James E. Peterson was born Oct. 3, 1878 in Coalville, Utah and was the son of George Henry Peterson and Elizabeth Robinson Peterson. He came to Wyoming with his parents when a small child, residing at Cumberland, Spring Valley, and Almy, before coming to Evanston, where he lived his last 37 years.

He was married to Selina (everyone called her Kitty) Martin on Oct. 25, 1901, in Evanston, Wyoming. They were sealed in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple on Aug. 13, 1948 (officiated by Joseph D. Daines).

James worked for the city of Evanston for many years, until his health failed 2 months previous to his death. He died at Uinta Co. Memorial Hospital from a heart ailment on Saturday morning, May 7, 1955.

James was survived by his wife and 6 daughters: 1. Vera (and Ed Roberts) from Evanston, Wyoming ; 2. Minnie (and Clifton Durrant) from Evanston; 3. Nettie (and Roscoe Robison) from Morgan, Utah; 4. Thelma (and Milton Bird Minor) from Nampa, Idaho; 5. Ann (and Ellis Allred) from Mackinaw, Illinois; and 6. June (and Brunson Lee) from Bountiful, Utah.

At the time of Mr. Evans' death, he and Kitty had 9 great-grandchildren.

James had 1 brother, George Henry Peterson (1893–1969) from Pasadena, California), and 5 sisters; Mrs. Lydia Beaver of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Dorothy Gould of Pasadena, California; Mrs. Julia Sullivan from Clive, Iowa; Mrs. Sara Moore of Glenns Ferry, Idaho; He also had one half brother, Jesse Y. Peterson from Diamondville, Wyoming; three half sisters: Mrs. Violet Olson of Evanston; Mrs. Ella Bryant of Kemmerer; and Mrs. Annie Keyes from Echo, Utah.

Mr. Peterson was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as secretary of the LDS First Ward Elders Quorum; secretary and treasurer of the Almy Old Timers Association; and secretary and treasurer of the Martin family reunion society.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, May 10, at 2 p.m. at the LDS First Ward chapel in Evanston by Bishop Wilburn Bowns. Burial was in the Evanston City Cemetery under the direction of the Roy E. Bryan Mortuary. According to the Evanston City Cemetery records: burial date 5-9-1955; aged 74; cause/corsuary [?] occlusion. (Family records show burial as May 10, 1955.)