Otto Peterson Family

Otto Peterson the youngest of the Peterson family, was born January 27 1879 in a little cabin, the first home his father built. When Otto was eight years old, the family moved into the new two story frame house which his father also built, and which still stands. Four generations of the Peterson's farmed on the land and lived in this house. In 1977 it will be made a Centennial farm, and a cairn will be erected.

Otto helped his father till the soil. They cleared the fourty acres of trees and brush and planted 100 apple trees, small fruits, garden, grain, and hay to feed the cattle.

October 21, 1905 was a sad day when Anna Peterson died. Charles and his son, Otto had to do the house work also for almost a year.

Otto also played the reed organ for the Sunday School which held in the Peterson home. He loved to play the accordian and was very talented when it came to music, and was self taught.

Than on May 30, 1906 Otto married Mollie Bengtson, who lived just across the road from the Peterson farm. In the morning on there Wedding day it rained, but in the afternoon the sun shown so beautiful. Laura Bengtson and William Carl Bengtson, the brides cousins was their only attendant. The wedding was in the Emanuel Lutheran Parsonage on Danaher St. Ludington, Michigan.

Two children blessed this union, Everett who was born on October 31, 1908 and six years later, Lila come on April 28 1914. Otto and Mollie were over joyed with little ones. And their Grandparents Charles and John spent many happy hours with them.

But dipthteria entered the home and made Evertt very sick. Lila was only three months old at the time, the Doctor had to vaccinate her with a double dose of diphtheria antitoxin, which made her very sick too, but she didn't get diphtheria. Otto and Mollie thanked God for hearing their prayers.

In 1918 when the flu plague swept the country and killed many people in it's wake, Mollie and her two children were laid low with the flu. The Lord again brought them back to health. Otto kept taking quinine tablets daily and the Lord spared him from getting sick. They were thankful that he was well and could take care of the family, and the chores on the farm,

Also in 1918 Mollie went through a very serious operation when Lila was about four years old, But God brought her health back again.

In 1921, Charles was very sick with hardening of the arteries and other complications, and Lila in another bedroom with double pneumonia and whooping cough. The Doctor said she couldn't live, but God thought otherwise. He took her grandfather Charles instead to his blessed reward in heaven, It was a very trying time for Otto and Mollie. Lila was sick often after wards. Pneumonia each year for seven years and asthma too.

Mollie was sick in 1929 again at deaths door, but God spared her, Thanks be to him.

The days in Everett's and Lila's childhood and were happy ones. No generation gaps were though of, in those days. Everett played the violin and Lila the piano, there were many happy hours playing and singing, Often the neighbor's young people would join them with their instruments, or just sing. Otto and Mollie enjoyed to just sit in their favorite chairs and listen to them. Their music took them to many different schools and comunity programs and Lila played for Church's and on the radio.

On May 8, 1934 the family circle was broken when Lila married Lymon Jones, a Lutheran Pastor. They saw Lila about once a week as they only lived twenty four miles away.

August the 15, 1935 baby Luther was born, the first grandchild for Otto and Mollie.

Then on March 21, 1936 Everrett brought his new bride, Beatrice Anderson home.

Later Carol, Everett and Beatrice's first child came along, it was a real pleasure for Gramdpa and Grandma to have their first grandchildren. They enjoyed many happy moments together.

After thriyy one happy and successful years together for Otto and Mollie, death entered the home on February 8, 1937 and took Otto home, to his heavenly home above. Mollie lost a wonderful husband, and Everett and Lila lost a wonderful father. A quiet, patient man. It was often said, he had the patience of Job.

Mollie stayed over the summer and helped Everett with the fruit. Then she went to Muskegon, and worked for an elderly lady awhile, thanas a clerk in Grossman's Department Store. In Ludington she worked at various jobs, also in Manistee she had a couple jobs. In 1942 she starting working at the Star Watch Case Factory, Mollie retired from the Star Watch Case Factory in 1952

Octber 27, 1945 Mollie married John Appleton, after being a widow for almost nine years. After they married they rented a house for awhile, later building their own home on 603 N.Harrison St and they still live there. John and Mollie spent a few winters in Florida. In 1970 they celebrated their twenty fifth Wedding Annivsary




　

　

Retyped from Genealogy Books written by Lila (Peterson) Jones my grandmother.