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 (4^th) 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 16^th 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 34^th 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 3^rd he” went to Chippewa—claim agent here.” On 4^th back to Dr.  On 5^th he “Left for Mpls on #1.  Arrive St. Paul 4.20.  left on G.M. arrive Mple 5.00.  on 6^th “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 14^th 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 2^nd 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, 1/5^th 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 [40^th]
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

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. 

more reception pics (Stori and Nick)

 Stori and Nick

 Barb, Emery, Stu, Nick, Stori, Pat

 cousins and their kids

 Peterson clan

A few pictures that I finally got scanned:

-martha

Petersons in Montana, June 2013

 

Barb, Emery, Martha, Peggy, Stu and Jim in Lewistown

John, Penny, Peg at Kim's on Friday before the reception

Isla, Ari, Cameron 

 Barb, Emery and Barry Roose

Stu, Barb, Barry, Emery 

Stori, Ari, Karen (Kim's mom), Nick 

Intrepid sightseers on Beartooth Highway 

 Pat, Martha, Barb, Emery, Jim, Penny, John, Peg

Congratulations Peggy!

Brianna's Poem

I found this in my saved messages (from Martha in 2005)

This was the blog of one of the guys today on Fireflyfans.  He puts it a lot better than I ever could.

Today God put the world on hold for me.
That's right, He told everyone else to wait.
He set down everything He was doing.
He did not put me on call waiting.
He didn't look at his caller ID and hope I would just leave a message.
He didn't ask if he could call me after the game was over or at the next commercial.
He didn't stomp His foot and say, "I should have left my IM set on Busy or Away."

He did not try to see if He could "squeeze me in somewhere" or have His secretary make some lame excuse, or ask if we could reschedule.
He did not say, "Let me finish this up & I'll be right there."

No, He did none of those things.

God stopped. He closed His appointment book. He didn't try to finish a few last things on his desk while we talked. Instead He got up from his desk, and came around to me. He reached His gentle and strong hand to me, smiled, said, "Would you like to go for a walk? or maybe an Ice cream cone? I've got all day just for you."

He never said, "Let's talk on the go." But He said, "Here's a nice quiet peaceful place, let's sit here & talk. "And while we talked he looked me in the eye. He didn't snack while I was talking. He did not give me obligatory nods or say, "Hmmm" or "Yes" or "Interesting" He listened. He wasn't watching something across the street or rolling His eyes hoping I would "just get to the point." God listened.

And when He spoke, He spoke strong meaningful words, sometimes they were stern, but they were never condescending, never mocking, never did He once make me feel "stupid" or feel like I was wasting a single second of his time. He spoke words of healing, of life, of encouragement. He made me feel special, he made me feel loved. God listened to me.

Now I know what you're thinking. God would never put everyone else on hold. He's omnipotent he would just listen to everyone at once, after all he's God.

And so you picture in your mind God sitting at a big desk surrounded by papers & forms by which he runs the universe. His E-mail is full of Standard Responses, and automatic replies. You see him with a cell phone in one ear, his speaker phone broadcasting the eloquent prayer of some big name preacher, because after all they are more important than me. And his pager vibrating loudly where he stuck it in his right hand desk drawer. While his monitor is buried under yellow sticky notes with names scribbled so carelessly they can't even be read. And if this is what you see, than you're not seeing God. You see us. For you see this is how we try to "listen" to everyone at once. But that's not God.

God puts the world on hold and listens to me.
And he'll do the same for you, at the same time, with the same love & care & interest.
After all He is God and YOU are his most important child.
-R. Harris

Grandma's Hands

GRANDMA'S  HANDS

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench.

She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer
I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at
the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at
me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear
voice strong.

'I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandma, but you were just sitting here
staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to
her.

'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked.

'I mean really looked at your hands?'

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms
up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as
I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served
you well throughout your years.  These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and
weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and
embrace life.

'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.

They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother
taught me to fold them in prayer.  They tied my shoes and pulled on my
boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

'They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.  They were uneasy
and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding
band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They  wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when  I buried my
parents and spouse.

'They  have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and
shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest
of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.
And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these
hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

'But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and
take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side
and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.'

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out
and took my Grandma's hands and put her to rest. When my hands are hurt or
sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of
Grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of
God.

I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

The Family of Georgina Peterson

We are thankful for the prayers, thoughtful cards, memorials, phone calls, food, beautiful flower arrangements, hugs and sharing that have been wrapped around us by family, friends and community at this time.  A special thank you to Pastor Bell for his caring ministry to Mother as well as the uplifting funeral service.  Thank you to David Post and Carl Cronquist for sharing their gift of music at the service and to the women of St. John’s who served the delicious lunch afterward.  We appreciate all who attended the wake and who braved the snowstorm to attend the funeral.

We thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Dr. Ippel’s office and at St. Joseph’s Hospital for their care and respectful treatment of her.  Thanks, too, to the hospice and palliative care teams, especially Cindy and Diane, for their loving care, and to Jill and Betty for being friends, not just caregivers.  They all helped Mother fulfill her wish to remain in her home of 50 years.

Thank you to the Leiser Funeral Home for their attentive assistance with services.

A card we received said, “The only feeling stronger than loss is love.”  We miss Mother/Grandmother/Great-Grandmother, but we know she is safely in the arms of her Savior and at peace.  Her love for her family remains strong in our hearts.

Emery Peterson, Pat Fredrickson, Stu Peterson, Kim Peterson and families  

My first ever blog post!

Wow, what great looking families! It is always unfortunate that we come together in times like this, but when we do, such great memories made! I was wondering if Grandma actually ordered the snow to start after everyone's arrival so that we could all be together. Although I didn't get as much time as I would have liked with everyone, it was still so great to spend the time I had with my AMAZING family.

As many of you mentioned, Grandma and Uncle Doug  must have been looking down on me during my travels to Kentucky; it wasn't 20 minutes after we walked into Churchill Downs on Friday to participate in the Kentucky Oaks festivities that we "ran" into Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews (and who I later found out was Randall Cobb). I actually touched Aaarn's shoulder. Talk about star struck! I have a better pic on my phone that you may have saw on fb....but if you look closely you can see Clay's pony tail and a little bit of Rodgers.

As you can see in the above pictures there is a lot of pink! Friday for Kentucky Oaks it is tradition to dress in pink. Aaron and Clay were also sporting pink shirts with thier suits.

This pic is of Orb (#16) the winner of the Derby at the end of the race.

Georgina Goetz Peterson passed away peacefully April 28 at St. Joseph's Hospital at the age of 94 years and 28 days.
She was born March 31, 1919 to Christian and Martha (Grimm) Goetz, the fifth of six children. In her 94 years she spanned a time from riding to church in a horse-drawn sled as a child to being a techno-grandma who kept in touch with grandchildren and great-grandchildren via email and facebook.
She grew up on the family farm and attended the Baker School. She attended high school in Chippewa Falls where she worked for her room and board. After graduation she attended teacher training and then taught in several rural schools before marrying the handsome black-haired man who would pick her up on Fridays after school.
Georgina married Ernest Gordon Peterson on August 10, 1941. They had four children: Emery, Patricia, Stuart and Douglas.
She loved her family, especially reveling in visits from her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she'd often challenge to a game of "Kings in the Corner." Those who lived far away kept her supplied with photos and videos.
She was active in St. John's Lutheran Church her entire life, except for the years Gordon was teaching in Dallas and Antigo. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and held offices in the LWML and Ladies Aid. She was also involved with Cub Scouts, Cadott Women's Club and the Cadott Area Historical Society.
She is survived by children Emery (Barbara) Peterson of Cadott, Pat (Jim) Fredrickson of Lewistown MT, Stu Peterson of Cadott and daughter-in-law Kim Peterson of Billings MT. Grandchildren and great-grandchldren include Peggy (Jeffery) Banks, Brianna and Dalton, of Eau Claire, WI; Penny (John) Kowalkowski of Chicago, IL; Ernest (Megan) Peterson, Evander and Hazel, of Blair WI; Patrick Peterson and Ryan Peterson of Cadott; Martha Hodge of Moccasin MT; Frank (Erin) Hodge, Ava and Julian, of Dallas TX; Codee Peterson of Marshfield WI; Stori Peterson of Colorado Springs CO; Chris (Joanna) Peterson, Christian, Manaia, Eason and Moeana, of Worland WY; Staci (Dan) Elggren, Isla and Porter, of Colmar PA; Scott (Rebecca) Peterson of Missoula MT. A sister, Joyce Kulas, of Rutherfordton NC also survives as well as Pierre Richez of Paris, France who was an A.F. S. student with the Petersons in 1962-63.
She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon and son Doug.
The family wishes to thank Jill and Betty for their care of Mother . Special thanks also to the hospice and pallative care teams whose loving care allowed her to remain at home these past years.
A celebration of her life will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Cadott on Thursday, May 2 at 11:00 a.m.with Rev. Raymond Bell officiating. Interment will be in Brooklawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Leiser Funeral Home in Cadott on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and one hour before the service on Thursday.
The family suggests memorials be given to St. John's Lutheran Church or the Cadott Area Historial Society.

Gotta luv Cousins!