Nels P. Peterson 1882-1949

PETERSON, MARTENSEN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/1/2013 at 23:49:54

Nels Peterson, Lifetime County Resident, Dies at 67
Nels Peterson, 67 year old blacksmith who was born in a log cabin on the east shore of High Lake, died at 10:15 p.m. yesterday at Holy Family hospital. A lifetime resident of Emmet county, Peterson devoted his life to his vocation of blacksmithing and to his hobby of wood carving and the study of Indian lore.

The deceased had been featured Tuesday in a Daily news story telling of his famous eight string violin, his blacksmithing, woodcarving and collection of Indian relics. Peterson was interviewed at his High lake home on a tip from a nephew. The day following publication of the story he entered Holy Family hospital.

The son of Norwegian pioneers, he learned the blacksmithing trade from his father and grandfather, Peter Peterson and Peter N. Peterson. His three brothers also learned the blacksmithing trade from the elder Petersons.

The deceased at an early age opened a blacksmith shop in Wallingford and kept at his trade for many years until arthritis forced his retirement to the farm on High lake. But due to heavy demand for his skill he continued to carry on his trade there until just a few years ago. A bachelor, he made his home with a nephew, Maynard.

He was born June 17, 1882, in the log cabin which his father and grandfather had erected after migrating to High lake from Wisconsin.

During the early years of his life he became interested in Indian lore due to proximity of a band of Indians which camped in the timber near the paternal home. Nels knew many tales about the red men and their chief Mooneye, and had a considerable collection of Indian relics at his home.

His other hobby, wood carving, was learned from his grandfather. As a child he became proficient at the art, and during his life produced 10 hand carved violins. One of these is an eight string affair.

In addition to his work on the violins, he also carved out an almost endless variety of other novelty items from wood which grew on the farm. Tools used in wood carving were made from his own forge.

Person received his formal education in the rural schools in Emmet county and belonged to Immanuel Lutheran church at Wallingford.

Survivors include two brothers, Peter Peterson of Forest City and John Peterson of San Jose, Ill.; two nephews, Maynard, at the home place and Gerhard at Estherville; two nieces, Pearl, at High lake and Mrs. Chris Martensen of Graettinger as well as two nieces, and six nephews living elsewhere.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Mary B. Peterson and a brother, Lewis Peterson.

Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sternborg Funeral chapel and 2 p.m. at Wallingford Immanuel Lutheran church, the Rev. C.B. Gunderson officiating. Burial will be at High lake cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 23, 1949)

Peterson Services Tomorrow
A change in the plans for services for Nels Peterson were announced this morning by a nephew. Services will be held 1:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Peterson home on the shores of High lake and at 2 p.m. at Wallingford Lutheran church. Originally the first service had been scheduled for Sternborg Funeral chapel. Burial will be in High lake cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 25, 1949)