A short history of Ane and Anton Peterson
Mrs. Anton Peterson is another of the fine pioneer mothers of this community, who came here when settlers were few and conditions generally were such as to test well the strength of those who lived here. Mrs. Peterson arrived in this city in 1885 and has since made the city and the immediate community her home. Although she raised a large family of children, she always found time to lend a hand in the activities of the community, being especially active in the church. Today she and her husband make their home with a daughter and son in this city.
From Pioneer Mothers of McLean County—Women who lived here before 1889
Editor’s Note: In this eleventh of the series of articles concerning the pioneer mothers of this community, we find Mrs. Anton Peterson, who came to North Dakota in 1885, the subject. The material for these articles is collected by the Washburn Study Club, and Mrs. W.K. Williams, president of the club, is the author of the article. These articles will later be available in book form.
Ane Elisabeth Pedersen Peterson
It is a privilege indeed to know these Pioneer mothers and dip from their well of wisdom, a satisfying draught. Their philosophy of life is as broad as the prairies on which they lived. It exalts you and humbles you.
Then this pioneer mother was asked her way of life, she simply, and unhesitatingly answered, “I have done the best I knew how and if I have not done well, it is because, I know no better way.” Her ways have been good. It is known by her deeds and is written in her countenance. There is a peace and serenity in her smile that is like a benediction.
While home was always Mrs. Peterson’s first consideration, somehow it burst its four walls and spilled over into every corner of this community, touching every phase of living. She allied herself with other progressive settlers and established a Methodist church and has been a faithful teacher for over forty years in its Sunday school. Now that her hearing is impaired, she would prefer to resign, but her class is loath to have her do so, and she continues to teach. Both Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been instrumental in establishing and maintaining this church. They have ably served in many capacities in the various organizations. Mr. Peterson serving as trustee and teacher many years, while Mrs. Peterson served, not only as a class leader, but also as the president of the Ladies Aid for years. They had much to do in helping finance the building of the church structure. In all, it has been pleasant service and gladly given. Those who have been privileged to have listened in her teachings and translations, are impressed with her knowledge of the Bible, and feel the sincerity of her words. They ring true, and you just know she lives as she teaches.
Mrs. Peterson has had a rare adventure in friendship. She formed a friendship with a schoolmate, Dora Jensen, when a young girl of ten, in Stalland, Denmark, that has continued down through all these years, reminding one of these lines, “He that hath one true friend, hath much.” It was this strong bond of friendship that drew Mrs. Peterson to America in 1879, where her friend Dora then lived.
Ane Elisabeth Pedersen was born and raised within ten miles of Copenhagen, Denmark, during King Christian’s the IX reign. There was little traveling done in those days and she never visited the Danish Capital until she was en route to the United States when she was a young lady of nineteen. From a family of eleven children, Ane Elisabeth and three others were the only ones to reach maturity. Her people were small land owners and she spent her early childhood in a thatched roof cottage that was made of interwoven branches and plastered with clay. The floor was of clay and Ane Elisabeth would often think, and say, if they could only have a wooden floor, she would willingly scrub it every day. At one end of the kitchen was a brick oven, large enough to enter and sweep out, in which bread was baked just three or four times a year. This bread was piled or corded up in the attic where it was kept clean and dry. Supplies of linen and clothing were sufficient enough that the family washing was only done occasionally. Each family kept sheep for their wool supply and raised their own flax for linen. All materials were woven by hand. The mother of each family began making articles for her daughter’s dowry chests when the child was still small, which they exhibited with a great deal of pride when callers came. Education was compulsory in Denmark. Just as soon as Ane Elisabeth had completed her elementary schooling, she was obliged to hire out and earn her own living at the early age of fourteen. Her earnings for a year’s work were meager, about $4.00 in cash and a dress, a few aprons and woolen stockings, increasing somewhat as she grew older. Her ambition was to earn enough to go to America where her friend lived.
