PETERSON, CHARLES F.

PETERSON, VIEBERG, SODERBERG, NELSON, CLARK

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 10/13/2003 at 16:49:09

Biography reproduced from page 304 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Charles F. Peterson is a well known and prosperous farmer and stockman living on section 9, Harrison township, and is one of Kossuth county’s enterprising agriculturists, who owes his success to his own industry and wise management. His farm is well improved and in a high state of fertility. He was born in Sweden, November 29, 1949, a son of Peter and Bertha (Vieberg) Peterson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father was a farmer and spent his entire life in his native land. His death occurred in 1885, and his wife passed away in 1878. They were the parents of three children: Charles F.; Caroline, who passed away in Sweden at the age of fourteen years; and Matilda, who resides in Sweden.

During his boyhood, Charles F. Peterson attended school in his native land and assisted his father with the work of the farm, remaining at home until he attained the age of thirty-one years. In 1880 he emigrated to the United States, to take advantage of the superior opportunities the new world offered. On landing in New York he came direct to Algona, Iowa, and later was employed in railroad construction work near Fort Pierre, North Dakota. In the fall he returned to Algona and was employed in various capacities until 1887, when he purchased forty acres of land, which became the nucleus of his present homestead, which now includes one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. In 1888 he took up his residence on the farm but the following year he rented his place and resumed railroad work in North Dakota. The next year he returned to his farm and has since made his residence thereon. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining his original forty acres and by hard work and skilful management has finely improved his land and brought it up to its present state of fertility.

Mr. Peterson was married in 1887 to Miss Josephine Soderberg, a daughter of John and Clara Soderberg, both natives of Sweden. The parents emigrated to America in 1881, settling on section 9, Harrison township, Kossuth county. They later removed to a house on the farm owned by Mr. Peterson and there the father passed away in 1900, but the mother is still living and occupies the same house in which her husband died. She had four children: Alfred, who is engaged in farming near Swea City; Louise, the wife of Peter Nelson, a retired farmer of Swea City; Charles, who is engaged in farming three miles north of Bancroft; and Josephine, now Mrs. Charles F. Peterson. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born nine children: Ellen, the wife of J. B. Clark, an engineer of Bancroft, and the mother of one child, Violet; Selma, Bernard and Arthur, all of whom reside at home; Arvid, Ethel and Anton, who are attending school in district No. 2 of Harrison township; Arnold, who passed away at the age of seven years; and Wilfred, who is also attending school in district No. 2.

Mr. Peterson is a republican, and served for five years as school director in district No. 2, Harrison township. Mr. Peterson and all the members of his family belong to the Swedish Lutheran church of Swea City and Mrs. Peterson is a member of the Ladies Aid Society of that church. The family stands well in the community where Mr. Peterson is widely known and respected, being held in high esteem by a large number of business and personal friends.