In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1874, Western township
From History of Henry County, Illinois (1910)
CARL EDWARD PETERSON.
The progressive ideas which contribute so much to success in the field of agriculture have been conspicuous elements in the life record of Carl Edward Peterson, who owns and operates a fine tract of land in Colona township. He was born in Western township, near the place on which he now resides, November 5, 1874. and is a son of Carl P. and Mary (Erickson) Peterson. The parents came from Sweden in 1868, settled first in Andover, this county, and later removed to the vicinity of Orion, where they remained a few years. Finally they took up their residence in the locality in which the family has since lived. Here the father followed farming with a success that has rendered ample return for his labor. He is still living, but his wife passed away July 3, 1906. Four children were born to them: Hida, who is the wife of John Nelson, of Osco township; Selma, who has remained unmarried; Louise, who is the wife of Otto Samuelson, of Orion township; and Carl Edward, the subject of this sketch.
Carl Edward Peterson spent his youth upon the home farm, assisting his father in whatever work there was to be done, while he attended the district school, where he received a fair education as preparation for the responsibilities of life. Even after he attained his majority, he gave his father the benefit of his labor, for it was not until 1905 that he married and established a home of his own. In that year he rented the eighty acres which constitute his place today and has since engaged in diversified farming, his success being the just reward for persevering industry. Progressive in his ideas, he has spared nothing in order to bring his place to the highest degree of cultivation, to improve the character of the buildings with which it is adorned, or to increase the abundance of the harvests, gathered from the fields. While these things have ministered to his own success they have also redounded to the total prosperity of the community in which he lives.
On the 22d of February, 1905, Mr. Peterson was joined in wedlock to Miss Lena Kuschmann, a daughter of William and Louise Kuschmann, of South Heights, Rock Island. Three children have been born to them: Marguerite, Paul and Marie.
Mr. Peterson is a consistent member of the Lutheran church and is closely identified with its work. A republican in his political views, while he has been interested in questions of public interest and has ever exhibited a deep concern in the welfare of his fellow citizens, he has never sought office and could never be persuaded to accept any evidence of the trust the people would place in him and his judgment were he to signify his willingness to be their servant. He has been very active, however, in the ranks of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for he is a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 684, of Colona, in which he has held the greater number of the chairs. Keenly alert to the best interests of the people, industrious and progressive, Mr. Peterson is one of the splendid citizens of Colona township, enjoying the respect and good will of those who have come into contact with him. He and his wife are devoted to their home and their family, so that the harmony of their relations affords a striking example of domestic feUcity.
As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.