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 1837
From An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910)
JOHN PETERSON (1872) is one of the pioneer settlers of LaCrosse township, in which precinct he owns a quarter section farm. Mr. Peterson is a native of Modum, Norway, and the date of his birth was March 10, 18.37. He is the son of Peter-Johanson Hugsted and Christie Hugsted. both of whom died in their native land.
John Peterson, after securing a common school education, early began to earn his own living. From the age of twelve until he was seventeen he worked in a cobalt factory in his native town, and was then employed four years as a clerk in a grocery store at Westfossen. At th age of twenty-one years he moved to Drammen. Norway, where for the next twelve years he clerked in a grocery store.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Mr. Peterson was married in Dodge county, Wisconsin, March 1. 1877, to Jane Holgriem. who was born in Norway and came to America when one year old. They have children as follows: Peter Olof and Oarl Hcnrick, of Des Moines, Towa: Clara Soneva, of Albert Lea, Minnesota: Heliner Orville and Reuben, who reside at home.
As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John Peterson: Charlie Peterson (b. 1875)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.