Colusa Biographical Sketches.
CHAPTER XII.
P.S. PETERSON.
Peter Sören Peterson, an honored pioneer of the State and one of Colusa County's best citizens, was born in Bornholm, Denmark, on December 23, 1820. His father was a school-master and hence aided young Peterson in obtaining a practical education. At eighteen years of age he went out to the Danish West Indies and secured employment as overseer on a sugar plantation, remaining there and working in this capacity eleven years, on the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Hearing of the discovery of gold in California, he left St. Thomas in April, 1850, on the packet ship Shakespeare, arriving at San Francisco after a nine months' voyage. After working there a few months at any odd job that presented itself, he set out for the mines, working with success at Bartons Bar, on Yuba River, and subsequently at Long Bar and Parks Bar. In 1856 he bought an interest in the Blue Cement mine, on Suckers Flat, Yuba County, afterwards being associated in the same with Lot M. Rust, whose sister Mr. Peterson married later on. He disposed of his interest in this mine for a comfortable sum and then set about realizing the dream of his life, which was to be an independent farmer. In August, 1868, he purchased a livery stable in Colusa from John Culp, but ill health compelled him to sell out to Mr. Rust.
On July 13, 1869, he bought the Salt Lake ranch in company with John Boggs and C.C. Crommer. This ranch is located on Funk Slough, in Antelope Valley, just in the foot-hills some eleven miles west of Maxwell. This ranch embraced nearly six thousand acres, and four thousand sheep and other stock were grazing on it. Mr. Peterson took immediate possession and has ever since made it his cozy, hospitable home. From time to time he added to his land acquisition, and on March 2, 1874, he purchased W.H. Fountain's ranch, containing nine hundred and twenty acres, just north of the home place. On February 14, 1877, he purchased the interest of John Boggs in the original Salt Lake ranch, so that his landed possessions now embrace nine thousand one hundred and seventy acres.
Mr. Peterson was married, February 1, 1870, to Miss Lida M. Rust, of Palermo, Waldo County, Maine, by whom he has been blessed with four children.
Mr. Peterson is one of those energetic and progressive gentlemen whose residence in a community always leaves an impression and gives an impetus to its welfare. He was among the first to introduce Durham cattle in the county, of which he has now a large band. He was an early advocate of railroads in the county and is a large stockholder in the Colusa and Lake Road. In politics he is an ardent Republican.
COLUSA COUNTY
ITS
HISTORY TRACED FROM A STATE OF NATURE
THROUGH THE EARLY PERIOD OF SET-
TLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT,
TO THE PRESENT DAY
WITH A
DESCRIPTION OF ITS RESOURCES, STATISTICAL
TABLES, ETC.
ALSO
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND
PROMINENT RESIDENTS
by Justus H. Rogers
Orland, California
1891
Page 343-465
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 7/2/2009
Colusa County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.