Peter Peterson HASLERUD

   Cause of his death was Tuberculosis.

   Other names for Peter were Peter HASKLERUD, P.P. HASLERUD, Peder Pedersen HASLERUD, Peter Peterson HASLERUD, Peder PETERSON and Peter PETERSON.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Biography. Founder of Peterson, Minnesota. Peter came to America in 1843. Peter came to the USA in 1843 on the ship Hercules. The Hercules arrived in New York from Drammen, Norway on July 1, 1843, E. M. Oversien, Captain.

["Norwegian Immigrants to the United States A biographical Directory, 1825-1850 Volume One 1825-1843" by Gerhard B. Naeseth's, page 168]

• Confirmation, 22 May 1842, Rollag, Buskerud, Norway. ⁴

• Immigration: from Norway, 1843, America. ^{5 6 7} The brig Hercules left Drammen, Norway on May 5, 1843 and arrived in New York, NY on July 6, 1843, Captain E. M. Overvien


Ref. Name Age Sex Remarks Addition
21 Gullick Olsen 23 m Mech.
22 K. Pedersdatter 25 f
23 Peder Petersen 15 m [with sister & brother-in-law]

• Census: Primrose, 1850, Dane County, WI. 443 443 Hall C Chandler 37 M Farmer 800 Main[e]
Marion A " 39 F New York
Clara G [or J] " 6 F Ioway
Mary S 3 F Wisconsin
Peter Peterson 21 M Farmer Norway

[page 4 of 8]

• Notes: Primrose Township, 1850, Dane County, WI. Primrose Township is Township 5 North, Range 7 East

possible land aquistions
AccessionNamesDate Doc #StateMeridianTwp - RngAliquotsSec. #County
MW-1022-165PETERSON, PETER,
HARRIS, THOMAS L9/10/185028898WI4th PM - 1831 MN/WI005N - 007ESW¼14Dane

WI2080__.366PETERSON, PETER5/1/185112944WI4th PM - 1831 MN/WI005N - 007ENE¼SE¼15Dane

MW-0764-257PETERSON, PETER,
CROWN, A N,
CROWN, WILLIAM7/1/185321451WI4th PM - 1831 MN/WI005N - 007ENE¼NE¼23Dane

WI2330__.053PETERSON, PETER6/1/185823458WI4th PM - 1831 MN/WI007N - 006ES½SW¼1Dane

• Reference: Rushford: First Election of the Town, 1858, Rushford, Fillmore County, MN. ⁸ Page one of the Records of the town of Rushford beginning:

At a meeting of the voters of the town of Rushford held at the house of Peter Peterson in the town aforesaid in the County Fillmore & State of Minnesota on the eleventh (11^th) day of May A.D. 1858 the following named persons received the number of votes annexed to their respective names or the described offices to with:

Names Votes Names Votes
Supervisors Collectors
Henry Mead (chairman) 23 C.G. Hulbert 38
G.G.Stevens (chairman) 17 Judson Hooker 1
Lewis Thompson 38 John Iverson 2
John Desmond 17 Overseer of the Poor
Ole Torgeson 23 R.H.Valentine 41
Sundrel Rishus 2 Constables
Town Clerk C.G. Philbrick 41
G.W. Valentine 40 Nels A. Gullekson 41
Assessor Justice of the Peace
S.S.Stebbins 19 Peter Peterson 36
Hiram Walker 21 Hiram Walker 38
John Iverson 1 Ole Berlin 2

Certified by us
Peter Peterson, S.S. Stebbins
Arnold Newcomb - Judges of Election

Attest: A.J.Walrath & G.W. Valentine - Clerks of Election

Voted that hogs in the town be shut up. Also that the next election be held in the Village of Rushford. Even Oleson was elected Overseer of the Highways.

G.W. Valentine, Town Clerk

• Reference: bible inscription, 1860, Fillmore County, MN. This Bible belongs to me, Peder P. Haslerud .......
given to me by my beloved uncle, Ole Pederson Böler
and his respected wife, Johane. It was sent from
Veggli Annex, Rollaugs Parish, Numedal in Norway in
the month of April 1859 and was brought here by Ole
Nielsen Tveiten and came to me March 4, 1860. God
grant use and read it in such a way that I may receive
benefit and blessing from same to the salvation of my
soul, which the sender certainly had in mind when he
sent it thousands of miles over the tempestous Atlantic.
God grant that my good wife and dear ones might rightly
use the holy Word of God. Rushford, Fillmore County,
Minnesota, 1860. Peder Pederson Haslerud

• Occupation: House of Representatives, District 14, 1862, MN. ⁹ Senator: Dr. Luke Miller
Representatives: A.H. Butler, Peter Peterson, and John McGraw

[additional notes:
Governor Alexander Ramsey (1815-1903)
Photograph Collection
Location No. FM6.33 1862 p1
Negative No. 58013
Title: Minnesota House of Representatives and Governor Ramsey
Photographer: Joel Emmons Whitney (1822-1886)
Date: 1862]

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=14344

• Legal: name changed, 1863, MN. P260 Index Digest

PETERSON, PETER. Name changed to Haslerud, 1863 spl. ch. 62

[Index digest to all the laws of the state of Minnesota general and special including the joint resolutions and memorials to congress from...the first session of the...legislature...to 1893... Local IdentifierKFM5440.K4]

• Notes: visit to Norway, 1864, Norway. Letter from wife dated 27 Dec 1864
addressed to:
Petter Petterson Haslerud
Rolaugs Parish
Nummedal, Norway

• Occupation: Committees of Immigration, 1865, MN. ¹¹ On March 24, 1865 Peter Peterson Hasalind (note the mistake in spelling of his last name) was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota a member of the 14th district to the Committees of Immigration. It was authorized by section 2 of "An act to organize a system for the promotion of immigration to the State of Minnestoa," which was approved March 4, 1864.

