Monday, September 30, 2013


Ernest Gustav Peterson     Sept. 23, 1880-    1964

Ernest G. Peterson was born as Ernest Johnson (John’s son—get it?)  in Kristvalla Kalmar Sweden to John Laurence Peterson and Maria Erickson on September 23, 1880.  (info “verified” by Ernest’s application for retirement annuity in 1945—these are dates and spellings he gave.)

In 1967 Gordon, Georgina and Pat visited the church where he was baptized. 


The story goes that Ernest, a two-year-old, tried to climb out a porthole on the boat trip to America in 1883.  If he hadn’t been pulled back, this story wouldn’t happen.

The family settled in Westboro, WI where John and Maria went on to have more children: Carl, Angus, …..  The landscape there resembled what they left behind in Sweden.

Ernest’s first grade report card was for “Ernest Johnson.”  On later report card he was Ernest Peterson.

The school house was by the Nelsons’ and Peterson’s farms and was the site of Saturday night socials and square dancing.  People would walk the 2-2 ½ miles from Westboro to attend, walking down the railroad tracks.  The music was guitar, banjo, violin and mouth organ.

Ernest noted in a 1940 diary that on May 31, 1890 he became a naturalized citizen through his father.

On February 27, 1894, T.F. Williams, M.C. wrote “Ernest Johnson has been successfully vaccinated.”  {what vaccinations were given them?)—original note

1896—age 16—pay slips from Heidrick & Matso Lumber Co. Inc.  He was working for $1.15/day or $30/month.

1899—“Chelsea, Wis. Oct 23, 1899.  Rousseau & Shepard Co.  Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in Lumber—Hemlock a specialty”.  Evidently also   had a company store.  One column was “July 1 Balance due you  10.66”  followed by dates and items purchased (e.g. Hat .50, cash 2.00, Peaches .30, 1 pr shoes 1.35).  Aug 17 John L (chg to Ernest) feed 1.43.  By the end of the two pages, Ernest owed the company $6.98.

At some point when Ernest was working in a sawmill, he lost a finger. 

1902

Deed No. 4178--Wisconsin Central Railway Company.  This indenture, Made the second day of July in the year one thousand nine hundred and two by and between the Wisconsin Central Railway Company…and Ernest Peterson of Chelsea of the County of Taylor State of Wisconsin…That, for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred (200) Dollars…The northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section nineteen (19), township thirty three (33) north, range two (2) east of the fourth (4th) principal meridian: containing forty (40) acres more or less

1904—diary—details of what he did on the railroad.  January 14 entry: electric light


1906 diary written in “Laird & Lee’s Diary and Time-Saver” contains his daily activities working on the railroad.  There is very interesting information at the beginning of the diary.

The Wenthe Railway Correspondence School, Freeport, Ill certifies that Ernest Peterson has completed the General and Special Studies required and has pass with High Credit the examination prescribed for the Locomotive Firemen’s course.  We recommend him as a Fireman who is thoroughly conversant with modern railroad practice, the underlying principles thereof and the duties of the position to which he aspires.  Dated at Freeport, Ill., this 16th day of May A.D. 1908     (Signed) Sec’y.

It may be at this point that he moved to Illinois and became a fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad.  Because of the missing finger, he could not become an engineer. (source: Gordon oral history)


1909 is covered in “Leachman’s Diary.”  It also contains his activity on the railroad.

April 25    party at Aug. Nelsons
April 28    party at Mrs. Swansons
May 1       party at home
May 2       party at Smiths      -----leading up to:
May 3    left for Mont. On 11:30 train  (brother Ferd was already in Montana)
May 4    he went thru Abbotsford and on to Mpls, St. Paul
May 5    delayed at Hope, ND      later mentions a “small snowstorm in Shelby”
May 6    delayed at Frazer
May 7    arrived in Libby at 3:15—“find it a dull place”   “went to work in sawmill”


In an undated ledger seeming to bridge years from 1912-14 he kept thoughts, quotations, even rules for social  games.  On pp. 174-76 is written his poem about leaving the beautiful state of Montana.  Evidently he got over the “dull place” he’d first experienced.  


In a list of the “speed record of the swiftest moving things on earth” he wrote that  “Aeroplanes fly 100 miles an hour.”  He had a list of the richest (iron mine in Sweden) and deepest (2,314 feet) mines on earth.

There were also several pages of games, some with rules.  Ever hear of “an elephant market” or “Brother I’m Bobbed” or “laugh and go to foot”?  He has the rules for them!

1913’s time book says he “went to camp”    logging, most likely

Sept. 6 he attended pie social at schoolhouse

Sept. 11 “wage raised” 


On October 22 he went to camp 19, returning home November 26 for a few days.  On November 30 he went back to camp, coming home April 2.

This seems to contradict what Gordon had told.  He said his dad took a job a railroad section foreman when he returned from Montana.


