MARSHALL T. PERKINS, Red Wing liveryman, was born in Featherstone township November 28, 1862. His parents, H. and Violet E. (Ellsworth) Perkins, came from Maine, their native state, in the late fifties, and purchased a farm in Featherstone, where Harston carried on farming extensively until some time in the seventies. He then came to Red Wing, became interested to a greater or less extent in several business ventures, and died in July, 1899. His wife now makes her home in Boston, Mass.  Marshall T. received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, and kept books for his father two years after leaving school. He then for ten years engaged in farming in Featherstone township, on his own account. Following this he made his first venture in the livery business, running a livery and sale stable at Red Wing for three years. He then again returned to Featherstone and farmed five years. In 1906 he opened his present livery at 319 Plum street, which he has since successfully conducted, being a good judge of horse flesh and a fair minded business man. He is a Republican in politics, and while at Featherstone served as constable and justice of the peace on several occasions. Mr. Perkins was married March 17, 1884, at Red Wing, to Anna R. Purdy, daughter of David and Mary Frances (Rolfe) Purdy, natives of New York state. They came to America in 1864, and located on a farm in Goodhue township, where they remained for some time, after which they retired and moved to Red Wing, where the mother died. The father is also deceased. To Marshall T. and Anna R. Perkins were born nine children: Edward W., Nina C., Edna E., Frances V., Ada A., Marjorie C., Delta, Doris and Lawrence. Frances V. is a milliner at St. Paul. The rest live in Red Wing, the four youngest being at home. The mother of these children died at Red Wing May 13, 1903, and Mr. Perkins was married again, at Red Wing, August 27, 1908, to Lulu M. Harn, of this city.

TIMOTHY E. PERKINS, living on section 16, Featherstone township, has gained a national reputation as an apple grower, his seedling apples having taken first prize at the annual meeting of the American Pomelogical Society, held at Boston, Mass., as well as the gold medal at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. He was born in Franklin county, Maine, December 7, 1833, his parents being Timothy F. and Thirza (Ellsworth) Perkins, both natives of Maine. They came to Minnesota in 1862, and purchased land in Featherstone township, where the father engaged in general farming until within a short time of his death, when he returned to Maine and ended his days at the age of eighty-two years, having been a farmer all his life. The mother took up her residence with her son, Timothy E., and died at the age of seventy-two years. Timothy E. attended the schools of his neighborhood, and there grew to manhood, remaining in his native town until, about thirty years of age. April 13, 1864, he came to Featherstone, and for three years farmed in partnership with his father, afterward purchasing his present farm of 266 acres. On this place he has put many improvements, including a good house, well-kept barns and other buildings, and here he carries on general farming, stock raising and pomelogical pursuits. He is a Republican in politics and has served as treasurer of his township one term. He affiliates with the Methodist church and at one time was a member of the Odd Fellows. Mr.  Perkins was married March 26, 1861, to Rhoda A. Boston, also a native of Franklin county, Maine. From this union eight children have resulted, six being now alive. Charles E. is an orange grower in Porterville, Cal. ; Fred 0. is assistant general agent of the International Harvest Company at Sioux Falls, S. D. ; William J., like his brother, Charles E., is an orange grower in Porterville, Cal. ; George A. is a physician and surgeon at Dickens, N. D. ; Timothy L. works the home place and Thirza Etta is the wife of Britton G. Featherstone, of Featherstone township.  Laura died at six years and Bertha at nine years of age. All the children except Charles E. were born in Featherstone township.  He was born in Maine before the family came west. 

CHARLES W. PERRY, of Pine Island township, was born in Germany, January 17, 1842, son of Christ Perry, and in 1855 came to America and settled in Ohio, where he remained for five years.  In 1860 he came to Minnesota and located in Pine Island township, where he bought 160 acres of land, which he improved and prepared for cultivation. Here he built his home, hauling all the lumber from Red Wing for the purpose. When he had harvested his crops he hauled them to Red Wing and Lake City with ox team, and spent many nights on the prairie. His efforts have prospered and he now has a fine farm with good buildings and carries on general farming, dairying and stock raising. All of his land; with the exception of fifty acres, is under cultivation.  His son, to whom he has presented eighty acres, also carries on general farming. In 1869 C. W. Perry was married to Bertha Kumbier, by whom he has had ten children: Frank manages the farm; Emma, married William Schumacher, of Lake City; Augusta, married William Collinge, of Zumbrota; August and John are deceased ; Carl lives in St. Paul ; Anna married Albert Ihrke, of Pine Island; Bertha, Louise, and Minnie, at home. Mr. Perry is a Republican in his politics, and he and his family attend the Lutheran church.

