Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-02-13
OLD SETTLER
Ed so YEARS
MIR. and Mrs. O. II. Peter
son, of Ellsworth, Cele.
brate Wedding An
niversary.
TO COUNTY IN 1875
Hauled Lumber for Their
Home From Nevada by
Wagon.
TO COUNTY IN 1875

Wagon.
Mr.. and Mrs. o. II. Peterson. of Ell
worth, recently celebrated their fiftiet
wedding anniversary. The Ellswort
News has the following:
Mr.. and Mrs. o. H. Peterson, of th
city. celebrated their golden weddin
Feb. I. They claim TO be one Of tn
Youngest couples to celebrate thei
golden wedding, Mrs. Peterson bcin
sixty.eight years and Mr.. Peterson Sc,
enty.one years of age.
Both were born near Ottawa. II
Mr.. Peterson was an orphan boy a
the age of nine years. He with nj
sisters. Julia, Anna and Betsy, and hi
brothers. Peter and Ben, were lef
alone to make their way, and Ole
though young, realized his position. A
first he stayed with his guardian ant
later worked on farm. Mrs. Peter
son was with her parents her nader
name being Anna Johnson.
Acquainted in Youth.
During their youth, Mr.. and Mrs
Peterson had always known each other
They had gone to the same husklns
bees and had always been acquainted,
and on Feb. /, 1872. they went to Otta'
wa and were married. They began
housekeeping on farm near Morris,
III, Here they remained for three
years. 4 son, Orvie, was born there
Mr. Peterson's brother. Ben, had
come to Iowa and saw that Iowa was
the coming state. So Ole and his good
wife and baby decided they would try
pioneer life, SO they might get home.
They drove with sleds frorm Halder'
mans Grove through snow drifts that
were pretty deep, with their farm ma
chinery and stock to Rochelle. Here
they took the Northwestern to Nevada,
Iowa, the closest railroad at that time
to their shipping point. Again with
wagons they went overland about TWEEN
ty-five miles to his brother Ben's place,
log house 12x14 and they say there
was plenty of room. Finally they OBJ
tanned house and lived here until
the following fall and they bought
what is known as the home place, for
six dollars and quarter an acre.
Was All Prairie
This was all prairie so Mr.. +. had
something to do before he could realize
anything from the land. They built a
house 14x14 and made some straw
sheds. AS time permitted they i'm
proved the farm, built sheds. fences,
and they soon found it necessary TO
build an addition to the house, as
George, Bill, who died at the age Of
year and half; Ida, Fred and Arthur.
had all come to help make the home
more merry. They hauled all the ma.
tcrial for building from Nevada. 10y
making one trip in day and a half.
Ellsworth was unknown to them then
About this time the road condition in
Lincoln township began to impress the
settlers. Mr.. Peterson was appointed
road boss and kept at the roads Of this
community for twenty years. In 1880
the Northwestern cut through the edge
of the farm, and this brought the mar.
kct closer and things began to prosper.
In 1893 they built a fine new homo
and made the improvements as they
stand now two miles east of Ellsworth.
During the last twelve years they have
lived retired life. The children all
grown and having homes they decided
they had worked long enough. SO they
rented their farm to their son, Fred,
and moved to town where they had
built new home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Peterson are the happy
possessors of five children, Orvie Pet.
erson, of Ellsworth. George Peterson,
Of Ellsworth, Mrs. l.. o. Iverson. of
Monticello, Fred Peterson. Ut BOWS,
and Arthur Peterson of Rolfe. all in
Iowa. There are eleven grand children.
one Of whom is married. All the near
relatives, with many old pioneer
friends, helped Mr.. and Mrs. Peterson
celebrate their golden wedding. Feb.
l. in the Lutheran church parlors.
The people were assembled in the
church where they formed grand
march to the dining room, beautifully
decorated in gold and white, which
would remind You at every glance the
reason for the occasion. AS they en-
tered the dining room all were seated
and enjoyed two course dinner Be-
fore the last course q large golden we'd
ding cake was lighted bearing 80 gold
candles. After dinner a short program
was given and was followed by social
hour. Everyone departed wishing Mr..
and Mrs. Peterson just as many more
welded years.
Advertising Pays.
Peter Pappas reports that, since he
had an advertisement in thc Freeman