Peter Samuelson, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Peter Samuelson
PETER SAMUELSON FAMILY
One of the pioneer families to come to Porter County in the early 1850's was the Wistrand Family. They arrived in Baillytown from Stockholm, Sweden, and settled near the Bailly homestead, about one-half mile as the crow flies.
The Wistrand boys, after being here a few years, invited their mother, Kathern, to come to America and live with them on their farm. She did and lived there until she died in 1869. She is buried in the Burstrom Cemetery in Baillytown.
There are 6 known children in the family: Carl Johan, the eldest; August, Magnus and Per, who remained in Sweden; Louise, who married Frederick Burstrom, and Otilia, who married John August Samuelson.
To Otilia and John August Samuelson were born three sons, Frank, born in Sweden, and Peter, Charles.
Peter William Samuelson was born in 1860 on property one mile north of Highway #20, now owned by Bethlehem Steel Corp. Peter married Jenny Nelson of Baillytown in 1885. She was the daughter of Christina and John Nelson who also came from Sweden. They were the parents of 13 children.
Peter and Jenny purchased land and built a very small house on it. There they encountered the many difficulties of the pioneer life. Their entire water supply had to be hauled from springs in Salt Creek, about a mile from the farm house.
The couple prospered and in 1895, the little house was converted into a chicken house and a large brick home was built, which still stands and is presently occupied at 2162 Samuelson Road.
There were 5 children born to this union, Joseph, who died in infancy, George, the eldest, who passed away in 1975, Lillian, (Mrs. Rudolph Jannasch), who passed away in 1965, Oliver, who passed away in 1949 and Pearle, (Mrs. Bartley Farry) who resides at 2150 Samuelson Road.
Peter Samuelson died in 1943 at age 83 and Jenny died in 1944 at age 78. They are both buried in McCool Cemetery.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 155
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook