Monse B. Peterson Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 269

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. MONSE B. PETERSON, an excellent representative of the agricultural 
and dairying interests of Blaine township, in Clark county, is 
possessor of one hundred and sixty acres of land and occupies one of 
the best estates in that region. The location of his farm, near the 
lake beds, insures a luxuriant growth of meadow and makes the place 
peculiarly adapted to that line of farming. His home is located on 
section 15, and presents a picture of thrift and prosperity. The 
citizens of his community recognize in him a gentleman of advanced 
ideas, whose work for the good of his locality has been given with a 
willingness and oneness of purpose worthy of the highest commendation. 
He has been a resident of Blaine township comparatively few years, but 
has gained an excellent reputation among his fellow men. 

Mr. Peterson was born near Bergen, Norway, November 15, 1859. When but 
seven years of age he came with his parents to America, and the father 
engaged in farming in Mower county, Minnesota, and afterward became a 
land owner of that section. Our subject attended school during the 
winter months and assisted his father at the farm work during the 
summer season. He took two terms of Normal study at Winona, Minnesota, 
and afterward clerked two and a half years in Rose Creek, Minnesota. He 
went to Dakota March 25, 1887, and during the first winter experienced 
the worst blizzard recorded in that section, that of January 12, 1888. 
He settled in Day county, on government land, and his resources 
consisted of a wagon and team and seventy-five dollars in money. He 
resided in Day county until 1894, when he moved to his present 
location. 

Our subject was married, in 1885, to Miss A. Anderson, a native of 
Minnesota. Six children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, 
as follows: Inga, Melvin, Arthur, Henry, Mabel and Edward. 

During his residence in Day county Mr. Peterson occupied a prominent 
place in public affairs of county and state, and in 1893 was elected a 
representative to the state legislature. He introduced house bill No. 
92, providing for the reduction of legal interest from twelve per cent 
to ten per cent, but the bill was not carried. He is one of the most 
prominent workers of the Populist party and is a member of the Populist 
county central committee. As a Farmers' Alliance man, he was radically 
opposed to merging into a political party, but after the organization 
he joined the new movement with every energy bent on success, and is 
widely known and respected for his work. He advocates equal suffrage 
and state control of the liquor traffic, and is a man whose enlightened 
views and sound reasoning place him on a firm footing with his 
associates. He is at present clerk of Blaine township, and is ever 
ready to further the interests of the community wherein he makes his 
home. He holds membership in the Scandinavian Lutheran church.