Merced County
Biographies
PETER E. PETERSEN
As a natural result of his thrift and industry Peter E. Petersen has become a prosperous citizen of Gustine, Cal., which has been his home since 1909. His birth occurred in Aro, Denmark, on January 7, 1888, a son of Hans Peter and Maria Catherine (Smith) Petersen, both natives of Denmark, where they still make their home, the father being seventy-two years old and the mother sixty-seven years. There are six children in the family: Alfreda P., Mrs. C. L. Smith residing at Turlock; Peter E., the subject of this review; Jorgen; Hans P., deceased; Johannas; and Nora.
Peter E. Petersen attended grammar school in his native country and learned the blacksmith trade in Aro with his father. In 1907 he came to the United States and almost directly to California, where he worked for his brother-in-law, C. L. Smith, for a year and a half. He then followed his trade with James R. Jensen in Gustine for three years, when, on March 29, 1912, he bought a half interest in a blacksmith business with A. Andersen, and the firm became Andersen and Petersen, and in 1914 they built a garage building; in 1919 he sold his interest in the garage to Gilbert Kerr and in 1923 took over the entire blacksmith end of the business. Mr. Petersen is also interested in agriculture, owning a fifth interest in a 131-acre farm, known as the Gustine Orchard Company, which is devoted to almonds, grapes, walnuts and figs.
At Gustine, July 15, 1916, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Lillie Hansen, born at Ingomar, Cal., a daughter of Hans and Christina (Smith) Hansen, whose sketch will be found in this history. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Petersen: Hans Peter and Eleanor Marie. Mr. Petersen is Past Grand of Romero Lodge No. 413, I. O. O. F., and has served as trustee of this order for many years; he is also a member of the Dania Lodge of Gustine. In politics he is a Democrat.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 904-905
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JAMES C. AUSTIN
A deservedly popular and prominent citizen, James C. Austin is numbered among the representative men of Gustine. Since arriving at this place in 1920, he has labored zealously for its upbuilding and the development of its resources. A native of Scotland, he was born in Edinburgh, October 2, 1882, a son of James C. and Mary I. ( Jenkins) Austin, both natives of Scotland. The father, James C. Austin, was a wholesale tea and wine merchant during most of his active career; he passed away in 1920, never having left his native shores.
James C. Austin received his education at the George Watson's College in his native city. In 1900 he joined a volunteer contingent and served during the Boer War in South Africa for two years. After a visit to his boyhood home in Edinburgh he went to Canada and for the next ten years was identified with two of the leading banks of that country. Later he removed to Montana and opened a bank at Coburg, and when he came to California he established a bank at Lemon Cove. Then he took a trip to Honolulu and was connected with the Bank of Bishop & Company, Ltd., as accountant. In February, 1920 he located in Gustine, where he has since remained as the capable and efficient cashier of the Bank of Gustine.
At San Francisco, on August 14, 1922, Mr. Austin was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Hansen, born at Gustine, a daughter of Hans Hansen, an early settler of Merced County and an extensive land owner. Mr. Austin supports all public matters and measures that will advance the interest of the people and county.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 905
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WILLIAM H. GILBERT
The success achieved by William H. Gilbert, since identifying himself with the agricultural interests of Merced County, furnishes another proof of the opportunities offered by this section of California to men of persevering industry. Since 1907, Mr. Gilbert has been associated with various creameries in this section of California and for the past three years has been manager of the Gustine Creamery. He is a native of England, born June 4, 1882, a son of Henry Gilbert, also a native of England who owned and operated a hotel in that country.
William H. Gilbert attended public school in his native country and in 1894 went to Ontario, Canada, where he attended the Kingston Dairy School; after finishing school he was identified with milk association work in Kingston, Canada, for eleven years. When he came to California he settled, at Lathrop where, for a time, he was connected with the Oakwood Stock Farm; he then removed to Ceres and for two years worked in the Ceres Creamery. In February, 1910, he located in Gustine and for the following eleven years he worked for the Dairy Delivery Company as butter maker and tester; two years of this time he was manager of the company. In 1921 he became manager of the Gustine Creamery, which has an output of 1,500,000 pounds of butter in one year. This creamery sells to the San Francisco and Oakland markets, and is also associated with the Challenge Cream & Butter Company of Los Angeles; they also supply the local trade of Gustine, Newman and vicinity. There are thirty people employed in this creamery collecting milk and cream from Stanislaus and Merced Counties.
Mr. Gilbert is associated with Dr. Stagner in a fifty-acre peach and walnut orchard near Wheatland, Yuba County. Fraternally, he is a member of Romero Lodge No. 413, I. O. O. F. in Gustine; he belongs to Leeds Lodge No. 201, A. F. & A. M.; Leeds Chapter No. 132, R. A. M., both at Gananoque, Canada; is a charter member of Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T., and belongs to Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. in Oakland.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 905-906
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler