Robert Peterson's Foster Parents

Martin & Mathelda Peterson adopted Robert Peterson according to census records.  I have not determined if this adoption was official.

Here is a newspaper account regarding Robert's foster parents:

Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri, Tuesday, February 23, 1897

"A subscriber to the Mail, who resides at Sandstone, this county, writes that, having seen an article relative to the Peterson children, whose parents died recently, he will give one of them a home.  His request is referred to the ladies of the Children’s Home Society."

More than likely this person was Martin R. Peterson (no relation) who took the three year old (Robert Peterson) under his care.

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Other Sources:

1900 Vernon County, Missouri Census

Name	Age	Birth Month/Year	Birth place	Other
Martin Peterson	41	May 1855	Sweden	·Occupation:  Taylor ·Immigration year:  1871 ·Living in United States 32 years (doesn’t match immigration year) ·Naturalized Citizen · Married for 20 years
Matilda Peterson	41	April 1859	Sweden	· Had 6 children but none living. · Married for 20 years
Robert Peterson	4	Sep 1893	Missouri	·Listed as Grandson. ·Note:  age and birth year don’t match

1920 Morgan County, Missouri Census

Name	Age	Birth place	Other
Martin R Peterson	67	Sweden	·Owns his home ·Immigration year 1871 ·Became a Naturalized Citizen in 1876 ·Occupation:  Taylor
Matilda Peterson	64	Sweden	·Immigration year 1871 ·Became a Naturalized Citizen in 1876

1930 Morgan County, Missouri Census

Name	Age	Birth place	Other
Martin Peterson	77	Sweden	·  Widower ·  Rents Home
Robert Peterson	33	Arkansas	·  Divorced ·  Listed as adopted son
Paul Peterson	3	Missouri	·  Listed as Grandson

The following picture is of Martin Peterson (according to my Aunt Leona), date unknown.

Sources:

• 1900, 1920, and 1930 Census, Ancestry.com

Finding Homes for the kids

The following articles tell the story about Roy and his brothers fate after the death of their parents.

Nevada, Missouri, Saturday, February 27, 1897

FATHERLESS AND MOTHERLESS

But the Three Peterson Orphans are Cared for.

            Joseph Wiswold, who so kindly took charge of the little Peterson children when their parents died, still has them in his family where they are being tenderly cared for.

            Mr. Wiswold yesterday received a letter from Mrs. Thompson, a sister of the mother of the children, who lives in Arkansas.  She stated that she and her husband desired to have the custody of the little orphans and that they would be here after them as soon as it was possible to travel over the country by wagon.  She did not want the children given to the care of strangers especially if they had to be separated.

            The melancholy circumstances that left these little ones orphans among strangers were published at the time of the death of the parents within a few hours of each other.  The fact that they were left entirely destitute and that they were so very young—the oldest being but 5 years of age, and the youngest six weeks led a number of kind-hearted people to offer them homes.  Mr. Wiswold took charge of all three of the little ones and at once set about locating their relatives with the result noted.  No doubt good homes here would have been found for them but it is better perhaps that they be together with their relatives.

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Nevada, Missouri, Monday, March 22, 1897

HOMES FOR THE BABIES

The Peterson Orphans Provided for.

  

            “I have secured homes for two of the Peterson babies, “said Chief of Police W. W. Hill.  “One of them, the two and a half year old boy.  I have placed with M. A. Peterson, who lives on South Washington Street.  The little fellow will have a good home with them.

            “Mrs. Judge Stratton tells me she has secured a good home with an excellent family for the baby which is only 2 ½ months old.  The baby is with a woman in East Nevada who does not want to give it up, but I shall get it anyhow for I am determined so far as lays in my power to see that the best possible provisions are made for these children.  The older child, who is about 5 years of age, is still with old man Wiswold and wife, both of whom are kind to him, I shall look up a good home for this little fellow also.”

            The Peterson children, it will be remembered, were left by their parents, both of whom died here about two months ago in abject poverty.  They came here from some point in the south part of the state where they have relatives living.  Those relatives wrote to Mr. Wiswold that they desired to have the children and would come for them, but subsequently sent him word they could not come.

            The dead father and mother were kept at the morgue for quite a while but were finally buried at the expense of the county.

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 Nevada, Missouri, Tuesday, June 29, 1897

Taken to St. Louis.

Through the ministrations of the Children's Home Society, of which Miss Mary McCary is district secretary, little George Peterson, 6 years old, has found a permanent home.

Little George will be readily recalled as one of the children left by the father and mother who, after being for some time dependent on charity here last winter, while they were passing through the town, suddenly sickened and died, leaving three small children.  These were at once taken care of by a poor but kind family named Wieswold, living beyound the smelter.  This burden, however was too heavy for their straightened circumstances, and when the Home Society asked for the children they were forced to give them up.  When the little fellow was taken away yesterday he exhibited uncontrolable grief at the separation from his foster parents.  He was completely outfitted in clothes by Jno. Clack, J.J. Abell, Goss & Glenn and Schroder Brothers, and was taken to St. Louis today by Rev. W. B. Gay tate superintendant of the home.  He will be kept in the asylum until a permanent home can be found for him.

Source:

• Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri

Deepwood Cemetery

The final resting place of John Robert Peterson and Mary Thompson, parents of Roy Peterson.

https://www.findagrave.com/user/profile/46864828

On March 3, 1869, the town (Nevada City) was incorporated and the word "City" dropped from its name.  The new city fathers hired a marshal to keep the peace, laid down some board sidewalks and started Deepwood Cemetery.

Below is an facinating story that comes from Deepwood Cemetery.  I included this article as another example of how 1897 was interesting and tragic year in my family history.

31 Oct 2001, Nevada Daily Mail

There is more to this story...The following article come the Rolla Herald (Phelps County, Missouri) on the 5th of August 1897.

31 Oct 2001, Nevada Daily Mail

Sources:

• http://www.nevamo.com/NevadaThen.htm
• Nevada Daily Mail, Nevada, Missouri