The Peterson Families of Boone County, Iowa

August Peterson, who resides in Madrid, owns thirty acres of valuable land adjoining his home and seventy-three and a half acres in section 29, Garden township. His farm is one of the best improved in that part of the county and its buildings and barns are kept in the best of condition. He is a most successful farmer and still actively looks after his farm although residing in the city.

Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden, October 19, 1850, and in that country spent his boyhood and received his education. His parents were Christ and Johanna Peterson, also natives of Sweden, the former born in 1817 and the latter in 1820. Both died in Madrid, in 1873, within three days. Their three children were born in Sweden, as follows: Mrs. Anna Sundberg, who passed away in Madrid; Mrs. Mary Krantz, a resident of that city; and August, of this review.

The last named came to America in 1869, the remainder of the family coming in the following year. They settled in Swede Point and there Mr. Peterson began work as a farm hand. When they arrived in Boone county the country was comparatively unsettled and pioneer conditions still prevailed. On reaching America Mr. Peterson was practically without funds but by perseverance and industry has secured a gratifying competence. He not only owns a comfortable home in Madrid and thirty acres of valuable land but his farm in Garden township is one of the best improved properties in Boone county, giving evidence of his excellent management. He has always followed the most modern methods and by perseverance, industry, and good judgment, has attained to a substantial position in his community. When Mr. Peterson began work as a farm hand he received ten dollars per month and that he has since achieved prosperity is due entirely to his own efforts. His home in Madrid is not only modern and up-to-date, but is handsomely and comfortably furnished, and he and-lis wife are surrounded with all conveniences that money can buy.

On September 3, 1874. August Peterson married Aliss Clara Alsin, who was born in Madrid and died there, January 11, 1883. She was a daughter of John and Margaret (Olson) Alsin, natives of Sweden, who passed away in Madrid. They came to America in 1864 and lived in Swede Point for a short time. The father then purchased a farm in Garden township and met with success in its cultivation. They had seven children: Mrs. Coleman, of Omaha, Nebraska; John, a resident of Boone; Peter, who also resides there; Clara, who married August Peterson; Mrs. Hulda Newman, of Garden township; Mrs. Anna Orth, of Denver, Colorado; and Carl A., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Five of the children were born in Sweden and the younger ones in Garden township. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson had one son and one daughter: Mrs. Hattie Matilda Clark, who was born July 28, 1876, and resides in Canada; and Adolph, who was born August 11, 1882, and lives in Boone.

On December 19, 1883,.Mr. Peterson again married, his second union being with Miss Christina Albertine Alsin, a cousin of his first wife, who was born in New Sweden, Jefferson county, Iowa, January 30, 1860. Her parents were Peter A. and Caroline (Stephenson) Alsin, natives of Sweden, the former born in 1827 and the latter in 1840. The father came to America in 1852 and was one of the pioneers of this state. He removed to Boone county in 1868 and in 1892 made his home in Madrid, where he died in 191 1. His wife came to America with her parents in 1849, the family settling in Henry county, Iowa, and she now makes her home in Madrid. She bore her husband seven children, as follows: Frank A., deceased; Mary and Christina Albertine, twins, the former deceased; Mrs. Tillie Isaacson, of Madrid; C. P., of Garden township; Joseph E., deceased, and Mrs. Susie Johnson, of Madrid. All the children were reared in Garden township and there attended the common schools. Mrs. Peterson came with her parents through Des Moines to Garden township in 1868. She has become the mother of three sons: Clarence Augustus, born February 1, 1885, attended the common schools and filed in Madrid, February 8, 1908; Clayton Marion, born April 26, 1888, is now a successful merchant in Madrid. He secured an excellent education, graduating from the Madrid high school with the class of 1906; Joseph Harold, born March 16, 1891, completed the high school course and subsequently attended the Iowa State Teachers' College. He is now a civil engineer with the Milwaukee Railroad Company and resides with his parents.

Mr. Peterson is a progressive republican, his views being thoroughly in accord with the ideals of that wing of the party. He has always taken a deep interest in community affairs and has been ever ready to give moral and material support to enterprises which give promise of resulting in good to his city and county. He was one of the first councilmen of Madrid, was town assessor for twelve years, a member of the board of education for about seventeen years and for twenty years served as street commissioner. In these various offices he has done much good for his city. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Lutheran church and actively interested in its work. He is not connected with any fraternal organizations, but his two sons are members 'of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr.

Peterson stands high in the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens, who appreciate what he has accomplished and those qualities of his character which have made possible his success.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANK G. PETERSON.

Frank G. Peterson, of Boone, is one of that city's well known and successful business men, being a member of the firm of Hartman & Peterson, wagon manufacturers and blacksmiths. He was born in Sweden on May 25, 1858, and is a son of Per Erson and Magdalena (Anderson) Peterson. The father was a well-to-do farmer in his native land, where he passed away at the age of forty-nine, in 1879. His widow is still living there, at the age of eighty-four. Their children were: Per, of Sweden; Andrew, deceased; Frank G., our subject; Anna, who is married and lives in Sweden; Olaf. a farmer of California; Lars, of Sweden; and William, an agriculturist, of Madrid, Iowa.

