Butte County
Biographies
THOMAS PETERSON
THOMAS PETERSON.—A native son, born in San Francisco, on January 28, 1885, Thomas Peterson is a son of Capt. Thomas and Adelia (Dirks) Peterson, who were born in Moen, Denmark, and San Francisco respectively. Captain Peterson was but a lad of ten when he went to sea as a cabin boy; and in the course of his travels he sailed into nearly all the important ports of the world, making one complete circuit of the globe. In the year 1858 he landed in San Francisco, and thereafter followed the sea in the coasting trade and on the Sacramento River. In 1863 he received his papers as master of vessels, after which he was known as Captain Peterson. He finally bought a freight boat and engaged in the river trade, meeting with a fair degree of prosperity. He made his home in San Francisco until he moved over to East Oakland, where he erected a comfortable residence on Twenty-third Avenue. There he died, at the age of fifty-nine years, in 1902.
On the maternal side, grandfather John J. Dirks came from Holland, where he was born, and settled in San Francisco in the early forties. In that city he established one of the first shipyards. He was also the holder of a master’s license, and was known as Captain Dirks. He was a prominent factor in the business of life of San Francisco in the early days, and was a valued member of the Society of California Pioneers. He died in 1917, at the age of ninety-four years. His daughter, Mrs. Capt. Thomas Peterson, makes her home in Oakland. She had four children; John Louis, Thomas, Mrs. Clara Govan, and Charles.
Thomas Peterson was reared in San Francisco and Oakland, and received his education in the public schools of the latter city. As a lad he went on voyages with his father; and later, for three years, he served as able seaman under him. Leaving the sea, he started an express and draying business in San Francisco, which he carried on until 1910, when he sold out and went to Nevada. He mined in Mason Valley, prospected, and did contract work for three years, and then came back to California. Mr. Peterson had always had a desire to become a rancher, for he believed that occupation was a more certain road to independence than any other; and so, having saved some money, he took a trip through the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys, trying to find a suitable location where he might settle, and build up a home. For a short time he stopped in Red Bluff; and then in September of that year, he came to Butte County, and bought eighty acres of land, near Nord. He at once located upon this tract, began making improvements, and started farming. Besides his own land, Mr. Peterson now leases additional land, upon which he raises wheat and barley, and runs a small dairy; and he also raises hogs and turkeys. In his ranching operations he has been successful.
In Oakland, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage with Miss Esther Amelia Moses, who was born in Carson City, Nev. Her grandfather, P. P. Moses, was born in Ohio, and was shipbuilder in Cleveland. He came via Panama, in 1860, to Aurora, Nev. He was a builder of quartz mills, and built the first mill at Aurora. Her father, Otho Moses, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was also engaged in mining and milling. He now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Peterson. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, in Oakland. In politics he is a stanch Republican. What of success he enjoys has been won by his own efforts, and by good management.
Transcribed
by Sharon Walford Yost.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1269-1270, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Sharon
Walford Yost.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies