. Husband or wife of - Sallie Peters
14. Industry or business - farmer
15. father - John Peters born in Tenn.
16. mother - Hulda Cross born in Tenn.
17. Informant - Mrs. Sallie Peters, address Edgemoore, Tenn. R.F.D. #1
18. Burial - 4/23/42 cemetery Mt. Vernon Cem. Anderson Co.
19. Undertaker - Martin Funeral Home, Lake City, Tenn. Paul Martin
20. I hereby certify that I attended the deceased from July 13, 1941 to April 21, 1942 and that I last saw him alive on April 21, 1942 and that death occurred on the date stated at 9:20 A.M. Signature: O.E. Ballou, M.D. Address: Clinton, Tenn. Date signed 2/3/43. Obituary: Knoxville News-Sentinel [Knoxville, Tennessee], 22 April 1942, page 2²⁶⁸
Alva Edward Peters. Funeral for Alva Edward Peters, Edgemoor, will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Mount Vernon Methodist Church, the Rev. J. D. Babb officiating. Martin's in charge. Obituary: Knoxville Journal [Knoxville, Tennessee], 22 April 1942, page 16²⁶⁶
Alva E. Peters. Alva Edward Peters, age 71, died early yesterday at his home near Edgemoor, Tenn., relatives here have been informed. His health had been failing for some time. Survivors are his widow; four sons, Lester, Birchell and Arthur Peters, all of Edgemoor and Bob Peters of Knoxville; two daughters, Mrs. Sam Letsinger, Edgemoor and Mrs. Clyde Cole, Burkhard Road, Knoxville. Obituary: Clinton Courier-News [Clinton, Tennessee], 23 April 1942, page 5²⁶⁷
A. E. Peters, 71, died at his home near Scarboro Tuesday morning after a lingering illness. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Sally Cole Peters; two daughters, Mrs. Sam Letsinger of Edgemoor and Mrs. Clyde Cole of Knoxville; four sons, Lester, Birchell and Arthur of Edgemoor, and Robert of Knoxville; 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, also a host of other relatives. Funeral services were to be held at 10 a.m. Thursday morning at the Mt. Vernon Methodist church, of which he had been a member for 50 years. The Rev. J. D. Babb, pastor of the church, officiated. Martin's in charge. Active pall bearers were Blaine Johnson, Elmer Holloway, Allen Underwood, Odus Diggs, Fred Crawford, Lee Crawford and honorary pall bearers Jim Hackworth, E. H. Ellis, Jim Crawford, Tom Cooly, Jim Diggs, A. E. Moore, O. B. Anderson, Bill Walker, Tom Freels and John Holloway. (Allen Underwood was the husband of Lela Williamson who was sister of Lola Williamson who was wife of E.L. Peters. Blaine and Dixie Johnson were close friends of E.L. and Lola Peters. Elmer Holloway was the father-in-law of Alva's son Arthur Peters.)
Burial: 23 April 1942, Mount Vernon Cemetery, Anderson County, Tennessee.^158,260
Burial inscription: Alva E. Peters, Oct 14, 1870 - Apr 21, 1942, same marker as Sallie J. Peters.²⁶⁰
Burial GPS: 35.970608, -84.266068.²⁶⁰

Alva Edward Peters and Sallie Jane Cole.
Marriage: 28 November 1893, Anderson County, Tennessee, Alva Edward Peters, to Sallie Jane Cole.^251,254
Marriage Bond: ²⁵⁴ State of Tennessee, Anderson County, license #571, page 165.
Know all Men by these Presents: That we Alvy Peters & J.H. Scarbrough are held and firmly bound unto the State of Tennessee in the sum of Twelve Hundred and Fifty Dollars, to be void on condition that there by no lawful cause to prevent a marriage from being solemnized in the County of Anderson between Alvy Peters and Sallie Cole. Witness, our hands and seals, the 27" day of Nov, 1893. License No. 571. (Signed): A.E. Peters, J. H. Scarbrough. (The bondsman John H. (Johnnie) Scarbrough was Alva's first cousin. Alva was the son of Asberine Cross. Johnnie was the son of Sarah Cross. Sarah was Asberine's sister who married William V. Scarbrough.) Courthouse Marriage Record:²⁵⁴ License No. 571, Dec 27 1893, Avy (sic) Peters to Sallie Cole.
I solemnized the Rites of Matrimony between the within parties on the 28 day of Nov. 1893. Geo. W. Keith, J.P. Family Narrative: ¹⁰¹ Alva and Sallie were called Grandpa and Grandma Peters by their grandchildren. According to Lucille Wright, Grandpa smoked a pipe and never said anything. Lucille also reported that Grandpa and Grandma Peters were often visited by Mark and Calvin Scarbrough. Mark and Calvin were Alva's first cousins, and they were the brothers of Johnnie Scarbrough who was Alva's bondsman for his marriage license.

