Petersen Family History & Genealogy

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ruth Petersen.

Ernest Arthur Petersen was born on January 30, 1892 in Sumas, Whatcom County, Washington United States to Nels Charles Petersen and Christina Noelle (Christopher) Petersen. He was in a relationship with Fondtellie Virginia (Mackey) Petersen, and had a child Daniel Charles Petersen. Ernest Petersen died at age 51 years old in 1943 in Everett, Snohomish County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ernest Arthur Petersen.

Sophia’s sons by Calla M. Petersen I have only two authentic dates for Sophia’s life—her eldest son was born July 19, 1853 in Clinton Co., Iowa, and she and Peter celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there in 1902. She was born in Europe in that part of Schleswig-Holstein that was at that time south of the boundary of Prussia. The family spoke German rather that Danish. The year must have been about the time that Queen Victoria was ascending the throne of England. By 1853 we find her in Iowa, the wife of Peter Petersen. And beginning her family that, across the years, numbered 10 sons and daughters. She was a very small person, I have heard the sons say 4’10” or so, but inclined to be rotund in her middle age. But she had a touch of elegance. One can see it in all the pictures taken of her, and those of her sons. The family lived on a farm (we have had pointed out to us well-kept acres and sturdy trees) but derived part of its income from some enterprise in the town of Lyons, Iowa. They were never poor. Still, there must have been an endless amount of work for one little woman during the 20 years that her 10 children were born. But the story of Sophia deals with her one great characteristic – courage! How she faced what she had to face, stood up against it and came out of it a fine, wise and kindly little old lady past her 80th year – this is why her story deserves to be told. The need for that great courage can be explained in one fearsome, frightening word – diphtheria. Perhaps some of us remember old time stories of families of children wiped out by the dread disease; of a mother who had two families, one group of children all taken by diphtheria and then courageously beginning another family who by providential blessing, grew up to become parents themselves. Today we have our babies immunized against diphtheria before they are a year old. We feel they are safe, and that is that. But there was no such protection for Sophia’s children. Her oldest son was 13 when the disaster struck. He survived to tell me about it, some 50 years later. There were five children younger than he at the time. All were taken. He told of having the sickness himself and of questioning his mother as to whether he too was going to die. She could not promise – she could only pray. She prayed for all of them. It happened all in one winter. Sophia, the oldest daughter, age 12, was her mother’s helper and assisted sturdily as, one by one, her younger brothers and sisters were taken. It was hardest to lose Peter, 5, flaxen haired, named for his father. There had never been a picture taken of Peter. They had one taken of him in his coffin. It was shown to me many years ago. Then Sofia went too. Only the eldest son was left. There were six in her family at Christmas time. By March five graves had been dug in the frozen earth. They thanked God for the one that was left and began all over again. Three sons were born there on that Iowa farm, and now there were four. Later, another son, 20 years younger than the first, made 5. A new generation had begun. But there was still need for courage, all that she could call to her command. The third boy, Emil, had reached the age of 9. All the family said afterward that he was the smartest of all the sons, the best in his classes, the most progressive in his achievements. For many years we had in our home the arithmetic book he used in school, far advanced for a 9-year old. Then one day, in the sunny barnyard, his mother called him to her and he came running, a jack knife with which he had been playing, open in his hand. She saw the danger. She called a warning, but too late. He fell, and the blade of the knife pierced his throat, severing an artery. With her two hands she covered the wound, tried to find the ends of the blood vessel and hold them shut – the spurting would not stop. He died in her arms. So the four sons of Sophia grew up to manhood, always with the feeling that they were but the remnant of their mother’s family, that somehow the four had to make up to her what the complete 10 would have meant. They held her in deep reverence and would have done nothing to disappoint her. And none of them ever did. All were present at the golden wedding. All were grieved at her death some 10 years later. On the walls in our house was a large framed portrait of a white haired Sophia, sitting in a rocking chair too large for her reading a Bible. And the photographer had caught a ray of light shining on the Bible and the hand that held it. We had that Bible in our home for many years. It was printed in German. Sophia’s eldest son, born in 1853, died in 1934. They are all dead now, the seven sons of Sophia. There are, to date, 52 living descendants. First picture caption: Sophia’s grown sons – Three of the surviving sons, Detlef, the oldest, Hans, a progressive banker, and Otto, all lived up to their mother’s expectation of them in honesty, industry and self respect. Second picture caption: Sophia, the daughter, died at age 12 Third picture caption: Sophia, the mother Forth picture caption: Elegance in Iowa – Otto, youngest by 20 years, displays gold watch fob and wing collar with his splendid new suit. Fifth picture caption: Orange blossoms – August, third of the surviving sons, became a bridegroom in 1894. Placer Lifestyle, Friday, July 8, 1977 – Genealogy