She did not see how she could ever save up enough to pay her passage to the United States where her friend lived in Luck, Wisconsin. One day she received word from her friend, that a man from luck, was going to return to their old neighborhood in Denmark for a few weeks visit and she had arranged for him to loan Ane Elisabeth money for her passage over, to be paid back from her exorbitant wages of $1.25 a week that she would earn in the place that she had secured for her. Ane Elisabeth’s chance had come. So in company with several others from the neighborhood, they all set sail from Hamburg, Germany for New York City. They crossed the ocean in a fast going German liner. As she sighted the large, imposing statue of Liberty near the shore of New York, it seemed to be greeting her, full of promise of the good the future held for her. Fast moving trains carried her on to her girl friend who was eagerly awaiting her in Luck, Wisconsin.
There she hired out to a Danish family, who conducted a store, and had charge of the post office. She worked about there and in Hudson, Wisconsin for several years. Her chum Dora had gone to Chicago in 1882 and secured work in the Hahnemann hospital and wrote to Ane Elisabeth promising to help her get employment there if she would come. So the two friends worked together for some time, until Dora married john Peterson and moved to Iowa.
Meanwhile, Ane Elisabeth’s brother, who had lived in Boston, Massachusetts, came to Hudson, Wisconsin, and secured work in a telegraph office. As he worked about the place, he as permitted to learn and practice what he could of telegraphy. He sent his first wire to his sister Ane Elisabeth, which was an invitation to spend Thanksgiving with him in Hudson. Not yet having seen her brother since coming to this country, Ane Elisabeth decided to accept the invitation.
Among the young folks of the vicinity who were invited to make merry, while his sister was there, was Anton Peterson, a young blacksmith of Hudson, from Moen Island, Denmark. Thus it was these two met. Ane Elisabeth returned to Chicago for a time, but a lively correspondence ensued. The lure of the West won Anton Peterson, like many others from there, and he left Hudson in 1883 for broad acres in McLean County, North Dakota, where he filed on a claim near Buffalo Coulee, later relinquishing it to his sister, Mrs. Rasmus Nelson. At one time there were dreams of a flourishing city on this homestead site, for coal was plentiful and a town site was platted and named Capito (meaning coal in the Indian language.)
Mr. Peterson did not remain long on this claim. He opened a blacksmith shop next to Andrew Peterson’s building and worked at his trade. Later he moved a frame building from his claim into Washburn and placed it on the present site of the old creamery building where he and his sister established their home. He then built a lean to and had his smithy there. This girl, he had chosen to be his wife had left Chicago and was now in Hudson again. By April 1885 he had persuaded her to come to this land of his choice.
When she arrived Mrs. Gustafson was leaving the Carnahan or Riverview Hotel to be married and Mrs. Carnahan induced this new arrival to take her place for a time. It was a motley crowd that gathered about the Carnahan board, so was it also a distinguished one as later events proved. Names that were to be written large upon the history of North Dakota and of neighboring states were first inscribed upon that makeshift hotel register. Well at any rate, here was Ane Elisabeth right in the center of things, rich and poor, good and bad, honest homesteaders, teachers, county clerks, cowboys, land promoters, fortune hunters, traders, desperadoes, preachers and speculators. All seeking a place to stay and something to eat. Why had they all come? What had this barren little place so far from everything to offer people from Chicago, New York, Norway, Denmark, England?
Washburn was a straggling little river town with a few tarpaper shacks, five dwelling houses, two rude store buildings, saloon, printing office, mill, blacksmith shop and a court house when the Petersons were married in July 1886.
The Carnahans gave the post office appointment to the Petersons and one room of their house was used for the office. The salary was based on the cancellation of stamps. Mrs. Peterson tended the office and this gave her a wide acquaintance, for eventually everybody came for their mail. She has seen many faces brighten with a smile as she handed them mail from the old home folks and has pitied the lonely homesick ones who were disappointed when she could hand them none. In connection with the blacksmith shop, Mr. Peterson formed a partnership with Jerry Barnes and kept many supplies and implements and conducted a store. Besides keeping postoffice, Mrs. Peterson boarded the county officers, J.A. Barnes, C.T. Lang, and L. Casselman and others. All this kept her very busy along with the care of three babies that were born during these years.
