My Genealogy Hound

A. JOHN PETERSON was born a subject of the King of Sweden, on June 18, 1844, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (Thranck) Peterson, of the town of Kaulstarp. His grandfather, Peter Peterson, was a life-long resident of his native land, Sweden, but his maternal grandfather, John P. Thranck, emigrated to America and settled in Jamestown, where he resided until his death. He was a carpenter and farmer, in politics a republican and in religion a Methodist. He married and reared children. His father, Andrew Peterson a native of Sweden, was born about 1815. He came to America in 1858, located in Jamestown, but subsequently removed to Sugar Grove, Pa., where he remained one year, and then returned to Jamestown, where he passed the remainder of his life. By trade he was a carpenter and joiner, and was also a contractor and builder. He was a republican in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Anna Thranck, by whom he had nine children: Theodore, enlisted in the Union army, July, 1862, in Co. A, 112th regiment, N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He was wounded in the arm at the battle of Cold Harbor, but this did not prevent his engaging in several other battles, and died in Jamestown, July 27, 1881; Louisa married Peter Morgan, who was drowned in Lake Chautauqua, and after his death married John Kofod, of Jamestown; Matilda, wife of George Howard, of Jamestown; Christina, married to James Holmes, of Jamestown; Josephine, wife of Gustavus Carlson, a tailor of Jamestown; William O., married to Aleoia Tingwall for his first wife and after her death married Dora Fox, and resides in Jamestown; and Edward A., married to Edith Kirkpatrick, and is a salesman in his brother’s store.

A. John Peterson received a common school education in Jamestown, supplemented by a practical business experience and by wide reading and observation. He began life on his own account as a contractor and builder with his father and brother, and after his father’s death he formed a partnership with his brother under the firm name of T. & A. J. Peterson, continuing therein fifteen years. During the latter part of that period they also engaged in the grocery business at No. 110 Main street, and finally abandoned contracting and building and devoted their attention to the grocery business until 1885, when he sold out, and the following year purchased the clothing business in which Mr. Peterson still continues, his brother having died. As merchant tailor, clothier, hatter and gentlemen’s furnisher, he transacts a large and paying business. He is a republican in politics and has served on the board of aldermen of Jamestown two terms. He enlisted with his brother Theodore in the same company in July, 1862, serving until the close of the war, participating in all the battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged and never received a scratch, although at the battle of Chapin Farm, he found seven bullet holes through his clothes at the close of the engagement.

On Aug. 16, 1866, A. J. Peterson united in marriage with Clara Lanson, of Lottsville, Pa., and after her death espoused Sophia Jones, of Jamestown. Their union has been blest with four children, threesons and one daughter: James C., a clerk in his father’s store; Conrad (dead); Mabel Jenevieve, and John T.

Loyal to his adopted country and his friends, yet having an affection for his native land, liberal in his ideas and broad in his sympathy, he is an excellent type of an ideal naturalized American.