Bidne, P. J. 1871 - 1958
BIDNE, OPHEIM, PETERSON, AKRE, ASKELSON, BJORGO
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/17/2014 at 11:01:57
P. J. BIDNE
One of the successful and growing business enterprises of Winneshiek County is the Highlandville Creamery, of which P. J. Bidne is half owner and operator, in which connection he has built up a satisfactory business that returns to him a gratifying annual income. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Highland township, September 17, 1871, his parents being John and Susie (Opheim) Peterson, natives of Norway. The former was an early settler of Highland township and after working here for a few years he returned and brought the lady who later became his wife to the new world. They were married in Winneshiek County, and his remaining days were spent upon his farm in Highland township, his death occurring in 1882, when he was sixty years of age. Mrs. Peterson still resides with her son on the old home farm a half mile east of Highlandville. By a former marriage she had one child, Kate, now the wife of Peter S. Bidne, of Pleasant Township. The nine children born unto Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson are: Louisa, the wife of Mons Askelson, of Highland township; Peter, who died in childhood; P. J., of this review; Ole, on the old home farm; Iver, who died in 1901, when about twenty years of age; Mary, the wife of Lars K. Bjorgo, of Highland township; Julia, of Chicago; Josie, at home; and Mary, who died in childhood.
P. J. Bidne was reared under the parental roof and continued upon his father's farm until 1889, when he secured a position in the Highlandville Creamery. He was thus employed for five years, on the expiration of which period he joined L. K. Bjorgo and M. J. Akre in purchasing the creamery. Subsequently Mr. Bjorgo sold his interest to his partners, who have since remained together in the business, owning an equal interest. Mr. Bidne is the butter maker, and the product of the creamery in butter amounts to one hundred and sixty thousand pounds annually, all of which is shipped to Chicago, where it commands the highest market prices owing to its excellence. They work for quality and not quantity and theirs is a model creamery, conducted in the most cleanly and sanitary way and according to the most improved modern processes, so that the products thereof find a ready sale. Mr. Bidne devotes his entire attention to the creamery business and is a busy, energetic and enterprising man.
In June, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bidne and Miss Anna Akre, who was born in Pleasant township in 1875, a daughter of John and Martha Akre. In politics Mr. Bidne is a republican but has never been an office seeker. For three years he was school treasurer of the independent district and he is a member of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church of Pleasant Township. His life is guided by straightforward, honorable principles and his record as a business man and citizen commends him to the warm regard and unqualified confidence of those with whom he is associated.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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