Résumé

Partner, Peters and Sons, Carpenters, Dayton, OH, c. 1866-1870. The classified business directory for Dayton in 1970 noted that Peters and Sons consisted of Joseph, William and Luther Peters working as architects, carpenters and builders. "Particular attention [was] given to superintending constructions and stair building." They had an office on the northwest corner of 2nd and Mill Streets in that year. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1870, p. 208.)

Draftsman, Joseph Peters, Architect and Building Contractor, Dayton, OH, 1871. By 1871, his father had rebranded himself as an "architect, contractor and builder" with an office on the northwest corner of 2nd Street and Canal Street. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1871, p. 222.)

Principal, Luther Peters, Architect and Superintendent, Dayton, OH, c. 1873- 1879 . In 1873, he shared space with his contractor father on the northwest corner of 2nd Street and Canal Street, but he had a separate listing in the business directory, as an "Architect and Superintendent." (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1873, p. 269.) Two years later, Peters had an office on the southeast corner of 3rd and Jefferson Streets. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1875, p. 277.) His rented space 134 South Jefferson Street in 1878. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1878, p. 295.)

Partner, Peters and [Silas Reese] Burns, Architects, Dayton, OH, 1879-1893. Peters and Burns occupied Rooms #3 and 4 at 134 South Jefferson. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1879, p. 311 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1880, p. 341.) Peters and Burns operated in Rooms #26-31 in the Kuhns Building ibetween 1891 and 1894. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1891, p. 583 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1894, p. 655.)

Partner, Peters, Burns and [Albert] Pretzinger, Dayton, OH, 1895-1906. The firm became Peters, Burns and Pretzinger by late 1894 or ealry 1895. The firm remained in the same offices as they had during the 1891-1894 span. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1895, p. 682.) Albert Pretzinger (born 02/28/1863) opened his own architectural practice in 1906.

Partner, Peters, Hermann and Brown, Architects, Dayton, OH, 1907-c. 1919.

Relocation

Luther Peters was born on 05/11/1846, the second member of his family born in OH, as his elder brothers and parents all had come from PA. The family moved to OH in late 1843 or, more likely, 1844.

As a 13-year-old, Luther resided with his parents Joseph and Catherine and siblings William, Martha, Joseph C., Charles and George, in Dayton, OH, as a 13-year-old, when the 1860 US Census was taken. In addition, a seamstress, Harriet Fuzel (born c. 1829 in KY) lived with the family. His family was not wealthy, listing assets of only $300 at the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Dayton Ward 3, Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: M653_1015; Page: 187; Family History Library Film: 805015, accessed 06/06/2024,) The Peters family resided at 97 4th Street in 1862 and 69 Wilkinson Street in Dayton in 1864. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1862, p. 161 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1864, p. 173.)

By age 18, at least, Luther lived on his own. He boarded at 4 4th Street in 1866 and 4 Findlay Street in 1868. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1868, p. 192 and Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1866, p. 144.) He was a carpenter in 1866-1870, working with this father.

Although he worked with his father and brother, Luther remained independent in other ways, living apart from his parents at 38 Warren Street in 1870, but his parents managed to save over the years and accumulating land worth $3,500 and had savings of $3,500 more. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Dayton Ward 8, Montgomery, Ohio; Roll: M593_1249; Page: 336B, accessed 06/06/2024.) He boarded on the east side of Bainbridge Street opposite State Street in 1870. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1870, p. 208.) He found another place to live one year later, at "old" No. 27 Wayne Street. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1871, p. 222.) In 1873, he resided on the south side of May Street, between Terry and High. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1873, p. 269.)

He lived at 9 Tecumseh Street in 1878. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1878, p. 295.)

Jennie and Luther Peters dwelled at 424 May Street in Dayton between 1891 and 1900, at least. (See Dayton, Ohio, City Directory, 1891, p. 583.) The household inlcuded Luther and Jennie, a niece, Helen Peters Woodhull (born 10/16/1891 in Lincoln, NE-d. 09/27/1975 in Oakwood, OH). his mother-in-law Augusta Rutledge (born c. 03/1817 in MA), an aunt Eliza Farnsworth (born c. 05/1822 in MA), and a widowed nurse, Jessie F. Hopknicht (born c. 08/1869 in OH).

In 1910, Peters lived at 307 Summit Street in Dayton along with his wife Jennie and their niece Helen

Parents

His father Joseph Peters (born 01/1820 in PA-d. 11/29/1900 in Dayton, OH) worked as a carpenter in 1860. His mother was Catherine States (born 06/1821 in Huntingdon County, PA-d. 10/12/1897 in Dayton, OH).

His siblings were John Wesley Peters (born 1841-d. 1849), William Peters (born 08/27/1843 in PA-d. 05/23/1923 in Hampton, VA), Thomas Peters (born 1844 in Dayton, OH-d. 11/11/1845 in Dayton, OH), Martha J. Peters Whyte (born 12/22/1850 in Dayton, OH-d. 07/08/1925 in Dayton, OH), Joseph C. Peters (born 1853 in Dayton, OH-d. 1944 in FL), Charles I.N. Peters (born c. 05/1855 in Dayton, OH-d. 09/25/1917 in Dayton, OH) and George W. Peters (born 02/18/1859 in Dayton, OH-d. 07/26/1893 in Dayton, OH)

William was a Civil War veteran, and passed away in a US government veterans' facility in Hampton, VA, in 1923. By the late 1880s, Luther's architectural firm would obtain government contracts to build structures at three veterans' homes across the US, in Sawtelle, CA, Marion, IN, and Dayton, OH.

Spouse

Peters married Jennie E. Rutledge on 09/05/1867 in Montgomery County, OH. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 06/06/2024.)

Children

He and Jennie had no children.

Biographical Notes

Peters applied for a US passport on 10/19/1887, in preparation for an overseas trip to England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. His passport application indicated that he was Caucasian with a "dark" complexion, "square" forehead, "straight" nose, "medium-sized" mouth, "long and pointed" chin, hazel eyes and dark hair tinged with gray. He stood 5-feet, 5-and-3/4-inches tall at age 41. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, 1795-1905; Roll #: 299; Volume #: Roll 299 - 01 Oct 1887-30 Nov 1887, accessed 06/06/2024.)