GEORGE PERSON, at one time proprietor of the Zumbrota Electric Light plant, came of old Green Mountain stock, having been born in Vermont, December 4, 1831, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Stoddard) Person, both natives of New England. The father, a clothier by trade, brought his family to Zumbrota in the fifties, and here remained until his death, March 13, 1896.  His widow survived until January 20, 1906. Subsequent on receiving his education in Brattleboro, Vt., George Person came to Zumbrota with his parents, and started his career as a blacksmith, erecting the first smithy in the village. Some years later he engaged in the hardware business, and afterward purchased the Zumbrota Electric Light plant, which he conducted until 1906, when he sold out and retired, enjoying the well earned fruits of a life of labor, until his death, June 7, 1907.  Mr. Person was Republican in politics, and a member of the United Workmen. His religious duties were performed at the Baptist Church. He was married August 25, 1864, at La Crosse, Wis., to Mrs. Mary A. Elliott, daughter of Edward and Caroline (McLintoc) Boyles, of Thomaston, Maine. Her father originally conducted a bakery but in the latter years of his life took up hotel keeping. He died in Bangor, Maine, in 1861, his wife having died in Thomaston, Maine, in 1859. To Mr. and Mrs.  George Person were born three children-Abbie A., born September 21, 1867, married John Stanerson, now of Minot, N. D.; Edward S., born March 4, 1872, was president of the First State Bank, of Zumbrota, twelve years. He is now president of a bank at Minot, N. D. He was for some time captain of Company B, of Zumbrota, then became major in the Third regiment, Minnesota National Guards and is now captain of National Guard company at Minot. Charles F., born August 15, 1875, died June 4, 1898. By her marriage to James A. Elliott, Mrs.  Person had one son, George, born June 4, 1860, and died in August, 1890.

J. A. PETERS, who owns a good farm in Cannon Falls township, came to this county as a child with the early settlers, and lives on the place where his parents first settled and where the family has made all the improvements, developing the place from a wilderness' to its present high state of cultivation. The subject of this sketch was born in Sweden May 30, 1849, son of John and Christina Peters, also natives of that country. After coming to America in 1851 they lived successively in Chicago, Indiana and Iowa, and in 1856 came to Cannon Falls township and purchased the place where J. A. still lives. After farming for many years, the father retired to Cannon Falls village, where he died.  J. A. attended the public schools, but since early boyhood has devoted his life to farming. He owns 320 acres, has 200 under the plow and carries on general farming and dairying, selling cream in large quantities to the creamery. He is a Republican in politics, but beyond serving as a school officer has never cared to seek political preferment. In 1875 Mr. Peters was married to Hattie Johnson, by whom he has five children, Edward, Clarence, Esther, Ella and Edith. Edward is in Minneapolis in the hardware business, and Esther is a ladies' tailoress in Minneapolis, the others being at home.

PETERSON BROTHERS, proprietors of a general store at Roscoe village, opened their present establishment in 1907 and in the short time that the business has continued it has met with the liberal patronage and has won an enviable reputation for honest methods and square dealing. The brothers are highly esteemed and both are faithful attendants of the Norwegian Lutheran church.  Peter Peterson and Bertha Trealstad Peterson, his wife, parents of the Peterson Bros., came from Norway to America in the early days and after locating a short time in Hager, purchased 80 acres which he broke and improved, erecting house, barns and out buildings. Upon this place he conducted general farming until his death, in 1891 his wife having preceded him to the grave by about two years. Julius P. Peterson was born in 1877 and received his education in the schools of his neighborhood, remaining on the farm until 1907. He is married to Anna Berg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. Berg of Pine Island. Otto Peterson was born on September 5, 1881 and received his education in the public schools of Roscoe township, after which he worked as a carpenter and also as a thresher until 1907. He was married September 4, 1908, to Dinah Ellfson, daughter of Ellef and Tha Ellfson, natives of Norway who came to America and located in Roscoe township where they own 90 acres. The father is now in the employ of the United States government in Panama and the mother and a brother conduct the home farm.

