Person:Peter Woods (14)

Peter was born on a farm in Sutton, West Virginia. At a young age his family moved to another farm in Burnsville, West Virginia. Peter was a hard worker and helped his father on the farm, even though he disliked farm work. As soon as he could leave home, he worked as an estimator for a lumber company. He was very good at mathematical problem solving. When he was not working for the lumber company, he was building houses. For recreation he played a french horn, and played in the Knights of Pythias band. In 1911 he moved his wife and children to California. He worked as a carpenter and was surprised at the eight hour law (labor law), which was in effect in California, but not in West Virginia. Because he had "time on his hands", he raised chickens and a garden. He later became a contractor and built many houses until the bank failures of 1933. He then bought an interest in a chicken ranch in Van Nuys (CA). The business was very successful until a flood wiped out the buildings and the chickens. he moved to Inglewood (CA). When the Second World War started he went to work in a defense plant; he was then 70 years old. He continued to work until the war ended. He then devoted his time to his garden and raising rabbits and chickens. All his life he was willing to help his neighbors with their small repairs. He loved his family and was always a good provider. he spent hours with his children, helping them with their homework. Some of the pleasant memories his family has is of the evenings spent around the fireplace while he read from the classics. There were times when he would have the children invite their friends in for a taffy pull.

          -  narrative by Dora (Woods) Frantz, daughter