Biography of George Peterson (1836-1923) of Rockford, IL  



Last Updated 9/1/00

From Portrait and Biographical Record of Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., 1892), p. 1189-1190.

    George Peterson, the well-known manufacturer of all kinds of foundry supplies, under the title of the Union Foundry & Machine Company, located at Nos. 404 and 410 Cedar Street, is one of the most enterprising and thorough-going business men of the city. His factory is well equipped and he has been proprietor of the same since August, 1887. He was formerly President of the old corporation, which was organized in May, 1881, under the same name as it is now operated. Mr. Peterson became a member of the firm and its President in August, 1883; and four years later sole proprietor. He is President, his wife, E. Peterson, Vice-president and his daughter J. B. Peterson, Secretary and Treasurer. The business has been well and succesfully carried on and is crowded with work, although about thirty men are employed all the time.
    Mr. Peterson has been a resident of Rockford since 1854 and is well and favorably known in the county. He learned the trade of a machinist at an early age, has followed this all his life, and has met with substantial results. Aside from the foundry, he is interested in outside interests in Rockford, and has a fine residence on South West Street, in the Fifth Ward.
    Bron in New York City, Mr. Peterson came to this State when a young man and what he has accumulated in the way of this world's goods is the result of his own good fighting qualities. His father, John Peterson, was a native of Sweden, and came to this country when but fourteen years of age and in the latter part of the last century. He became a ship-rigger and was killed by falling from the ship's rigging which he was putting on at the wharfs of New York City. He was then fifty-nine years of age, and was a quiet, industrious man. His death was a great blow to his wife and family. He had always resided in New York City, but his wife afterward followed her children to Rockford, Ill., where her death occurred at the home of her son, Frederick Peterson, when eighty-seven years of age. Her maiden name was Mary Kirfus and she was born in Philadelphia in 1802. She was of German ancestory and the daughter of Christian Kirfus, who was a baker by trade. The latter died in New York City when seventy years of age. His wife had come to Rockford at an early day and died here when eighty-nine years of age.
    Our subject was one of six children, five of whom are living at the present time and all married. He selected his wife in the person of Miss Eliza Vibbard, a native of Rockford Township, this county, and their union was solemnized in Rockford. Her parents, Thomas and Phebe (Scott) Vibbard, were natives of the Green Mountain State and after marriage came to Rockford Township, where the father cultivated the soil. Later, or in 1867, they moved to Iowa, Delaware County, and there the mother died when sixty-nine years of age. Mr. Vibbard subsequently returned to Rockford and has since been domiciled with his daughter, Mrs. Peterson. He is now eighty years of age.
    Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are prominent society people of Rockford, and Mrs Peterson is a Methodist in her religious belief. Mr. Peterson is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. They have had four children, but one, Gertrude, a bright little girl, died at the age of ten years. Those living are: Carrie M., wife of William G. Shapley, a baker of Rockford; Jennie B., at home, and Secretary and Treasurer of her father's manufactory, and Maud, in the High School.

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