Florida. He was born of slave
parents, just in time to be spared the horrible experiences
of that slave system which swept over this country with such
direful results.

When the war clouds of the Civil War passed over, he was
sent to an ex-slave for private instruction. Shortly after
the public school system was introduced into the state of
Florida he entered as a regular attendant. Three very
profitable and successful sessions were spent in these
schools. Soon after entering upon the fourth term his mother
moved to another part of the state, leaving him in the care
of an aunt, who, loving money rather than education, took
him out of school and hired him to a law firm as office boy,
for $1.50 per month. This lasted for nearly two years. He
then took a position as porter in a dry goods store, and
then a clerkship in a small grocery store, owned and
controlled by a colored man, the Rev. William Bell.

During this time Mr. Peterson showed signs of a thirst for
knowledge. He had now become a member of the Baptist Church
and was actively engaged in Sunday-school work. Having
attracted the attention of a few friends, among them Mr.
John J. Montth, an opportunity soon presented itself, which
Mr. Peterson eagerly seized. This opportunity opened the
doors of Cookman Institute, Jacksonville, Fla. at which
place he remained two years. Mr. Peterson next found himself
for three years a student of the St. Augustine Normal and
Collegiate Institute, Raleigh, N. C. In 1883 Mr. Peterson
entered Lincoln University, Chester County. Pa., passing
successfully through the freshman, sophomore, junior and
senior years. He tarried yet three years longer at Lincoln,
taking the full theological course; and in 1889 returned
home to begin work. His first position was as principal of
the Oakland Graded School, Jacksonville, Fla. During the two
years spent here, he was offered the chair of "ancient
languages," Selma University, Selma, Ala., which he accepted
and held for two years to the satisfaction of the President,
Dr. C. L. Purse, D. D., and the Board of Trustees.

At this time matters over which he had no control so shaped
themselves that this very pleasant and profitable work had
to be given up. In 1893 Mr. Peterson became the first
assistant