Holver Peterson

As printed in 1909

HON. HOLVER H. PETERSON.

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They were eight weeks on the Atlantic and Holver H. Peterson is now the only living man who came from Norway to America in 1839. At that day voyages were never made across the water for pleasure, business interests prompted them at all times or the desire for religious or jxilitieal lilterty and it was the hope of having better opportunities in the new world that led Holver Peterson to bring his family to the Tuited States. They first located at Jefferson Prairie in Rock comity. Wisconsin, where they lived four years. The father then opened up a farm in that county. fipon that place he reared his family and both he and his wife died there. There home was in a frontier settlement when they located in Wisconsin. The land was largely unimproved and the forests uncut. The homes of the settlers were mostly built of logs and were heated with fire-places, while other furnishings were just as primitive.

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P.iiena Vista county. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Elk township and opened up a new farm, which he improved, making it an attractive place, well equipped with good Iniildiugs and the accessories of modern farming life. Later he removed to Alta, where he engaged in merchandising and afterward sold his farm and rural interests. He continued to conduct the store for about five years when he sold out and now lives retired. He owns land in Minnesota, near Crookston, and his residence property in Alta.

In 1903 Mr. Peterson was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in that year. Seven of their children are yet living: Bessie, the wife of Harley Olson, of Alta; Henry, who is married and is clerking in this town; Mary, the wife of Warren McBride, of Washington township; Sever, living at Crookston, Minnesota; John, of Alta; Sarah, the wife of Paul Poison, a traveling man, living in Alta; Peter, now of Nebraska. Esther, now deceased, was at one time a teacher of this county. Carrie, who also engaged in teaching, has passed away, while another child, Knute, died at the age of eight years.

Mr. Peterson has long been recognized as a man of good business ability and of true integrity and worth. He has never been known to walter in any course that he has believed to be right, and his success is the result of careful management and honest achievement.

As printed in Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.