• Census: Rushford Township, 1870, Fillmore County, MN. page 12, line 27

93 93 Haster P P 46 Farmer 7000 1200
" Cornelia 47 Keeping House
" George 16
" Andrew 11
" Mary 18
" Adaline 3
Gulickson Neri 25 Farm Laborer
Halgerson John 27 "
Thompson Jane 16 Domestic Service
Anderson Cornell 64 "

[page 22 of 27]

• Citizenship, 17 May 1871, America. Naturalization Record
First Name P. P.
Last Name HASELRUD
Location: FILLMORE
State: MINNESOTA
Reel #: 3
Vol #: A
Code #: 7
Page #: 42

• Notes: Trout Hatchery, 1874, Peterson, Fillmore County, MN. The Conservation Volunteer
OFFICIAL BULLETIN MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 1949
Volume VII, Number 72

"Minnesota Trout Hatcheries" by JOHN B. MOYLE, p49
Number Four
founder of the quiet village of Peterson in Fillmore County, built a trout hatchery there in 1874. He had "eight ponds - hatching apartments and spring houses". Later he sold brook trout to the state.

• Census: Rushford Township, 1875, Fillmore County, MN. ¹² page 288

line 6, 87
P.P Haslerud 47 M Norway
Cornelia " 50 F "
George P. " 21 M Minn
Andrew " 20 M "
Mary " 16 F "
Adelina " 13 F "
Ann C. " 16 F " [?]

[page 22 of 29]

• Reference: Primrose Township, 1877, Dane County, WI. ¹³ PRIMROSE.
BY HON. G. TOLLEFSON.

THIS township lies in the southwestern part of the county, on its south boundary line, which separates it from the town of New Glarus, Green county, about eighteen miles southwest of Madison, and known as township 5 north, of range 8 east. The town is well watered in the northern part, by the west branch of the Sugar river, and also by two tributaries of the same, furnishing the town with an abundance of water and good marsh land. The face of the country is undulating, agreeably diversified with oak openings and prairie. There is considerable highland or small ridges, in which there is excellent stone for building purposes.

On section eleven there is a large rock that stands out in strong contrast with its surroundings, and is composed of several blocks of stone, raised one above the other to the height of about fifty feet, the lower one of which measures nearly twenty-five feet in diameter, while the top block is about fifty feet. It is familiarly called the "Devil's Chimney," because of its supposed resemblance to the form of a chimney. In 1850 a man named Joel Blitz, said to be an old sailor, climbed to the top by means of ropes which were thrown over it and fastened on the ground on the opposite side. He planted a flag on the top, the staff of which is still remaining. The feat was never known to have been done before or since. The base of this chimney is, like many other noted places of historical interest, covered with a profusion of names and dates from all over the United States.

Mount Julia, another of the curiosities of the town, is an oblong ridge of rock, surmounted with trees, about 200 feet high, 250 feet broad, and about 1,600 to 1,700 feet long. It is, in some places, somewhat precipitous, indeed it indicates as if it had at a very recent date been entirely so, but from the wash by rains from the top, it is now quite accessible.

The first settlers in the town of Primrose were David Thomas and family, Robert Speers and family, W. Speers, Edmund Speers, W. Underhill, Robert Harrington, Mr. Scoville, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Peck and Hall C. Chandler. Mr. R. Speers gave the town its name.

Of the Norsemen, who now constitute a large majority of the population of Primrose, Christian Hendrickson from Lier, Norway, was the first settler. He came here in 1846, and still lives on his old farm. Two years later -1848, more Norsemen arrived, among whom were Niels Evenson, Salve Jorgenson, Niels N. Skogen, who were followed in 1849 by Gunolf Tollefson and Peter Haslerud. When Mr. Tollefson bought his land, only 80 acres had been purchased in the town, the other settlers having only preempted the pieces of land on which they were living.

The first school house was built on section 17, in 1847, but the town now has seven school houses. The first teacher was Gunnuld Jackson.

The first church in Primrose was built by the Norse Lutherans. The name of the congregation was: "The Primrose Norse Evangelical Lutheran Congregation;" it was connected with the Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America, and the church edifice here referred to, was erected in 1856 on section 21. The first minister who preached to an organized congregation was Elling Eielson. The second pastor of this congregation was Arne Boyum. The third was Ole Torgerson, and its present minister is P. Solberg.

A few years after the organization of the above named congregation, another Norse Lutheran Church was organized in this town by the Rev. A. C. Preus. This one joined the so-called Norse Synod. Its second pastor was P. M. Brodahl, and its present preacher is John Field, of the Norse Synod. This congregation erected in 1866 a church, which was consumed by fire in 1873, and has not been rebuilt.

Finally, there is a third Norse Lutheran congregation, which was organized in 1869, by Rev. C. L. Clausen; its second pastor was Prof. A. Weenaas, and its present preacher is M. F. Gjertsen of Stoughton. From the above it appears that the statement in the Dane County Atlas "that Rev. A. C. Preus was the first Lutheran pastor in Primrose" is incorrect.

