15 March 2015

"The Most Beautiful Woman in California"

This statement was quoted in the San Francisco Call (23 November 1908) from the artist Charles Dana Gibson (Gibson girls) when he saw Anna Delpino Peters at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.


Anna was one of the charter members of El Toyon Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.  Anna's mother, Anna Forman Peters was the organizing Regent.  Anna's sister, Genevieve Peters was also a charter member.

Anna Forman Peters was the wife of J.D. Peters one of the wealthiest men in San Joaquin County.  He was a grain merchant, banker, land developer and owner a fleet of steamships.  Their children, J.D. Jr., Genevieve and Anna, spent much of their teen and young adult years back and forth between Stockton and San Francisco.  They were part of what was then called “The Smart Set” - people who were among the very wealthy and were socially prominent. 

Genevieve, though maybe not quite as pretty as her sister Anna, held her own when it came to popularity amongst her peers.  


Genevieve was engaged to be married to a man named Arthur Duncan.  One week after the date to be married was set, she broke off the engagement citing religious differences.  The same evening she attended a dinner that was held in honor of the broken engagement.  Exactly one year later, she married Dr. Clarence Logan Six and they had three children:  John Logan Six, Robert Forman Six and Genevieve Six.  Robert Forman Six was the CEO of Continental Airlines from 1936-1981.  He was married twice, both times to actresses – Audrey Meadows and Ethel Merman.  Genevieve Forman Peters Six died at the age of 48 on 17 May 1926 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California.

While working as a volunteer in a San Francisco hospital, Anna Peters met James Callery Jackman.  James was a Captain in the Marine Corp and was hospitalized from being gassed during World War I.  Anna nursed him back to health and they were later married.  They did not have any children.  Anna DaPino Peters Jackman died at the age of 88 on  15 June 1974 in Santa Clara County, California. 

The only son in the family, J.D. Peters followed in his father's footsteps and was a successful grain merchant and land developer.  He married Jessie Fillmore and were very happy until the year 1908.  

All the staff involved were fired immediately from their positions.  To this day, the crime has never been solved.

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