PETERSON, OLE

PETERSON, NELSON, ANDERSON, OLSON, LITTLE, NURILL, BEAMAN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 10/13/2003 at 16:16:19

Biography reproduced from page 408 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Ole Peterson is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres located in Wesley township, in the cultivation of which he is meeting with good success. He is one of the thrifty and energetic citizens Sweden has furnished the United States, his birth occurring in Wanstad on the 23d of June, 1853. He is the youngest member of the family of Peter and Cessa (Nelson) Anderson, who was born, reared and married in Sweden, where the father engaged in farming until 1881, when he brought his family to the United States. Iowa was their destination and upon their arrival here they located in Mason City, where a week later the mother passed away. She was long survived by the father, who died in 1896 and was laid to rest beside her in the cemetery at Mason City. They were the parents of eight children, those beside our subject being: Nels; Hans; Phar; Eke; Ben, who died in infancy; Benjamin, who lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and Andrew, whose home is in Mason City.

In the acquirement of his education Ole Peterson attended the graded and high schools of his native country, where he resided until 1880. In that year he resolved to come to the United States, where he had been assured by friends and relatives who had preceded him across the Atlantic, much better opportunities were afforded than in the old country. He came direct to Kossuth county, Iowa, locating in Wesley township, where he obtained work with a section crew on the railroad. Later he was promoted to the position of boss, serving as such for fifteen years. During that time he managed to accumulate enough money to buy some land, so he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in the same locality in which he had worked for many years, and he then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He has made all of the improvements on his place, including the erection of a modern residence in 1902, and the fencing and tiling of his fields. He has every reason to be proud of his farm, which is a highly improved and valuable property and stands as a monument to his years of self-denial and unceasing toil. He is one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his community and of recent years has acquired some real estate in Wesley. In addition to the cultivation of his own land, Mr. Peterson rents one hundred and eighty-six acres, which is planted to cereals as are best adapted to the soil.

In Sweden in 1875, Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Eleanor Olson, and to them have been born eleven children, two of whom, Nels and Hilda, the twin sister of Matilda, are deceased. Those living are as follows: Albert, who is an engineer on the Great Northern Railroad in Montana; Johanna, the wife of Charles Little, a merchant of Sexton, Iowa; Otto, of Omaha, Nebraska, a traveling agent for the Parlin Orendorf Company of Canton, Illinois; Charles, an engineer on the Great Northern Railroad, residing at Breckenridge, Minnesota; Matilda, the wife of August Nurill, of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin; Frances, who became the wife of L. Beaman, station agent at Mason City; Carrie, a clerk in Charles Little’s store at Sexton; and Clifton, and Leo, who are at home.

The family are members of the Lutheran church, and the political views of Mr. Peterson coincide with the principles of the republican party, but at local elections he often casts an independent ballot. He is a most estimable man and during the long years of his residence here has won the respect and regard of his neighbors and townsmen by reason of his honesty, sound principles and upright conduct. He deserves much credit for his achievement, as the success that has come to him is the result of earnest effort, persistently and intelligently applied.