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139. Absalom Barton (Barton) Peters12,14,60,64,119,156 was born on 31 July 1871 in Chanute, Pickett County, Tennessee.119 His obituary says that he was born near Chanute in Pickett County, Tennessee. His family was enumerated in the 1870 and 1880 censuses in Morgan County, Tennessee. It's likely that his mother went to the home of family members near Chanute when he was born. For example, his mother's parents were living in Fentress County not far from Chanute in Pickett County. He appeared in the census in 1880 in Morgan County, Tennessee. Absolum B. 8 son m s w TN TN TN. He appeared in the census in 1900 in Morgan County, Tennessee. Barton 28 son m s w Jul 1871 teacher TN TN TN can R/W. Absalom appeared in the census in 1910 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Ward 3, Covington, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, 21 Apr 1910; p.88a, 1003 23rd Ave., dwelling number 186, family number 189; Peters Barten A. 38 head m m1-8 w school superintendent TN TN TN; Jessie 33 wife f m1-8 w TN TN TN 2 children, 1 living; John 1 son m s w TN TN TN. He registered for the draft in Morgan County, Tennessee on 12 September 1918. 1. Name: Absolam Barton Peters
2. Address: Burrville, Morgan County, Tenn.
3. Age: 47
4. Date of birth: July 31, 1871
5. Race: white
10. Citizenship: native citizen
16. Occupation: Co. Supt. of Educa.
17. Employer: Morgan Co., Tenn.
18. Place of employment: Office, Wartburg, Morgan Co., Tenn.
19. Nearest relative: Jessie L. Peters, wife
20. Relative address: Burrville, Morgan, Tenn.
signed: Absolam Barton Peters
22. Height: medium
25. Build: medium
27. Eyes: brown
28. Hair: gray
29. Disabilities: no
30. Registrar: Absolam Barton Peters, Sept 12, 1918 He appeared in the census in 1920 in Morgan County, Tennessee. Dist. 4, Enumeration Distict 50, Morgan County, Tennessee, 8 Jan 1920; p.60a, dwelling number 70, family number 70; Peters A. Barton 48 head m m w superindendant of schools TN TN TN; Jessie L. 42 wife f m w TN TN TN; John L. 10 son m s w TN TN TN; Ruth I. 5 dau f s w TN TN TN. Absalom died on 15 July 1923 at the age of 51 in Red Boiling Springs, Macon County, Tennessee.64,157 Obituary:
Peters, Absalom Barton was born near Shanute, Tenn., in what is now Pickett County, on the 31st day of July 1871. He was the second child of Tobias and Mary Jane Peters. His grandparents were among the first settlers of Morgan County. His maternal grandparents were Rev. A. B. and Cyntha S. Wright. Rev. Wright gave his life in service in the Christian education and uplift of the mountain children of Picket, Fentress, Cumberland, and Morgan Counties. Prof. Peters was his namesake and when one knows the similarity of their ideals and sacrifices, they will see that the Spirit of the one rested upon the other. Tobias and his wife moved to Morgan County and settled at Burrville, Tenn., when Prof. Peters was about one year old, and it was here that he was reared to manhood and spent most of his mature life, he was educated in the public schools of his community later attending Maryville College. While the advantages of getting an education in his day were not so good as they are now, he was determined to have an education. He would teach for a few months in the early fall and after his school was out he would go to school wherever he could. He was never a graduate of an accredited high school or college, yet he was as educated man in the true sense of the term. He was a great student. Always studious. Always learning. He was one of the best read men of his time. He could discuss, with you most any subject, intelligently and showed that he was a man with a great mind. In 1898 when President McKinley called for volunteers to defend their country against Spain, he was one of the first in enlist. Capt. John W. Staples came to Burrville in May, 1898 and Prof. Peters with several other boys readily gave their names to help Staples make up his company. It was some time later, fearing that Staples would not he able to make up the required number for his company, he with five or six other boys learning that there was a recruiting officer for the First Tenn. Regiment at Nashville, went to Nashville and enlisted in the 1st Tennessee Regiment. They were immediately sent to San Francisco, Cal., where the regiment was held in training. His regiment was sent to the Philippine islands late in the year of 1898 where it remained until the summer of 1899. He enlisted as a Private but was promoted corporal. After about 21 months in the army he was honorably discharged at San Francisco, Nov. 23, 1899. He was a good soldier. One of his comrades said that he never heard him speak an unkind word and that his character was above question. He came back to his parents as pure as he was when God gave him to them. After he returned home in Dec. 1899, he attended school until spring at the A. B. Wright Institute, he taught in this school in the years 1900-1903. On July 31, 1903 he was married to Miss Jessie Smith of LaFollette, Tenn. There was born to this Union three children, two boys and one girl. One boy dying in infancy leaving only one boy 14 and a girl 9. Thinking that he could do better in his profession he moved to Louisiana in the fall of' 1903. His school record in I Louisiana was a wonderful success. He was Parish Superintendent of Schools of St. Tammany Parish in 1910-1911 and resigned this position to become vice president of Whitworth College, Brookhaven, Mississippi. He resigned this position in the later part of 1912 to become president of Mansfield College, Mansfield, Louisiana. He held this position until his health necessitated his going to a higher climate, because of malaria in his system. He left Mansfield and came back to Burrville, Tennessee and accepted the position as principle of the Petros City Schools. He taught for two years in Petros where his work tells for itself. He left Petros to teach at Deer Lodge so that lie might be near his family who were living at Burrville. He ran for County Superintendent of schools in 1917 but was defeated by Prof. Ernest Williams of' Wartburg. When the United States was drawn into the World War, and the young men were called to service. Prof. Williams enlisted leaving the office vacant. The County Court unanimously elected Prof. Peters to fill out the unexpired term. He was again elected in 1919, in 1921, and in 1923 he was elected for four years. At the time of his first election the country schools were