Lewis C. Peterson
Lewis C. Peterson, proprietor of the farm in Spring Vallev township on which he is now living, was born in that township on August 19, 1853, son of John and Elizabeth Peterson, both also natives of this county.
John Peterson was born on a farm in the northeast corner of Spring Valley township and his wife was born in Sugarcreek township. Reared on a farm, John Peterson in due time took up farming as his own vocation and in 1840 established his home on the farm on which his son Frank is now living in Spring Valley township. There he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1881, he then being fifty-seven years of age. His widow survived him for thirteen years, she being seventy years of age at the time of her death on December 1, 1894. She was a member of the Methodist Protestant church. John Peterson and his wife were the parents of six children, five sons and a daughter, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being Sarah J., David A. (deceased), Jonas, a grocer at Bellbrook; Charles A., a carpenter, now living at Dayton, and Frank, who is occupying the old home farm.
Lewis C. Peterson grew up on the home farm in Spring Valley township and was educated in the local schools. After his marriage in 1875, he then being twenty-two years of age, he began farming on his own account, renting a farm in Beavercreek township and there made his home until in 1883, when he bought the John Hepford farm of fifty acres in Spring Valley township, moved onto the same and has ever since resided there. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Peterson has made considerable improvements on the same. In addition to his general farming he raises Shropshire sheep and Berkshire hogs and for the past ten years or more has been engaged in the buying of wool.
In 1875 Lewis C. Peterson was united in marriage to Josephine Bumgardner, who was born in Beavercreek township, this county, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Benham) Bumgardner, both now deceased and the former of whom was an edged-tool maker. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Peterson is a Democrat, as was his father.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918