Career
Peters"s father was reportedly allowed to stay on his land after the end of the Rogue River Wars rather than be removed to a reservation. Mary Peters, popularly known as "Indian Mary," lived on the land where her father had operated a ferry to transport miners and supplies in Southern Oregon until his death on November 13, 1886. After his death, Peters applied for a claim for the land under the Dawes Acting, also known as the "Indian Homestead Acting." Eight years later, she received a little more than 72 acres.
Her 25-year land deed has often been described as the smallest Indian reservation in the United States.
In 1958, the land was converted by Josephine County to Indian Mary Park, named after Peters. She continued to operate her father"s ferry business after his death.
In 1894 she leased the ferry to William Massie and moved with her two surviving daughters to Grants Pass. Peters died in 1921 and is buried in Salem"s City View Cemetery.
