My Genealogy Hound

REV. NERI FRANKLIN PETERS, Pastor of the St. John’s Reformed Church at Slatington, is a native of North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pa., having been born in a farm house between Unionville and Schnecksville, May 19, 1857. The family is of Swiss ancestry, and its earliest representative in America, so far as known, bore the name of Casper Peters. Coming from Switzerland to this country, he entered three hundred acres of land between Unionville and Slatington about the year 1742.

The grandparents of our subject, Daniel and Maria (Fenstermacher) Peters, had three sons and four daughters, namely: Monroe, Neri, Daniel, Sabina, Maria, Julia and Amelia. The second of the sons was the father of our subject, now a retired farmer residing in the village of Egypt, South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County. He was born in 1828, and has spent his life principally in the locality where he now resides.

The mother of our subject, Sarah Anna, is the only daughter of Jacob and Anna (Henninger) Graul, and was born in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, Pa., August 21, 1836. An earnest Christian woman, it was her endeavor to rear her children in sound religious principles and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Especially was this the case with her first-born son. The principal tutorship in learning to read and write the German language was exercised by his mother. The principal reading book was the New Testament Scriptures.

The time of his infancy and early boyhood, our subject passed partly at the home of his grandmother near Unionville, and partly with his mother near Rockdale. At the age of seven years he was sent to the public school in what is known as Deibert’s Valley during the winter term, and to a select school at Unionville during the summer months. His progress in learning was so rapid that in his fourteenth year he stood at the head of the school in all the branches taught. Anxious to earn a livelihood for himself, he was advised to hire out as a boat hand on the canal. This he did, and for three consecutive summers traveled the tow-path, refraining from severe study, save during the winter months.

When sixteen years of age, Mr. Peters apprenticed himself to S. H. Schneck, a cabinet-maker and dealer in furniture at Slatington. Learning the trade, he was thus engaged for two and one-half years, when he passed the required examination, received a teacher’s certificate, and from the bench entered the school-room as teacher of the Rockdale school in his home neighborhood. Six months later he removed to the west and settled at Great Bend, Barton County, Kan., where he resumed his trade in the furniture establishment of C. F. Winner. With that gentleman he remained for eighteen months, when he was chosen Deputy County Treasurer of Barton County under John Alefs.

For about two years Mr. Peters held that position, at the same time reading law with a leading firm in the county seat. He then entered the law department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, graduating from that institution with the degree of LL. B. on June 21, 1881. However, other influences were meantime turning his thoughts along a different line. His religious life dates back to his infancy, when, June 25, 1857, he was dedicated to the Lord in holy baptism, Rev. Jeremiah Schindel, a Lutheran clergyman, performing the sacred rite. After a regular course of religious instruction, in accordance with the teachings of the church of his choice, he was confirmed and became a member in full on the 13th of April, 1872, at Unionville, Rev. E. J. Fogel, D. D., pastor.

Through some unusual spiritual impressions, Mr. Peters was constrained to yield to a higher call than that received from the legal fraternity, and therefore prepared himself for the gospel ministry. After three years’ additional study, he was graduated from the theological seminary at Tiffin, Ohio, May 24, 1884. Being licensed May 31, 1884, by Tiffin Classis of the Reformed Church, he shortly thereafter received a unanimous call from the Orbisonia charge in Huntingdon County, Pa. On the 17th of June, he accepted the call, and on September 1, entered upon his duties as pastor. At a special meeting of Juniata Classis held at Orbisonia November 6, 1884, he was ordained and installed pastor of said charge, which consisted of three congregations located respectively at Orbisonia, Shirleysburg and Saltillo.

After having served that charge faithfully for a year and nine months, Mr. Peters resigned to accept a call from the Slatington Church, which he is now serving. On the 1st of June, 1886, he entered upon his work in the new field. At that time the congregation numbered two hundred and forty members, but now more than six hundred are officially reported. During this time the congregation has raised large sums of money for benevolence, and made numerous improvements, such as the purchasing of additional ground, the erection thereon of a commodious brick parsonage, the introduction of steam heat and electric lights, and the complete renovation, remodeling, carpeting, etc., of the church edifice, which is now considered a very convenient and handsome one.

At Rising Sun, Pa., Rev. Mr. Peters was united in marriage with Miss Serena J. Kuntz, the accomplished daughter of Elias M. and Catharine (Helfrich) Kuntz. Of this union there have been born one son and two daughters, whose names and dates of birth are respectively: Allan Walter, born November 10, 1888; Edna Ruth, December 7, 1890; and Esther Mary, January 13, 1893. Mrs. Peters was born in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, June 28, 1858, and is a lady of great worth of character and amiable disposition.

After special courses of private study by correspondence and otherwise, the degree of A. M. was conferred upon Rev. Mr. Peters by the Board of Directors of Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa., at their annual meeting in June, 1891. Aside from his ministerial duties, he conducts an advanced course of literary and scientific reading. He is a graduate of the Chautauqua course, in which he studied for four years. A pleasing speaker, tireless worker and earnest Christian man, the future years will doubtless bring to him ever-increasing usefulness and honor in the Gospel ministry.