Ralph Peterson, farmer; P. O. Piqua; was born in Hamilton County, Ohio November 21, 1800; is a son of Harp and Charity (Senteny) Peterson; he was born on Long Island, and his wife in New Jersey, her ancestors being from England and his ancestors from Holland; he, the father, was one of the first emigrants into Ohio; locating in Kentucky, where he remained only one season; in the spring of 1794, came to Cincinnati and located, planting a field of corn on the ground where the fountain now stands, on Fifth street; they were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living, all located in the Miami Valley except one, who is living in Illinois, viz., Sarah, now living near Glendale, who is eighty- seven years of age; Elizabeth, now four miles north of College Hill; Ralph, our subject; Jacob, at Springdale, Hamilton Co.; and Elisha, living in Towanda, Illinois. Mr. Ralph Peterson was united in marriage May 31, 1822, with Sarah Hardenbrook, daughter of James and Phoebe (Smith) Hardenbrook; by this union, they have had eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz., Mrs. Emily Counts, Madison, John G., Jacob S., Martha Ann, now Mrs. Cushing; Adeline, now Mrs. Dr. Walton, of Piqua; and William W. In Sept., 1827, Mr. Peterson located in Miami County on the farm on which he now lives; he commenced right in the wilderness and struck the first blow to fell the timber and make a home; he built a log cabin, and from year to year, cleared and improved, till now he has one of the best farms in the neighborhood, with fine buildings, a very large frame house and everything for comfort and convenience; this has all been accomplished by energy and industry; Mr. Peterson being one of those active men who never tire. During the rebellion, three of his sons went to the defense of their country; the first one was William, who enlisted for three years, or duration of the war, and was one of the first troops who crossed the Ohio River; he was a prisoner in Andersonville and suffered untold hardships, almost starving to death; among one of the last shipment of prisoners who left that terrible place; his sufferings were so great that he was made a cripple, probably for life; after he recovered so far as to be able to do any business, he obtained a Government office as store-keeper three miles below Piqua, which position he still holds; the other sons, John G. and Jacob S., were in the 100 day service, at expiration of which, they returned home. Mr. Peterson served as County Commissioner in the early days of the county, and had the superintendency of the construction of the first three permanent bridges ever built in the county; politically, he is a staunch Republican.