K. Peterson
b. 1854
d. 1926 - Buried Statenville, Echols County, GA
Wife:
Lyntia Daniels
b. about 1850
d. about 1892
Children:
John I. - b. 01/23/1883
Walter
Sister???
Notes:
K. Peterson is something of a mystery. Apparently he didn't spend a great deal of time in Statenville or the county and seems to have left his children to live with family when his wife died in 1892 or 93. Where he went is uncertain and why he was brought back to Statenville for burial is also unclear. Local sources in GA have no records on this man.
K.'s grave can be found in the Statenville Cemetary. To the left about 8 ft. away is an unmarked grave with a vault similar to that of K. About 4 ft. to his right are the graves of James Peterson, his wife, Susan Prescott and Peterson descendants to the present. The proximity of the graves hints at a possible relation between James and K., although this is pure conjecture. It is also easy to surmise that the unmarked grave to K.'s left is that of his wife, Lyntia. Again. there is no proof.
There is family lore that tells that the second son, Walter, was involved in an argument with a black man around Valdosta, Lowdnes County. The argument ended with gunfire Walter died and the black man was jailed. The family called upon John to go to Valdosta and intervene in the situation. John, considered to be a fair man, went to the Sheriff and requested his brother's killer be released. In his view, Walter had been invloved in something he shouldn't have (he must've known something of the circumstances) and the black man fired in self-defense. John wouldn't press charges or pursue the matter legally. Sometime shortly after that a crowd surrounded the jail house and burned it to the ground with the prisoner inside.