“General” Peters was found on someone else’s ancestry tree, alongside Jim and Joanna’s other children. Reportedly born in 1877, the year after Willie was born. This would make him the baby instead of Willie being the baby. He was married to Nancy Pollard, and the record reflects that they had 10 children. (5 boys and 5 girls)
But, I later was able to figure out that General may not have been one of Jim and Joana’s sons.
According to the 1900 US Federal Census for Cusseta, Alabama, General Peters is a son 18 (supposedly born March 1882) He was living in the home with an Arnold Hodo and Susanna Hodo (both reported this was their 2nd marriage). What this means to me is that Arnold Hodo could not have been General’s birth father. There was also a daughter, Liza (16) born February 1884, and a daughter, Mary (3 ) reportedly born June 1896. Based on this information, Susanna may have been his mother, and either had him out of wedlock, by someone named Peters, OR, she herself must have been an un-married Peters, and gave her son her (Maiden) surname.
Which is it? I can’t say just yet, but I’ll be searching.
General Died in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio December 16, 1974
Here is the text of his obituary as it appeared in The Toledo Blade, December 19, 1974:
TEXT OF GENERAL’S OBITUARY:
General Peters, 75, of 1374 Grand Avenue, died Monday in Mercy Hospital. He was employed 12 years at the Martin Brothers Container and Timber Products Corporation, retiring in 1962. Surviving are his wife, Mary, sons: Willie R. Eugen L, Ellis, Al,and Willie C. Daughters: Mrs. Charlotte Lewis, Mrs. Alice Grisham, Mrs. Zilphia Brooks, Mrs. Jo Ann Fields, and Olibia Peters; Services will be at 1:30 PM Saturday at Friendship Baptist Church. Wake Services 6:00 PM Friday in the Sherrill Mortuary. The body will be taken to Opelika, Alabama for further services and Burial.