Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/199

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of the best speakers on the hustings at that time ; enlisted in the war between the states at the beginning of that conflict, for gal- lantry was promoted to a colonelcy in the Confederate army, and a greater promotion seemed possible for him when, in the memorable Sharpsburg fight, September 17, 1862, he was killed; his son, William M. Thornton, Esq., is a distinguished professor in the University of Virginia.

Peters, William Elisha, born in Bedford county. Virginia, August 18, 1829, son of Elisha Peters, a successful agriculturist and planter of Bedford county, and Cynthia Turner, his wife ; grandson of the Rev. Wil- liam Peters, a minister of the Church of England, who came from England to this country, settling in Virginia in 1750, and his death occurred in 1773, William E. Peters was brought up on his father's farm, and his education was acquired in the New London Academy, Emory and Henry Col- lege, and the University of Virginia, from which institution he received the degree of Master of Arts. From 185 1 to 1856 and again from 1858 to 1861 he served as pro- fessor of Latin in Emory and Henry Col- lege, the periods of time between these dates being spent in the University of Ber- lin, where he studied Latin and heard lec- tures. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army as a private, was later promoted to the rank of captain, then lieutenant-colonel, and colonel, and served with all the ardor of his young manhood. Upon his return from the seat of war, he was elected professor of Latin in the University of Virginia, and served for the long period of thirty-seven years, from 1866 to 1902, being made pro- fessor emeritus in the latter named year. He

excelled as a teacher, his enthusiasm throw- ing a charm about his work. The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by Emory and Henry College. Professor Peters published two books of high author- ity, namely : "Syntax of the Latin Verb," and "Latin Case Relations," both of which were constantly used by the Latin classes of the University of Virginia. He was a Democrat in politics, and a Presbyterian^ in religion. Professor Peters married (first) in 1858, Margaret Sheiifey ; married (sec- ond) in 1873, Mary Shefley. He was the father of three children. His death occurred March 22, 1906.

Cooke, John Esten, was born in Winches- ter, November 3, 1830, son of John Rogers Cooke, a distinguished lawyer of Richmond. He spent the first nine years of his life near Frederick at Glengary, his father's country house, and in 1839 removed with the family to Richmond. He left school at ten years of age to study law with his father, was admitted to the bar and practiced about four years, in the course of which he wrote verses and short prose articles for the maga- zines. His first publication was "Leather Stocking and Silk," "followed by the "Youth of Jeft'erson. or a Chronicle of College Scrapes." Then he devoted himself to novel writing, and in four years produced six novels, including "The Virginia Comedians" and "The Last of the Foresters." The for- mer was issued anonymously. The success Of this work induced Mr. Cooke to avow his authorship and receive the benefit in litera- ture of his growing reputation, though still devoted to the law. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army, serving on the stalT of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, and taking an active