Fred Petersen was born in Denmark, September 10, 1853, and died at his home near Herman, March 25,1927, at the age of 73 years, 6 months and 15 days. He came to American in 1873 and was united in marriage to Miss Anna Margaret Christiansen August 21, 1878. To this union were born nine children the first of these passing away in infancy. A daughter, Christina, died at the age of 19 years. The deceased leave to mourn his loss, his dear wife, four sons and three daughters, Peter L., of Herman, Chris, of Wayne, Nebr., Henry and Fritz are at home, Mrs. Mary Carlberg, of Arlington, Mrs. Tena Wachter, of Herman, Mrs. Nora Gosker, of Herman, two brothers, Hemming and Rasmus of Rose Hill, Nebr., thirteen grandchildren. Mr. Petersen had lived for 46 years on his farm near Herman, where death claimed him. He has always been known as a man of sterling qualities, upright and honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen. The funeral was held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Orum church, west of Herman. Rev. P. J. Reinertsen, pastor of the Orum Danish Lutheran church and Rev. T.J. Reese, pastor of the Baptist church of Herman, officiated at the funeral services. Mrs. C. E. Johnson, Mrs. Geo. Lowe, Mrs. Fred Robertson and John H. Johnson with Mrs. L. V. Ackerman at the organ furnished the music. Mr. Petersen was laid to rest in the Orum Cemetery.

#2 Printed in the March 31, 1927 - The Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

OLD SETTLER EXPIRES

Fred Petersen Dies at Home West of Spiker of Heart Trouble

One of Washington county’s oldest settlers was called to the great beyond last Friday when Fred Petersen died at his home three miles west of Spiker, following an illness from heart trouble of nearly eight months.

The deceased was born in Denmark in September, 1853, and when he was twenty years old he came to this county, where he has lived since that time. For the first five or six years he farmed west of Herman until he moved on the place where he died, having lived there for the past forty six years. He was well acquainted throughout the county and was noted for his kindness and integrity, both of which aided him in overcoming the great hardships of the early settlers, and which finally helped him to amass quite a fortune. In 1878 he was united in marriage, to which union nine children were born, seven of whom are yet living.

He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his wife, four sons, P. L. Petersen of Herman, Henry and Fritz, both of whom are at home and Carl C. Petersen of Wayne, three daughters, Mrs. Mary Carlsberg of Arlington, Mrs. Tena Wachter of Herman and Mrs. Nora Gosker of Herman, besides a large host of friends who will greatly miss him.

The funeral services were held on Monday afternoon after which the body was laid to rest in Lincoln cemetery at Orum.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~