Peter Petersen was born to Niels Peter Petersen and Hansine Marie (Larsen) Petersen, and has siblings Hans Sigurd Johnsen, Karen Sofie Petersen, Hedvig Elisabeth Petersen, Petra Astrid Petersen, Erna Agnete Petersen, Gustav Peter Laurids Petersen, Kirstine Hansine Marie Petersen, Niels Jacob Petersen, Gunnar Petersen, Ane Matilde Elenore Petersen, and Helga Petersen. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Peter Petersen.

Peter Petersen was born to Peder Pedersen and Ana Olsdatter, and has siblings Peter Petersen, Hanne Kirstine Petersdatter, Sidse Marie Petersdatter, and Nicoline Jensine Petersdatter. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Peter Petersen.

Mrs. Detlif Peterson went to Washta, Ia., the first of the week to visit her sister. The Loup City northwestern, October 11, 1901, Page 4 Detlef Peterson, of Oak Creek, was in the city Tuesday. He reports his wife and daughter who have been sick for three weeks past with lung fever much better. The Loup City northwestern, January 24, 1902, Page 4 Mr. and Mrs. Detlef Petersen left Tuesday morning for Lyons, Iowa, called by the illness of Mr. Petersen's aged father, whose condition is reported very critical. The Loup City northwestern, December 02, 1909, Page 5 LYONS BREVITIES Mr. and Mrs. D. Petersen of Loup City, Neb, are visiting in the city with friends and relatives. Friday, December 3rd, 1909, The Clinton Herald, Page 8 O. F. Petersen received word New Year’s Day that his aged father, Mr. Peter Petersen, had passed away that morning at 11 o’clock at his home in Lyons. Iowa. It was impossible for Mr. Petersen to attend the funeral, which was held last Tuesday. Detlef Petersen and wife were at the father's bedside. The many friends of the sons here will deeply sympathize with them in their irreparable loss. The Loup City northwestern, January 06, 1910, Page 5 Mr. and Mrs. Detlef Petersen returned last Friday noon from Lyons, Iowa, where they had been for some time during the illness and subsequent death of Mr. Petersen's good father, mentioned two weeks’ since. The Loup City northwestern, January 20, 1910, Page 5 Mrs. Detlef Peterson and daughter, Mrs. Ernest Johnson, left last Thursday morning for Brooks, Minn., where they will visit for some time with her daughter and sister, Mrs. William Peterson. The Loup City northwestern, November 04, 1915, Page 7 Mr. and Mrs. Detlef Peterson were visiting at Orleans, Neb., last Saturday and Sunday with Mrs. Peterson’s sister, Mrs. A. J. Gipe. They returned home Tuesday. The Loup City northwestern, March 23, 1916, Page 9 Mr. and Mrs. Detlef Peterson left Wednesday morning for Kansas City where Mrs. Peterson will take medical treatments. The Loup City northwestern, August 09, 1917, Page 5

Reuben Petersen of Prahran Australia was born in 1889 to Christian Peterson and Elizabeth Webster Peterson. He had siblings Reuben Peterson and Christian Peterson. Reuben Petersen died at age 80 years old in 1969 in Prahran.

Anton Nielsen Petersen of Tyne and Wear County, England United Kingdom was born on April 16, 1863 in Hjørring Denmark, and died at age 90 years old in 1953.

Anfelt was born 17th February 1892 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. He was son of my great-grandfather's older sister, Ane Kathrine Marie Hansen, and her also Danish husband, Jens Christian Pedersen Elkjær. Jens Christian Pedersen Elkjær was a carpenter, and born 26th September 1854 in Haustrup, Smidstrup parish, Holmans shire, Vejle county, Denmark, Europe. He married Ane Kathrine Marie Hansen in Omaha 7th October 1882. I know of the following children of Jens Christian Pedersen Elkjær and Ane Kathrine Marie Hansen: (those children were first cousins of my paternal grandfather, Frederik Christian Rau Hansen in Vejle, Denmark) Victor Christian Petersen, born 1883 in Omaha, Nebraska. Carl Hans Peter Petersen, born 1885 same place. Lena Marie Petersen, born 1887 same place. Anfelt S. Petersen, born 1892 same place. Emmanuel Petersen, born 1894 same place. Participated in 1st World War and was seriously wounded in a gas attack. Anfelt Petersen died 1956. I, Helle Rau Hartmann, still live here in the small village of Jerlev, Vejle, Denmark, where Anfelt's mother was born 29th May 1852. She died in Omaha, Nebraska, on 29th March 1939. She had several siblings here in Denmark.

