Crawford County WI Archives Photo Tombstone.....Peterson, Atley Neilss ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Erin Proctor proctor37@charter.net August 8, 2005, 8:39 pm Cemetery: Soldiers Grove Cemetery, Soldiers Grove, Crawford Co., WI Name: Atley Neilss Peterson Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/crawford/photos/tombstones/soldiersgrove/peterson87gph.jpg Image file size: 108.0 Kb PETERSON, Atley Neilss 21 Feb 1847 - 29 Mar 1909 Married Christina FORTNEY on 08 Nov 1869 Obit is from the Soldiers Grove Scout, 01 April 1909, Soldiers Grove, Crawford CO., WI.: HON. ATLEY PETERSON PASSES AWAY AT HIS HOME IN THIS CITY MONDAY EVENING Hon. Atley Peterson, one of pioneers of Crawford county and one of the best known men in the state, died at his home in this villiage at eight o'clock Monday Evening, March 29, after an illness which extended through the winter. Mr. Peterson was one of the most prominent men in the state, he has served his district as Member of Assembly. He was deleagate at large to the last National Republican convention that nominated Wm. H. Taft for president and during the administration of Gov. Jerry Rusk he served the state in the capacity of railroad commisioner; in the county and villiage he served in nearly every office there is, always interested in the whole community. But in his home community he was probably best known and his real greatness most apparent, He was a special friend of everybody; not a man, women or child, but what would come to him with their troubles, and they never failed to find him a sympathetic friend woh was always ready with advice and encouragement to help all. It is a sad fact, but true, that we are an unappreciative people. Few of our public men, however faithfully they may have performed the duties entrusted to them, however philanthropic and selfsacrificing they amy have been in their home community, are estimated at their true worth while they live. It is only after they are gone, when the place they filled had become forever vacant that their friends and neighbors awaken in a realization of their true worth. In this respect Mr. Peterson fared better than many other public men in this state and nation. During his campaign for the nomination for a member of Congress of this district he recieved many warm messages of friendship and hearty comendations for his past services. It was one of the happiest moments of his lofe and his kindly face beamed with pleasure whenever he narrated some new event, or recieted the contents of a letter or newspaper article, relating to his public services. THe one note of sadness in this, his hour of triumph, though not of victory, was the knowledge that some of his friends who were indebted for many favors, were secretly undermining him and supporting his opponent, but, "Be still faint heart, and cease repining. Behind the clouds the sun;s still shining; Into each life some rain must fall. Some days must be dark and dreary." His death is nothing less than a calamity to a community that is measured only by the boundries of the state. His example may with (illegible) by the rising generation. His life contained so much nobility, so little to be criticised. Our pen is unequal to the task of doing him justice and this feeble attempt only faintly expresses our personal regret. With his family whose loss is greates of all, we mourn and sympathize. Funeral services will be held at the Lutheran church on Friday April 2, at one o'clock in the afternoon. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/crawford/photos/tombstones/soldiersgrove/peterson87gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb