| Early Days in Birmingham |
| A Printing of the Original Papers of the
Pioneers Club Whose Members were eye-witnesses to the Events of the
Founding of the City |
| |
| Major Thomas Peters |
| By Mrs. Matilda E. Cressman |
| Mrs. Matilda E. Cressman
was one of the first to come to Birmingham, where she spent a long
life, always interested in the social and religious work of the city. |
| |
| Of the many well known men
seen on the streets of our city during the early days, none is better
known or more pleasantly remembered than Major Thomas Peters. His tall
commanding figure and iron gray hair and beard gave him a
distinguished appearance, while his cordiality endeared him to old and
young, black and white alike. He counted among his friends almost
everyone who was even an acquaintance. |
| Thomas Peters was born in
October 1829, in Wake County, North Carolina. When a child he lived in
Tennessee, later in North Mississippi, and again in Tennessee, and was
engaged in the real estate business at the beginning of the war in
1861. Though well advanced in years at this time, he was quick to take
arms for his country as a most ardent young patriot. When the war
closed he was at Selma. It was during his military movements in
Alabama that his attentions were directed to the signs of hidden
wealth in the mineral regions of the northern part of the State, his
predictions then as to the richness of Alabama being now verified. The
greater portion of his life from the close of the war was devoted to
purchasing and trading in mineral lands. Having such implicit
confidence in the future outcome, the future possibilities of his
possessions he ran deeply in debt in securing the desired lands, and
for many years endured great disappointments because of failures to
make ready sales, and during those years was much harassed by debts of
a domestic as well as business character, but through it all
maintained his faith in this section of land, and it is well known
that no man has done more to direct attention to the coal and iron
lands of Alabama or to persuade the settlement here of men who have
become useful and valuable citizens. |
| His hopes were realized
shortly before his death, and handsome profits realized from the sale
of lands enabled him to meet his financial obligations and letting him
die happy in the thought that such was accomplished. His Christian
character was most beautifully exemplified in his daily life, those of
his own household being loudest in their praises of him and envincing
their estimate of his true worth by devotion to him. His love for his
relatives was a marked characteristic. |
| It is said that commencing
with ten younger brothers and sisters, Major Peters provided for the
education of forty-four orphan children. In what he had to do with
money he showed his leading characteristics, his faith, his hope and
his charity. He devoted his life to the greatest good for the greatest
number. His death occurred in Louisville, Kentucky, September 9. |
|