L. E. Peterson

PETERSON, HAUGLAND

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 12/31/2009 at 09:12:11

L. E. PETERSON

L. E. Peterson, engaged in the real estate business in Forest City, was born in Dodge county, Minnesota, September 15, 1870, a son of Ellef and Engeborg Peterson, both of whom were natives of Norway. Coming to the United States in 1849, they located in Wisconsin and in 1856 removed to Minnesota, where the father followed the occupation of farming, purchasing school land. He lived there amid pioneer conditions and continued his residence in that state for eighteen years, or until 1874, when he came to Winnebago county, Iowa. Soon afterward he purchased a farm in Center township and thereon lived until called to his final rest on the 13th of August, 1902. For a brief period he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1900. For almost thirty years Mr. Peterson had been an active farmer of this county and was widely known by reason of his enterprise and progressiveness in agricultural affairs.

L. E. Peterson was a lad of but four summers when brought to Winnebago county and at the usual age he became a public school pupil. When he had mastered the elementary branches of learning he entered the Decorah (la.) Institute, from which he was graduated in 1893. He then turned his attention to carpentering and contracting, following that business for two years, after which he resumed farming, in which he engaged until 1906. Removing to Oregon, he conducted a real estate business on the Pacific coast until 1911, when he returned to Forest City, but after six months he again took up the occupation of farming, to which he devoted the following year. On the expiration of that period he once more returned to Forest City and for a year was connected with the Olson Land Company. In 1914 he embarked in business on his own account under the name of the L. E. Peterson Land Company for buying and selling property. He handles land in Minnesota, in the Dakotas and in Iowa, making a specialty of farm property but also handling a large amount of city realty. He not only buys and sells but also builds houses for sale and his speculative building has contributed much to his success. He likewise owns the L. E. Peterson Mercantile Business, a general store, and he is the owner of the old homestead farm and also of a place just across the road, making two hundred and twenty acres in all. His farm property is leased and brings to him a substantial annual income.

On the 12th of June, 1900, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Haugland, of Center township, Winnebago county, a daughter of R. O. and Sarah Haugland, who were early farming people of that community. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have four children, Selma Elvira, Reuben Ervin, Luella Annette and Margaret Antonia.

In his political views Mr. Peterson is a republican, while in religious faith he and his wife are connected with the United Lutheran church. With the exception of a brief period spent in the Pacific northwest he has continuously resided in Iowa from the age of four years and is widely known in Winnebago county, where his sterling worth and business enterprise have gained him high position and favorable regard.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. p. 275-276.