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.
From History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916)
JOHN ADOLPH PETERSON.
( )t those men who have overcome obstacle and hindrance and, surviving discouragement and set-back, have risen to places of note in the locality and who have proved to be a success in their chosen line of work, the name of John Adolph Peterson, of this sketch, stands out conspicuously. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age and without substantial aid or encouragement, he has become one of the leading men and merchants of Otter Tail count)- and of the town of Dopelius, and has been given a place of note in the larger business affairs of the community, and a rank of honor in the public circles of his town and his township.
John Adolph Peterson was born in Black Hills, South Dakota, on November 16, 1885, the son of Isaac and Mary (Pary) Peterson. Isaac Peterson was born in Norway and Mary Peterson, his wife, was born in Finland, and each having come to America and settled with their parents in the same locality, they became acquainted, were married and then went to Hancock, Michigan, where Isaac Peterson worked in a mine for some time and then later moved to Black Hills, South Dakota, where the father lived until his death, in the year 1 So 1. The mother, with the children, who were living in Otter Tail county, where they owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Newton township, later was married to John P. Majava, she now living at New York Mills. To the marriage of Isaac and Marv Peterson were born the following children: Anna, who married Matthew Find, and who died in the state of Michigan: William, who died at Xew York Mills: Ida. who married Emil Anderson and lives at Markham. St. Louis county Arthur, who is a cattle buyer of Xew York Mills; John Adolph, the subject of this sketch; George, who is a railway brakeman of British Columbia; Lena, who married James ("urrie and lives,t Minneapolis, and Matilda, who lives at home with her mother.
John Adolph Peterson was educated in a state school at Owatona, Minnesota, and from that institution was adopted by a family with whom he lived until the age of eighteen years, when he came to New York Mills and secured employment with the Fiske Brothers Company livery, where he worked for three or four years and then went to the town of Dopelius, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he was engaged as a butter-maker for the Dopelius Creamery Association, a position which he now holds. John Adolph Peterson has extended his business interests since coming to Dopelius until now he is the manager of a mercantile business, and in addition to this is one of the directors of the Dopelius Creamery Association, with which he has been connected for so many years.
On July t8, mho, John Adolph Peterson was married to Anna Muckala, who was born in the state of Michigan, the daughter of John Henry Muckala and wife. To the marriage of John A. and Anna Peterson has been born a daughter, Erna Arbutus, whose birth occurred on June 8. 1913.
John Adiilih Peterson and. his wife are active members of the Lutheran church, a congregation in which they take an interested part. In politics, Mr. Peterson is an ardent Republican.
As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1916. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.