Oscar G. Peters

Oscar Glaze Peters (April 6, 1842 – November 9, 1894) was a 19th-century American businessman. He was at the head of the Peters' Dash & Columbus Buggy Company, where his ability as a businessman and expert accountant proved invaluable in helping to build up the largest manufacturing plant for light vehicles in the world.^[1]

Oscar Glaze Peters was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, April 6, 1842. His parents were George and Sarah (Merion) Peters. He was three years old when he came to Columbus, Ohio. The father engaged in the tanning business in the early years of his residence in Columbus but later devoted his time and attention to the manufacture of trunks.^[2]

In 1856, he was probably the first newsboy in Columbus, as be sold on the street daily and weekly papers and monthly magazines. ^[1]

Peters pursued his public school education until he became a high school student.^[2] He took a course in the Commercial College, and improved rapidly in double entry bookkeeping, graduating in six months.^[1]

He afterward clerked in the store of Robinson & Company for a time and was then employed for three months by the government in guarding bridges, during the civil war. His next appointment made him first clerk in the commissary department of the government in West Virginia under his uncle, Captain Nathaniel Merion, and later he was appointed chief clerk in the same department under Colonel Murphy. For a time, he was stationed at Covington, Kentucky, and later, for eleven months, at Cleveland, Ohio, after which he was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.^[2]

On leaving Fort Leavenworth, Peters returned to Columbus and as a bookkeeper, entered the employ of Kelton & Bancroft, with whom he remained for about two years. He afterward engaged in the grocery business on his own account, admitting his youngest brother, Charles, to a partnership. They conducted their store at Gay and High streets for two years and were afterward at Spring and High streets for eight years. On the expiration of that period they sold out, believing they could do better in other business lines.^[2]

ピーターズはアイアン・バギー・カンパニーを再編成し、コロンバス・バギー・カンパニーに社名を変更し、 10万ドルの資本を投資した。彼は工場、店舗、支店を建設し、すぐに市内有数の製造企業となった会社を設立した。彼は長年財務責任者を務め、帳簿管理も行い、収益性の高い大規模な事業の構築に大きく貢献した。^{[ 2 ]}

1863年5月21日、コロンバスで、オハイオ州デイトン生まれで、10代の頃にコロンバスに移住してきたアリス・E・ヘックラーと結婚した。夫妻にはサラ・アリス（1868年～1869年）とアール・クリフォード（1870年生まれ）の2人の子供がいた。^{[ 2 ]}

15歳の時、彼は旧タウンストリート・メソジスト監督教会に入会し、後にウェスレーチャペル・メソジスト監督教会と合流した。^{[ 2 ]}

彼は独立友愛会に所属していた。政治的には、共和党員であった。^{[ 2 ]}

1891年、彼は握力発作を起こし、体調を崩した。1893年の恐慌で大企業を経営するという途方もない重圧の下、彼は神経衰弱に陥り、自殺願望を伴う鬱状態に陥った。しばらくの間、ホークス病院（現在のマウント・カーメル・ウェスト）で治療を受けていたが、最終的には、仕事の心配事から離れて完全に休養することで回復することを期待して、ジャクソン療養所に送られた。彼は1894年11月9日、ニューヨーク州リビングストン郡ダンスビルで自殺した。 ^{[ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]}