SAMUEL W. PETERSON, Justice of the Peace and farmer, section 27, Ashland Township, was born Sept. 5, 1834, in Prince Edward Co., Prov. of Ont., and is a son of Col. Samuel and Margaret (loyst) Peterson. His parents were natives of the Dominion of Canada, where his father was a citizen of distinction. He was for 30 years a Magistrate, under the Provincial law that required a subject to be worth 500 pounds sterling in order to be eligible to the appointment, and in 1856 he was appointed Colonel of the Canadian Militia and held the post as long as he lived.
Mr. Peterson remained in Canada, associated with his father, 30 years. He was educated principally at Victoria College, Coburg, Ont., amd afterward studied one term at the Provincial Normal School at Toronto, to fit himself for teaching in the public schools, which profession he has followed for 12 years. In 1856 he was appointed Adjutant, under his father, and discharged the duties of the position four years. In the summer of 1864 he came to Michigan and located on section 27 of Ashland Township, where he purchased 25 acres of land for a homestead. On coming to the county of Newaygo, he engaged two terms teaching, since which he has devoted himself to farming, and the business pertaining to his appointment as Agent of the State Board of Correction and Charities at Lansing and Coldwater. He was appointed by the Government as Census Enumerator for the township of Ashland in 1880, and made out his returns according to law.
Mr. Peterson was married July 22, 1864, to Samantha J., daughter of John and Eunice Redick, of Ashland Township. The parents were natives of New York, and early in life removed to Ontario, Can., where the daughter was born, and resided with her parents until she was 23 years of age, when her family settled in Ashland Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have had four children; all are living and were born as follows: George, April 13, 1865; Walter S., July 12, 1866; Carrie and Harry (twins), July 22, 1868. Mr. Peterson is a Republican in politics, and in 1871 was appointed Postmaster of Lake. Mrs. Peterson died April 3, 1873, and Mr. Peterson again contracted marriage July 17, 1873, with Mrs. Irene Applegarth, widow of the late Dr. Applegarth. She was born Aug. 7, 1828, near London, Middlesex Co., Ont.