Edgar B. Petterson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1875 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDGAR B. PETTERSON was born in Sweden on the 26th of September, 
1829. He spent his childhood and youth in Sweden and received only a 
limited education, his time being required at home as soon as he was 
old enough to labor to advantage. At the age of seventeen he went to 
sea, but after sailing for two years with his father he left the vessel 
and came to the United States, where he followed the same kind of life 
from 1850 to 1853 inclusive, plying on the waters between the cities of 
New York and Philadelphia. In the latter year he went to California and 
during the ten years following devoted his attention to mining in 
various parts of the west, finally making his way to Nevada, where he 
mined for a period of seven years.

	At the expiration of the time noted Mr. Petterson revisited his 
native land, but after spending six months there returned to California 
and until the year 1871 lived in the city of San Francisco. From there 
he came to Lincoln county, South Dakota, and taking up a claim of one 
hundred and sixty acres in Dayton township settled down to a life of 
agriculture, which calling he has since pursued with encouraging 
success, the meanwhile adding to his real estate and making many 
substantial improvements on his farm. Politically he votes the People's 
ticket, manifests an abiding interest in public affairs and has filled 
various local offices, having served for a number of years as a member 
of the school board.

	In the year 1873 Mr. Petterson took to himself a wife and 
helpmeet in the person of Miss Margaret Boynstad, of Norway, the 
daughter of Ole and Sarah Boynstad. Mr. and Mrs. Petterson have a 
family of eight children, namely: Phoebe, one of the successful and 
popular teachers of Lincoln county; George B., Hilda S., Olive, Edwin, 
Emma E. and Clara May, all at home.