Person:Ziba Peterson (1)

“Variously known as “Richard B.” (see History of the Church, p. 81), “Ziba B. (see 1840 Federal Census of Missouri), and “William Z.” (see Death Record of Ziba Peterson’s son, George Washington Peterson, 14 January 1909, State of California Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Napa County, California).” [Personally, I suspect his name was Ziba B or, possibly, Richard Ziba. A case of mistranscribing the B and the Z. The name on the death record of GW Peterson is quite suspect as it was given by a nephew who only knew of Ziba through family stories, Ziba having died when GW was a child. Land documents filed by Ziba himself, use the name “Ziba” with no middle initial. ew]

He [Smith] formed an organization denominated “Latter-Day Saints.” They are enumerated as Oliver Cowdery, Samuel Lawrence, Martin Harris, Preserved Harris, Peter Ingersoll, Charles Ford, George and Dolly Proper, of Palmyra, Ziba Peterson, Calvin Stoddard and wife Sophronia, of Macedon, Ezra Thayer, of Brighton, Leeman Walters of Pultneyville....

“Let that which has been bestowed upon Ziba Peterson be taken from him, and let him stand as a member in the church, and labor with his own hands, with the brethren until he is sufficiently chastened for all his sins; for he confesseth them not, and he thinketh to hide them.” Doctrine and Covenants, 58:60

“Peterson, one of their elders, was for a short time residing in the township [Lone Jack, Jackson Co], and taught the first school ever taught in it. But when Mormonism was expelled, he and Jesse Hitchcock went also. Joshua [Hitchcock] and McKnight remained a few years, and they too left.”

“He, it is said, was one of the first five comissaries sent out by the prophet, ... After selecting Independence as the site, he next turned his attention to selecting a bride for himself, instead of selecting one for his master’s son; and his choice fell on a Miss Hopper, the daughter of an old citizen of Lafayette county. And as his wife had a brother, two sisters and other relatives near the Lone tree, he fell in there also, and at a time when the settlers began to think of sending their children to school. .... That pioneer school house was built on the east half of the northwest quarter of Sec. 43, Tp. 47, T. 29, on the Kreeger or Fish farm, southeast of Lone Jack, and the first school was taught in the summer of 1833.”

“We deliver Brother Ziba Peterson over to the buffetings of Satan, in the name of the Lord, that he may learn not to transgress the commandments of God.”

When the Mormons were expelled from Jackson County [November 1833], some took refuge with members of the extended Hopper family near Lone Jack (Sni-A-Bar Township). Edward and Nancy Larkey recalled, “Bros. Joshua Hitchcock and Ziba Peterson came to us from the Singe, fifteen miles away, and invited us to their settlement, that they with others might aid us to necessary things in our time of want, and we gladly accepted the invitation and went with them.” [personal reminiscence, Saints Herald 26 (1 Jul 1879):165-166]

1. ↑ Napa, California, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Napa City, 3rd Ward, dwelling 216, family 229.
2. ↑ Source (9).
3. ↑ Johnson, Raymond P. and Irene. Family Group Sheet for Thomas Hopper and Rebecca..
4. ↑ Lafayette, Missouri, United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule
   Page 156.
5.   Source (9)
   Volume 1, Chapter 9, footnote 7.
6.   McIntosh, W.H. History of Wayne County, New York : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories. (Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott & Co, 1877)
   pg. 150.
7.   Union Historical Company. The History of Jackson County, Missouri. (Union Historical Company, 1881)
   p. 330.
8.   Union Historical Company. The History of Jackson County, Missouri. (Union Historical Company, 1881)
   p. 331.
9.   Smith, Joseph, and B. H. (Brigham Henry) Roberts. History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1969-1973, c1948-1951)
   Volume 1, Chapter 25, p. 367.
10.   E-mail from Gail Darling.
11. ↑ bp for father of Mary Clark given as New York
12. ↑ Dry Diggings becomes Hangtown becomes Placerville
13. ↑ listed as head of household