John A. Peters (1822-1904)
Encyclopedia
John Andrew Peters was a U.S. Congressman
from Maine
, and the uncle of John Andrew Peters
. He was also Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
.
Born the son of a lumber merchant in Ellsworth, Maine
, Peters attended Gorham Academy
, Yale College
(grad. 1842), where he was a member of Skull and Bones
, and Harvard Law School
(1843–44). He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Bangor, Maine
. He represented Bangor in the Maine State Senate in 1862 and 1863, and then the Maine House of Representatives
in 1864. He was Attorney General of Maine 1864-1866.
Following the war Peters was elected as a Republican
to the Fortieth, Forty-first, and Forty-second U.S. Congresses (March 4, 1867-March 3, 1873), but declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1872. He then served as justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
(1873–1883), becoming chief justice from 1883 until January 1, 1900, when he resigned. He was succeeded as Chief Justice by his nephew, Andrew Peters Wiswell.
While serving in the U.S. Congress, Peters was Chairman of the Committee on the Congressional Library (the Library of Congress
), and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
Peters' first wife, Mary Ann Hathaway, was the daughter of his law partner, Joshua W. Hathaway, who became judge of the Bangor District Court in 1849. His second wife was Fannie E. Roberts, daughter of Bangor "lumber baron" Amos M. Roberts. His brother-in-law, Charles W. Roberts
of Bangor, was a Civil War general and post-war Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Maine.
Peters died in Bangor, Maine
on April 2, 1904 and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and the uncle of John Andrew Peters
John A. Peters (1864-1953)
John Andrew Peters was a U.S. Representative from Maine, and a nephew of John Andrew Peters.Born in Ellsworth, Maine, Peters attended public schools and graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, in 1885 where he studied law.He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Ellsworth in...
. He was also Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
.
Born the son of a lumber merchant in Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth, Maine
Ellsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
, Peters attended Gorham Academy
Gorham Academy
Gorham Academy. In 1803, Gorham Academy was founded in Gorham, Maine as a preparatory school for boys. Designed by Samuel Elder, the Federal style Academy Building was erected in 1806. The institution would evolve into Western Maine Normal School, and later Gorham State Teachers College. Today, it...
, Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
(grad. 1842), where he was a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
, and Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
(1843–44). He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. He represented Bangor in the Maine State Senate in 1862 and 1863, and then the Maine House of Representatives
Maine House of Representatives
The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 members representing an equal amount of districts across the state. Each voting member of the House represents around 8,450 citizens of the state...
in 1864. He was Attorney General of Maine 1864-1866.
Following the war Peters was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the Fortieth, Forty-first, and Forty-second U.S. Congresses (March 4, 1867-March 3, 1873), but declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1872. He then served as justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
(1873–1883), becoming chief justice from 1883 until January 1, 1900, when he resigned. He was succeeded as Chief Justice by his nephew, Andrew Peters Wiswell.
While serving in the U.S. Congress, Peters was Chairman of the Committee on the Congressional Library (the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
), and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
Peters' first wife, Mary Ann Hathaway, was the daughter of his law partner, Joshua W. Hathaway, who became judge of the Bangor District Court in 1849. His second wife was Fannie E. Roberts, daughter of Bangor "lumber baron" Amos M. Roberts. His brother-in-law, Charles W. Roberts
Charles W. Roberts
Charles Wentworth Roberts was a colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War, who was awarded the rank of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers, in 1866, to rank from March 13, 1865. He was born in Old Town, Maine and graduated from Bowdoin College, but lived most of his...
of Bangor, was a Civil War general and post-war Democratic Party candidate for Governor of Maine.
Peters died in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
on April 2, 1904 and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
.