PETERSON, Peter Mangus - 1914

PETERSON, OHLSEN, BANGSTEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 17:21:24

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

PETER MAGNUS PETERSON.

Since 1887 Peter Magnus Peterson has been closely connected with agricultural interests of Cherokee county and is now the owner of three hundred and seventy acres on section 34, Pilot township. He was born in Smaland, Sweden, September 27, 1865, and is a son of John and Lena (Peterson) Peterson, also natives of that locality. The father engaged in farming and merchandising for many years, dying in S.weden, October 11, 1911. His wife survives him and still makes her home in Smaland. In their family were eight children: Peter Magnus, of this review; Gust, of Pitcher township; Carl, a resident of Murray county, Minnesota; Ernst, of Pitcher township; Ida, who married John Peterson, of Buena Vista county; Anna, the wife of Andrew Peterson, of the same county; Knute, who resides in Smaland, Sweden; and Jennie.

Peter M. Peterson acquired his education in the public schools of his native country and afterward worked for his father until 1883. In that year he crossed the Atlantic to America and after arriving in the United States came to Cherokee county, where he spent four years as a farm laborer. At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres on section 34, Pilot township, and has since added to this tract until he now owns three hundred and seventy acres. This property he has greatly improved, erecting comfortable buildings and installing modern equipment, and upon it he carries on fancy stock farming and dairying. His business interests are all carefully and conservatively conducted and have brought him a gratifying measure of success.

On the 10th of March, 1888, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Ohlsen, a daughter of Magnus and Bertha (Bangtsen) Ohlsen, natives of Sweden. The parents came to the United States and settled in Pilot township, this county, where the father engaged in farming until his death. His wife survives him and makes her home in Rock county, this state. The wife, of the subject of this review was born in Sweden, October 30, 1861, and acquired her education in that country, coming to the United States in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have four children, Carl, Ernest, Mabel and Guy, all at home.

Mr. Peterson is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has served as school director and the cause of education has found in him an earnest and loyal champion. During a residence in Cherokee county dating from 1883 he has made many substantial contributions to agricultural development and has gained an individual success which places him among the substantial men of his township.