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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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A History of the Northern Peninsula of Michigan and its People, Vol. III
by Alvah L. Sawyer
Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago - 1911


        [1117-1118]

        PETER M. PETERSON.- One of the most important business houses of
      the city of Menominee is that of the People's Square House Furnishing
      Company, of which PETER M. PETERSON is president and manager, the
      large and finely equipped establishment of the company being located
      at 355-404 Grand avenue. Mr. Peterson has shown marked energy and
      initiative ability, and through well directed employment of the same
      has achieved distinctive success, being a self-made man in the best
      sense of the term, and having sained recognition as one of the
      thoroughly representative business men and loyal and public-spirited
      citizens of Menominee. The company of which he is the executive head,
      has facilities for furnishing homes complete, and in addition to
      handling the manifold lines demanded for this service, the concern
      also keeps well ordered stocks of hardware, watches, jewelry, sewing
      machines, musical instruments, bicycles, notions, guns, revolvers,
      ammunition, etc., and conducts, at 903 Main street, in the Odd Fel-
      lows block, a well ordered undertaking establishment.
        PETER M. PETERSON was born near Christiana, Norway, on the 12th
      of November, 1857, and is a son of PETER and LENA PETERSON, who
      passed their entire lives in their native land, where the father was
      a farmer by vocation. MR. PETERSON received limited educational ad-
      vantages in his native land and was but twelve years of age when, in
      1869. he embarked with his mother and three children on a sailing
      vessel and set forth to fight the battle of life for himself in
      America. The valorous lad who thus faced many difficulties and prob-
      lems he wotted not of, landed in the city of Quebec, Canada, whence
      he made his way to Wisconsin, and located at a point about twenty-two
      miles south of the city of Milwaukee, where he found employment on a
      farm, receiving at first only one dollar a month and his board in
      compensation for his services. He continued to be identified with
      agricultural pursuits in Wisconsin until 1873, when he came to
      Menominee, Michigan, and the first summer he was employed in a saw-
      mill of the well-known firm of Ludington & Wells. In the autumn of
      the same year he went to Manistee, Michigan, where he was employed
      during the winter, and upon his return to Menominee in the following
      spring, he secured employment in a shingle mill. For eighteen years
      he was connected with this line of industry, and at the expiration of
      that time, in 1890, he engaged in buying and selling new and second-
      hand goods. In establishing this enterprise he became associated with
      R. H. SMITH, under the firm name of Smith & Peterson. After a lapse
      of about nine years he purchased MR. SMITH'S interest, since which
      time he has been the sole owner of the groat business house which he
      has built up and which is the largest of its kind in this section.
      His undertaking business was established in 1906.
        MR. PETERSON is a citizen who shows the utmost loyalty in all that
      touches the advancement of the material and civic welfare of his home
      city. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, giving his
      support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He
      is affiliated with Menominee Lodge, No. 269, Free & Accepted Masons,
      and with Lodge No. 107, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
        In the year 1883 MR. PETERSON was united in marriage to MISS MARY
      E. SMITH, who was born in the city of Albany, New York, and who is
      a daughter of WILLIAM SMITH.
        MR. and MRS. PETERSON have seven children: IDA, CLARENCE, ALICE,
      FLORENCE, PEARL, FREDERIC, and BERYL.

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