Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 262.

H. WILLIAM PETERSEN

     Coming to the new world with no capital save youth, energy, ambition and
intelligence, H. William Petersen has "made good" and is known throughout the
Pacific northwest, owing to his operations in the field of merchandising. He has
been a resident of Eugene for thirteen years and is now reaping the reward of
well directed labor through a long period. A native of Prussia, he was born in
the province of Schleswig-Holstein in 1879 and his parents were Jens and Annie
Petersen. He lost his mother when a child and his father died in Denmark in
1917.

     H. William Petersen was educated in his native province and in 1879, when a
youth of seventeen, sought the opportunities of the United States. He was
employed for some time as a gardener in Chicago, also doing other kinds of work
there. In 1904 he traveled westward and after a short stay in Montana proceeded
to Idaho. He spent two years in Lewiston and was with C. J. Brier when he opened
his first store in that city. Although inexperienced, Mr. Petersen displayed a
special aptitude for this line of work and was similarly engaged in Chicago for
two years. He then returned to Idaho and in 1908 was placed in charge of the
branch establishment which Mr. Brier started in Moscow. Mr. Petersen acted in
that capacity for six years and as manager he has materially promoted the
interests of the C. J. Brier Company, which now operates a chain of fifty-six
stores, located in the states of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. The
corporation maintains its headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and handles shoes,
dry goods and furnishings for ladies, gentlemen and boys. Mr. Petersen opened
many new stores for the company, and also served as coast district manager. He
established the store at Eugene in 1914 and under his expert management the
company soon won a large share of the local trade. He is now living practically
retired but is still financially interested in the C. J. Brier Company as well
as in other corporations.

    At Moscow, Idaho, in 1908, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Nellie Goserud,
a native of South Dakota and a daughter of Ole Goserud, who lives near Coburg,
Oregon.  Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have three children: John Robert, Herman William
and Annie Margaret. The oldest child is a high school pupil and all are natives
of Eugene. Mr. Petersen is a Lutheran in religious faith, having been confirmed
in his native land. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. His life has been
well spent and the qualities to which he owes his success have won for him the
respect, confidence and good will of his fellowmen.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.