Obit: Peterson, Peter O. #2 (1873 – 1957)
Contact: Stan

Surnames: Peterson, McGillivray, Giere, Gilbertson, Emerson, Mason, Sullivan, Rusten, Hanson, Moddrell, Hollyfield, Boucher, Doehr, Kucay, Stalheim, Lee

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson County, Wis.) February 27, 1957

Peterson, Peter O. (12 Nov. 1873 – 20 Feb. 1957)

Peter O. Peterson

With the passing of Peter O. Peterson we chronicle the passing of a man whose life story would serve as excellent material for a novel based on the history of Jackson county. "Big Pete", born from pioneering Jackson county stock that had immigrated from Norway to the then Wisconsin wilderness before Civil war days, saw the lumbering days, later the days of the development of highways and transportation, and the advances that came with farming and through his life span of over eighty-three years Mr. Peterson was keenly interested in all of this progress but along with these many interests, he was ever mindful of his Christian duties and his interests in his beloved wife, Caroline and their fine family.

Prior to his birth, November 12, 1873, Peter and Betsy Peterson, "Big Pete's" parents had purchased a farm about four miles southwest of Black River Falls in the town of Albion. At that time the place consisted of merely a log house, stables, some rail fence and a small amount of breaking. The fine well developed farm that it is today is a shining example of Mr. Peterson's industry. With the exception of a few brief years during World war Two when Mr. and Mrs. Peterson lived in Black River Falls he resided on the home farm throughout his entire lifetime.

On this farm he grew to manhood and was ever industriously working to succeed. On October 28, 1896 he was joined in marriage at the nearby Little Norway Lutheran church with Miss Caroline Gilbertson. Rev. N. A. Giere performed the ceremony and Senator J. J. McGillivray was present to extend the congratulations of the assemblage, one of the largest ever witnessing a wedding in Jackson county. Through the years the Petersons acquired more land in the vicinity between Black River Falls and Irving and just as it had been true of his parents, "Big Pete" too lived carefully, industriously and cautiously. The Petersons were active in their church, took leading roles in the formation of the Little Norway congregation and through the years both have been prominent and popular citizens.

"Big Pete" always had a pleasant smile and kind words for those he met. His association with horses will always be remembered for through the years he raised some of the best horses and had more dealing involving horses than possibly any other man in our community. He served many years with the Jackson County Fair Association as Superintendent of Horse Department. We find his name mentioned many times in our early volumes in connection with the fair and horse shows. We also find that he was one of the first farmers in the county to operate a threshing machine.

When the time came in 1946 to celebrate the golden anniversary of their marriage the event proved to be about as large an event as the wedding fifty years prior had been. It was most fitting that the celebration took place on the same farm where the wedding took place. With them for that occasion was their four sons and two daughters who today with Mrs. Peterson deeply mourn the loss of a beloved husband and father. The sons are Merlin, Raymond, Norman and Price of Black River Falls, and the two daughters are Esther, Mrs. Archie Emerson of Taylor and Harriet, Mrs. George Mason of Black River Falls. Two sons, Norman and Pliny and one daughter, Cora, Mrs. Perry Sullivan preceded their father in death.

Last fall both Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were able to enjoy their sixtieth wedding anniversary with their family. Since that time, however, Mr. Peterson's health had been failing and he was finally called by death on Wednesday morning, February 20th. He passed away on the home farm where he had been born.

Funeral services were conducted Saturday afternoon at the Little Norway church with Rev. A. M. Rusten officiating. Six grandsons, Dean, Peter, Allan and Larry Peterson and Atlee Sullivan and Glen Mason served as pall bearers. Mrs. Albert Hanson sang and was accompanied by Mrs. Hanson at the piano. Grand daughters who had charge of the profuse floral offering were Bonnie, Grace, Judy and Lois Peterson.

The Ness Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. Interment was made in the church cemetery. "Big Pete" is gone. One of the best of fathers, husbands and citizens has gone to his reward.

Relatives, and friends attending from beyond the county were; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Moddrell, St. Paul, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gilbertson, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Gilbertson, Mrs. William Hollyfield, all of Janesville; Mrs. Mildred Boucher, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Doehr, Hayward; Mr. and Mrs. Tony Kucay, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Sigwald Stalheim and Avis, Pigeon Falls; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Peterson, Coral City; Jess Lee, Franklin; and Mrs. Sophie Mason, Janesville.