Isaiah C. Woods, operating manager of the San Antonio–San Diego Mail while establishing the route, described Peterman's Station on his return from San Diego on November 9, 1857:
November 9 – Today we left Peterman's station, (on the bank of the Gila,) consisting of a log house and excellent corral, built since I passed here. Peterman told me he had built this station, which he intended making his permanent residence, in order to obtain the business of the main line. I purchased of him several tons of mezquit beans, besides contracting for a supply of hay.
The soil in this neighborhood is excellent. Already this enterprising pioneer has contracted with a party of Mexicans to build a main irrigating ditch from the Gila, with branches sufficient to enable him to cultivate several hundred acres of land. The Mexicans are now at work. I made such arrangements for him, by writing to an agent at Fort Yuma, as would secure the necessary barley for seed, making at the same time a conditional purchase of all his crop. He felt confident of gathering a good harvest the present season. Peterman originally came up here from Fort Yuma to execute a contract for several tons of mezquit bean, made with the parties who are contractors for hauling the ore of the Arizona Copper Mining Company to Fort Yuma.[1]
By the time of the Civil War Petermans was called Mohawk Station in Union Army reports.[2]
