George Peterson, a farmer and stock raiser of Raymond Township, was born on the old family homestead in that Township February 10, 1879, his parents being John and Gertrude Peterson, who were natives of Denmark and Norway respectively. The father, who was born in 1834, passed away in 1909. He came to the new world in 1869 and, settling in Racine County, was married in Raymond Township. He purchased a farm of sixty-two acres and at once bent his energies to its development and improvement, continuing to reside thereon until his demise. His wife has also passed away. They were consistent members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Peterson gave his political allegiance to the Republican Party. In their family were the following children: George; Oscar; Charley; Mary, the wife of Jacob Steffeson, living in Raymond Township; Edith, the wife of George Haigh, of Yorkville Township; and Sarah, the wife of Ed Jacobson, whose home is near Waterford, Wisconsin.
Reared to the occupation of farming, George Peterson divided his youthful days between work in the fields and the acquirement of a public school education. He afterward learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for five years, and then took up the occupation of farming on his own account. He is today the owner of one hundred and two acres of rich and valuable land, all of which he has acquired through his own efforts, for he is a self-made man, having received but seven hundred and twenty-three dollars from his father. He is now engaged in general agricultural pursuits, cultivating grain, raising hogs and milking a large number of cows. His dairy as well as his fields returns to him a gratifying income and the sale of hogs adds materially to his annual revenue. Upon the farm is a comfortable and attractive residence and there are large and substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grains, stock and farm machinery. He uses the latest improved agricultural implements and everything about his place is kept in good condition, indicating his progressive spirit and practical methods.
In August, 1909, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Krause, a native of Milwaukee County, and they are parents of two sons: Raymond John, born December 10, 1911; and Rudolph Charles, born January 1, 1915. In politics Mr. Peterson is an independent republican, for while he usually votes for the men and measures of the party, he does not consider himself bound to party ties. He attends the Lutheran church and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community along material, political, social and moral lines. He belongs to that type of progressive farmers to whom Racine County largely owes her upbuilding and prosperity, and his life record is proof of the fact that no district offers better business opportunities to the ambitious young man.