JOHN PETERSON, SR., who was the victim of a tragedy while preserving the peace and order of the city, will long be held in honored memory by the people of Red Wing. He was born May 30, 1856, at Wintrosa, near the city of Oreboro, in Sweden, and came to America in February, 1881, locating at once in Red Wing. He worked for a while on the railroad, then entered the employ of the city and in 1893 was appointed a member of the police force. In this capacity he served faithfully and with valor, being on several occasions the acting chief. He was doing active duty when at 9 :10 on the evening of January 14, 1907, occurred the sad events which resulted in his death.  The story of the affair is told more fully in the general history of Red Wing appearing in this volume. It is sufficient to say here that one August Bloom, a former Red Wing barber, man aged to escape from the asylum at Rochester, where he had been confined, and returned to his home here. Although notified by the Red Wing authorities, the Rochester officials failed to come after their patient, and the Red Wing police decided that on account of threats that Bloom had made he should be locked up. On the evening in question he was located in the Sibley hotel. Accompanied by Mr. Peterson, Chief James Daily entered the waiting room of the hotel. Almost before the chief could speak the crazed man opened fire with a revolver, and a terrible struggle ensued, during which both the chief and Officer Peterson received fatal wounds. Bloom escaped, but was captured by a posse several hours later at East Red Wing. Mr. Peterson and the chief were taken to a hospital. A special train, ordered by Red Wing citizens, brought a physician from St. Paul, and everything possible was done to save the men's lives. It was found that the bullet which wounded Mr. Peterson passed through his left side into the bowels, finding lodgment in the skin about an inch from the navel. An operation was performed by Dr. Rodger, of St. Paul, assisted by local surgeons, but these efforts were unavailing. Mr. Peterson was conscious to the last. He bade his family a fond farewell, expressed great concern for the welfare of his chief and passed away January 16, 1907, at 5 :30.  The chief also died. When the funeral took place the entire city went into mourning, the merchants closed their places of business and draped their windows in mourning. The Rev. Mr.  Darling, of the Presbyterian church, preached the funeral sermon, taking for his text the words, "Deep calleth unto deep." Before coming to this country Mr. Peterson served three years in the standing army of Sweden. He was married April 20, 1881, to Ann Johnson, by whom he had five children: John H., 1882 Arthur E., 1884; Ann H., 1886; Harold V., 1890, and Edna F., 1893.

John H. Peterson, son of the above, was educated in the public schools , of Red Wing and attended the night sessions of the Red Wing Business College. He then clerked in several stores and later entered the employ of the Red Wing Gas, Light & Power Company, for which company he has now worked seven years, being the assistant manager; In addition to this, he is one of the proprietors of the Model Laundry. Mr. Peterson is a popular club, and fraternity man. He was one of the organizers of the Florodora Club and served as its secretary ten years. He is a Knight Templar in the Masonic order and also belongs to the United Workmen, for which order he has been a delegate to several state conventions. He is a Democrat in politics.  Arthur E. Peterson is the acting manager of the Model Laundry. This laundry was organized September 30, 1907, and does a large business in Red Wing and many other cities, employing about thirty people. Aside from general laundry work, a specialty is made of cleaning carpets and lace curtains.  Ann H. Peterson is bookkeeper and stenographer for S. B.  Foot & Co. Harold V. does newspaper and clerical work, and Edna F. has just graduated from the Red Wing high school.

