Carl sailed to America alone to prepare a place for the family. Arriving in Michigan, he walked from whitehall, some forty miles to Lincoln Village, north of Ludington. There he worked at different saw mills After a year had passed he had enough money saved to send for his wife and children in Sweden to come to Michigan too. It took three weeks for the family to cross the ocean.
Four year old Anna took sick on the ship. dying shortly after they arrived at their new home. Since there were no undertakes, Carl dug the grave himself and there placed the little wooden box he had nailed together for the little body. She was buried in a little plot in Phillip's Cemetery, south of Ludington on the bluffs of Lake Michigan, two others were later buried in this cemetery. The wooden markers rotted and were lost so no one knows exactly where they are buried. Only a few bodies were buried in this cemetery, because Lake-view Cemetery came into existence when more settlers arrived, so Phillip's Cemetery grew up to weeds and grass.
The Pettersson's had to endure many hardships during their pioneering days, while they were getting established in their new country.
Also after coming to America Carl changed his name to Charles and left out the extra T and S in his last name.
In 1877 he worked in the saw mill owned by a Mr. John Swanson (the first Swede in Mason County) who owed Swanson's Creek and all the adjoining land. Charles purchased forty acres of wild land from Mr. Swanson for four hundred dollars. He continued working at the mill to pay for the land and to support his family. The land was covered with trees and brush and the only roads were Indian trails. Otto many years later found many arrow heads, especially on the southwest end of the farm, while tilling the soil. Charles cleared enough land to build a little one room log cabin. He had to walk from his farm to the Village of Lincoln a distance of about 10 miles, carrying all his flour and other supplies. And in the spring and fall the marshes were flooded so he couldn't get to the Village.
It was here in this one room cabin that Alma, John and Otto were born. Seven children and two adults in one room cabin created many problems, but Charles had built, and which still stands. They moved over to the new house one night during a severe thunder storm, the cabin roof was leaking and their bedding was getting wet, so they grabbed their bedding and escaped to the new house.
In 1880 his son Carl about fifteen years old became ill with diphtheria and died. On his death bed he called for his father (who was not a Christian at the time) and said, Mother (who was a Christian) will be with me in heaven, but where will you be? Those few words changed Charles's life from drinking and gambling to a devout Christian. Many souls found Jesus through him. Again Charles had to bury his son Carl this time.
As Charles cleared the land he planted vegetables, and grain and when enough ground was cleared he planted 100 apple trees. Some of them are still bearing fruit, but most of them have been replaced. Charles also built a large barn for his increasing live stock.
After several years of frail health, Charles wife Anna died on October 21, 1905. Then Charles and his youngest son, Otto who was helping his father with the farm, kept house until May 30 1906 when Otto married the girl across the road from the Peterson's, Miss. Mollie Bengtson. Charles gave the farm to Otto and Mollie and continued to live with them for sixteen years until Jesus called him to his heavenly home.
During Charles's life time he held the office of Road Commissioner for many years. He was a devout Christian, a charter and a faithful member in Emanuel Lutheran Church. For many of the earlier days when they had poor transportation getting to church services, Charles established a Sunday School, Song service and Otto was organist for the services. Charles also established prayer meetings once a week with all the neighbors. No one came in contact with Charles without hearing about Jesus and how to find salvation.
This was written by my grandmother Lila (Peterson) Jones the house is now gone but her story will live on.
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