The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-06-09
CHRIST PETERSEN
DIES IN CHICAGO
Well Known Kenosha Con-
tractor Died After a
Long Illness
PAVED MANY STREETS
Prominent in Life of City and
County for the Past
Twenty Years.

Christ Petersen, aged 81 years, best
known of the municipal contractors in
Kenosha and one of the best known
men of the city died at the Presbyter-
ion hospital in Chicago at an early
hour this morning. Mr., Petersen had
been in failing health for several years
and he had been critically i'll in the
hospital for several weeks. The an
nouncement of his death brought great
sorrow here. For the past twenty years
he had been very prominently con-
nected with the business interests of
the city and he had been one of the
most active contributors to the pub
lie improvement of the city and county
Mr.. Petersen was a native of Den
mark and he had been often honored
by the Danish born residents of the
city, state and nation in their various
organizations. He was a son of the
late Peter Hansen and he was born in
Denmark, November 26, 1869.
Came to Kenosha as a Boy.
1887 when he was eighteen years OF
age and for several years he was en-
ployed in Kenosha factories. Later
he was in business in the city for a
number of years but in 1909 he start
ed in the contracting business in which
he was very successful. Starting on a
small scale he gradually extended his
business as a contractor for big pub
lie improvements until he becames one
of the largest operators in Wisconsin
More than a score of miles of the
street pavements in Kenosha were laid
by Mr.. Petersen and the Petersen Con-
struction Company Of which he was
the founder and the president. The
motto of the company had always
been: "An honest job for an honest
price" and members of the official
staff of Kenosha today gave high
praise to the work which had been done
for the city by Mr.. Petersen and his
company. The company now has large
contracts for improvement work in
the city and county and it is expected
that all Of the contracts will be car.
ried out.
Active in Social Life.
The deceased was active in the bust.
ness and social life of the city and
county. He was a member of the many
Danish organizations and very active
in their work. He was a member OF
the Kenosha lodge of Masons, The
Chapter and the Commandery and he
was for time active in the Kenoshs
Aerie Of the Fvaternal Order of Eagles
He took a great interest in the polite
al life of the city and county and
for a number of years was one of the
leaders of the Democratic party in this
section of the state. He was the can
1idate of his party for the office of
County Treasurer and Member of the
Assembly.
Mr.. Petersen was married on No
vember 18th, 1890, to Miss Emma
Petersen, a native of Brown County
Wisconsin He is survived by his Wi
dow and three sons, George. Walter
end Edward Petersen all of Kenosha
Brother Wins Death Race.
An interesting detail regarding the
death of M Petersen was brought
cut this morning when it WAS learned
that his brother, Edward Petersen. OF
Denmark, had hurried to Kenosha and
had barely reached this city in time
10 sea his brother before his death
The brother from Denmark had con-
templated coming to America for sew
eral years and only few weeks ago
Christ Petersen wrote him telling him
to hurry to Kenosha IL he expected to
see him alive, The brother arrived
in Kenosha Saturday evening only to
find that Mr. Petersen had been taken
to hospital in Chicago. He hurried
there on Monday and was at the bed
side of his brother when the final
summons came.
The funeral services will be held
Thursday afternoon at two thirty
o'clock at the Hansen Chapel with the
Kenosha Lodge of Masons in charge of
the ceremonies. The remains will be
laid to rest in the family plot in the
Green Ridge Cemetery.