High on the list of the influential and prominent citizens of Elk River Township stands the name of H. H. Petersen, the genial cashier of the Teeds Grove Savings Bank. Mr. Petersen was born in Elk River Township, Clinton County, Iowa, on December 24, 1862, the son of Peter and Sophia M. (Stock) Petersen both natives of the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. His mother came to this country in 1852, on a sailing vessel, which landed at New Orleans, and then proceeded by steamboat to Davenport, Iowa. His father landed at New York in the same year, came to Chicago, and Freeport, Illinois, then the terminus of the Northwestern, by rail, and walked and worked the remainder of the distance to Savanna, Illinois, and on to Sabula. His first effort was to invest his small amount of money, saved from his wages as a farm hand in Germany, at twelve dollars per year, in land in Elk River Township, after which he found employment in the construction of the lower pike from the bluff to Sabula, Iowa, working for seventy-five cents per day and boarding himself. While engaged in this work, he met and married his wife, and then set about improving his land. He found wood, water and stone, and made a permanent settlement, opening his land for farming. In early times he went through many privations usual with the first settlers, and found his greatest trouble in raising money to pay his taxes, going to De Witt on foot to do that. But hard work and honest dealing brought him to the front and enabled him to add to his farm until it consisted of two hundred acres, which he held until 1907, he himself having retired from active work and removed to Lyons in 1887. Peter Petersen was proud of his adopted country and of the opportunities which it opened before his family. In politics he was a Democrat and steadily supported the principles of the party; in religion he had been brought up a Lutheran and never departed from the faith. As a farmer he was hard working and looked carefully after his business, as a citizen he was well known and highly respected, and his honor and integrity were above reproach. He died in Lyons, on January 1, 1910; his wife had preceded him on November 12, 1909. They reared twelve children: Detlef, a farmer in Nebraska; the fifth child died young in 1862; H. H. was the sixth; August, the seventh, is a mechanic at Rocky Ford, Colorado; Emil died at the age of fourteen; the ninth and tenth children died young; Otto of Loup City is treasurer of Sherman county, Nebraska; Augusta died at the age of nine. H. H. Petersen grew up on the farm and attended the district schools, and has obtained a good practical education. When twenty-two years old he left the home farm and went to Loup City, Nebraska, where he remained two years, during which time he was married. On his return to Clinton County at the end of this time he rented the home farm and his father moved to Lyons. For five years he remained on this farm, then moved to Teeds Grove and bought the store there which he operated fourteen years, during which time he was postmaster. This venture was very successful, and in 1905 he closed out his stock and he and his wife made a visit to Europe, traveling in England, France, Germany and Denmark. On his return he again purchased the store, including the building, which he had formerly rented, and added agricultural implements to his stock. Early in 1906 he sold the building and stock except for the implements, and later in the year sold that business. In the autumn of 1906 he organized the Teeds Grove Savings Bank, with a capital of ten thousand dollars, a bank of discount and deposit organized under state laws, Mr. Petersen holding a controlling interest in the stock. This bank does a general banking business, including the buying and selling of exchange, and is conducted on the strictest business principles by Mr. Petersen who has proved himself a financier, and has made the bank one of the solid institutions of the county. At present the deposits amount to seventy-three thousand dollars. The bank owns the good building which it occupies. Mr. Petersen is a strong Democrat, well informed on all matters pertaining to state and national affairs, and has held some offices of importance, first being elected road overseer, later township tax collector, then in 1897 he was elected township clerk and has been re-elected each year since. He is also a notary public, and for many years was in the insurance business, carrying agencies for four standard companies. In fraternal relations he is a thirty-second-degree Mason and a Mystic Shriner, a member of the Odd Fellows, in which organization he has filled all the chairs, and he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. H. H. Petersen was married in 1884 to Gertrude Hansen, a native of Germany, daughter of Christian Hansen, who came from Germany to Jackson County, Iowa, and became connected with a creamery as milk collector, and later moved to Nebraska, where he farmed for some years, until he retired to Loup City because of advancing age. He was very attentive to his business and has been successful. Both he and his wife are living. They are the parents of the following children: Peter and Nicholas, farmers; Gertrude, Mrs. Petersen; Amelia, now Mrs. Otto Petersen; Hannah, now Mrs. William Baird; and Louisa, now Mrs. John Solm. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Petersen were the parents of one son, John H., now in the insurance business, who married Lucia Thompson, the daughter of John Thompson. Mrs. Gertrude Hansen Petersen died June 22, 1894, and Mr. Petersen was married again on August 7, 1895, to Caroline Petersen the daughter of Jurgen Petersen who came from Germany in 1865 to Clinton County and became a prominent and respected farmer. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and are both dead. They were the parents of three children: Caroline; Anna, now Mrs. A. Andersen; and Henry H., of Teeds Grove. Mrs. Caroline Petersen is a lady of much refinement and intelligence. Mr. Petersen loans his private funds on good farm securities, is a stockholder in the Goose Lake Savings Bank, owns a good home in Teeds Grove, and is one of the financially solid men of his township. Personally he is a very agreeable and accommodating gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to meet. History of Clinton County, Iowa ed. by P. B. Wolfe. 2 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1911 Pages 1090-1091

Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Peter Petersen.

Daniel Charles Petersen was born on December 5, 1920 in Seattle, King County, Washington United States, and died at age 72 years old on August 22, 1993 in Arlington, Snohomish County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Daniel Charles Petersen.

Fondtellie Virginia (Mackey) Petersen was born on September 11, 1899 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho United States. She was in a relationship with Ernest Arthur Petersen, and had a child Daniel Charles Petersen. Fondtellie Petersen died at age 46 years old on March 3, 1946 in Everett, Snohomish County, WA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Fondtellie Virginia (Mackey) Petersen.

Emil died when fell upon the open blade of a knife and severed his jugular vein. His mother tried to stop the flow of blood with her hands, but failed. "Genealogy of Peter Petersen" by Calla M. Petersen

Gertrude Elise (Petersen) Petersen of Teeds Grove, Iowa United States was born on April 9, 1913 in Clinton to John H. Petersen and Lucia M (Thomsen). Gertrude Petersen died at age 3 years old on October 4, 1916.

Lucia Magdalena (Thomsen) Petersen of Iowa United States was born on May 25, 1887 in Teeds Grove. She was married to John H. Petersen on March 9, 1910 in Teeds Grove, Clinton County, and they were together until John's death on May 8, 1938 in Union Township, Jackson County. She had a child Gertrude E (Petersen). Lucia Petersen died at age 57 years old in 1944.

Peter William Petersen was born on November 6, 1882 at Hayes Township, Crawford, Iowa, USA to Jurgen Peter Petersen and Adeline Christina (Lorenzen). He married Hulda (Brockmann) on August 18, 1902, and had a child Elsie Irene (Petersen). Peter Petersen died at age 80 years old on June 17, 1963 at Denison, Crawford, Iowa, USA, and was buried at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig, Crawford County, Iowa USA.

Mr. Petersen was married again on August 7, 1895, to Caroline Petersen the daughter of Jurgen Petersen who came from Germany in 1865 to Clinton County and became a prominent and respected farmer. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and are both dead. They were the parents of three children: Caroline: Anna, now Mrs. A. Andersen; and Henry H., of Teeds Grove. Mrs. Caroline Petersen is a lady of much refinement and intelligence. History of Clinton County, Iowa ed. by P. B. Wolfe. 2 vols. Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1911.

Hulda (Brockmann) Petersen was born on February 8, 1884 at Hayes Township, Ida, Iowa, USA, and died at age 94 years old on May 12, 1978 at Odebolt, Sac, Iowa, USA. Hulda Petersen was buried at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig, Crawford County, Iowa USA.

Tragedy struck the Petersen home in 1863, and five of their children died of diphtheria. Detlef, the eldest son, was stricken with the disease but survived. The order of their deaths were: Anna, Mary, Sophia, Dora, and finally Peter. Mary, the eldest daughter, was nine years and two days old at the time of her death. Sophia died nine days later than Mary. Genealogy of Peter Petersen by Calla M. Petersen