Albert H. Peterson

PETERSON, TWITO, LARSON, LARSON, DAKKEN, HOOD, KVALE

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/13/2010 at 04:55:38

ALBERT H. PETERSON

Albert H. Peterson, who carries on general farming on section 18, Norway township, Winnebago county, has a good tract of land which responds readily to the care and labor that he bestows upon it, and by reason of his practical and progressive methods he has come to rank with the substantial farmers of Winnebago county. He was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, October 1, 1869, a son of Hans and Anna (Twito) Peterson, the former a native of Norway, while the latter was born near Muskego, Wisconsin, which was the first Norwegian settlement in the United States. The father was but a young lad when brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being established in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, where his parents followed farming until called to the home beyond. They were laid to rest near Winchester in that county. Hans Peterson acquired his education in the pioneer schools of the Badger state, and after the outbreak of the Civil war joined Company K of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. He saw active service throughout the period of hostilities, and after peace was declared he removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he married Anna Twito, a daughter of Hans Twito, who came from Norway in 1843 and settled in Muskego, Wisconsin, but later removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson began their domestic life upon a rented farm, upon which they lived for a short time, and later they removed to Emmet county, Iowa, where Mr. Peterson endeavored to develop a homestead, but the crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, and in 1876 they removed to Winnebago county. At one time Mr. Peterson served as deputy sheriff of the county. He lived at Lake Mills until a few years ago, but he and his wife are now residents of Perkins county, South Dakota, making their home with their daughter Nettie, who is the wife of Peter Larson. They have a family of five children: Albert H.; Hilda, who is now the widow of Isaac Larson and makes her home in Freeborn county, Minnesota; Mollie, the wife of Martin Dakken, of Lake Mills; Nettie, now Mrs. Peter Larson; and Amanda, the wife of J. S. Hood, of Perkins county, South Dakota.

Albert H. Peterson attended the common schools until he reached the age of sixteen years and then began earning his living as a farm hand. He was thus employed until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account on rented land in Newton township. He spent four years in that way, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase property. He invested in land in Lyon county, Minnesota, on which he lived for a year, and when twenty-seven years of age he bought eighty acres on section 18, Norway township, which he has since owned and cultivated save that in the year 1907 he resided upon a quarter section of land in Lyman county. South Dakota, in order to obtain that property under the homestead act. He exercises great care and thought in the management of his farm and annually gathers golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.

Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Gertie Kvale, a daughter of Engebret and Berit (Kvale) Kvale, who came to this country from Norway, and after residing in Winneshiek county, Iowa, for four years, removed to Winnebago county about 1875, settling in Norway township. Mrs. Kvale died in 1908, but Mr. Kvale is still living on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have become the parents of eight children, as follows: Alpha B., Hamlet E., Hilda M., Alice G., Melvin Reuben, Isabelle M., Marie G. and Henry T., all at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson hold membership in the Synod Lutheran church and he votes with the republican party. For twelve years or more he served on the school board as a director from the time the school district was organized. He has never sought nor desired office, however, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs. All that he possesses he has made through his own efforts, for he started out empty handed. Today he is the owner of a splendidly improved farm and is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company and the creamery company of Scarville. He stands as a representative of that type of citizens of whom Iowa has reason to be proud—men whose force of character and ability is sufficient to enable them to overcome difficulties and obstacles and steadily work their way upward to success.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 400-401.