Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 903
PETER A. PETERSON

Harrison is, indeed, fortunate to be the home of men of such mental and moral stamina as Peter A. PETERSON, who is one of the foremost agriculturists of his community. Mr. PETERSON does his full share toward the maintaining of Harrison county's prosperity and reputation by conducting his own farm in a systematic and business-like way, at the same time taking a deep interest in all public questions.

Peter A. PETERSON was born in Jefferson township, Harrison county, Iowa, October 17, 1872, the son of James and Laura (MARTIN) PETERSON. James PETERSON was twice married, and to his first union were born four children, Peter, Fred, Mrs. Rhoda Edwards and Bert.

An industrious son of Denmark, James PETERSON was born on June 12, 1835, the son of Peter J. and Inger (ANDERSON) PETERSON, who were also natives of Denmark, and are now deceased. James PETERSON left Denmark in 1862, coming to America and settling first in Wisconsin, working for a Wisconsin farmer for a short time. He removed to Harrison county, Iowa, in 1864 and for two years he worked by the month, as a farm hand, after which, for a few years, was proprietor of a threshing outfit. Eventually, he bought forty acres of land in Jefferson township, and gradually added to his original purchase until he was the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land. Among the improvements he placed on this land was the setting out of a grove of fine trees at the hands of Mr. PETERSON, Sr. He retired from active farm life in 1914, although still making his home on the farm.

James first married in 1872 Laura MARTIN, who was born in Illinois, in 1850, and died in 1880. Mr. PETERSON's second marriage occurred in 1881, when he married Almira NORMAN, who was born in Illinois in 1859.To this second union were born eleven children, Claud, William, Elmer, Ara, Mrs. Emma GROSMAN, Roy, Mrs. Clara CLARK, Ray, Mrs. Mary SILLAU, Florence, and Ruth.

Reared on his father's farm, Peter PETERSON spent the winter months in attendance of the district schools of his home township. At the age of twenty-four, his father presented him with the place on which he now lives, and which contains one hundred and twenty acres of land, with about twenty acres of natural timber on it. This property has been admirably improved by the erection of a substantial and commodious barn, a comfortable house, with outbuildings, necessary to a well-kept farm, as well as the establishment of a fine orchard. Good management is everywhere evident in the appearance of both fields and buildings.

Mr. PETERSON was married to Laura WILSON on April 30, 1902, who was born in Jefferson township, Harrison county, Iowa, April 28, 1883. To this union has been born one child, Fay, who was born December 19, 1911.

Mrs. PETERSON is a daughter of Moses and Emma (MOURER) WILSON, the former of whom was born on March 23, 1856, at Logan, Iowa, the son of Lowery and Martha (REEL) WILSON. Lowery WILSON was born on April 25, 1833, in Benton county, Kentucky, and died in 1907. He was a son of Benjamin and Jane (BOND) WILSON, both of whom were natives of Virginia. Emma (MOURER) WILSON, the mother of Mrs. PETERSON, was born on December 14, 1858, at Circleville, Ohio, and is a daughter of Peter and Kunigunda (SCHWARZ) MOURER, both of whom were natives of Germany, and were early settlers of Harrison county, Iowa. Peter MOURER died in 1877, at the age of forty-seven years, while his widow survived him until June 18, 1913, her death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. PETERSON's parental grandmother, Martha (REEL) WILSON, was born in 1833 and died on March 31, 1865.

Educated in the district schools and also in the Woodbine Normal School, Mrs. PETERSON, before her marriage, taught school in Magnolia and Cass townships for two terms, at the end of which time she was married to Mr. PETERSON.

Mr. PETERSON is a stanch member of the Republican party, on which ticket he was elected trustee of Jefferson township, and which office he has held ever since 1905. Mr. PETERSON executes his public duties with a strict impartiality and a commendable fairness, as he realizes that he is serving his best interests by serving those of the people as well. A man of firm convictions and definite aim, Mr. PETERSON is the type of citizen who maintains and upholds the traditions of an honorable civic history.

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