In 1914 he seemed to be still working at the mill or somewhere in the lumber industry.  But on Sept. 23, he wrote a one-word entry: wedding.  It was his 34th birthday and he married Alma Nelson.  He did take a week off from work.  For a wedding present they received a cow from Alma’s parents. They first lived in  Queenstown, a “suburb” of Westboro.  Queenstown was populated by people who worked in the mills.


On September 30 Nels Nelson, Ernest’s grandfather died.  At that time, Ernest was working at the mill.

1915
Jan .4     cut 22 hardwood logs
5             cut 19 logs
7             paid Life Ins. $33.62
In March he started in the sawmill
“Banknote Pd. 4-16-15”
In May he bought a stove; borrowed money from the bank

October 4—with the number circled in red—“baby born   11.30   10 ½ lbs.”  [Gordon]
He took the following day off.

Dec. 5     “surprise party on E. Peterson by Church members   $16.00”   (baby shower?)
Dec. 8     “had Dr. for baby”—no mention of problem or its solution

1916 diary showed hours worked; income, outgo; weather

Nov. 2    Augusta Nelson and Frida Blomberg visiting (was Frida his sister?) 


1917
     April 6    “War declared on Germany”
     Nov. 8    helped dad butcher pig
     Dec. 31  cutting logs for dad

November 18, 1918—postcard from the War Department, Local Board for the County of Taylor, Medford, Wis.  Notice of Classification: IV-A


His ledger contained a long discourse, seemingly copied but no source given, how J. P. Morgan bought newspapers to influence the war effort, appointing editors to “censor” the news in his favor, i.e. supporting the war machine.


1920 picture of Gordon and baby Beverly

Inserted into 1906 diary are 1923 notes.  Mostly R.R.


1924

Warranty Deed –H.G. Kiger & Emma Kiger his wife to Ernest Peterson for Lot 10 Josephs Add to Westboro.  August 13.  “for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar and other valuable consideration”

1933

In 1933 the railroad section at Westboro was eliminated and rather than bump someone else, Ernest took a section foreman job in Cadott where there was a vacancy.  Ernest didn’t drive, so Gordon drove him back and forth on weekends.  In May 1934 the family moved to Cadott.  The first house they rented for $15/month.  They then moved to the house they purchased (where Emery and Barb live now).

1940 diary: “May 31, 1890   Circuit Court of Taylor Co.  Medford  The date above when I was naturalized thru my Father.”

He must have had an accident at work.  On Feb. 2 he went to Doctor.  On 3rd he” went to Chippewa—claim agent here.” On 4th back to Dr.  On 5th he “Left for Mpls on #1.  Arrive St. Paul 4.20.  left on G.M. arrive Mple 5.00.  on 6th “arrived 1435  Soo  Bldg 9.10 AM –at chief Surgeons office at 2 PM.”  Next day “got up 6,15 AM—left Mpls 7.30 on #2.  Feb. 8 “First National & Soo Linde Bldg claim office 14th floor—Chief Surgeon.”  He also notes that the Woolworth bldg. has escalator.  He took taxi to Venons Hotel for 25 cents where his room was 2.50.     He went thru the Woolworth store &  Penneys store—Sears Foshay Tower about 30 stories high—office in Medical Arts Bldg 2nd floor—xrays 13 floors up.


Oct. 15, 1940   State Bank of Medford:  Enclosed find our draft for $650.00 to cover payment in full of the Zentner transaction.  [is this the house in Cadott?]

1944

(no mention of his granddaughter's birth....  :)

1945

February 4 “biggest snowstorm” and continued above duties.
April 3  storm all day WORST STORM
ROOSEVELT DIED. APRIL 12  3:45
June 8  VACATION
June 14  END OF VACATION
Aug 1-7   vacation
Nov. 30   last day
Dec. 1  RETIRED   (no more entries for the year)

 
Ernest retired from the Soo Line Railroad with an average monthly pay of $116.84.  His annuity paid him $56.20.  On the application dated December 20, 1945  he listed Alma Nelson as his wife (no middle name), father: John Laurence Peterson; mother: Maria Kristina Peterson with his place of birth Kristvalla, Kalmar, Sweden; DOB Sept.

23, 1880.  He started Jan. 1, 1937 for the Soo Line [Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault St. Marie] and retired Nov. 30, 1945 as Section Foreman in the Stevens Point Devision.  Designated beneficiary witnesses were Geo. A. Miller and Esley Bates.

He must have challenged the annuity part as he received a letter dated March 3, 1947 which stated he was not entitled to an annuity of more than $56.20. 

1946

United States of America Railroad Retirement Board Certificate of Service Months and Wages.  Retirement credits:  119 months, $30,149.97 in wages.