There has always existed the best of feeling between the different nationalities in Primrose. To this there is but one exception. In the small village of Mt. Vernon, whereof a part is situated within the limits of the town, there lived in the early days of Primrose a man called Dr. Byam, and with him his two brothers and their families, all Americans. Dr. Byam and his brothers had, by their tricky and dishonest practices, and by repeated acts of rascality toward the citizens of the town, made themselves odious to such an extent that the farmers decided to get rid of them. So they got together, about seventy in number, with Dick Chandler as their chosen leader. On the evening agreed upon they proceeded to Dr. Byam's house, armed with axes, crow-bars and other weapons, and asked to speak with him. The rascal, who suspected what was in store for him, sent his wife to the party outside with the answer that he was not at home. But the farmers were not to be bluffed off in this manner, and when he refused to come out they began to tear down the house, and were about throwing it into the stream near by. Fear now seized the doctor, and he came out, upon the pledge of three farmers that no harm should be done to him before they had properly discussed the matter. He had to go with them into the flour mill near by. Here he was tried and found guilty of several grossly dishonest transactions, among which it was proved that he, with a patent churn, had defrauded several farmers of their lands. The sentence was that Dr. Byam, his brothers and their families must leave Mt. Vernon and Primrose within twenty-four hours, and the rascal was prudent enough to obey this decision. One of Dr. Byam's brothers was tarred and feathered, and the other, who also defied the will of the farmers and came back to town after a load of hay, was also made to feel that the farmers were in earnest when they forbade any of the Byams returning to Primrose. As soon as he had gotten the hay into his wagon, the farmers set fire to it. The horses ran away, as a matter of course, when the hay-load got to burning, and the man had to save his life as best he could by taking to his legs. Since that time none of the brothers Byam have made any attempt to settle in Primrose. Of course the Byam brothers brought suit against the seventy farmers, but the latter employed George B. Smith, of Madison, as their lawyer, and the case ended in an almost complete acquittal of the farmers. They simply had to pay the costs of the suit. Although the action taken against Mr. Byam and his brothers doubtless was perfectly just, the citizens of Primrose of to-day have changed their opinion in reference to ways and means, and would not again take the law into their own hands to protect themselves against vagabonds and rascals.

Another circumstance that took place in the pioneer days of our town, was a conflict between Primrose and the adjoining town of Montrose. An old man, by name Mr. Jackson, in Primrose, owned a claim covered with good oak timber. This timber some of the settlers in the town of Montrose tried to get possession of, and so they came up in tolerable large numbers, having Mr. L__ for their leader, and equipped with teams, sleds, axes, etc., so as to be able to take all the logs down to Montrose. As soon as the people of Primrose found this out, the message of "war," was sent from neighbor to neighbor throughout the town, and an army was soon brought together. The end of the war was that the Montrose party had to go home with their sleds empty, while the Primrose people took the logs home to Mr. Jackson's house.

Politically, we have had many interesting incidents but none quite as rich as the following, told from Blue Mounds, our neighboring town.

It was the day before election. Mr. Dean and Mr. Burdick of Madison, both candidates for office, came to Blue Mounds to naturalize a number of Norwegians. The Norwegians, thirty or forty in number, were placed in a row and all sworn in at once, upon which Mr. Dean passed up the line, handing to each man his certificate of naturalization, and the ticket he wanted them to vote the next day, urging them to be sure to vote the ticket he gave them and no other. The new-fledged citizens being very conscientious and anxious to keep their pledges, appeared at the polls the next day; but the returning board were the ones who were surprised when they came to count the votes in the evening, and found that some of them had voted their naturalization certificates instead of tickets. The Norwegians in Primrose never were quite as conscientious as that.

In Primrose no one has ever had license to sell any kind of intoxicating drink.

All the factories we have is a flour mill on section seven, built in 1858.

The Hon. Gunolf Toleffson was the first member of the legislature.

S. Julle is a practicing physician in this and adjacent towns.

• Reference: Madison, Dane County and Surrounding Towns, 1877, Dane County, WI. MADISON, DANE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS; BEING A HISTORY AND GUIDE by C. E. Jones

p527
The first settlers in the town of Primrose were David Thomas and family, Robert Speers and family, W. Speers, Edmund Speers, W. Underhil, Robert Harrington, Mr. Scoville, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Peck and Hall C. Chandler. Mr. R. Speers gave the town its name.

Of the Norsemen, who now constitute a large ma- jority of the population of Primrose, Christian Hen- drickson from Lier, Norway, was the first settler. He came here in 1846, and still lives on his old farm. Two years later -- 1848, more Norsemen arrived, among whom were Niels Evenson, Salve Jorgenson, Niels N. Skogen, who were followed in 1849 by Gunolf Tollefson and Peter Haslerud. When Mr. Tollefson bought his land, only 80 acres had been purchased in the town, the other settlers having only preempted the pieces of land on which they were living.

[http://content.ancestry.com/Browse/BookList.aspx?dbid=19986]

• Census: Rushford, 1880, Fillmore County, MN. Name RelationMarital StatusGenderRaceAgeBirthplaceOccupationFather's BirthplaceMother's Birthplace
P. P. HASLERUD Self M Male W 52 NOR Retired Farmer NOR NOR
Cornelia HASLERUD Wife M Female W 56 NOR Keeping House NOR NOR
Adeline HASLERUD Dau S Female W 18 MN At Home NOR NOR
P. K. HASLERUD Nephew S Male W 21 NOR Works On Farm NOR NOR
Sophia HANSON5 Dau S Female W 13 NOR Attending School NOR NOR


Source Information:
Census Place Rushford, Fillmore, Minnesota
Family History Library Film 1254619
NA Film Number T9-0619
Page Number 170C

• Cemetery: Arendahl Cemetery, 1880, Fillmore County, MN. HASLERUD, PETER P. JULY 21, 1828 - SEPT. 23, 1880 HUSBAND OF CORNELIA P.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mnfillmo/cemetery/arendahl.htm

• Obituary: The Rushford Star, 1880, Fillmore County, MN. Rushford, Fillmore Co., Minn., Thursday, September 30, 1880

DIED
----
HASLERUD--At Peterson, Fillmore county, Minnesota, September 23, 1880, of consumption, P.P. Haslerud, aged 52 years.

The announcement of the death of Hon. P.P. Haslerud of Peterson, will be received with grief by many who have known him and have learned of his many good qualities as a man and a friend. Mr. Haslerud was born in Numedal, Norway, in 1828, and in 1843 came to America. In 1853 he was married in the town of Leroy, Boone county, Illinois, and the same year settled in Minnesota. In 1862 he was elected to the Minnesota Legislature, and was an honored member of that body. In 1863 he visited Norway, returning in 1864, he began the work of upbuilding the village of Peterson, of which place he was proprietor. Few men were more highly esteemed than Mr. Haslerud. He was a good man, generous in his dealings, true to his friends, a devoted husband, and a kind father. He leaves a wife, two sons, and two daughters to mourn his death.

• Reference: The Story of Primrose, 1831-1895, 1895, Primrose, Dane County, WI. ¹⁴ by Albert Barton
p17
In 1846, Christian Hendrickson of Lier, Norway settled in Primrose on the farm now owned by his son James being thus the first Scandinavian settler in the town. In 1848, Nils Skogen settled on the Henry Samson farm, Salve Jorgenson on the George Bowers farm and Neils Einarson on the Jonas Osmundson farm. In 1849, came Gunof Tollefson, G Danielson, Ole Danielson, Ole Tollefson, Peter P Haslerud, Ole Anderson and Laif Olson, and soon many other Norwegians, among them Kittel Moland, Mons Ness, Kundt Bowerson, Lars Holverson, G Stamn, Niels Olson, Paul Charleson, Elling Stamn, Knudt and Jens Olson, Ole Skuldt, LL Kolve and Mrs Jackson and sons, Gunnel and George. During the years 1853-5 they came in still greater numbers.

p.53
The town officers since 1849, as nearly as can be ascertained from the records, are given below.

1850 \emdash Joseph Phillips, chairman, John Jones, Edmond Spears; Robert Herrington, clerk; Billings Lewis, treasurer; Hall C. Chandler, assessor; Joel Britts, T. superintendent; Billingis Lewis, S. H. Nofsinger, constables; Joel Britts, sealer wts. and m.

1851 \emdash H. C. Chandler, chairman, Peter Peterson, S. H. Nofsinger; Jos. Phillips, clerk; Benj. F. Denson, assessor; Billings Lewis, treasurer; Joel Britts, T. S. and sealer; Lars Holverson and S. G. Hale, road overseers.

1852 \emdash H. C. Chandler, chairman, Peter Peterson, S. H. Nofsinger; J. La Follette, clerk; B. Lewis, treasurer; H. C. Chandler, assessor; W. G. Dudley, T. S.; Joel
Britts, sealer; Lemuel Green, Jos. Phillips, justices.

• Reference: Nordmændene i Amerika by Marin Ulvestad, 1907, Dane County, WI. [...]
The reason the Norwegian settlement grew so large, was this; Up on the Blue Mountain Hills, where there was a road and many travelers, a sign was put up, pointing in the direction of the valley that said, 'If anyone wishes to meet with Norwegians, then come down here!' Of those who first came, can be mentioned, Børre Børresen, Christian Hendricksen, Nils Skogen, Salve Jørgensen, G. G. Gunhus, Niels Einarsen, G. Danielsen, Ole Tollefsen, Halvor Ericksen, Anon Jørgensen, Torje Matson, Peter Haslerud, Ole Andersen, Leif Olsen, Thomas Pedersen, Ole Netland, Kittel Moland, Mons Ness, Knut Bowersen, Lars Halvorsen, G. Stamn, Elling Stamn, Niels Olsen, Paul Carlson, Knud Olsen, Jens Olsen, Ole Skuldt, L. L. Kolve, Mrs. Jackson and her sons Gunnulf and George and Mrs. Greenwood. (Who and how many of these are dead, is not mentioned).

[Nordmændene i Amerika by Marin Ulvestad;
Olaf Kringhaug's translations of "First Norwegian Settlements in America"
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maggiebakke/wisconsin.html]

• Reference: Nordmændene i Amerika by Marin Ulvestad, 1907, Fillmore County, MN.
p. 79-82

In 1853, there were many who settled in the county. Hans Valder from the
Stavanger area and 6 others with their families came (from La Salle County, Ill.)
and settled in Newburg; Ole O. Tuft from Slidre, Valders and Oliver Goodrich
settled in the area of Rushford, Peter Petersen Haslerud from Nummedal settled
in the area of the town of Peterson, which gets its name from him. Jens Johnson
Nessa from Aardal and Tore Olsen Faae from Finnø went to the Town of
Tawney. The last two and their families came from La Salle County, Ill. with 3
pairs of oxen, 2 old wagons, 4 cows and household goods; as neighbours they
received about twenty Indians, who had their camp right beside them. They each
built a log cabin, 10x12, without a floor and a roof of basswood bark.

