Henry Peterson was born in Vernon County, Wisconsin, November 29, 1868. His parents were Arne and Anne Peterson. He attended Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, and came to Binford area in 1899. On June 12, 1901 he married Clara Rorvig, born July 15, 1875 in Ringebu, Gulbransdalen, Norway. She came to America with her parents, Paul and Anna, in 1884 to Starbuck, Minnesota In 1886 the family traveled by covered wagon and oxen to Dakota Territory, to Willow Township where for a time they lived in a sod house.
Henry and Clara homesteaded the land, which is the present George Oien Sr. farm near Binford. They also homesteaded in Canada.
Henry was the first classroom teacher of public school and also teacher and superintendent of the Lutheran Sunday school, a capacity he held for many years.
Their children were:
1. Pearl (Mrs. Harvey Von Postel) Everett, Washington.
Her children:
a. Vivian (Mrs. Robert Jenstad), Everett, Washington
b. and Joanne (Mrs. Dallas Sartz) Spokane, Washington.
2. Alvin Peterson married Inga Johnson, Fargo, North Dakota. Their children include
a. Donna (Mrs. Darrel LaPlante), Binford
b. Robert, who married Judy Schiller
c. Diane (Mrs. Len Nelson) Osseo, Minnesota. Robert was killed in an automobile accident in 1965.
3. Andor Peterson married Evelyn Rorvig. Their son Gary married Janice Fritz.
4. Thelma, (Mrs. Arthur Lewis) Binford, North Dakota. Thelma and Arthur Lewis, Binford, are retired teachers of Griggs County Schools. Arthur was Director of Tax Equalization of Griggs County, also Auditor of the City of Binford. He retired from the Binford Fire Department, having been secretary -treasurer for 25 years. He is a life member of the North Dakota Educational Association and a member of the Civil Air Patrol for 22 years.
5. Vernon Peterson married Anna Osmundson. Their children:
a. Karen, (Mrs. Ric Gardiner), Virginia (Mrs. Ron Grove)
b. and Phyllis (Mrs. Larry Sandvol).
6. Henry passed away October 18, 1941 at the age of 73. Clara, the oldest child, outlived her whole family and passed away April 17, 1973 at the age of 98 years. She is buried at West Prairie Cemetery.
Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976 Page 29