Frank G. Peterson attended the public schools of his native land until sixteen years of age, when he began work, assisting his father. He subsequently learned the blacksmith's trade and came to America in 1880, when twenty-two years of age, sailing from Stockholm to New York. He remained for six months in New York and then came to Boone, where he had friends and relatives. Here he remained until the fall of that year and then went to Dayton, Iowa, where he was employed at his trade for six months. He then established himself independently in Pilot Mound, where he remained until his marriage, after which he returned to Boone. From 1883 until 1891 he held the position of engineer at Reed's flour mill and then moved to Madrid, buying an interest in the Davis Milling Company. He continued with that firm for a year and a half and then ran a general merchandise store for a year. In July, 1893, he returned to Boone and ran a blacksmith shop for six months alone. He then formed a partnership with Theodore Thompson, and for seventeen years they operated a general repair blacksmith shop and wagon factory. In 1912 he established his present business with Perry Hartman. Mr. Peterson enjoys a large and profitable trade which is justified by the high quality of the work turned out. He has not only large experience in his line, but is also a good business man and is today numbered among the substantial citizens of Boone.

On July 25, 1883, Frank G. Peterson married Miss Christina Shold of Dayton, Iowa, a daughter of Olaf and Annie Shold. They reside at No. 310 Greene street, Boone, and there they often entertain their many friends. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have the following children: Tharon Frank, a graduate mechanical engineer, who for a time was located in Highland Park and Lansing, Michigan, and then was sent to Adelaide, Australia, where he died of pneumonia in June, 1913; Carl E., a farmer in Colorado; and Louise, aged fourteen.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee. Politically he is a republican and served as councilman from the third ward for two terms or four years. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Peterson is entitled to great credit for what he has achieved in life, as he has built his career and success entirely through his own efforts. He is ever interested in public enterprises and more than ready to give material support to any good cause.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN A. PETERSON.

John A. Peterson has since 1903 been an equal partner with Charles Rosen in the firm of Charles Rosen & Company of Ogden, with which establishment he first became identified as an employe a quarter of a century ago. They carry an enormous stock of harness and horse goods and a full line of shoes. Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden on the nth of October, 1867, his parents being Peter A. and Christine Johnson, who are also natives of that country. The father, a farmer by occupation, is now engaged in agricultural pursuits in the interests of the government. He has reached the age of seventy-six years, while his wife is seventy-four years old.

John A. Peterson was reared and educated in the land of his nativity and there followed farming in association with his father until 1887. When a young man of twenty years he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and came direct to Boone county, Iowa, entering the service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway at Ogden and being thus employed for two years. In December 1889 he secured a position with the harness firm of Goetzman & Company and learned the trade, finding the business so much to his liking that he has remained continuously identified therewith to the present time. The establishment later came into possession of Charles Rosen, and on the 2d of January, 1903, Mr. Peterson became an equal partner in the concern, which has since been known as Charles

Rosen & Company. They carry a very extensive stock of harness and horse goods as well as a complete line of shoes and enjoy a liberal and lucrative patronage that has made the enterprise most profitable. Mr. Peterson owns a handsome residence in the eastern part of Ogden and also has a fine orchard of two acres. On the 17th of April, 1893, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Anderson, a daughter of E. M. and Emma Jonson, natives of Sweden, where the father is engaged in business as a butcher. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have four children, namely: Ruth, who is nineteen years of age; Paul, eighteen years old; and Werner Linne and David C. A., who are fourteen and twelve years of age respectively. Mr. Peterson gives his political allegiance to the progressive party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Swedish Mission. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities he sought, — which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man, — and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward. He possesses the resolution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of Boone county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Samuel Peterson is a man worthy of high regard among his fellow citizens and in Boone county, where he makes his home, he has a large circle of warm friends. His life record proves what may be accomplished when energy and determination lead the way. He was born in Sweden, March 3, 1864, and his parents, M. M. and Maria Christina Peterson, were also natives of that land. At length, thinking to have better opportunities in the new world, they sailed for the United States and established their home at Swedesburg, Henry county, Iowa, where the father followed blacksmithing for a number of years. On the expiration of that period the family came to Boone county, settling in Garden township. They were among the early families in this part of the state and with the work of agricultural progress have been closely associated. In the family were five children: Mrs. Peter Harleen, now living in Garden township; A. F., of the same township; Gustav who makes his home in Des Moines, Iowa; Samuel, of this review; and C. T. who is living in Garden township. All were born in Sweden, but were reared in Iowa the family having come to Boone county in 1884.

Samuel Peterson was less than three years old when the family arrived on this side the Atlantic, so that he was reared in Iowa. His parents as pioneer settlers took active part in the work of general improvement and development, and as a result of his labors Mr. Peterson converted a wild tract of land into a good farm. As his age and strength increased Samuel Peterson assisted his father more and more largely in the work of the fields. Throughout the period of his youth he attended the public schools in the winter seasons and in the summer months aided in the plowing, planting and harvesting. He has never sought to change his occupation, finding this a congenial pursuit, and he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Garden township, comprising forty acres of the old home place. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation, and the farm is well improved. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he gives considerable attention to live stock, keeping on hand only high grade animals. He makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and for them finds a ready sale. In all of his business affairs he is thoroughly reliable as well as enterprising, and his energy and determination have constituted the basis upon which has been built his growing success.

Mr. Peterson is a public-spirited man and desires to assist in any worthy enterprise that promises to benefit the community. He has traveled extensively and is today well read, continually broadening his knowledge through travel and experience. His political support is given to the republican party, and he keeps well versed on leading questions and issues of the day. His is an attractive, well furnished home, and the position which he occupies in public regard is the result of an upright life, in which he has ever paid due regard to the rights and privileges of others.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.