Robert P. Petersen

PETERSEN, JENSEN, FELKEY, SORENSEN, LENNET, NELSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 18:47:55

Robert P. Petersen was born in Marsholdt, Denmark on May 8, 1867. He was the son of Morton Petersen. Robert moved with his parents to the United States in 1870 and located at Manistee, Michigan. The family lived here three years. It was here that his mother died. The father and his children moved to Chicago, Illinois for two years. Then they moved to Clinton, Iowa. At Clinton in 1878, his father married Ana Petersen, a native of Denmark. In 1883 they moved to Denmark township, Emmet county, Iowa, becoming the first of the Danish settlers of the township. Morton Petersen purchased the southwest quarter of section 1, which he farmed until 1902. The Morton Petersens then moved to Ringsted. He passed away in 1912.

Robert had one sister and one brother. Christina who married P. C. Petersen and Chris M. who married Isabelle Felky.

He had one half sister and two half brothers. Thorvald B. who married Anna Sorensen, Peter W. who married Marie Lennet and Marie who married Sirl Nelson. Robert Peter Petersen received his education in the public schools of the country. He worked on his fathers farm until he was 24 years of age. At that time Robert purchased the northeast quarter of section 12, Denmark Township of Emmet county, Iowa. He cultivated and improved this farm until the time of his death in 1910. Robert Petersen was for many years Identified with the development of Denmark township. Robert Petersen supported the candidates and measure of the republican party at the polls but never had time to be an active participant in political affairs. He held membership in St. Paul's Danish Lutheran church and supported its work. He married Kirsten Jensen, daughter of Peter and Marie (Andersen) Jensen, native of Denmark.

Kirsten was born in Aarhus, Denmark. Had sister Kristine. She came to Ringsted when she was 19 years old and kept house for her uncle Soren Jensen who was homesteading. She married Robert P. Petersen July 26, 1891 at St. Paul's Lutheran church in Ringsted, Iowa. They had eight children. Three boys and five girls. Mrs. Petersen remained on the farm after her husband's death, until 1912. Then she moved to Ringsted and built a new house. She was active in church and Sunday school work. In 1927 she moved to Des Moines, Iowa until the time of her death. She was buried beside her husband in St. Paul's cemetery, at Ringsted, Iowa.

Contributed by: Merriam White.