Mr. Peterson decided to buy Oliver Rhudd’s daughter’s homestead relinquishment on the SE¼ (24-144 82) one mile east of Washburn. He moved his family into the sod shanty, built into the side of the hill that was on his claim. For a time he continued his business in town, driving back and forth, but finally giving it up, devoting all his time to farming and stock raising. He was very successful raising hogs and marketed great numbers of them. After a few years the Petersons bought the quarter adjoining theirs on the west from George Rhudd, owning the land adjacent to the town site.
This crude home was a decided contrast to the other homes in which she had lived. It was a miserable abode and Mrs. Peterson does not recall with any great degree of pleasure, the time she spent within it. One child, William was born there, and when he was three weeks old the family was stricken with scarlet fever and were dreadfully sick for weeks. On one of Mr. Peterson’s trips to Bismarck with a load of hogs, he had spent the night at some wayside house and had been obliged to sleep with a sick boy, who proved later to have had scarlet fever. Thus exposing himself and his family to this contagion
In 1892 they erected a frame house farther up on the bench of the river. Mrs. Peterson’s other four children were born here. One was stillborn. Here, these clean living, vigorous, tightly knit, healthy-minded children grew up, loving and taking pride in one another. The evening prayer and hymn at bedtime, often a dreary family rite, was one of the happiest times of the day for them, for then they were all together in a gay delightful mood. In the same spirit the family life continues. Though they are widely scattered now, the keep constant tabs on one another.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were agreed that education for their children was worthwhile and that it was the choicest blessing they could bestow on them. Each child has had more than the local school afforded. Hence they have been able to write their names high on the honor roll of our country. You would go far before finding a finer story of family achievement—All from a little prairie home in the West.
The earliest religious service Mrs. Peterson can recall was a Union service held in the school house. The first church organized was the Methodist and the first appointed minister was Rev. Gary in 1887, who had a circuit of Ingersoll, Fort Stevenson, Conkline, and Washburn, walking the distance in the summer and riding a pony in the winter. The next was Rev. Hockings, an Englishman. At one time a stone church was started and the walls were up half way with the window frames placed, when the plan was abandoned and a wooden structure replaced it on its present site.
Mrs. Peterson has spent long years of hard work raising her family, helping her husband with his work, putting up with inconveniences, privations, and hardships. But her optimism and determination has brought her through with her chin up. She learned to love the prairie and exulted in its boundless freedom and health-giving climate.
There has been but one break in the family circle when Carl, an admirable young man of thirty-four drowned in the flood waters of the St Francis broken dam in California in 1928. Carl had grown to young manhood in this community. After finishing school, he entered the service during the World War, returning later to teach. His tragic death was a great shock to this mother and a grief that only time will soften.
The other children are Mrs. William (Anna Louise) Slagg, Washburn, N. Dakota , Walter L Peterson, Veradale, Washington, Agnes L Peterson, our present postmaster, Rev. William R Peterson, who has a pastorage at present in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Albert T Peterson, McLean County Superintendant of Schools, Washburn, N Dakota, and Mrs. James W. (Elizabeth Dorothy) Thorpe, 1361 E Acacia, Glendale, California. There are fourteen grandchildren.
Mrs. Peterson enjoyed a trip back to her home land in 1884, previous to her marriage. She has made several visits to Wisconsin and to see her lifetime friend, Mrs. John (Dora) Peterson, who is now a widow and lives in Montevideo, Minnesota.
These pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Peterson live a retired and comfortable life in Washburn with their daughter Agnes and son Albert. The sunset of their lives is rosy as it should be. May they live long and enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Mrs. Peterson’s life has been full of good deeds, and it is said, “By their deeds ye shall know them.” Smiling and friendly she keeps the even tenor of her way. Although the prairies are tamed and her family raised, she knows people still need friendly counsel.
