Ole B. Peterson (1852-1943)

PETERSON, BAUGSTE, BIRT, JOHNSON, WITT, SAMPSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/5/2024 at 16:57:29

From Story City Herald Febuary 10, 1944 (page 5)

OBITUARY

SHORT STORY OF A LONG LIFE

Ole B. Peterson, died at Laporte, Minn., on Dec. 22, 1943, lacking but two months of having reached the high age of 92 years.

He was born at Baugste, Norway, April 24, 1852. The following year, 1853, his parents Peder Olson Baugste and Kari Petersdatter Baugste, immigrated to America, when their first and only son was a year old. They landed in Quebec, Canada, and from there made their way by boat down the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wis. After a short time in Milwaukee they moved onto the old Norse settlement at Muskogee, Wis., and an unhealthy place they found it; they were glad to move the next year to Lisbon, Ill. Thy lived in Lisbon until 1860 when they moved to Calamus, Iowa, then in 1864 moved on to Norway, in Benton county. The urge was still westward, and in 1870 the little family moved to Story county, settling near Soper's mill, southeast of Story City. Here his father died in the fall of 1871.

Meets Life Companion

Meanwhile the subject of our sketch had met Christina Olina Bjornebole, to whom he was married Jan. 4, 1872. Early in 1875 the young couple were temporarity located on the Helvig farm near Roland.

Moving to Story City in the latter 70's, Mr. Peterson was closely identified with this community for many years, and all of his children grew up here. He occupied many positions of trust and taught school successfully in both town and rural districts. Following the incorporation of the town in 1881, he became its second mayor, in 1884. Later he was secretary of the school board, census enumerator, newspaper editor, postmaster (1889-93), and county auditor for two terms (1903-1907). In the latter years he, of course, lived at the county seat. Coming back to Story City following his service as county auditor the Peterson had thought to settle down here, but soon decided to take up farming with their son Chris.

After brief stays in Nebraska and near Eagle Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson and son Chris settled on a forty acre tract near Laporte, Minn., in 1914, since when they lived there until Mrs. Peterson's death May 18, 1938, and Mr. Peterson's recent passing away.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, two of whom died in infancy. The seven surviving children are: P. A. Peterson and Christopher O. Peterson of Laporte, Minn.; Mrs. Carrie A. Birt of Superior, Wis.; Mrs. Christine M. Johnson of Yorkville, Ill.; Mrs. Inger G. Witt of Council Bluffs, Ia.; Mrs. Bertha Olive Sampson of Ottawa, Ill., and Clarence T. Peterson of Duluth. Mr. Peterson's mother died during their residence here and lies buried in the local cemetery. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

Funeral at Laporte

The funeral was held in the Trinity Lutheran church at Laporte Dec. 27, at 2 p.m., being conducted by Rev. C. Iverson, assisted by Rev. Chas. Swindell of the Community church. Burial was in the Evergreen cemetery in Hendrickson township, west of Laporte. Those serving as casket bearers were W. J. Roberts, Guy Nyman, Nels Olson, Guy Ball, Carl Emblem and Christ Plough; the latter is a former Story City man who has lived a number of years in Laporte, a neighbor of the Petersons.

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Mr. Peterson had lived a long life, and withal a busy one. As teacher he had touched the lives of a host of out people now coming to the time of old age themselves; as an editor and public speaker he showed marked genius, always standing for what he believed was right no matter what the opposition. As county auditor he was a moving spirit in the state committee that standardized forms for county bookkeeping and fund handling, having the happy faculty of being able to put his well tested ideas into writing so that others might understand them.

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Readers of the Herald will recall that in recent years Mr. Peterson had been writing an autobiography, much of which has been printed in Herald. The story of the family's years in and around Story City remained to be told when death cut short the hand that so long had wielded pen and pencil. We understand, however, that probably most, if not all, of Mr. Peterson's story is in writing and it may be that even yet we may finish the narrative.

The present editor of the Herald not only went to school for Mr. Peterson, but also set type for him when he ran the newspaper here; in both capacities Mr. Peterson had a strong influence on our life, an influence we were glad to give him credit for in a tangible manner in later years, as we gave him to understand the high esteem in which he was held.

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Peterson's last visit to Story City was at the fifty year celebration of the town's incorporation held here in 1931. He was one of the speakers on that occasion, and in fine fettle. Mr. Peterson was one of the chief organizers of the Greater Community Congress (first called the Commercial Club) in May, 1908, an organization that has functioned without interruption during these 36 years or so.

Strong in his convictions, clean cut in his daily life, and an able exponent of this political tenets especially, a loving husband and devoted to his family down thru the years, his long life has left an influence in wide circles that will survive him.