Washington State, Department of Health Birth index.
This is hard to read (click on all images to enlarge them) but this is a record of his birth from the Washington State, Department of Health Birth index. It lists Theodore Alfred born March 22, 1893 and his sister Gladys born March 25, 1891. They were born in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Their parents are Theodore Frederick Peterman and Katherine Corcoran, who had married in 1887. The father, Theodore Frederick is listed on a United States Census as a 'manufacturer of sashes and doors'. He was born in Germany on December 25, 1857 and immigrated to America in 1873 and was naturalised as an American citizen in 1879. He died on June 16, 1920. Katherine Corcoran was born on February 27, 1866 in Tacoma Washington - her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Russia (although in one Census Katherine's mother was listed as being born in Canada) so in that sense the family is a good example of the 'melting pot' that the United States was in the 1800s and early 1900s. Katherine died (I believe) on June 15, 1950.
New York Passenger lists
In 1906 the family took a trip to Germany. On their return in May 1906 the family appear on a 'List of alien passengers' required for the United States Immigration Department. Presumably this was because the father was born in Germany, even though he had applied for an American passport in March 1906.
Washington Marriage records
Theodore Alfred married Lida Hannah (sometimes listed as Ida) on July 10 1915. This is their marriage certificate - they were married in Seattle and he signed his certificate as T. Alfred Peterman. Lida is listed on a Census as being born in Washington and both her parents were American born (Tennessee). They are listed on the 1930 Census as living in Tacoma with a servant but no children, so I wonder if they had any?.
United States Draft Registration card
This is Theodore's Draft Registration card from 1917. He is described as tall, blue eyes, dark hair, not bald and of medium (as opposed to slender or stout) build. His year of birth is incorrectly listed as 1892.
1935 Tacoma, Washington City Directory
This is the entry, under Peterman, from the 1935 Tacoma, Washington City Directory and shows Theodore's and Lida's business, Peterman Manufacturing Company, where he was the President and the Manager of the company that made doors and veneers this was before they began Peterbilt trucks in 1939. It also lists his sister Gladys and his mother Kath T as the widow of Theo F - obviously privacy wasn't an issue in 1935!
Find a Grave www.findagrave.com
This is Theodore's grave at the Tacoma Mausoleum. He died on November 16 1944 in Vancouver, Washington and Lida died on July 11,1967. The last member of his family, his sister Gladys, died at the age of 93 in August 1984 in Seattle.
He made many mechanical innovations in his huge door and plywood plant built in the late 1920's on Tacoma tide flats. Likewise his mechanical genius led to innovations at the truck company that he bought in Oakland. He modified truck suspensions to be more efficient on rough logging roads. His plant was taken over by the military during world war II. He was compensated, but it was a loss to Tacoma as hi turned is talents elsewhere. Unfortunately, he died fairly young of cancer.
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