Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Polson, Peter 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 12:09 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

PETER POLSON. With the energy characteristic of his nationality, Mr. Poison 
has devoted himself to contracting and building in Joliet. He arrived in this 
city from his native land May 22, 1881, and at once secured employment in 
carpentering. Realizing that a knowledge of the English language was necessary 
in order to carry on business successfully, he devoted his evenings to study, 
and soon mastered the language. About a year after he came he began to take 
contracts for the erection of houses, and he has since continued in the 
business. Besides building residences in different parts of the city, he has 
had the contracts for the Lemont Orphans' Home. In 1890 he laid out Poison 
place, between Jackson and Benton streets, on Hickory Creek, and this property 
he improved with residences which he later sold. In 1899 he erected a double 
brick two-story building on Jackson street. He has also built over fifty 
residences for himself, selling them as opportunity presented. Mr. Poison was 
born near Helsingborg, Skane, Sweden, May 31, 1846. His father, Paul, a son of 
Nils, was born in the same vicinity, and engaged extensively in the distilling 
business until his death, at forty-three years. Twice married, he had two 
children by his first union, and one of these is still living. His second wife 
was Boel Nelson, who died in Skane in 1889, when eighty-three years of age. Of 
their children, Johanna died in Sweden; Nels is a farmer in Skane, and Kerin 
also resides in that country. The youngest of the four, Peter, was five years 
of age when his father died, and he was reared on the home farm by his mother. 
From fourteen to seventeen years of age he worked on the farm. At an early age 
he formed a resolution to learn the carpenter's trade, and when he was 
eighteen he hired a man to take his place on the farm while he apprenticed 
himself to the trade. After three years he entered the Swedish army, where he 
served for two years in a hussar cavalry regiment. On leaving the army he 
worked at his trade, which he followed in his native land, in conjunction with 
farming, until he came to the United States in 1881. Though not active in 
politics, Mr. Poison is a stanch Republican, and keeps posted concerning 
public affairs. He is a member of the Joliet Builders' Association. From the 
organization of the Swedish Lutheran Church he has been one of its leading 
members, and at the time of the erection of a house of worship he served on 
the building committee. For nine years he held office as a deacon, and for 
fourteen years he assisted in the Sunday-school work as a deacon. He has also 
represented his congregation in the synod. Before leaving Sweden he married 
Batilda Swenson, daughter of a farmer. She died in Joliet, September 30, 1882. 
They were the parents of five children, namely: Samuel, a carpenter in Joliet; 
Pauline, in Chicago; Marie and Josephine, at home, and Carl L., who died in 
infancy.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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