Nils A. Peterson, WHC Collections 0079.001.0002

Nils A. Peterson

Job Title(s)

Dyer

Dates of Employment

c. 1920-1934

Last Name  Peterson 
First Name  Nils 
Middle Initial  August 
Born  10 Nov 1865 in Orion, IL 
Home Addresses 

(1929-1934) 

 205 22nd St SE 
Died  23 Apr 1934 in Salem, OR 
Place Buried  City View Cemetery in Salem, OR. 
Wife  Mabel C. Peterson  (Carroll?  birth 23 Oct 1880 in Nebraska) 
Date of Marriage  28 Jan 1899 in Wharton County, TX 
Children  Vergie Anne, Elmer Raymond, Nils Alton, Lester Carrol, and Verlie Agnes Mae Peterson 
Dates of Employment  About 1920 – 1934 
Job(s)  Dyer 
Story              Nils Peterson worked as a dyer at the TKWM from about 1920 until his death in 1934. His sons Elmer and Lester Peterson also worked for the Mill from the mid 1920s through 1954.  

            Nils August Peterson was born in Orion, IL on 10 Nov 1865 to Nils Petter Peterson and Eva Carin Magnidotter Peterson. Nils and Eva were Swedish emigrants who farmed in Illinois.  

             Nils married wife Mabel 28 January 1899 in Wharton County, Texas. The couple farmed along with other extended Peterson family members about 80 miles southwest of Houston. Two children were born to the couple here, Vergie Anna and Elmer Raymond.  In 1903 the family moved to Polk County, OR where two more children joined their family, Nils Alton and Lester Carrol. In 1910 Father Nils took a job as a grocery wagon driver in Newport, OR. Here their last child, Verlie Agnes was born.  

            Four of the five Peterson children were born with hearing and speech impediments. In 1920, the family moved to Salem to be closer to the Oregon Deaf School. Father Nils took work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill as a dyer. The family bought a home at 205 S. 22nd St. where they lived for many years. Sons Lester and Elmer eventually joined Nils at the mill. 

           Nils passed away on 23 Apr 1934 at his home on 22nd St SE. while still employed at TKWM. Mabel was then supported by her sons and survived until 1964. Both are interred at City View Cemetery, Salem. 
References 
Name  Remarks 
Census  1880 Nels A Peterson. Born about 1865 in IL. Home Western, Henry, IL. Son of HOH. Farmhand. Nils P Peterson 68, Eva C Peterson 59, Alfred Peterson 23, Otto E Peterson 18, Nels A Peterson 15. 

1900 N A Peterson. Born Nov 1865 in IL. Owns home in Wharton, TX. Married HOH. Father and mother born in Sweden. Farmer. N A Peterson 34, Mabel Peterson 19, Vergie Peterson 5 mos.  

1910 Nils Peterson. Born about 1866 in IL. Rents home on Newport St, Newport, OR. Grocery wagon driver. Married HOH. Married 11 years. Father and mother born in Sweden. Nils A Peterson 44, Mabel C Peterson 30, Vergie A Peterson 10, Elmer Peterson 7, Alton Peterson 5, Lester Peterson 3.  

1920 Nils Peterson. Born about 1866 in IL. Owns home at 205 S 22nd St, Salem, OR. Dyer, woolen mill. Nils A Peterson 54, Mabel M Peterson 39, Vergie A Peterson 20 (laborer, fruit cannery), Elmer R Peterson 17, Nils Alden Peterson 15, Lester C Peterson 13, Agnes Peterson 7. 

1930 Nils Peterson. Born about 1866 in IL. Married HOH. Age at first marriage 32. No radio. Owns home at 205 S 22nd St, Salem, OR. Dyer, woolen mill. Father and mother born in Sweden. Nils A Peterson 64, Mabel C Peterson 49, Elmer R Peterson 27 (dyer, woolen mill), Lester D Peterson 23, Agnes M Peterson 17. 

1940 Mable Peterson. Widowed HOH. Owns home at 205 S 22nd St, Salem, OR. Mabel Peterson 59, Elmer Peterson 37 (carbonizer, woolen mill), Lester Peterson 32 (carbonizer, woolen mill), Agnes Peterson 27 (fruit cannery worker).  
City Directories (Salem unless otherwise shown)    1917 No Petersons from Nils’ family.  

1924 Nils A Peterson (Mable C). 205 S 22nd. Mill Worker. 

1928 Nils A Peterson (Mable C). 205 22nd. Dyer, TKWM  

1930 Nils A Peterson (Mable C). 205 22nd. Helper, TKWM  

1935 Mabel (wid Nils A). 205 S 22nd St.  
Marriage Record  N.A. Peterson – Mabel Peterson. Married 26 January 1899 in Wharton County, Texas. Image on FamilySearch 
Find a Grave  Nils A Peterson. Birth: 1865. Death: 1934 (aged 68-69). Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 74840876 

Mable C Peterson. Birth: 1880. Death: 1964 (aged 83-84). Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Memorial ID: 74840878  
Newspapers.com  Oregon Statesman, 29 Apr 1934 p. 3. Nils A Peterson obituary 

Oregon Statesman, 8 Apr 1964 p 16. Mabel Peterson obituary 
  1. U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records 
 Nils August Peterson. Male. B 16 Nov 1865. Baptized 28 Nov 1865. Augustana Lutheran Church, Andover, IL. Father Nils Pet Peterson. Eva Carie Mansde.  
WHC Materials  M3 1966-001        Mill Records 

0079.001.0002     PhotoÂ