YESTERYEARS: 104 years ago
February 4, 1898
To the coal and wood thieves of Florence: Your attention is hereby most respectfully called to the fact that a job is being put up on you. The people from whom you have been stealing your fuel regularly have set a trap for you. They have bated the coal with little hunks of dynamite and the wood with good loads of blasting powder. You will probably hear something pop.
Peter Petersen was born in Denmark Feb. 17, 1832, and died Jan. 29, 1898, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J.C. Andersen, in Florence. He had been sick with dropsy for a year and death resulted from that disease. The funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church on Sunday, conducted by Rev. Christian, Rev. Mann, and Rev. Phelps. Interment was made in the city cemetery. The deceased began life as a sailor at the age of 14 and followed that vocation until 1890 when he came to Florence to make his home with his daughter. In recognition of his bravery, the King of Denmark presented him with a medal. During his 44 years as a sailor his ship was twice wrecked and he experienced all the mishaps and hardships that usually befall the sailor. Mr. Peterson was married in 1856 to Hansine Bayer. Eight children were born to them, five of whom are dead. The three living children are Mrs. J. C. Anderson of this city, a son who is a sea captain and whose ship at present is icebound in the Yukon River, another son, who also is a sea captain, and whose ship plies between the European ports.
