John Peter Wilker

The first pioneer of Petersburg, Peter Wilker, had the honour of having the community named after him. He lived all his adult life in the village and owned 250 acres of land. Although he was a skilled carpenter, blacksmith and farmer, his first employment after arrival in Canada from Germany was digging graves for cholera victims. He later delivered mail on horseback.

In 1832 he built the first log house in Petersburg; in 1840, he built the nine-room home known as A The White House; in 1844 the first Lutheran Church; and in 1848 the first school in the village.

Although not a policeman, Wilker A kept order in the village and was a member of the school board and the Lutheran Church board.