California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


HENRY CARL WILLIAM PETERSON. In his work as a horticulturist Mr. Peterson has won an 
unusual success and is deservedly prominent among the representative men of this section, 
although but a brief .time numbered among this class of citizens. A native of Sleswick, Ger- 
many, he was born April 8. 1865. a son of John Peterson, a mason and contractor by trade. 
Both father and mother, the latter formerly Annie Mathewson, died in that locality. Of the 
seven children born to them two sons arc now living. The education of Henry C. W. Peterson 
was received in the schools of Sleswick, which he attended until he was fifteen years old, when 
he was apprenticed to learn the barber's trade. He continued for four years in that work, after 
which he traveled throughout Germany and Austria for the same length of time. He then spent 
two years in Berlin, after which, in 1889, he came to America and located in Elgin, Ill. He 
followed his trade in that location until 1890, when he removed to St. James, Minn. That city 
remained his home for five years, when he came to California and in Portersville, Tulare county, 
purchased the Pioneer Barber Shop, and continued in the prosecution of his trade until No- 
vember 15, 1904, when he sold out to Gus Long. When he first located in Portersville he pur- 
chased land five miles north of the city and at once began setting out navel oranges, now hav- 
ing a bearing orchard of twenty acres. Since that time he has bought and set out ten acres of 
land one mile north of Portersville, where he has now built a handsome residence and laid out 
fine grounds. He has a large well adjoining the place, operated by an electric motor, thirty-horse 
power and of large capacity, now being used to irrigate one hundred acres of oranges. He is also 
interested in the Hilo Water Company, of which he is a director and secretary. In 1905 he 
contemplates an extended tour throughout Europe and especially in Germany, his native land. 

In Elgin, Ill., April 7, 1889, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage with Louisa Michaels, a native 
of Grasse-Spiegel, Germany, and a daughter of William, a contractor and builder, who came 
to America in 1902 and now resides with his son-in-law. He was accompanied to the western 
state by his wife, formerly Augusta Kupplin, a native of the same place in Germany. Of their 
six children all are living. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have one child now living, namely : Rosa 
Anna Helen; another child, Elsie, died at the age of six years. They are members of the Ger- 
man Evangelical Association. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Portersville Citrus Union and 
politically casts his ballot with the Republican party.