Leander M. Peters House

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

This residence was built ca. 1872 by Leander Peters, a Civil War veteran, as his family home. Peters served in the 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry before returning to Rochester and marrying in 1866. He purchased this property in late 1871 and built his home soon thereafter. The Peters family lived in the house until 1885. The house is a good example of Rochester's mid-nineteenth century domestic architecture.

Images

Leander M. Peters House, north elevation, 2020

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Leander M. Peters was born in New York state in 1837. He came to Oakland County with his family while still a child and grew up in Troy Township; he was the brother of Julian S. Peters, who became a justice of the peace in Rochester. He served with the 22nd and 29th Michigan Volunteer Infantry regiments during the Civil War, and after returning home married Mary Elizabeth Harrison, of Rochester. The newlywed couple made their home in Rochester, and in November 1871, Peters purchased this property on West Third Street for $85. The Peters house is depicted on the 1872 plat map of Rochester, so the house was presumably built in early 1872, as soon as weather conditions allowed.

Peters later purchased a farm in Sanilac County, near Deckerville, and moved his family there in 1885. At the time of his death in September 1921, Peters was again residing in Rochester. The Deckerville Recorder of November 11, 1921, reported his death as follows:

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Leander M. Peters, for many years a resident of this community, died at Rochester, Mich., on Thursday, November 3, 1921, at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 17 days. Death was due to the infirmities of old age. Burial took place at Rochester on Saturday.

Mr. Peters was born in Chautauqua Co., N.Y., Jan. 16, 1837, and moved to Michigan with his parents when four years old. He was married to Mary E. Harrison, Jan. 11, 1866, who preceded him in death on March 2, 1904. To them six children were born, two of whom survive, Joseph and Mrs. Maggie Trupp, both of this place. He is also survived by one brother, Julien [sic] of Rochester.

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Sources

Mortimer Wilcox to Leander Peters, 24 November 1871, consideration $85, a part of outlot 10 in the Village of Rochester commencing 721 feet west of the corner of Pine and Third Streets, thence west 120 feet, thence south 170 feet, thence east 120 feet, thence north 170 feet to place of beginning, Oakland County Record of Deeds, liber 103, p.267.

“L. Peters has driven to Sanilac county where his farm is...," Rochester Era, March 6, 1885, p.1.

"L.M. Peters, an Old Resident, Dies in Rochester," Deckerville Recorder, November 11, 1921, p.1.

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org /pal:/MM9.1.1/MZQ5-Y36 : accessed 12 Mar 2013), Hugh Shaffer, , Oakland, Michigan; citing enumeration district (ED) , sheet 23B, family 565, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820789.

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org /pal:/MM9.1.1/XQ1V-4QW : accessed 12 Mar 2013), Edmond S Peters, 1930.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Deborah Larsen