Peter M. Anderson Biography
As published in
"The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County Wisconsin: A Record of Settlement,
Organization, Progress and Achievement"
by Frank H. Lyman Vol. 2, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1916.
Peter M. Anderson, who is engaged in the buying and selling of produce in the
village of Somers, as a member of the Somers Produce Company, of which he was
the organizer, was born in Denmark, September 22, 1868, a son of Hans Peter and
Anna Marie Anderson. At the usual age he entered the public schools, continuing
his studies until he became a youth of fourteen, after which he worked at home
for a brief period, and later hired out as a farm hand for four years. He did
not believe the business advantages and opportunities offered there were equal
to those that he might secure in the new world, and at the age of eighteen years
he came to the United States and penetrated into the interior of the country,
reaching Racine County.
With the interests of this region Mr. Anderson has since been identified and in
the improvement of its advantages he has worked his way upward to success. For
three years he was employed as a farm hand, after which he rented eighty acres
of land, continuing its cultivation for two years. He afterward rented more
land, upon which he lived for three years, and then spent one year upon another
farm. All during that period he was actuated by the desire of owning a farm and
he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and frugality had brought him
sufficient capital to enable him to purchase eighty acres. He invested in a
tract of land east of Corliss, upon which he lived for eight years and then sold
out. He afterward bought eighty acres near Somers, and engaged in farming that
tract for eight years. Subsequently he built a fine home in Somers and has lived
there for seven years. Through this period he has engaged in buying cabbage and
other produce and organized the Somers Produce Company in connection with M. A.
Rasmussen and J. J. Barrows. Their business furnishes an excellent market for
producers and their sales bring to them a good financial return.
On the 13th of January, 1891, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss
Henrietta Felske, a daughter of Charles Felske, of Hartford. To them have been
born three children, namely: Lawrence, who is station agent at Franksville,
Wisconsin; Lillian, who is the wife of L. J. Gould and resides in Somers; and
Myrtle, at home.
Mr. Anderson's name is on the membership roll of the Woodmen camp at Somers, in
which he has held most of the offices, and he is also identified with the Royal
Arcanum at Racine, the Royal Neighbors lodge at Somers, and the Masonic
fraternity in Kenosha. In the latter organization he has advanced to the Knights
Templar degree. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and
for one year he served as town treasurer. He was also a member of the local
school board for nine years, and by election served for one year on the county
school board. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion, and one
whose efforts have been far reaching and beneficial. His religious belief is
that of the Presbyterian church, and in all of his business dealings and social
relations he is upright and honorable. He landed in Racine, with but fifty cents
in his pocket, and paid that to the liveryman to take him into the country. Thus
he literally began life here empty handed, but energy and determination stood
him in good stead, and served as the capital on which he has built his later
success. He has never allowed himself to become discouraged, and in his
vocabulary there is no such word as fail.
Typed by: Michelle Laycock