Peter Petersson (1828-1871)
Peter Peterson was born in 1828 in Sweden. There are no clues left in the probate or 1880 census records to identify age. The 1870 census record shows Peter as 42 years and also with a wife, Frederica G., age 28. (New mystery, where did Frederica go?) He immigrated on 23 Aug 1867 to Stockholm Twp, Crawford Co, Ia. Peter Peterson, Erick Erickson, Sven Johnson, John Frederick Peterson, J. A. Nylin, Lars Johnson, Gustaf Nylin, Hans Hallander, Waldemar Peterson, Peter Nelson, Peter Carlson, Peter Frederick Beck, Nils Olson, Nils Lindberg, John Erickson, and Peter Wiberg were the men who entered into land contracts with the Providence Western Land Company of Providence, Rhode Island on 23 August 1867 through Reverend Jesse Denison, their agent in Denison, Iowa.
This is not meant to imply that this was the entire list of immigrant families. Certain families were so poor they could not meet the initial monetary requirements even though they were set very low by the Reverend. There may have been other reasons too. C. F. Clauson, N. P. Erickson, C. J. Peterson, Peter Star and others were almost certain to be amongst this initial group but they rented land to raise the necessary capital for the first few years. Olaf Lindberg's first appearance on the land is not precise. J. O. Carlson is a mystery. Many of these later folks wanted land owned by the Iowa Rail Road Land Company or the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Rail Road Land Company, both of which required a higher initial capital outlay and required some time to raise the money.
Peter owned South Half of the South West Quarter of Section 17 on 23 Aug 1867 in Stockholm Twp, Crawford Co, Ia. Peter entered into a contract for these 80 acres in the south west quarter of section 17 in what is now known as Stockholm township. After he died, a "J. Peter Johnson" apparently assumed the contract and continued living and making the payments as he recieved a warranty deed to the property on 23 Oct 1875. This looks like the same J. P. Johnson who owns the cemetery lot where Peter was buried.
Peter appeared on the census on 1 Jul 1870 in Jackson Twp, Boyer River Post Office, Crawford Co, Iowa. On page 5 of the 1870 census schedule for Jackson Township at dwelling 37 was the family of Peter Peterson, age 42, male, white, a farmer, born in Sweden, and having a real estate value of $800 and personal estate of $391; and his wife Frederica G. , age 28, female, white, keeping house, and born in Sweden. Neither of them could write.
Peter died on 14 Apr 1871 in Stockholm Twp, Crawford Co, Ia. Peter Peterson is the 8th person buried in the Kiron Cemetery. His was the only grave in the South half of lot 21 which the cemetery has listed to J. P. Johnson estate. The connection between the two individuals is not known.
The probate record can be found on page 72 of the Crawford County records which lists Andrew Norelius as executor and Hans Hallander as surety. Hans and Peter came together from Swede Bend in August 1867 and bought adjoining 80 acre parcels. (No further mention is made of Peter in any of the histories that have been passed down. Future researchers may want to check the Kiron church records, the lot ownership records of the cemetery, and the records at Swede Bend for further information as to whether he was a married or single man. J. P. Johnson could conceivably be a second husband. He was buried about 16 Apr 1871 in Kiron Cemetery, Kiron, Iowa. Very little was recorded in the Kiron cemetery register about Peter. His name is Peter Peterson. He is a white male. Burial date is between November 1870 and September 1871 with a notation of 1870 written in the column. No cause of death or informant or physician is listed. He is the 8th decedent to be buried in the cemetery and his grave site is in the south half of lot 21.)
Peter was married to Fredricka G. Peterson-Nylen before 1870. Fredricka G. Peterson-Nylen was born in 1842 in Sweden. She was living in 1870 in Stockholm Twp, Crawford Co, Ia. She appeared on the census on 1 Jul 1870 in Jackson Twp, Boyer River Post Office, Crawford Co, Iowa. She also appeared on the census in 1885 in Stockholm Twp, Crawford Co, Ia. The 1885 census for the family at the Jonas P. Johnson home in the SWSE section 9 lists: Jonas P. Johnson, age 40, male, married, farmer, and born in Sweden; his wife Fredricka, age 42, female, married, born in Sweden; their son Edward, age 8, male, born in Iowa; their daughter Hilma, age 6, female, born in Iowa; their son William, age 1, male, and born in Iowa. Also, living with them was Charlie Berglund, age 23, male, single, farmer, and born in Sweden. Fredericka, Fredricka, Peterson, Nylen, Nygen, are various ways her name has been recorded.
Descendants of Peter Petersson and Fredricka (?)
1-Peter Peterson (1828-14 Apr 1871)
sp: Fredricka G. Peterson-Nylen (1842-)
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