JOHN I. PETERSON

John I. Peterson, who carries on general farming on section 2, Danville township, Worth county, was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, January 27, 1862, a son of Ingerbretz and Laura (Johnson) Peterson, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. Seven children were born to them ere they left their native land but three of the number died of scarlet fever while on the ocean en route to the new world. They came to the United States about 1857 or 1858, and making their way into the interior of the country, settled in Goodhue county, Minnesota, where they resided until about 1864. They then came to Iowa, establishing their home in Winneshiek county, and in 1868 they removed to Worth county, settling in Brookville township, where Mr. Peterson remained to the time of his death, which occurred in 1893. He had prospered in his undertakings and had become the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent farm land. His widow is still living and now makes her home among her children.

John I. Peterson was educated in the district school near his father's farm and his youthful experiences were like those of most farm boys, who early take up the work of the fields and devote the summer months to such labor. In December, 1883, when a young man of twenty-two years, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Julia E. Hanson, who resided on an adjoining farm. During the following summer and through the two succeeding years Mr. Peterson engaged in cultivating the old home farm as a renter and in 1886 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present place. Subsequently he added to it from time to time, extending the boundaries of his farm until his landed possessions comprised five hundred and twenty acres of valuable farm land, but three hundred and twenty acres of this property he has since deeded to his sons, thus giving them a good start in life. He now retains two hundred acres, which he still owns and cultivates, and he has most wisely directed his farming interests, so that his land is under a very high state of cultivation and development. He has added excellent buildings to his place, secured the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and in fact the farm is lacking in no modern equipment. At the time of his marriage he was practically penniless, but he possessed energy and determination and these qualities, intelligently directed, will always win success. He bought his first quarter section without a cent of money to pay down on it. A thousand dollars to him at that time would have seemed more than ten times the amount at the present. The attainment of wealth has never been the end and aim of his life, however, and thus he has shared his prosperity with his children, dividing his land among his sons at a time when it will do them the most good- at the time when they are getting a start in life. He realized how difficult was his own struggle and he thus generously assisted his sons. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of Hanlontown and is regarded as a man of good business judgment and enterprise who has readily discriminated between the essential and the non-essential in business affairs.

To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born eleven children, ten of whom still survive, five sons and five daughters: Gilbert, who follows farming on section 10, Danville township, Worth county; Elmer, at home; Henry, an agriculturist of Brookville township; Ruth, who is the wife of Martin Dyrhovd, of Brookville township, Worth county; and Clifford, Edwin, Selma, Gladys, Mabel and Leonora, all at home.

Mr. Peterson and his family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and his political endorsement is given to the republican party. For several years he served as a member of the school board and has ever been interested in the effort to provide adequate educational advantages to the children of the community, realizing how important is school training as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties. His course has ever been marked by progress not only for the benefit of himself but also for the benefit of the community at large.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 579 & 580

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 26, 2006