Anton Peterson
An eventful chapter in the history of McLean county pioneers was closed in the death of Anton Peterson, age 91, Monday morning, November 3, at a Bismarck hospital. He had been a patient there since Sunday, October 26, when he broke his hip when getting out of bed that morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Slagg. His condition was reported as satisfactory until late Saturday evening, when he went into a coma from which he never recovered. His immediate relatives here were called to his bedside Sunday.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, November 6, at the local Methodist church with the Rev. Pat Durbin officiating. Internment was made in the family lot at Riverview cemetery.
Special music included two numbers by a mixed quartette composed of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Schulz, Lyle Lattrell, and Mrs. Chas. Tjenstrom. By request of the family, Rev. Durbin sang, “I know whom I have believed.” Miss Margaret Burgum was the accompanist.
Pallbearers included three grandsons, Rodney and Maynard Slagg, and William Peterson, Jr. and John Fisher, Hans Nelson and E. L. Schulz.
Born in Denmark
Mr. Peterson was born at Moen Island, Denmark, February 15, 1858, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Antonson. When at the early age of 17, he was lured to the United States for a challenging and adventurous future on the unexplored prairies of Dakota. He came to Hudson, Wisconsin, upon his arrival in this country. While there, he followed the trade of a blacksmith for several years.
Came Here in 1883
The desire to seek a homestead prompted Mr. Peterson’s first trip to Dakota and to Washburn in 1883. He filed on a claim near Buffalo Coulee, west of Washburn, later ceding it to his sister, Mrs. Rasmus Nelson. The homestead at one time had possibilities as the site of a city named Capito, bearing reference to the abundant wealth of the coil to the rich coal deposits.
After leaving his claim, Mr. Peterson established his blacksmith shop in Washburn and made his home here with his sister. In July, 1885, he took as his bride, Elisabeth Pederson, a young girl from Copenhagen, Denmark, who had come to America a few years previously. The couple had met at Hudson, Wisconsin, from which place Miss Pederson came to Washburn to be married July 18, 1885. They observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1935.
While Mrs. Peterson managed the post office and a boarding house, Mr. Peterson continued his blacksmith trade and also opened a general store in partnership with a Mr. Barnes. A few years later, Mr. Peterson bought a homestead one mile east of town and moved his family to the sod shanty on the claim. He continued his business in town for time, but soon sold out and gave his full attention to farming. A new frame home soon replaced the sod shack and other improvements were made with the years.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson left their farm in 1920, moving to Washburn where they resided until 1936. Then they moved back to their farm to live with their son-in-law and daughter Mr. and Mrs. William Slagg. Mrs. Peterson died March 1, 1942, at the age of 81.
Mr. Peterson was an active member of the Methodist church here and was influential financially in having the first church built here. He was a charter member and gave immeasurably of his time toward the promotion of church activities.
In spite of his years, Mr. Peterson could hear very well and had never worn glasses although he read a great deal. He enjoyed coming to town occasionally to stroll up and down the street and shake hands with old friends. His son-in-law, Mr. Slagg, commented that Mr. Peterson had been quite active and in apparently good health. When breakfast was served at the Slagg home at 6 AM each morning, Mr. Peterson was always up and at the table with the rest of the family. It was perhaps in his haste to get dressed before breakfast that he fell beside his bed and was found there later with his hip broken.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson had eight children, seven of whom are living. One son, Carl, drowned in the St Francis Dam Disaster in California in 1928.
Those living are, in addition to Mrs. Slagg; Mrs. R.E. Bartley, Underwood; Mrs. J.W> Thorp, auburn California; Walter, of Veradale, Washington; Rev. William of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Dr. Albert of Banning, California. Rev. Peterson arrived Monday with his son, Wm. Jr. Those on the west coast were unable to make arrangements to come for the funeral. There are 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