HON. JOHN W. PETERSON, one of the county's distinguished citizens, has been active in political, church, military and agricultural circles. He was born March 30, 1838, in Gardsby, Sweden, the second child of his parents, who were natives of Smoland, Sweden. The father brought his family to America in 1856, making His first settlement in Chisago county, this state, two miles from Chisago City. There he established his home and raised his family on a farm of eighty acres, which he purchased soon after his arrival. In his family were five children. John W. attended the schools of his native land, and worked on the farm with his father, coming to America with the family at the age of eighteen years. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Sixth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, subsequently was promoted to corporal, and still later to sergeant. He was sent from Ft.  Snelling against the Sioux Indians, and was one of that heroic band which attacked 1,500 Indians at Birch Cooley, rescuing 150 brave men who for days had been holding out against that howling mass of savages. Sergeant Peterson was with the soldiers who followed the Indians to Yellow Medicine county, where General Sibley released 170 white women and children. The pursuit continued the next spring to Big Bend on the Missouri river.  On December 26, 1862, Sergeant Peterson was among the soldiers who witnessed the hanging of thirty-nine of the ringleaders of the murderous Sioux at Mankato. Afterward he was at Helena, Ark., as a part of the Sixteenth Army Corps, having been in the hospital several weeks he was discharged May 10, 1865. In the spring of 1865 he came to Vasa, where he and his brother-in-law had purchased a quarter section of land. Today his farm is excelled by but few in the township, his well tilled acres and fine buildings being models of their kind. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has continued a consistent Republican. He has been town clerk and justice of the peace as well as a school officer. In 1872 he was elected to the state senate and served two terms with distinction. In 1885 he was sent to the house of representatives, and in 1890 was again elected to a term in the senate. In addition to farming, he has been an auctioneer for forty years, there being few men in the state more gifted in this line than he. It is worthy of note that he recently celebrated his seventy-first birthday holding an auction sale. For many years he was treasurer of the Swedish Lutheran church at Vasa, and as is mentioned in the history of the township which appears in this volume, took an active part in the collecting of the money to complete the splendid edifice now occupied by the congregation of that church. He has also been an active member in the G. A. R. John W. Peterson, in 1868, took as his life-partner, Carrie Johnson, daughter of Erie Johnson, of Vasa township. Five children have resulted from this union. Lizzie is the wife of William Tilderquist, a civil engineer. Arthur has been town clerk of Vasa for ten years.  Edith lives at home. Elmer G. is a dentist in Duluth, this state, and Mollie married 0. F. Peehl, who lives in Vasa. Mr. Peterson has 200 acres of land, upon which he carries on general farming and stock raising. Although past his three score and ten years, he is still in the prime of his activities, and is a fine type of the men of Swedish birth who, while honoring the traditions of their noble race, have become true American gentlemen in every sense of the word.

PETER A. PETERSON, the able and distinguished postmaster at Cannon Falls, was born in Sweden January 24, 1855, and came to America with his parents in 1869, completing his education in the schools of Cannon Falls. After school he clerked in a drug store until 1880, when he purchased the business of Sandberg Brothers and became sole proprietor, the store being conducted on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, where the postoffice is now located. In 1889 he moved his business to a fine brick block on Fourth street, which he had just completed.  In October, 1889, he received from President Harrison the appointment of postmaster, in which position he has since continued, giving great satisfaction. During his long term of office the service has increased in efficiency and his efforts have met with much favor. The income of the office in 1889 was $1,500, and in the year 1908 had increased to over $5,500. In March, 1904, Mr.  Peterson sold a half interest in his drug business to George V.  Williams, and four years later disposed of the remaining half interest to the same gentleman, thus enabling him to give his entire time to his duties as postmaster. He still, however, owns the block, and also a fine residence. Mr. Peterson also owns I,200 acres of wild land in northwestern Minnesota; owns a store and two residences in Two Harbors, Minn., and has stock in a packing plant at Fergus Falls, as well as in the Cannon Falls Canning Company and the Farmers' Elevator, of Cannon Falls.  He has served on the village council and on the school board, has been treasurer of the Scandinavian Benevolent Society twenty years and secretary of the society for many years. His allegiance has always been with the Republican party. June 24, 1880, Mr.  Peterson was married to Mary L. Swanson, who died in April, 1895, leaving one child, Edna, who lives at home. A son, Elric J., died in infancy. He was again married, October 4, 1900, to Hilma C. Holmer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Holmer, the latter of whom died in June, 1909, the father still making his home in Cannon Falls, now with Mr. Peterson. Two children, Holmer Loranzo and Helen Elaine, have blessed this happy union.  The family faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which Mr. Peterson has served as secretary and treasurer for many terms.