Peter Boman

BOMAN, OLSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/19/2010 at 17:41:30

PETER BOMAN

Peter Boman, a representative farmer of Winnebago county, living on section 25, Forest township, was born in Sweden, February 18, 1866. His parents spent their entire lives in that country and there reared their family of four children, of whom two are now living.

Peter Boman spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He came to America in 1886 and settled in Forest City, Iowa, where he was employed at general work for two years; but ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he then began farming on section 25, Forest township, Winnebago county, and later purchased eighty acres on section 24 of the same township. From the beginning of his active connection with agricultural interests in this county he has prospered and is today the owner of one of the most valuable and best improved farms in his township. As prosperity has attended his efforts he has added to his holdings from time to time and is now the owner of eighty acres in Mount Valley township, Winnebago county, and one hundred and twenty acres in Ellington township, Hancock county, which he has also improved. He is likewise one of the stockholders in the Farmers Elevator at Forest City. In connection with the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is extensively and successfully engaged in feeding stock and the careful management of his business interests is bringing to him most gratifying success.

In September, 1888, Mr. Boman was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Olson, a native of Sweden, who came to America when but eleven years of age. Six children have been born of this union: Albert R., who is married and now resides on one of his father's farms; Chenney C., who is also married and follows farming; Luella M., who after graduating from the Forest Club high school spent one year in study at Cedar Falls and is now teaching; John O. and Esther S., both at home; and Clarence R., who died at the age of eight years. Mr. Boman and his family are all members of the Swedish Baptist church and guide their lives according to its teachings. He may truly be called a self-made man, for through his own efforts and the assistance of his wife, who has indeed been a helpmate to him, he has won a handsome fortune and is today one of the most prominent and prosperous farmers of Forest township. His life record shows what may be accomplished through persistent and earnest effort. In his vocabulary there has been no such word as fail, and obstacles and difficulties in his path have seemed to serve but as an impetus for renewed effort.

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. 153-154.