Jay P. Peterson

As printed in 1912

JAY P. PETERSON (1886) is a member of the Home Land Company of Russell and is interested in other business enterprises in that village. He is an early settler of southwestern Lyon county and was the first station agent at Russell.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

When Jay was nine years old the family came to America and made settlement at Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa. In 1886 they moved to Lyon county, bought the northeast quarter of section 36, Coon Creek township, and on that farm Jay lived with his parents a little over a year. While living there, during the memorable blizzard of January 12, 1888, Hans Peterson and our subject had an experience that will never be effaced from their memory. An account of their experience in the storm can be found in the historical part of this volume.

At the age of fourteen years Jay Peterson left the parental roof and set out in life for himself. His first work was on the grade of the Willmar & Sioux Falls road, which was then building through the county. In 1891 he went to Tyler and in the railroad station at that place learned the telegraphed's trade. On September 12, 1892, he located at the new station of Russell, opened the station, and had charge of the company's interests there until 1900.

During the next three years Mr. Peterson was agent, respectively, at Lester and Doon, Iowa; Yankton, South Dakota; and Pipestone, Minnesota. He was then promoted to traveling freight agent for the Great Northern, with headquarters at Sioux City, and held the position until 1909. That year he gave up railroading, returned to Russell, and opened a general store. He conducted that one year and has since been engaged in the real estate business. In 1910 he organized the Home Land Company in company with

B. Leknes, cashier of the First State Bank. He is also engaged in the jewelry business and is a stockholder in the Russell Tile and Cement Manufacturing Company.

Upon the incorporation of Russell Mr. Peterson was chosen the first village recorder, and he was one of the first trustees of the Presbyterian church of Russell. He is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason and a member of the Woodmen and Workmen lodges. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star, Royal Neighbors and Degree of Honor orders.

The marriage of our subject occurred in Russell November 27, 1899, when he wedded May B. Patton, a native of Lodi, Wisconsin, and a former resident of Esmond, Kingsbury county, South Dakota. Her parents, James and Jane Patton, were born in Scotland and in the early seventies located in Kingsbury county.

As printed in An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.