P. H. Petersen

PETERSEN, OVERBO, DAHLE, BRUDVIG, WILHELMSON, SANDEN

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/16/2010 at 18:17:20

P. H. PETERSEN

P. H. Petersen, now living retired on section 16, Norway township, Winnebago county, has resided here for almost sixty years and during his active business life was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of this locality. He was born in Norway on the 4th of January, 1848, and is a son of Halvor and Anna (Overbo) Petersen. In that country the father engaged in farming to a limited extent, but when our subject was six and a half years of age the family came to the United States and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, which was their home until 1858, when the}' removed to Mitchell county, Iowa. The following year, however, they came to Winnebago county and the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 16, Norway township, which he at once began to improve and cultivate. On his retirement from active labor this farm was taken over by our subject, who operated it successfully until 1902, since which time he has lived retired. The father died on the 6th of March, 1908, at the age of ninety years, and the mother passed away June 11, 1892, when nearly eighty years old, the remains of both being interred in the Lime Creek cemetery.

In their family were eight children, of whom four lived to maturity. Martha, the oldest of these, was born July 6, 1842, and married John I. Dahle, a son of Iver and Anna Dahle, who were early-settlers of Worth county, Iowa, living just over the Winnebago county line. Of that union seven children were born, namely: Ida, at home with her parents; Peter C., who is living on the Dahle farm in Worth county; Anna, who married A. E. Brudvig, of Norway township, Winnebago county, and died leaving two children, Mildred and Nels; Anna Karina, now the wife of Michael Dahle, of Stutsman county, North Dakota; Julius, also a resident of Stutsman county; and Joel M. and Eva, both at home. Rachel, the second in the Petersen family to reach adult age, is now deceased. She married Ole Wilhelmson and lived in Waukesha county, Wisconsin. P. H. Petersen is the next in order of birth. L. H. Petersen, a resident of Norway township, completes the family.

P. H. Petersen was a lad of eleven years on the removal of the family to Winnebago county and on completing his education in the district schools devoted his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He still owns the old home farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and also has an adjoining tract of sixty acres but, as previously stated, is now living retired, renting his land to others. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Margareta Sanden, a daughter of Erick and Katrina Sanden, who came to this country from Norway and spent their last days in Norway township, Winnebago county, Iowa. When called from this life they were also buried in the Lime Creek cemetery.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Petersen has taken a very active and prominent part in local politics and has been honored with several important official positions. For six years he served as county supervisor and was United States census enumerator in 1880 and in 1890 besides filling all of the township offices with the exception of clerk and constable. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed and he is a man honored and respected wherever known. He was secretary of the Mutual Fire & Lightning Insurance Company of Winnebago county for twenty-five years, and was also secretary of the Norman Creamery Association. For forty years he was a deacon of the Lime Creek Synod church.

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. 445-446.