The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 255

JOHN W. PETERSON.

John W. Peterson is well known as proprietor of the oldest drug store in
Toppenish, where he has carried on business continuously for the past decade.
He is a native of Sweden, where his birth occurred on the 9th of December, 1875,
his parents being C. O. and Caroline (Anderson) Peterson. In 1882 the family
emigrated to the United States and established their home in Stillwater,
Minnesota, where the father worked at the trade of cabinetmaking to the time of
his demise. In 1913 the mother removed to Seattle, Washington, where she still
makes her home.

John W. Peterson, a lad of seven years when brought by his parents to this
country acquired his education in the public schools of Minnesota and in
preparation for his chosen life work entered the Minnesota Institute of
Pharmacy at Minneapolis, from which institution he was graduated in 1895.
Making his way to Minto, North Dakota, he was there employed as a clerk for a
few years and in 1898 embarked it: business on his own account at Leeds, North
Dakota, where he successfully conducted a drug store for a period of ten years.
In 1908 he removed to Yakima but at the end of six months came to Toppenish,
here opening a drug store which he has conducted continuously since and which is
now the oldest establishment of the kind in the town. He carries an extensive
stock of drugs and druggists' sundries and has built up a large patronage by
reason of his enterprising and reliable business n:etl!c.ds anti earnest desire
to please his customers.

In 1900 Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hughes, of Minto, North
Dakota, by whom he has a son, Albert Charles, who is now sixteen years of age
and is attending high school.

Politically Mr. Peterson is a stanch republican and he has done valuable service
as a member of the city council, exercising his official prerogatives in support
of all movements and measures for the development and upbuilding of the
community in which he lives. He has also served on the governing board of the
Commercial Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, being a charter
member of Toppenish Lodge No. 178, F. & A. M. He is fond of shooting and is a
charter member of the Toppenish Gun Club. His business career has been one of
steady progress, resulting from well directed effort, and he is widely and
favorably known as a representative and substantial citizen of the Yakima
valley.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.