running for only four months. This was due to his untiring efforts in the interest of the boys and girls of his home country. It can truly be said that he gave of his best in the carrying out of his program. giving the boys and girls in the out of way places a chance for an education. He was a Christian man. He early gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ. He believed that no man could be a true success without being a Christian. He thoroughly believed in Christian Education. He was a devoted and devoted and [not legible] at the time of his death he was District President of the Layman's Association of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church. He recognized Stewardship as a fundamental principle in giving and gave a tenth of his income to the lord and his work. No man it seemed had more friends that he. To know him and see his interest in his work was to love him. He had evidently been sick fur a long time before he broke down. On May 11, 1923, while at work in Wartburg, he suffered a break down in the form of acute rheumatism in the right leg. He seemed to get better of this, hut his liver gave him trouble. On May 30th, we called in Dr. St. John of Harriman for a consultation with Dr. Jones. They advised us that he had Bright's disease. In the hope that it might do him good and that he might recover his health in a small degree at least, we took him to Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. I however, the chances were against us and we lost out fight. On Sunday, July 15 the end came. The Spirit, which had been embodied in such a beautiful life, took its flight and is now basking in the sunlight and presence of The Father's Love. He was conscious up to within two minutes of the end. He realized that he could not live and suggested to his wife the details of his funeral. He selected the preacher, the text, the songs and the pallbearers. The funeral services were held at Burrville July 18, in the presence of the largest crowd that ever attended a funeral service in Morgan County. Rev. I. H. Bee of' Rose, Tenn., had charge of the services, after a very beautiful and impressive talk by Rev. Bee, the services were turned over to the Knights of Pythias which rendered in a very beautiful way, rites to one of their members. He was buried in the beautiful cemetery behind the Methodist Church at Burrville. He leaves a widow, one son, one daughter, two sisters, five brothers and a host of friends. Our loss is his gain Barton, we will miss you; but your consecrated and inspiring Christian life will ever be a benediction to us and will inspire us to give of our best in service to humanity. Soon we are going to meet you and we shall say Good Morning in our Father's House. [Morgan County Press, 8/3/1923, Vol. 5, No. 4] Peters, Absalom Barton (Prof. A. B.) -- IN MEMORIUM -- Where as, on the 16th day of July 1923, God in his infinite wisdom thought best to call from our midst our beloved leader, County Superintendent of Education, Absalom Barton Peters. As a result of his untimely death the schools of Morgan County have suffered an irreparable loss. There has never been a more zealous worker in behalf of the educational interest of this county as well as the state at large. Born in 1871, he was educated in the public schools of Morgan County and at Maryville College. At the early age of eighteen he began his career as an instructor and since that time has devoted his time, study and private means to the educational advancement of his county. Therefore, Be It Resolved: 1. That we, the members of the Morgan County teachers Association, to perpetuate his good work, more earnestly and zealously dedicate ourselves to the service of humanity in an effort to raise the moral, religious and literary standard of education in our county, thereby paying to our fallen leader a tribute, which we believe, were he alive, would afford him great pleasure. 2. That we pay our sincere tribute of respect to the memory of him who was not only our educational leader, but a leader in every movement for the betterment of our country morally and religiously and was a true friend to each of us personally. 3. That we extend to his bereaved family our sincere sympathy in the great loss they have sustained, but remind them that while their temporal loss is great, yet a happy reunion is certain in that great beyond. 4. That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the bereaved family, a copy to the Morgan County Press and that a copy be spread on the minutes of the Association. [Signed] Committee - George W. Dagley, Mrs. J. B. York, Mrs. D. E. Cooper. Approved and adopted this 14th day of August 1923, Mrs. Jennie Walraven, Pres., Mrs. Alive M. England, Sec. [Morgan County Press, 8/31/1923, Vol. 5, No. 8] Death Certificate #3973
1. Place of death - Macon County, Dist. 6, Red Boiling Springs
2. Name - Absolam Barton Peters
3. Sex - male
4. Race - white
5. Status - married
6. Born - July 31, 1871
7. Age - 51 years, 11 months, 15 days
8. Occupation - Superintendent of Schools, Morgan Co. Schools
9. Born - Tennessee
10. Father - Tobias Peters
11. Father born - Tennessee
12. Mother - Wright
13. Mother born - Tenn
14. Informant - Timothy V. Peters, Burrville, Tenn
15. Filed - W. J. Smith
16. Died - 15 Jul 1923
(burial information blank) The informant Timothy Victor Hugo Peters was his brother. He was buried on 18 July 1923 in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Burrville, Morgan County, Tennessee.157 Tombstone: 31 Jul 1871 - 15 Jul 1923 Corp Co G 1st TN Inf Sp/Am War. Absalom Barton (Barton) Peters and Jessie Love Smith were married on 31 July 1902 in Campbell County, Tennessee.156 p.234, A. B. Peters and Jessie L. Smith , bondsmen A. B. Peters and W. R. Peters, 30 July 1902, I solemnized the Rites of Matrimony between the within parties on the 31st day of July, 1902. Chas W. Miller M.G. Jessie Love Smith60,156 was born about 1878 in Tennessee. She appeared in the census in 1910 in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Jessie 33 wife f m1-8 w TN TN TN 2 children, 1 living. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Morgan County, Tennessee. Jessie L. 42 wife f m w TN TN TN. Jessie appeared in the census in 1930 in DeKalb County, Georgia. Jessie S. 52 sisL f w w TN GA SC, enumerated in the household of Ethel M. Polk who was the wife of her brother-in-law Absalom Barton (Barton) Peters. Absalom Barton (Barton) Peters-10826 and Jessie Love Smith-12001 had the following children: |