[Nordmændene i Amerika by Marin Ulvestad; p. 79-82;
http://www.hadelandlag.org/resources/ulvestad/pdf/MNFillmore.pdf
OR
Olaf Kringhaug's translations of "First Norwegian Settlements in America"
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maggiebakke/minnesota.html]

• Biography: History of Fillmore County, MN, 1912, Fillmore County, MN. BOOK - HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY, MN., VOLS. 1 & 2, PUBLISHED IN 1912. Peter Peterson Haslerud, deceased, who platted and owned the village site of Peterson, was one of the first settlers in Rushford township. He was born in Norway July 21, 1828, and there received his education and remained until fifteen years of age. In 1843 he came to America, first locating in Illinois, later going to Wisconsin, and there engaged in logging in the pineries. In July, 1853, he came with his wife to this county, they being among one of the first party of emigrants to locate in Rushford township. He settled on section 30, where he engaged in farming, and there lived until summoned by death. He devoted his time to agricultural pursuits largely, but ever took an active part in the good and welfare of his town and county, and in his day held nearly all the town and local offices and served one term in the lower house of the State Legislature. Mr. Haslerud was married to Cornelia Anderson, and this union resulted in the birth of five children: George P., a hardware merchant of Peterson; Andrew, of Arendahl; Mary, now Mrs. J. O. Ensberg, of Peterson; Annie, who died in infancy; and Adeline, now Mrs. Elmer Halvorson, of Peterson. Mrs. Cornelia (Anderson) Haslerud died April 15, 1892. Their oldest child, George P., is supposedly the first white child born in Rushford township, the date of his birth being November 10, 1853.

• Reference: article: Petersons Early History, 1913, Fillmore County, MN. Article from the Peterson Herald: Volume 5, Number 4
Peterson, Fillmore County, Minnesota, Thursday December 18, 1913

Petersons Early History.

Soon after the completion of the railroad through Rushford Township in 1867, Peter Peterson (Haslerud) gave the railroad company fifteen acres of land and other citizens subscribed to the extent of $800 to secure a station and warehouse. A Building was erected for this double purpose, a sidetrack was laid, and the new station was named Peterson. Mr. Peterson at once began buying wheat for eastern parties and the village was thus begun.

In 1870 a post office was established, with Even A. Hjelle as postmaster.

In 1878 Lewis Olson erected a building, put in a stock of merchandize and kept a store for about two years. Ole Ensberg started a blacksmith establishment, and a wagon shop was opened by E. O. Quickstad.

In 1874 the whole of the quarter section was laid off into lots. Up to this time there had been no ticket office here, but in 1874 Neri Holgeson became ticket agent.

In 1875 Peter Peterson Haslerud purchased from the railroad company the sixteen acres which he had parted with several years previous. This year Thompson Brothers purchased a store and started in business here. Johnson, Hourn & Hostvedt opened a hardware store, and E. Kierland a drug store. K. Torvilson & Son opened a general store.

In 1876 the telegraph was installed in the station, G. P. Haslerud as agent. This year fifteen acres were platted and Prospect, Park, Mill, Centennial, Fillmore and Church and Murtel avenue were named.

In 1876 a mill was built surrounding farmers subscribing for most of the stock. The manager died a few years later and the machinery was reclaimed by the firm from which it had been purchased. After remaining in idleness for several years the building was fitted up as an elevator and used until 1907 exclusively for cleaning grain in transit. Since that year it has been operated as a farmers' elevator, the volume of business increasing each year until 1911, when the season's shipments reached a total of slightly over 127,000 bushels of all cereals, with a money value of $200,000.

G. P. Haslerud was agent at this station from 1874 until 1903. He resigned rather than pay exorbitant premiums demanded by suretie companies which bonded employes of the express company. He is now manager of the Peterson Hardware Company.

* * * *

MUNICIPAL HISTORY

Peterson was organized as a village April 15, 1909. Burdette Thayer, assisted by Nels J. Amble, drafted the bill to incorporate 320 acres. The bill was introduced in January, 1909, in the Minnesota legislature, and passed both housed successfully, becoming effective in February of the same year. Immediately after the passing of the bill in the organization was undertaken. Details of the organization and incorporation were perfected and the fist election took place April 27, 1909., in the office of N. J. Amble. The judges of election where John Smaby and John Skarstad. The clerk of election was A. O. Boyum. The officers elected were: President, N. J. Amble; trustees, N. J. Smaby, Olaus Ensberg, C. R. Moen; Clerk, Carl Johnson; Justices, O. A. O. Moen, I. A. Boyum; Constables, C. J. Wolstad, W. A. Wenneson; Assessor, Elmer Halvorson.

1910 - President, N. J. Amble; trustees, Olaus Ensberg, A. O. Boyum, J. P. Quickstad; Treasurer, O.S. Retrum; Clerk, Carl Johnson; Justices, J. C. Dayton, J. J. Ekarstad; Constables, B.C. Benson, O. P. Bye.

1911 - President, N. J. Amble; trustees, Olaus Ensberg, J. P. Quickstad, A. O. Boyum; Treasurer, O.S. Retrum; Clerk, Carl Johnson; Justice, Carli Smaby; Assessor, Elmer Halvorson.

1912 - President, N. J. Amble; trustees, J. P. Quickstad, A. O. Boyum, N. J. Smaby; Treasurer, T.R. Benson; Clerk, Carl Johnson; Justice, G. J. Austad; Constables, M. B. Gullickson, Fred Sveen; C. A Smaby elected sturce in 1911, rsigned May 1, this year.

1913 - President, O. A. O. Moen; trustees, Elmer Halvorson, F. Agrimson, E. T. Erickson; Treasurer, T. R. Benson; Clerk, Carl Johnson; Justice, C. J. Austad; Constables, Fred Sveen, I. A. Boyum.

• Reference: article: Peter Peterson Haslerud; Founder of Peterson, 1933, Fillmore County, MN. PETER PETERSON HASLERUD

FOUNDER OF PETERSON

A sketch of his life, and that of his family follows:

Peter Peterson Haslerud (1826-1880) was born in Norway and came to America in 1843. For a number of years he engaged in farming in Boone County, Illinois and it was there that on January 5, 1863, his was married to Miss Cornelia Anderson. He and his bride moved to the pineries of Wisconsin but imigrated to the Root River Valley and arrived at the present site of Rushford in July of 1853, members of the first party of settlers, Mr. and Mrs. Haslerud left the other members of their party and took land farther up the valley on the northeast of section thirty--the present site of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Halvorson

On November 10, 1853, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Haslerud and was christened George Peterson Haslerud, the first child born in this community. Four other children were born: Andrew, January 15, 1855; Ingeborg Maria, September 29, 1858; Ann Cornelia, October 14, 1860, and who died in 1863, Adeline, January 10. 1862.

