One of many "Interviews With Long-Time Residents" in a special issue commemorating DeWitt's 100th year of settlement: MRS. JESSIE PETERS

Having made her home in DeWitt and near vicinity for almost half a century, Mrs. Jessie Peters, 84, of 925 Eighth street can now refer with a smile to several migrations to and from Kansas in the early days of her homemaking with "A rolling stone gathers no moss", but she added with spicy humor, " I'm a setter now".

Living alone but with almost a continuous look-in by her children only a few steps away, Mrs. Peters was found on a torrid August morning last Saturday eating her breakfast and in the ambitious mood to clean her front porch, but later reports vindicate the fact that too many visitors during the morning fortunately kept her for pursuing such strenuous exertion.

Having been taught in her father's home that drink and cards were an abomination she recalls her introduction to DeWitt about March 1, 1881 and her embarrassment when arriving by train and unannounced, she with her three small children stepped unknowingly in a saloon to enquire for the Farmers Store where she had been advised previously to stop. Despite the snow, they were safely housed in the home of her uncle, Jim McLaughlin on whose farm near the Wapsi, the Peters family had come from Kansas to make their home.

By the end of March, high water came and the family at a moment's warning rode out of the rapidly climbing stream on horseback, leaving bread rising in the pans, chickens on top of the corn crib, and the wagon chained to the building to keep it from washing away. However, the flood abated in due time and there they farmed for three years, and another farm one year which crop was practically destroyed by hail.

Naturally discouraged, the advice of relatives prevailed to return to Kansas, where said Mrs. Peters father, "Good crops have grown to be the rule," But hail seemed to be on their trail and that year forced them to return to Iowa "and that", said Mrs. Peters, "put an end to any further yearning to live in Kansas, although I have visited there a number of times."

Jessie McLaughlin was born March 10,1857 in Mercer county, Suez, Ill. Near Aledo. Her father took premiums at the county fair on his corn and fruit grown in an orchard of 350 trees. Married at the age of 17 the home continued to be in Illinois for a year after which they went to Kansas.

Mrs. Peters has eight children, Guy Peters,. Mrs. W. H. Walker, S. R. Peters, Mrs. J. W. Howes, Mrs. A. E. Petersen, Oscar Peters, Mrs. J. W. Bolin and M. B. Peters. Although they were born in three different states, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas, all live within easy distance, dropping in and calling several times a day with the exception of Mrs. J. W. Bolin of Tipton and Oscar Peters of Revierre, Mass, near Boston, who is planning to visit in DeWitt during the Centennial. Mrs. Peters has 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

"Work, plenty of pep and pride," is her philosophy,. Mrs. Peters will tell you and one wonders why the asking was necessary. Holding in her hand, a card announcing the McLaughlin family reunion on Aug. 17 at Monmouth, Ill., which has been an annual event for about 10 years and which she never misses, Mrs. Peters expressed her eagerness to attend. She also expressed her enjoyment of the pre-centennial events and is looking forward to greeting more of the older friends during the coming celebration.

DeWitt Observer (DeWitt, Iowa), Thursday, August 14, 1941, page 25