Petersen, Cornelius

PETERSEN, MCGRADY, HANSON, OHRANS, PAULSEN, HOLTZ, BOLT, NISSEN, BREIHOLTS, BOOCK, ZESMAR

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/31/2003 at 02:13:05

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

CORNELIUS PETERSEN

Cornelius Petersen, who was born in Germany, October 7, 1848, was the son of Marks Petersen, a native of Rippen, Germany, and Margaret McGrady, a native of Fehr, Germany. The parents were married in the old country and came to America in 1859. They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, “The Gellert.” After a voyage of eight weeks they landed in New Orleans and made their way up the Mississippi river, locating in Center township, Clinton county, Iowa, on a farm near Lyons, which they rented for one year. The father then bought forty acres of timber land, which he cleared and broke, and upon which he built a frame house fourteen by sixteen feet in size. In this tiny abode they began their life in the new world, remaining there for four years, after which he bought forty acres of land adjoining. He lived on this land until 1873, when he moved to Clinton, Iowa. In the winter of 1873, shortly after his removal to Clinton, and his retirement from active life, his wife died, on Christmas night, and is buried in that city. The father then returned to his native land, but came back to America and bought forty acres of land. He also owned one hundred and twenty acres of land near Sabula, Iowa; in fact, he accumulated a great deal of land, which he gave to his children. He died in 1897 in Germany, having gone back there, and is buried in the land of his birth. Our subject was the second in order of birth of three children: Peter married and resides on the old homestead farm in Center township, and has three children; Cornelius; and Martin, formerly a merchant in Clinton, Iowa, but later went west and has not been heard from since he left.

From the volunteer: I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF, I HAD TO LOOK FOR MARTIN! It looks like he either didn’t go west after all, or came back to get his share of his father’s land near Sabula, Iowa. His kids were all born in Iowa.

1880 Census Place: Deep Creek, Clinton, Iowa

Source: FHL Film 1254334 National Archives Film T9-0334 Page 64C

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Martin PETERSEN Self M M W 27 SCHLESWIG Occ: Merchant Fa: SCHLESWIG Mo: SCHLESWIG
Mena PETERSEN Wife F M W 19 IA Occ: Keeping House Fa: HANOVER Mo: HANOVER
Gustave PETERSEN Son M S W 9M IA Fa: SCHLESWIG Mo: SCHLESWIG

1900 Van Buren, Jackson Co, IA ED 71 sheet 11B
224 229 Petersen, Martin, Nov 1851 age 48 md age 31 Germany Germany Germany immig 1866 # of years in US 33, naturalized, carpenter
Wilhelmina, wife, May 1861, age 39 md age 21 5 births, 5 living children, IA Germ Germ
Emma H, dau, Nov 1880, 19 single IA Germany IA milliner
Martin C, son, Dec 1881 18 single, IA Germany IA grocery clerk
Minnie E, dau, Oct 1884, 15 IA Germany IA
Fern E, dau, Jan 1889, 1, IA Germany IA

1910 Van Buren Twp, Preston Town, Jackson Co, IA ED 75 sheet 3B
20 20 Peterson, Martin, 59, md age 31 Germany Germany Germany carpenter house
Minnie wife 41 md age 21 IA Germany Germany
Emma, dau, 29 single, IA Germany IA dressmaker (employer unreadable)
Martin, son, 28 single, IA Germany IA carpenter house
Fern, dau, 11 IA Germany IA

1920 Preston, Jackson Co, IA ED 80 sheet 6B:
173 180 Petersen, Martin C 68, immig 1866 nat. 1874 Germany Germany Germany carpenter house
Minnie, wife, 58 IA Germany Germany dressmaker at home
Brettbauer (?) Minnie mother in law 80 widowed immig 1848 nat 1855 Germany Germany Germany

I think this is Mena Petersen’s mother:
1880 Census Place: Deep Creek, Clinton, Iowa

Source: FHL Film 1254334 National Archives Film T9-0334 Page 55A

Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Mena BRATTHAEUR Self F W W 42 LODINGSEN Occ: Keeping House Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
August BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 23 IA Occ: Laborer Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Henry BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 21 IA Occ: Laborer Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Hermann BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 17 IA Occ: Laborer Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
William BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 15 IA Occ: Laborer Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Emma BRATTHAEUR Dau F S W 11 IA Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Louis BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 9 IA Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Charley BRATTHAEUR Son M S W 7 IA Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN
Catherine PLANE Mother F W W 67 LODINGSEN Fa: LODINGSEN Mo: LODINGSEN

Ok, back to the biography!

Cornelius Petersen pursued his education in the schools of Germany, and coming to America with his parents, continued his studies in the Center township district school until sixteen years of age, when he left school and assisted his father with the work on the farm until 1873. On March 18, of that year, he was united in marriage to Annie Hanson, the ceremony taking place on the home place. Miss Hanson was born in Germany, November 17, 1851, and was the daughter of Hans P. Hanson and Mary Ohrans, both natives of Germany. Her parents were married in the home country and came to America in 1866, in the steamship “The Sanctonia,” arriving in New York after a voyage of two weeks. They came to Lyons, where they lived for one year, and then located in Center Grove township. Her father accumulated land until he had about three hundred aces. He died in 1890, his wife having preceded him, her death occurring in 1881. Mrs. Petersen was the youngest of five children, namely: Sabina, wife of Bohne Paulsen, who died, and she married Nicholas Holtz, who resides in Jones county, near Onslow. She has three children by her first union and three by her second union; Peter married Mary Petersen, who died in 1888. He then married Lena Bolt, and they reside in Washington township. He has four children by his first union; August married Miss Catherine Nissen, resides in Verdi, Minnesota, with his wife and six children; Henry married Mattie Breiholts, who died in 1884. He then married Maggie Boock, and resides in Center Grove, Iowa. He has nine children by his first wife and two by his second wife; Annie, wife of our subject.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have been born eight children: Henry, born September 15, 1874, resides with his father and assists in the management of the farm; John, born March 10, 1876, married Miss Minnie Zesmar and resides on a farm in Washington township; Mark, born March 15, 1878; Adolph, born April 11, 1880; Eddie, born June 20, 1882; August, born July 20, 1886; Amanda, born November 4, 1890; Malinda, born June 31 (sic), 1893.

After his marriage Mr. Petersen rented his father’s farm, upon which he remained for two years. In 1875 he purchased ninety acres of land in section ten, Washington township, Clinton county, Iowa. Later he bought one hundred and sixty acres adjoining this, and subsequently purchased another tract of land, until he now owns four hundred and ninety acres of the best improved farming property in Iowa. His life has been spent in the cultivation of his land, and a comfortable home, well-filled barns and sheds and a good income are his reward (sic) for years of industry and perseverance. He is a liberal, kind-hearted man, who takes an active interest in public affairs and everything that tends toward the advancement and development of the community in which he lives. He is a stanch Democrat, and has been elected road supervisor and school director, but prefers to hold no office. He is also a member of the Lutheran church of Charlotte, and through his fidelity and industry he has won the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.