Los Angeles County
Biographies
DIXIE L. PETERS
PETERS, DIXIE L., Real Estate and Oil Operator, Los Angeles, California, is a native of Kentucky, born on a farm near Paris, October 24, 1874. His father was Abbie Peters and his mother Sallie A. (Crandall) Peters. He married Jennie Corrigan at Covington, Kentucky, October 2, 1896; there are two children, Claude and Ben Peters. Mr. Peters received his primary education in the country schools near Paris, Kentucky, and from there went to the High School of Lexington. He did not finish, however, but left when he was about fourteen years of age to earn a living for himself. Almost from the time he left school Mr. Peters has been a successful business man. He first obtained employment in 1889, in a wall paper establishment in Lexington, Kentucky, and remained there a year, during which time he acquired a knowledge of business details. In 1890, he moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and obtained employment in another wall paper establishment. Within three months, although he was then a youth only about sixteen years of age, he purchased the business from his employer and became an active business man in the Lookout Mountain city. After operating his business for about five years, Mr. Peters sold out in the latter part of 1895 and within a short time was appointed Southern Agent for the Lake Carriers’ Oil Company, which had headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. Although he was then barely twenty-one years of age Mr. Peters was one of the highest paid men in the company’s service, receiving a salary of $500 monthly and expenses, and at that time was one of the few men of his years receiving such an amount. He continued as Southern Agent for the Company for about a year and a half and then made up his mind to go into the oil business for himself.
Casting about for a location, he decided to establish himself in Atlanta, Georgia, and accordingly, at the beginning of the year 1897, he opened his offices in that city. He bought and sold oil in large quantities and within a short space of time was operating an extensive delivery service. He had quite as many tank wagons in operation as any of his competitors and was classed with the leading business men of the city. Within two years he had so firmly established himself that the Standard Oil Company purchased his business and he received from the larger concern a handsome profit for his investment. For the three years succeeding the sale of his Atlanta interests Mr. Peters engaged in various enterprises, more or less successful, and in 1900 went to California, locating in Los Angeles. The Southern California capital was at that time entering upon a period of progress which has continued almost without interruption, and Mr. Peters invested heavily in real estate. He soon became an active reality operator, because he believed in the future of the Southern California metropolis and his judgment has since been vindicated by the almost unparalleled increase in realty values there.
In 1908, after more than seven years as a dealer in city and suburban lands, Mr. Peters became interested in the oil industry of California and in the same year entered the petroleum fields on a large scale. The oil fields of California, now recognized as among the greatest in the history of petroleum, have yielded vast fortunes to hundreds of men within a few years, and Mr. Peters, from the time he engaged in the business, has been regarded as one of the competent operators there, the result of his previous experience in the business.
Mr. Peters began his career in the California fields by purchasing oil lands and contracting, but within a short time he became an independent operator. During the few years he has been in the oil business he has been the impelling force in the success of several well known companies. His first company was the Dixie National Oil Co., which was followed by the Piru Monarch Oil Co., of which he is a Director; the Ventura Oil Co., of which he is Secretary, and the Maricopa Union Oil Co., of which he is President. He also organized the Orange County Gas Co., of Calif., and takes an active part in its affairs.
Mr. Peters served six years as a member of the National Guard of Kentucky.
He is closely affiliated with the progressive business interests of Los Angeles, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Mines and Oil and the Municipal League. He is also a member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 412, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Joyce
Rugeroni.
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