"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of
Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing
Co., 1903.  p.36.
 
NEIL S. PETERSON

     The subject of this sketch was born on the sixteenth day of January, 1852,
on the Island of Zealand, Denmark.  He passed his early boyhood on a farm.  He
attended the public schools of Denmark, from which he was graduated, after which
he took a course of instruction under private tutors in the city of Copenhagen.
This course included natural history studies and languages, and the English
tongue and literature formed one of the principal features.
     In 1870, Mr. Peterson left Denmark on a vessel bound via Cape of Good Hope
for Australia, where he arrived in the spring of 1871, first landing
at Brisbane, Colony of Queensland. He resided some years on the Island
Continent, which he left in 1878 for San Francisco.  In August, 1878, he
went from San Francisco to Salt Lake City and joined his brother, J. C.
Peterson, who had preceded him to America.  The brothers thereafter engaged in
a general merchandise business at Dillon, Montana, from which point their
business followed the construction of the Utah & Northern Railway to Silver Bow
Junction.   They afterwards settled in Shoshone, Idaho, which was then the
western terminus of the Oregon Short Line.  Here they carried on a mercantile
business until 1886, when they disposed of all their interests and removed to
Seattle, where they entered into a general investment business. After the great
fire of June 6, 1889, they dissolved partnership.
     Neil S. Peterson took to the study of law and was in due time admitted to
the bar.  During his student days he served as clerk in charge of the probate
business in the office of the clerk of the superior court at Seattle. This
service gave him close familiarity with probate practice, and a large proportion
of his business since he entered upon independent practice has consisted in the
settlement of estates. He is of a highly cautious temperament, a close and
critical reader of statutes and decisions, and therefore particularly adapted to
the conduct of a branch of practice requiring the utmost care and particularity.
He is a most conscientious and trustworthy member of the bar, and commands in an
eminent degree the respect of his professional brethren and of his clients.
     Mr. Peterson was married in the year 1890.   His wife died in 1896, leaving
a son and daughter, respectively John Franklin and Eva Marion. He has not
remarried.
     Mr. Peterson was made a Freemason on March 27, 1878, in Australia, in
Leinster Marine Lodge, No. 266 on the registry of the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
From this lodge he took a demit and affiliated with Argenta Lodge, No. 3, Salt
Lake City, from which in time he demitted to become a charter member of Bethany
Lodge, No. 21, at Shoshone, Idaho.  From this latter lodge he took a demit and
affiliated on May 25, 1889, with St. John's Lodge, No. 9, Seattle, and ever
since that time he has been closely identified with the work and history of that
lodge.  He served as its master in 1893, and has since 1897 continuously served
as its secretary. His well known carefulness, accuracy and love of system have
made him the model lodge secretary of the state of Washington. He has taken all
the degrees of the York rite. On May 23d, 1888, he was exalted to the August
degree of the Royal Arch in Seattle Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M. Here, too, he went
to the top by sheer force of ability and character, and in 1894 presided over
this chapter as M. E. High Priest.  Since 1897 he has served continuously as
secretary of the chapter. He was one of the charter members of Seattle Council,
No. 6, Royal and Select Masters, organized in 1894, and attained the highest
position in it, that of Thrice Illustrious Master. In this section of Masonry he
became the head of the organization in the state. In due time he was created a
Knight Templar in Seattle Commandery, No. 2, of which he is still a member.
Besides being a member of Lorraine Chapter, No. 6, Order of the Eastern Star,
Mr. Peterson joined the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Ann
Temple at Tacoma, and he still retains his membership there. He is also a member
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.   The characteristic of his mind in
lodge as well as in other work which he undertakes is thoroughness.  He does
nothing by halves; he hesitates at no labor necessary to render himself perfect
in any part or position which he assumes. He is very highly esteemed among his
brethren of the Mystic Tie, as he is in the community at large.

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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.