PETER ANDERSEN.
One of the old-time residents of Audubon county, Iowa, and a man who has contributed much to the success of farming in Douglas township, is Peter Andersen, a well-known farmer and stockman. Peter Andersen was born in Denmark, April 14, 1846, and is the son of Lars and Martha Andersen, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a shoemaker in his native land and came to America in 1853. After landing in New York he went directly to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked on various farms. Subsequently he was able to purchase a farm in Wisconsin, and after having bought eighty acres, farmed in that state for eighteen years. He and his wife had four children, L. N., Morris, Anna and Peter. L. N. Andersen lives in Chicago. Peter is the subject of this sketch. Morris is farming in Missouri. Anna lives in California.
Peter Andersen came to America at the age of seven years. He, remained with his father until the latter's death, working on the farm during this period. After his father's death, Peter took the farm in his own hands and managed it for eleven years. Eventually, he sold the farm and moved to Cass county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for one year. He then came to Audubon county in 1884 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Douglas township, in sections 26 and 35. Fourteen years later Mr. Andersen purchased two hundred and forty acres adjoining and kept on adding land until he owned four hundred and forty acres. Some time ago, however, he began selling his land and has now sold all but one hundred acres, the farm upon which he lives.
Peter Andersen was married in 1873 to Dortha Jorgensen, a native of Denmark. They were married in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen are the parents of six children, as follow: G. J., married Mary Nelsen, lives in Douglas township and has five children; W. M., married a Miss Petersen and lives in California; F. G., married Mary Jensen and lives in Canada; Amanda, died in 1903; Bertha, married John Jensen and lives in Douglas township; Edna, married Peter Hansen and lives in Carroll county.
Mr Andersen has about seven thousand dollars invested in improvements on his one hundred-acre farm. His principal crops are corn and oats. His corn averages about fifty bushels to the acre and his oats about thirtyfive. Ordinarily, Mr. Andersen sells a carload of cattle and fifty head of hogs every year. His farm has about four hundred rods of tiling upon it. In 1907 he built a new house, which cost three thousand dollars. This house is thoroughly modern in every respect and is a credit to Mr. Andersen's ability as a farmer.
Mr. Andersen is a Republican and has served as township school director and road supervisor. The Andersen family are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Andersen was president of the church for twelve years. Not only is he prominent as a farmer and in the church of which he and his family are devoted members, but he also takes a keen interest in all civic matters.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 669-670.
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