Esther Celesta Palmer was born in 1813, probably in Cayuga Co., NY. She was married, according to the family Bible, on 22 May 1828. The name of her husband was not given there, but other records show that his name was Bethuel V. Peterson. The 1830 Federal Census for Niagara County shows Bethuel, with a female between fifteen and twenty years old, and one female child under five years of age, living in New Fane, just west of Somerset, where Esther's parents lived until they moved to Michigan in 1833. It is doubtful that she ever lived in Michigan.
In the probate copy of her father Samuel's will, dated 30 Oct 1849, she is listed as Esther C. Peterson, deceased, with five minor children surviving: Eliza, Ellen, Clarissa, Mary and James Peterson, all living in Tennessee. These children were given their mother's portion of the inherited land on sections five and seven of Manchester Township. Dr. Bennett Root, the husband of Esther's sister, Dolly Ann, signed the probate documents as "Guardian of the Heirs of Esther C. Peterson," in April of 1850.
We have no information about the circumstances of this family's move to Tennessee or of Esther's death on 1 July 1846. She is buried in Gallatin Cemetery, Gallatin, Sumner, Co., TN. Her family continued to live in Tennessee, where Dr. Peterson was "engaged in the distilling business," until 1852 (37).
In June of 1854, Esther's widowed husband, Dr. B.V. Peterson, came to Manchester, where he stayed with the family of Dr. Bennett Root. Apparently his two oldest children, Eliza and Ellen, had come with him. The final sale of the inherited property was to take place at this time. According to the cemetery record, however, while in Manchester, Dr. Peterson died of Asiatic cholera and was buried, at night, in Oak Grove Cemetery.
The record of the sale of the property inherited by the children in 1854 provided a link to where the family had gone. Dr. Root signed as guardian for Clarissa, Mary and James Peterson. Ellen and Eliza Peterson represented themselves, and their residence is given as Carlyle, Clinton Co., IL. Details of their lives afterward came from History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois, and from Federal Censuses.
The 1860 Federal Census for Clinton County shows the J.M. Maddux household with wife, Ellen D, born in New York, and two children under five. Also in the household are Eliza Peterson, 30, and James Peterson, printer, 21, both born in New York.
The 1870 Census shows most of the Peterson family still in Clinton County. Ellen and Joseph Maddux then had three daughters: Eliza, 13, Clara, 11, and Winniefred, 11/12. Joseph is shown as a dry goods merchant. Two young women are listed as domestic help along with a Clarissa McGrady, 34, School Teacher. Based upon her age, this Clarissa could well be Ellen's sister. James Peterson is shown in the same Census in his own household, a printer, born in New York, with his wife, Josie, and two children, Vincent, 2, and Esther, 6, both born in Illinois. An older woman, Eliza, 43, is also shown living in the home. This is probably James's older sister, Eliza.
James is found again later in Civil War pension records as having served in Company E, 2nd Illinois Cavalry. He enlisted in August of 1861 and was mustered out at San Antonio, TX, on 22 Nov 1865. In his pension record, dated 6 Jul 1888, his widow is recorded as Mary J. Peterson.
History of Marion and Clinton Counties contains biographies of both James Peterson and Joseph Maddux, Ellen's husband. James W. Peterson was the editor and publisher of the Union Banner. His publishing career began in 1855 as he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Age of Reason. This publication changed names, and hands, several times, with James becoming a part owner in 1860, at the young age of 21. After serving in the Union Army, James returned to Carlyle, bought out other interests, and became the sole proprietor and publisher of the Union Banner. His marriage to Mary Josephine Lockwood in 1866 produced seven children, six of whom were alive in 1881. By order of birth they were Vincent, Esther Celeste, who died in her fourth year, Melinda, George, James W., Ellen D. and Donald Peterson.
A 1979 article in the Union Banner reporting an interview with descendants of James Peterson revealed that, after the death of her husband in 1885, Mary Josephine moved her family to California.
Ellen D. Peterson married Joseph W. Maddux in 1856. Joseph, born in Clinton County, established the first lumberyard in Carlyle and dealt in grain and in agricultural implements. Five children were born of this marriage. In birth order they were Eliza, Clara, Esther Celeste, who died in her sixth year, Winnifred McCabe and Joseph W. We have no further information about Eliza, Clarissa or Mary Peterson.
ESTHER C. PALMER
Esther C. Palmer, b-22 Jan 1813, Probably Cayuga Co., NY
d-1 Jul 1846, Sumner County, TN
m-22 May 1828, Probably Niagara Co., NY
Parents:
Samuel Palmer, b-23 Jun 1785, Hillsdale, Columbia Co., NY
d-5 Sep 1844, Manchester, Washtenaw Co., MI
m-2 Nov 1809, Place unknown
Clarissa Shumway, b-21 Apr 1791, Charlestown, Sullivan Co., NH
d-14 May 1862 Manchester, Washtenaw Co., MI
Spouse:
Bethuel V. Peterson, b-2 Sep 1803, Place unknown
d-26 Jun 1854 (38), Manchester, Washtenaw Co., MI
Parents:
Richard Peterson, b-28 Feb 1776, Unknown
d-10 Jan 1848, Dexter, Washtenaw Co., MI
m-4 Sep 1798, Unknown
Elizabeth Vincent, b-4 Jun 1774, Unknown
d-2 Sep 1844, Dexter, Washtenaw Co., MI
Children of Esther C. Palmer and Bethuel V. Peterson:
Eliza, b-About1830, Probably Niagara Co., NY
Ellen, b-About 1832, Probably Niagara Co., NY
m-6 Dec 1851, Clinton Co., IL, to Joseph Maddux
Clarissa, b-Unknown, Probably Niagara Co., NY
Mary, b-Unknown, Probably Niagara Co., NY
James, b-7 Mar 1839, Lockport, Niagara Co., NY
d-20 Dec 1885, Carlyle, Clinton Co., IL
m-Oct 1866, Clinton Co., IL, to M. Josephine Lockwood
Sources
37. History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois
38. Oak Grove Cemetery record
Unless otherwise noted, birth, marriage and death information about Bethuel Peterson and his parents came from Banister (Surname) Rootsweb.org,27 Feb 2001.Information about Esther and Bethuel's children comes from History of Marion and Clinton Counties, Illinois.
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