Peder O Peterson-Maukstad

  Noted events in his life were:

• Miscellaneous. Peter 0. Maukstad, proprietor of a good farm in the town of Grant, which he has himself built up from wild land, was born in Norway, May 1, 1856, son of Ole Peterson and his wife Bertha, whose name before marriage was Berthe Thompson. Ole was a native of Sweden and a farmer by occupation, while the father of Bertha was a hunter and fisherman. Two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Peterson are now living, Peter 0. and Ellen, the latter residing in Norway. Those who died were Parmelia, Catherine and Ole who died in Dunn County. Peter 0. Maukstad was reared in his native land, where he attended school when a boy and subsequently worked on farms and at the carpenter's trade. In 1884, at the age of 18, he came to the United States to better his fortune and for five years thereafter worked at anything he could find to do.

At the end of that time he entered upon his career as an independent farmer, buying 120 acres of wild land in Sections 18 and 20, town of Grant, Dunn County, Wis. The tract was covered with brush and timber, and Mr. Maukstad commenced operations by building a small house, after which he began the work of clearing the land. These initial labors were not only for the development of a farm but also for the creation of a home, for in that year, 1889, he had been united in marriage with Bertha Gunderson, daughter of Ole and Anna Gunderson. immigrants from Norway, and early settlers in Dunn County. Mr. Maukstad subsequently bought more land, his farm containing 240 acres, of which 120 are under the plow. He has also built a good modern frame house of 11 rooms, installed with electric light and other conveniences; has built a barn of 39 x 90 feet, in modern style, and also electrically lighted, and has erected other necessary buildings, so that he now has a thoroughly good farm, and is successfully carrying on general farming and dairying, besides cultivating tobacco. He has a herd of 40 grade Shorthorn cattle, with a pure bred sire, and is widely recognized as one of the leading farmers of his town.

Mr. and Mrs. Maukstad are the parents of nine children: Oscar, Gerhard, Palmer, Norman, Walter, Ella, Nora, Gena and Myrtle.

When the World War was in progress, Gerhard and Palmer were inducted into the United States' service. Gerhard, who was in an infantry regiment, trained at Camp Grant, and went to France, where he took part in some of the hard fighting. Palmer was in the navy but did not go to France.

Source: "History of Dunn County, Wisconsin" (1925) Curtiss-Wedge, F.; Jones, Geo. O. (ed.) pages 520-521.

Peder married Bertha Gundersdatter Olson, daughter of Gunder Olson and Anne Samuelsdatter. (Bertha Gundersdatter Olson was born on 17 Dec 1866 and was buried in Colfax, WI, Holden Lutheran Church Cemetery.)