In 1865 a log building was erected on Mr. Haslerud's land and in this crude cabin was held the first school in District 17. In the year 1870 a frame building was erected on the east side of the river near the spot where Highway No. 9 forms a junction with the road leading into Peterson. This building was used until 1900 when a brick structure, part of the present school, was built. A ferry, and, later, a hanging foot bridge were provided as a means of crossing the river to the frame school house and, according to the records, much difficulty was encountered in having the ferry on the right side of the river at the right time.

The meeting at which Rushford Township was organized was held at the Haslerud home in May, 1858. Mr. Haslerud was named justice of the peace.

Mr. Haslerud was instrumental, also, in establishing the it Peterson Evangelical church and the old records bear eloquent witness to the generosity with which he supported the activities of that church. Certainly this founder of Peterson was a man to be admired and revered as one who was a leader in laying the foundation of his community - the church, the school and local government.

The railway was completed to this point in 1867 and again Mr. Haslerud's name appears in the records as the donor of fifteen acres of land to the railroad company. Other citizens subscribed money to secure a station and warehouse and thus the station of Peterson was established. It appears that Mr. Haslerud more frequently called by the name of Peterson (the Haslerud is often omitted in the early records) and for this reason the name of Peterson was given to the town. Shortly after the railroad was completed, Mr. Haslerud began a good business, buying wheat for eastern companies.

In 1874 the whole of the quarter section was laid out in lots and the streets were formed and named. In 1875 Mr. Haslerud purchased from the railroad company the fifteen acres which he had given them and made this land part of the Haslerud estate.

The early records continue to tell of Mr. Haslerud's ambition and leadership. He was one of the original stockholders in the Peterson Mill. For several years the spring on the Haslerud estate now called Halvorson's Spring, yielded an excellent income due to Mr. Haslerud's sagacity in converting it into a series of ponds for trout breeding. This enterprise was begun in 1874 and was still prospering in 1882.

And thus we are brought to the close of Mr. Haslerud's life -- a life comparatively short in years but filled with countless activities. During these years in Peterson he had maintained his farm but he also held a number of local offices. For one year he was a member of the State Legislature. He died at his home on the 23rd of September, 1880. His wife lived on at the Haslerud home until her death on April 15, 1892.

Andrew Haslerud, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Haslerud, married Miss Jane Ensberg. They lived on a farm in Arendahl township and after of years moved to Peterson where they are living at the present time. Ingeborg Maria Haslerud became the wife of John Ensberg and has lived in Peterson since her marriage to Elmer Halvorson and lives on the old Haslerud farm.

George Peterson Haslerud, the first native born citizen of Peterson, lived with his parents, attending school until 1871. In that year he entered the State University at Minneapolis where he studied for one year. He returned to Peterson in 1872 and for three years clerked in Neri Halvorson's Store. On May 3, 1876, occurred the marriage of George Peterson Haslerud and Miss Julia Wethe. The late Rev. Arne E. Boyum performed the ceremony. Julia Wethe was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wethe who came to America in 1862 lived at Grand Meadow for a number of years, and moved to Petersen it 1872. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Haslerud lived on the north side of Halvorson's Spring for a few years. They then moved to the house which later became the home of Nels Stedge. In 1881 the Hasleruds moved to the present home which they bought from Mr. Kelley, lumberman in Peterson. In the year of his marriage, Mr. Haslerud became station agent and telegraph operator, a position which he held for thirty years

In 1895 Mr. Haslerud and him brother-in-law, Ole Wethe, organized the Petersen Hardware company of which Mr. Haslerud later became the sole owner. He served in various village offices and always was a leader in the development of the village. As the years went on, a heart ailment which had long troubled him became acute and he died at his home on April 14, 1923.

Five children were born to Mr. an Mrs. Haslerud, three of whom are living: Peter G. P. Haslerud, born December 25, 1878; John G. P., born July 30, 1881; Albert G. P., born May 1, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Haslerud, took as their daughter the present Mrs. Ole Mundahl [Julia Paquette]. Upon their father's retirement from active work, the three son's took over the management of the store in 1928, erected the present modern building.

Mrs. Haslerud lives at the present time in the Haslerud home on the west side of town together with her sister, Julia Wethe, and her son, John. Adjoining the old home are the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Haslerud and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Haslerud. To Mr. and Mrs. Albert Haslerud (Esther Larson of Rushford) seven children have been born: Walter, Ethel, Francis, Daniel, Glen, Milton, and Adeline. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Haslerud (Cora Hill of Albert Lea) are parents of two sons, George of Rushford, and Robert at home.

Thus the brief sketch of Peterson's oldest family is brought to a close. Its founder, Peter Peterson Haslerud, was a man of whom the present generation may justly be proud.

[Article from Tri-County Record, Peterson Herald Department,
Root River Bugle section published by Peterson High School
Volume III Thursday, March 23, 1933]

• Reference: Old Letters to Peterson, 1983, Fillmore County, MN. Location/Available Minnesota Historical Society Call #: F 612 .F49 P44
Title Gamle brev til Peterson = Old letters to Peterson.
Publisher Peterson, Minn. : John Ericksn, c1983.
Physical Details 75 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.
General Note Compiled by John Erickson. Chiefly Norwegian letters to Peter Peterson Haslerud, translated by various people.

• Biography, 1984, Fillmore County, MN. Fillmore County History Book, 1984, p374

Peter Peterson Haslerud

Peter Peterson Haslerud was born on July 21, 1828, to Peder Knutsen Haslerud and Ingeborg Pedersdaughter Boler. Peder Knutsen Haslerud (1775) and Ingeborg (1788) were married in 1815. Ingeborg died 17 October 1843 and Peder died 24 May 1847 on the farm, Haslerud, in Rollag, Numdal, Norway. Peter Peterson Haslerud emigrated at the age of 14 in May of 1843 with his sister, Ragnhild, and her husband, Gullek O. Laugen. They first settled at Rock Prairie, Wisconsin. On 5 January 1853 Peter Peterson Haslerud married Cornelia Aslaksdaughter Teigen in the Town of Loery [Leroy], Boone County, Illinois.

[picture]

Peter and Cornelia Haslerud

Peter Peterson Haslerud was the first to settle at what is now Peterson, Minnesota. He served in the 1862 Minnesota House of Representatives. The first meeting of Rushford Township on 11 May 1858 as Minnesota became a state was held in the home of' Haslerud. He also served as Immigration Officer for the 14th District of Minnesota and perhaps as Enrolling Officer during the Civil War. In the 1860's he began working towards obtaining a railroad depot for his community. In 1874 he platted the community of Peterson. He was involved with several business ventures. In 1868 he started to purchase wheat and shipped it east via the railroad. One of his most interesting ventures was his trout hatchey. A contract still exist stating the obligations between Haslerud and David Hudson, who was to operate this hatchery. Haslerud's involvement with the Peterson Mill Company which was built in 1875 cost him dearly. One of his grandsons has stated that Haslerud lost $12,000 when this mill failed. The mill failed because wheat would not grow year after year on the same soil.

Peter Peterson Haslerud died on 28 September, 1880 from tuberculosis. Submitted by: Arthur Halvorson

• Reference: Fillmore County Journal, 1985, Fillmore County, MN. FILLMORE COUNTY JOURNAL
Monday November 18, 1985 Volume 1 Number 8 40 Cents

Peter Peterson Haselrud [Haslerud, et. al.]

The man who gave Peterson Its name

By Dan Johnson

Peter Peterson Haselrud was devoted to farming the land he settled in July of 1863 in a village that became known as Peterson, Minnesota.

Born In Rollag, Numdal [Numedal], Norway on July 21, 1828, Haselrud came to America at the age of 15, locating in Illinois and later in the pine tree country of Wisconsin, but it was in southern Minnesota, in the village that boars his name that he spent the most productive years of his life.

When Haslerud arrived in what is now Peterson he was among the first party of emigrants to settle there. Although he was dedicated to the land he farmed he was also an entrepreneur.

After the railroad was completed to the village in the late 1860's Haslerud gave the railroad company fifteen acres of land. Soon a station was erected and side track laid. Haslerud started a good business buying wheat and shipping it east by rail.

He organized, along with several others in the area, a stock company called the Peterson Mill Company in 1876. The mill failed because wheat would not grow year after year on the same soil, and Haslerud lost nearly $12,000 in the venture.

He also started a trout hatchery and hire David Hudson to operate it. He served in the 1862 Minnesota House of Representatives, and the first meeting of Rushford Township was held in his home on May 11, 1868, as Minnesota became a state. Haslerud served as Immigration Officer for the 14th District of Minnesota and may have been an enrolling officer during the Civil War

Haslerud married Cornelia Aslaksdaughter Teigen in January, 1863, and they had five children. He died on September 28, 1880.

• Reference: Peterson from Peterson, 1985, Peterson Station Museum, Peterson, Fillmore County, MN. Location/Available Minnesota Historical Society Call #: F612.F49 P4843 1985
Author Throndsen, Ludvig. Uniform Title Petersen fra Peterson. English
Title Petersen from Peterson / translations by Karl Pedersen ; edited by John Erickson.
Publisher Peterson, Minn. : 1877 Peterson Station Museum, [1985].
Physical Details 49 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. Contents Note Petersen from Peterson / by Ludvig Throndsen -- Peterson's legacy / by John Erickson -- The story of Peder K. Haslerud / as dictated to Dr. George M. Haslerud -- Reisen til Amerika i 1883 / by Knud P. Haslerud. Local Note [251259]

Norwegian-American Historical Association Archives
Haslerud, Peter Peterson
"Petersen fra Peterson," a pamphlet containing translations of an article about and letters to and from Peter Peterson Haslerud, an 1843 emigrant from Rollag, Numedal, who founded Peterson, Fillmore county, Minnesota. The translation is by Karl Pedersen, edited by John Erickson.
The story of Peter K. Haslerud, a nephew of Peter Peterson Haslerud, is also included in the pamphlet.

• Reference: Agri News, 2008, MN. An old barn taken down and then transformed

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

By Heather Carlile <mailto:hcarlile@agrinews.com>

Agri News staff writer

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Gary Swenson watched June 3 as his 104-year-old barn in Rochester was taken down.

But the sight didn't make him or his wife, Judy, feel a great sense of loss.

"This barn is going down but it's restoring another one," he said.

He stopped talking in the middle of a sentence when a big chunk of wood was pulled off the front. It came off slowly, like a scab. Its white pine timbers with worn red paint fell with a loud thud.

The wood will replace worn exterior timbers, floorboards and support beams in another barn, owned by Arne and Gail Boyum, in Peterson.

It once belonged to the town's founder, Peter Peterson Haslerud. According to the Boyums, it's been standing for about 150 years, making it the oldest in Fillmore County.

"I'm thrilled," Gail said of the restoration project.

The two families came together after an Amish man, Amos Slabaugh, stopped by the Swenson farm to ask if they would sell him a part from the manure spreader sitting on their lawn. The Swensons said it wasn't for sale, but asked if he would be interested in helping them take down their barn, which they no longer used.

"When it starts to be in disrepair, the cost to restore it would be phenomenal," said Judy.

Slabaugh declined to help.

Meanwhile, the Boyums called the Minnesota Historical Society to ask about barn restoration assistance.

"They said, 'If you can find an Amish crew, you can do it right,'" Gail recalled.

They referred her to Slabaugh, who has worked on restoring so many barns that he's lost count.

Without planning to, Gail and Slabaugh met at a Rushford bank. He agreed to help with the restoration, knowing exactly who could give up barn wood for the project.

"We've been extremely lucky," Gail said.

The Boyums are happy to use old wood because it will fit in with their barn's aged materials. The only glitch was the Swensons' barn had been painted red while the Boyums' barn had no paint.

"We intend to turn the red boards backwards, using the unpainted side," Gail explained.

Slabaugh has already restored their barn's limestone foundation by moving stones that had fallen out of place back to their original positions.

He and three of his 10 sons started taking down the Swenson barn June 2. They removed the walls and worked to weaken the structure. The next day, the crew was joined by Slabaugh's nephew.

"They're hard workers," Gail said as she watched the process Tuesday. "They are honest people. They do what they say they're going to do."

Slabaugh said they planned to start restoration on Thursday or Friday last week.

The Boyums store machinery in their structure. They hope to one day have it recognized as a state historical site and are thinking of hosting a celebration once it's restored.

"I think people would enjoy touring the barn," said Gail.

The Swensons already plan to make the trip to see their barn wood's new home.

"They were excited that their timber was being recycled and not burned," Gail said. "Now they would like to come down and see it and we told them that they're welcome any time."

[http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/291949059816249.bsp]

• Reference: De norske settlementers historie: MN. De norske settlementers historie By Hjalmar Rued Holand
p369
Rushford North Prairie og Lanesboro
Da man reiser op gjennem Root River Dalen paa Jernbanen fra La Crosse til Fountain ser man tun hist og her noget vakkert Farmingland. Det meste er braklændt eller sumpagtigt. Pestensor Rushford er der dog en meget fin Slette med jevnt og rigt ugerland. Did som i Juni 1853 et Selskab Numedøler fra Rock Prairie -- Peter Peterson Haslerud, Hellik Glaim, Erik T Lien og Ole Perland. En halvvoksen Telemarking fra Hjertdal

Oliver Wilson var ogsaa med. Disse var prøvede Landsögere, som havde været Iænge i Amerika og vragede meget fint Land sörend de sandt sig tilfreds. Den samme Arthur Vom som havde voldt Fortræd ved Spring Grove havde ogsaa her anmas sei sig hele Talen og forlangte flere hundrede Taler for hver Quart ftr han vilde opgive sin formente Ret Dette Krav gjorde han cftertrykkelig med frie Pr vcr paa sin Skytterkunst Men Hellik Glaim som var en af de mest forvovne og fnartcenkte Slagsbr dre der har udvandret fra Norge greicde snart ham F r Dankeetroldet rigtig vistc af det sad Hellik Paa Skrcrvs over ham og lod Hain ikke flippe op f r han svcrlgcdc hvcrcncste Patron i sin Besiddelse Terpaa lod han ham fare med den Beffed at hvis han viste fig igfen paa de Trakter vilde han ikke stippe lös for han ogsaa svoelgede Rcvolveren

The Norwegian settlement history By Hjalmar Rued Holand
p369
Rushford North Prairie and Lanesboro
When one travels up through the Root River valley on the railroad from La Crosse to the Fountain you see a yard here and there something fine Farming Land. Most are braklændt or sumpagtigt. Pestensor Rushford there but a very nice Delete with steady and Rigter ugerland. Did that in June 1853 the Society Numedøler from Rock Prairie - Peter Peterson Haslerud, Hellik Glaim, Erik T Lien and Ole Perland. An adolescent Telemarking from the Heart

[http://books.google.com/books?id=iCsLAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA369&lpg=PA369&dq=%22peter+Peterson+haslerud%22&source=bl&ots=m50QxMzvOg&sig=D0XfvZcF9N-KG0rzBVAB-63GDgw&hl=en&ei=YZ17TrOYIMmGsgKok42lAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCTgU#v=onepage&q=%22peter%20Peterson%20haslerud%22&f=false]

Peter married Cornelia Aslaksdatter TEIGEN, daughter of Aslak Anderson TEIGEN and Gunhild Kittilsdatter HOUGEN, on 5 Jan 1853 in Leroy Township, Boone County, IL.¹ (Cornelia Aslaksdatter TEIGEN was born on 25 Sep 1824 in Heddal, Telemark, Norway ^{15 16}, baptized on 10 Oct 1824 in Heddal, Telemark, Norway ¹⁶ and died on 15 Apr 1892 in Peterson, Fillmore County, MN ¹⁷.)

  Marriage Notes:

Groom Bride Date Vol./Page License No. County
PETERSON, PETER ANDERSON, CORNELIA 1853-01-05 00A/ 00000788 BOONE

Peter had an alleged relationship with Live Gulliksdatter KLEVEN, daughter of Gullik Herbrandsen KLEVEN and Barbro Ulriksdatter SOLBERG. (Live Gulliksdatter KLEVEN was born in Dec 1854 in WI and died on 18 Feb 1942 in Fillmore County, MN ¹⁸.)