1947

Diary notes of activity at church—janitorial, weddings—also when Gordon and  Beverly would come home for the weekend

Letter from lawyer dated April 3, 1947 re: estate of John L. Peterson.  It concerned the selling of the real estate belonging to this estate.  His sister Emma Scott seemed to be in charge and thought $1600 could be secured [Maria Christina Peterson lived with Emma and her family after John died.] The letter requested he sign the quit claim deed; the name of the grantee was blank “so that if it should develop that somebody else was interested in paying more, the name can be inserted.”.  The lawyer already had the power of attorney for Ferd Peterson and his wife.  Other heirs were “local” so their signatures could presumable be gotten when the property sold. “When the sale is made your Sister Emma thinks that some reasonable amount should be used to put up a grave stone for your parents.  Kindly advise what your opinion is on that subject.”

In Oct. he noted “janitor work   $37,50, clean church $28.00=$65.50, (supplies) $5.09—rec’d check $70.59—from other notes this would be a quarterly payment so this would be for July-September

From December 8-13 he made 2-3 trips to the church daily “to fire up” with the same the following week.  In December he noted 17 services, 1 wedding, 1 funeral.

1948

Mostly janitor work and clean church.  He got $1/day for firing the furnace, $1.50 for janitor work.  He worked on the parsonage steps for 10 hr. @ $.60/hr.

1949

Monday, March 28      new Grandson


December 7, 1949—Medford lawyer’s letter to Angus, Carl, Ernest and Ferd re: John L. and Christine Peterson Estates.  It seems there was a problem clearing the title to the property.  One involved “the Rust title in Westboro, which titles are a complicated mess.  It happens that it could be proven that the title had been in the family for more than thirty years, so an affidavit of adverse possession was drawn and placed on record; there were various other complications to perfect the title, but all has now been taken care of.  From the statement you will note that the balance remaining is $832.95; that balance we have divided as follows: 1/3 to Emma Scott, under the deed of the mother to herself covering the dower of the widow… $277.65   Difference of $555.30 in five shares, 1/5th is EACH  $111.0”  [there is a detailed itemization of the final costs to settle the estate including funeral and burial]

1950

[in the person information part at the beginning of the diary: “In Case of Accident or Serious Illness, Please, Notify by Telegraph or Telephone…..”  Under personal information: Size of Hat   7 ¼   Collar  17  Size of Shirt   (blank)   Sleeve Length (blank)   Size of Gloves  (blank)  Shoes 9 ½   Make of Watch (blank)  My Height is 5 ft 9 in          My Average Weight is  185  ]

The 1950 diary is mostly weather info and church caretaker info

Feb. 16   Diesel train #21 hit car running on track.  1 man killed.  Justice miscarried. 2 drunks

1953

July 17    Christ Goetz sick
Aug. 1    Christ Goetz died
Aug. 4    Christ Goetz funeral


As janitor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cadott, he also rang the bell before the service and during the Lord’s Prayer.  Emery remembers that he also had a seat next to the organ and pulled a leather strap which pumped the bellows of the organ. (That organ was replaced by a pipe organ in 1954.)

1954

Feb 19   television first in here
Feb. 21  Mrs. Chris Goetz died of stroke Sunday evening
Feb 26   Mrs. Goetz funeral 2 PM
April 10 Douglas Kris Peterson born
May 13 Douglas baptized
Aug. 13   hurt ribs
Aug. 19  xray ribs   2 ribs broke #1&5
Sept 1   Elmer Scott died [brother-in-law]
Sept 4    funeral 2 PM  big attendance at the home & church
Sept 19  anniversary party here.  45 for dinner [40th]
Oct 13    Ferd & Lennie arrive here at noon
Oct. 14   Gordon took them to Scotts in eve.
Oct 17    Family reunion at Scotts
Oct 19    Ferd & Lennie leave for home    Gordon took them to train at Eau Claire
Oct 25  Brother Angus died Mon. eve.
Oct 28    Brother Angus buried Thurs. P.M. from Luth Church Westboro

 
 1955  Monday was wash day, Friday or Saturday scrub day—duly noted each week.

March 15             star dogged moon

April 23-May 11 notes dr. visits
May 20  confirmation day   [Pat?]  entertain relatives    at Gordon’s for dinner
June 22  T.V. out of order 5:45 PM    2 yrs. 4 mo.
June 25  T.V. repaired 8 PM
July 12   my wife’s birthday  65     supper at Gordon’s

 

Ernest G. Peterson pictures

Ernest and Alma's wedding picture--1914

wedding announcement

church in Sweden where Ernest was baptized

                                                               undated picture

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Fun Times!

Barry and the guys!

Cousins!

Arie and her cousin Kennedy at the Fourth of July parade in Scobey, MT. 


Riding the Four Wheeler in Scobey. 

Family picture, not sure where Cameron went. 

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

more reception pics (Stori and Nick)

 Stori and Nick
 Barb, Emery, Stu, Nick, Stori, Pat
 cousins and their kids
 Peterson clan

Monday, June 24, 2013