Sallie Jane Cole^88,251, daughter of William Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England,.
Birth: 29 June 1870, Beaver Ridge, Knox County, Tennessee.^{106,111,251,252}
Evidence that Sallie was born in Beaver Ridge in Knox County is that family was living in Beaver Ridge at the time of the 1870 census, and she was born nine days after the 1870 census was taken. Therefore, she probably was born in the family home which was near the intersection of Middlebrook Pike and Lovell Road. In addition, the birth record for Sallie's son Arthur states that she was born in Knox County. Her name was misspelled in Arthur's birth record as J. E. Peters rather than as S. J. Peters, but it is clear from all the other data in Arthur's birth record that it is the correct record. The best source for Sallie's birthdate is the Peters family bible. A family history was created from the bible by Sallie's daughter Ella, but the current location of the bible is unknown.
Parents: William (Will) Cole and Vesta Clay (Vestie) England.
The best evidence for her parents is her death certificate which lists both her parents. She was born after the 1870 census and her father died before the 1880 census. Therefore, there was not a census in which she was enumerated with both her parents. Because of her father's death,, she was enumerated in the 1880 census in the household of her mother's aunt rather than in her mother's household. Apparently, her widowed mother didn't have the financial means to keep her family together under one roof. Namesake: Sarah (Sallie) England.²⁵³
It is likely that Sallie was named for her great grandmother Sarah (Sallie) England. It was common in the 1800's that Sallie was a nickname for Sarah. However, Sallie Cole's name probably was Sallie rather than Sarah. The only record that lists her name as Sarah is the 1880 census. Given all the other records that list her name as Sallie, the 1880 census enumerator probably heard that her name was Sallie and wrote down it down as Sarah, much as a census enumerator might have heard that someone's name was Bob and written it down as Robert. Namesake: Jane Peters.²⁵³
It is likely that Sallie was named for her grandmother Jane Peters. Narrative: ¹⁰¹ She was short, wore her hair in a bun, and always wore an apron.
Census: 1880, Anderson County, Tennessee.⁸⁸
Household of the Preston Shannon family. Dist. 9, 12 Jun 1880.
Cole Sarah 10 female single white, servant, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
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Sallie was enumerated in the 1880 census next door to her second cousin Alva Peters, also age 10, whom she married in 1893.
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Preston Shannon's wife was Susan Emily (Emily) Peters and Sallie's grandmother was Jane (Jennie) Peters. Emily and Jennie were sisters, so Sallie was living with her grandmother's sister. Sallie's mother and her sisters Cordie and Mollie were living in Knox County in 1880. Sallie's sister Ida was living in Anderson County in 1880 with the John W. Scarbrough family as a servant. John Scarbrough's wife was Mary Peters, another sister of Sallie's grandmother.
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Even though Sallie was living with her grandmother's sister in 1880, she was listed in the census as a servant rather than being listed as a family member. There is oral family history that suggests that listing her as a servant was correct. Sallie's father William Cole had died at some point prior to the 1880 census, and the 1880 census data suggests that Sallie's mother Vesta Clay England was in dire financial straits. She had farmed out two of her daughters, Sallie and Ida, to other households as servants. Also, a third daughter, Cordie, is also known to have been farmed out to another household as a servant subsequent to the 1880 census. Cordie was very bitter about the experience and later reported to her children and grandchildren that as a servant she was treated very harshly and often did not have enough to eat.
Marriage: 28 November 1893, Anderson County, Tennessee, age 23, to Alva Edward Peters.^251,254
Birth of Child: 28 February 1895, Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr., parent age: 24.
Birth of Child: 21 December 1898, Elza Cordelia (Elzie) Peters, parent age: 28.
Census: 1900, Anderson County, Tennessee.¹⁶¹
Household of her husband Alva Edward Peters. Dist. 9, 14 Jun 1900.
Sallie J. 29 wife female married 6 years, white, born Jun 1870, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 2 children, 2 living.
Birth of Child: 28 September 1902, Ella Mae Peters, parent age: 32.
Birth of Child: 17 March 1905, William Birchell (Birchell) Peters, parent age: 34.
Birth of Child: 17 March 1905, Johnny Clyde Peters, parent age: 34.
Birth of Child: 6 July 1907, Robert Earl (Bob) Peters, parent age: 37.
Birth of Child: 16 April 1910, Samuel Arthur (Arthur) Peters, parent age: 39.
