Piecing Together the Past: An orphan's Search for Family

Early Life and Family Tragedy

Robert Peterson, date unknown

Robert Peterson was born on October 12, 1895, in Thompson, Madison County, Arkansas. He was the son of John Robert Peterson and Mary Thompson, who struggled to provide for their family. In 1896, the family embarked on a difficult journey from Madison County, Arkansas, to Nevada, Missouri, in search of a better life. However, disaster struck when they lost their belongings while crossing Stinking Creek in Missouri. Stranded and impoverished, they took refuge in a schoolhouse before being helped by a kind neighbor, Mr. Wiswould.

In early 1897, Robert's father fell ill with pneumonia, and his pregnant mother endured extreme hardship. Tragically, both parents died within days of each other. His mother gave birth to a baby, Roy Peterson, six weeks before passing away. The orphaned children were left to the care of strangers.

Orphaned and Taken in by Strangers

Martin R. Peterson, No relation, Date unknown

After the death of his parents, Robert Peterson was taken in by Martin R. Peterson and his wife Matilda, a couple who had no known familial connection to him. The 1900 Census recorded him as "Robertson Peterson", listed as their grandson, while the 1910 Census recorded him as their son. Martin and Matilda were originally from Sweden, and Martin worked as a tailor, a trade Robert would later adopt as his own.

His younger brother, Roy Peterson, was raised by Ora Crane, a local woman who later married Archie Rose Berryhill. His older brother, George Monaghan Peterson, was sent to the St. Louis Children’s Home Society and later adopted by John H. and Stella Monaghan. Their half-sister, Nancy Jane Peterson Harper, was working as a domestic servant in Rich Hill, Missouri, at the time and was unaware of their parents' deaths until later.

Reconnecting with Family

Despite being separated from his siblings, Robert reconnected with his brother Roy Peterson by 1917, as evidenced by a Houston Republican newspaper article stating that Robert and Roy traveled from Oklahoma to Texas County, Missouri, to visit Roy’s stepfather, Archie Berryhill.

Robert and Roy remained close for many years:

• In January 1918, they were listed as new merchants in Vada, Missouri, and entertained a Christmas gathering by showing 19 reels of moving pictures.
• In April 1918, they were reported traveling together to Licking, Missouri.
• In 1919, Robert moved to Versailles, Missouri, and was reported married at that time.
• In 1931, he visited Roy and his family on Roy’s birthday in Texas County, Missouri.

In 1930, Robert placed an ad in The Pineville Herald (Pineville, MO), seeking information on his parents' relatives, believing they had lived in Pineville 30–35 years earlier. This search may have led to him reconnecting with family members in Madison County, Arkansas.

Around 1935, Robert and Roy moved to Madison County, Arkansas, where they met their maternal aunt Martha Thompson, their mother’s twin sister. Through her, Robert most likely learned more about his family’s history and may have gained access to family letters and recollections, which shaped his understanding of his early life.

Marriages and Children

Robert Peterson married three times throughout his life:

Two of Robert and Elva's children

1. Elva Vivian Dusky (Married August 5, 1917, in Versailles, Missouri; divorced December 1926)

   • Children:
     • Frances Marie Peterson (1921–2005)
     • Margurette Lucille Peterson (1922–2012)
     • Geraldine Peterson (1924-2012)
     • Paul Ruben Peterson (1926–1990)
   • Elva filed for divorce in December 1926, and may had already left by November 1925, she and their children were recorded visiting her Dusky family.

2. Marie Arberry (Married May 28, 1936, in Washington County, Arkansas)

   • They lived in Springdale, Arkansas, where Robert worked at Bon Ton Cleaners.

3. Bertha Ellen Lawson Peterson (Married November 15, 1974, in Yakima, Washington)

   • Bertha was the widow of Roy Peterson, Robert’s brother.

Career and Business Ventures

Robert followed in the footsteps of his foster father, Martin Peterson, and became a tailor. Throughout his life, he opened and worked at various tailoring and dry-cleaning businesses:

• May 1934 – He planned to open a cleaning and pressing shop in Willow Springs, Missouri, though it may have never opened or closed quickly.
• October 3, 1935 – He opened Pete’s Tailor Shop in Huntsville, Arkansas, in the Walden Building.
• February 1936 – He was working at B-Neat Cleaners in Huntsville, Arkansas, indicating he either closed his shop or changed the business name.
• 1942 – He worked at Bon Ton Cleaners in Springdale, Arkansas, as documented on his WWII Draft Registration.

Later Years and Legacy

Robert and Roy Peterson

Robert Peterson eventually settled in Yakima, Washington, where he lived for many years until his death. His WWII Draft Registration in 1942 confirmed that he was still living in Springdale, Arkansas but would later relocate.

On February 22, 1981, Robert Peterson passed away at Eden House Nursing Home in Yakima, Washington, due to chronic urinary tract infection leading to sepsis. He was buried in Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima, Washington. His death certificate listed his parents as John Peterson and Mary Thompson and confirmed his occupation as a tailor.

Documenting Family History

Robert is particularly significant to family history because he documented the tragic story of his parents' deaths. His written biography of John and Mary Peterson, preserved by family members, offers a firsthand perspective on the hardships his family endured. While some details may have minor inaccuracies, his account remains an invaluable record that helped later genealogical research uncover missing details.

His search for family connections, including his 1930 newspaper inquiry, allowed him to piece together his family’s fragmented history. Through his efforts, later generations were able to rediscover the Peterson family’s origins, making Robert’s story an essential chapter in the family’s genealogy.