Biographical Sketch of John Robertson Petrie
John Robertson Petrie was born in Scotland on September 26, 1863. He attended public schools in Cleveland and Elgin, Moray, before marrying Margaret Sutherland in 1886, with whom he had six children. He served 18 years in the military, retiring as a colonel sergeant in 1905, and worked in plumbing for 16 years in Aberlour, Scotland, before moving to Cleveland for five years. Petrie was an active member of the Order of Scottish Clans and Euclid Lodge, F.A.M., and the Old Stone Church.