Census: 1910, Anderson County, Tennessee.¹⁶²
Household of her husband Alva Edward Peters. Dist. 9, 27 April 1910.
Sallie 39 wife female, first marriage, married 16 years, white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN, 7 children, 6 living.
Census: 1920, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁵
Household of her husband Alva Edward Peters. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 10, 22 Jan 1920.
Sallie J. 49 wife female married white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
Census: 1930, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁶
Household of her husband Alva Edward Peters. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 1-12, 18 Apr 1930.
Sallie 59 wife female first married age 23 white, born in TN, father and mother born in TN.
Census: 1940, Anderson County, Tennessee.²⁵⁷
Household of her husband Alva Edward Peters. Dist. 9, Enumeration District 1-14, 20 May 1940.
Sally J. 69 wife female married white, 5 years school, born in TN, lived 1935 same house.
Death: 22 July 1942, age 72, Edgemoor, Anderson County, Tennessee.^{106,251,258,259}
She died in the home of her son Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters Sr.
Death Certificate:¹⁰⁶ Anderson County, Tennessee, 1942, certificate 13687.
1. Name - Sallie Jane Peters
2. Died - 7/22/42
3. Died at - Anderson County, Civil District 8, Edgemoore, Tenn., R.F.D. #1
4. Legal residence - state Tenn. county Anderson, city Edgemoore, Tenn., street R.F.D.#1,
5. Race - white
6. Sex - female
7. Status - widowed
8. Age - 72 years, 0 months, 23 days
9. Born - June 29 1870
10. Born in - Tenn.
11. Wife of - Mr. A. E. Peters
14. Occupation - housekeeper
15. Father - William Cole, born in Tenn.
16. Mother - Vesta Clay England, born in Tenn.
17. Informant - Mr. Lester Peters, Edgemoore, Tenn. R. I.
18. Burial - 7/23/42, Mt. Vernon Cem. Anderson Co.
19. Undertaker - Martin Funeral Home, Lake City, Tenn. Paul Martin
(the informant was her son Ernest Lester (Lester) Peters, Sr.) Obituary: Knoxville Journal [Knoxville, Tennessee], 23 Jul 1942, page 16²⁵⁹
Funeral for Mrs. A. E. Peters, 72, who died Wednesday morning at the home of a son, E.L. Peters, at Edgemoor, will be held at 3 p. m. today at Mt. Vernon Methodist Church of which she had been a member for 50 years. The Rev. J. D. Babb will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers: Odus Diggs, Allen Underwood, Fred Crawford, Elmer Holloway, Blaine Johnson, and Lee Crawford. Survivors are four sons, E. L., Birchell, and Arthur Peters of Edgemoor, and Robert Peters of Knoxville; two daughters, Mrs. Sam Letsinger, Edgemoor, and Mrs. Clyde Cole, Knoxville. There are 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Martin's in charge. (Allen Underwood was the husband of Lela Williamson who was sister of Lola Williamson who was wife of E.L. Peters. Blaine and Dixie Johnson were close friends of E.L. and Lola Peters. Elmer Holloway was the father-in-law of Sallie's son Arthur Peters.)
Burial inscription: Sallie J. Peters, Jun 29, 1870 - Jul 22, 1942, same marker as Alva E. Peters.²⁶⁰ Obituary: Clinton Courier-News [Clinton, Tennessee], 23 Jul 1942, page 8²⁵⁸
Funeral for Mrs. A. E. Peters, 72, who died Wednesday morning at the home of a son, E.L. Peters, at Edgemoor, will be held at 3 p. m. today at Mt. Vernon Methodist Church of which she had been a member for 50 years. The Rev. J. D. Babb will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers: Odus Diggs, Allen Underwood, Fred Crawford, Elmer Holloway, Blaine Johnson, and Lee Crawford. Survivors are four sons, E. L., Birchell, and Arthur Peters of Edgemoor, and Robert Peters of Knoxville; two daughters, Mrs. Sam Letsinger, Edgemoor, and Mrs. Clyde Cole, Knoxville. There are 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Martin's in charge. (Allen Underwood was the husband of Lela Williamson who was sister of Lola Williamson who was wife of E.L. Peters. Blaine and Dixie Johnson were close friends of E.L. and Lola Peters. Elmer Holloway was the father-in-law of Sallie's son Arthur Peters.)
Burial GPS: 35.970608, -84.266068.²⁶¹
Burial: 23 July 1942, Mount Vernon Cemetery, Anderson County, Tennessee.^106,258,260

Alva Edward Peters-1235 and Sallie Jane Cole-1236 had the following children: