FARM HOME OF P. A. PETERSON
Topography—The township is gently rolling, sloping to the south. It has many fine farm homes, and groves. Most every quarter section is cultivated. This is the home of the Peterson Brothers, the potato kings, also of Hans Callsen who specializes in pedigreed Early Ohio Seed potatoes.
The first child born here was Nellie May Showerman, born to Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Showerman November, 1884.
The first marriage was that of Elmer Gower and Miss Holcomb, June 1, 1885.
The first death was Leonard Morey, March 1886.
The largest family, six sons and six daughters, all living but one, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nels Hanson.
The name of the township was suggested by J. W. LaBarron and adopted by. unanimous vote at the first election.
Dates of settlement of homesteaders:
1883—P. A. Peterson, H. H. Showerman, Ed. Garrit, F. A. Decoster, C. Morrey, W. J. Casson, James Casson,
O. A. Fossum, John Cook, J. L. Sharetts, E. A. Balser, D. M. Fuller, Elmer and Ruel Gower, J. F. and D.
W. Morgan, Peter Coburn, Elling Thompson, Pete Peterson, F. Tom, and Willis Jones, J. A. Shanon, Chas.
Muhr, N. A., 0. A., and A. Hanson, Ace Keeler, Hans Callsen, H. Clausen, Ole Peterson, James and Rob
Staton, Miss L. 0. Cliffgard, 0. M. Peterson, 0. A. Hanson, Ole and Louis Snipstead, T. and H. Nelson,
J. A. Logan.
1884—John Thompson, James Anderson, John Westby, Ole N. Sjerven, G. Holcomb, T. Connley, E. Gilbertson,
Miss H. Ferder.
1885—Adolph Thompson, J. R. Lynch, Wm. Currier, J. A. Schwartz, A. Skoe, D. W. Edwards, G. Aasland.
1886—Issac Paulson, N. Decoster, H. Anderson, P. Paulson, A. Tinderholt, Chas. Hillroof.
1888-90—Rasmus Kvernevig, Geo. Olson, F. Stadekles, J. B. Endberg.
Mr. P. A. Peterson came to America from Christiana, Norway, with his parents. They crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel in 1866. They first came to Kandyohi county, Minnesota. Mr. Peterson came to Day county March, 1883, and filed on his present homestead and tree claim. To this, four and a half quarter sections of land have been added. He was married to Miss Josephine Ackerson, March, 1890, and to them were born seven sons and two daughters, all living but one. Three of the boys have received the four years' short course at Brookings college.
Two sons, William and Ira, have made potato growing their specialty. From the 1924 crop they shipped 16 carloads to eastern and southern markets. They have on the farm three fine cement root cellars with a capacity of 2500 bushels. Mr. Peterson has always practiced diversified farming throughout his farming experience, milking about eight cows, marketing forty hogs and some poultry annually.
All his farm buildings are lighted with electricity from a home plant. He owns his own threshing machine, and does all his farm work with his own help. The entire property is entirely free of encumbrance and he always has a good checking account on hand. He has always paid cash. They own one Reo and one Ford truck, a Buick sedan, a Ford coupe and Ford touring car. Two Case, one McCormick-Deering and one Fordson tractor.
Phone and R. F. D., Crocker and Lily, S. D.
Mr. Hans Callsen came to America from Schleswig Holstein, Denmark, May 1882, landing in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he worked on the railroad section until August, 1884, when he came to this township and filed a homestead. Two years later he bought a tree claim relinquishment, which he filed and proved up on as such. To this he has since added 240 acres. He was married to Miss Carrie Peterson November, 1889, and to them were born three sons and eight daughters, all living but one.
Mr. Callsen was raised on a farm in Denmark and so has practiced diversified farming in a very thorough manner. He milks about twenty-five cows, markets two hundred chickens and fifty turkeys annually. For the past five years he has specialized in pedigreed alfalfa and Irish Cobler potatoes, having about twenty-five acres set aside for each. He also specializes in sweet clover and Kota wheat. He has calls for seed from his special crops from customers in and around the county.
Mr. Callsen says that he has made nothing since the World War, though he has worked harder and spent most of his surplus. One of his sons served in federal aviation as an instructor in pursuit flying.
The grove shown in above picture contains thirteen acres of timber.
Phone and R. F. D., Lily, S. D.