Peter Pedersen 1849-1934

PEDERSEN, HANSEN, OLSEN, HYDE

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 4/20/2018 at 12:32:08

12 April 1934 - West Branch Times

In the early morning of Fourth Mo. Sixth, Peter Pedersen slipped quietly and silently from this life--thus culminating an illness of several months duration. He was born in a simple home in Gandrup, Denmark, Second Month Fifth, 1849, one of five children, three boys and two girls who were reared by frugal Christian parents, and his death marks the passing of his immediate family each of whom lived past their eightieth year.

At the age of twenty-six he left his native land and came to America choosing Hamilton county, Iowa, as his home, where were several others of his countrymen.

On Fourth Month Sixteenth, 1884, he was married to Sena Hansen of Burlington, Iowa.

He moved with his family to the farm in Cedar county, near West Branch, in the spring of 1892, which has been his beloved home for the past forty-two years, with the exception of two years spent at Springdale.

Before leaving Denmark he became interested in the Society of Friends and so, on coming to West Branch, joined the Friends meeting where he remained an interested and consistent member, faithful in attending meeting as long as health permitted.

The death of the loving wife and mother on First Month Eighteenth, 1898 leaving the care of the five young children on his shoulders, and adding a double responsibility, was bravely borne by Peter, hiding his own grief and loneliness for the sake of his children; and with the faithful help of his eleven year old daughter, Anna, the home was maintained and the family kept together.

The past sixteen years have been spent in this beloved home with the son-in-law and daughter Anna, where he has been tenderly cared for during his declining years.

Friends have been ever welcomed and were a great comfort to him as ill health kept him closely at home.

Patiently he bore his suffering and his simple Christian faith, gentle child like nature and upright character will long be an influence for right in the lives of his neighbors and those who knew and loved this good man.

Truly--"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord," "that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them."

He leaves to mourn his passing five children, Thomas of Ames, Anna Olsen, Bertha Hyde of this place, Sara of Chicago and Clarence of WestMont, Ill.

The three daughters, two son-in-laws and a much loved niece were with their father at the last.

There are also six grandchildren, Marion Pedersen of Oakland, Calif., Ilene, Orland and Norman Pedersen of Ames and Margaret and Wendell Hyde of Springdale, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held at the Friends meeting house on Second street First Day afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, with burial in the West Branch cemetery.