Editing Peterson, Minnesota (section)

==History==
[[File:Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway - Peterson Station Museum - NARA - 7719175.jpg|thumb|left|1877 Peterson Station Museum]]In the year 1853, Peter Peterson Haslerud purchased and platted the village site of Peterson and was the major force behind its early growth and development. The community was named after him.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=21362 |title= Profile for Peterson, Minnesota, MN |publisher= ePodunk |access-date= October 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Where Did Minnesota Towns Get Names? Most Colorful in U.S. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/1637298/minnesota_town_names/|newspaper=The Winona Republican-Herald|date=July 12, 1949|page=15|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = January 24, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref> After buying the land and platting the town, he was elected to the Minnesota State Legislature, served in several appointed positions and in 1856 was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota as Immigration officer for the 14th District of Minnesota. Peter was instrumental in bringing the railroad through Rushford Township in 1867 and he gave the railroad company fifteen acres of land and along with other citizens contributed $800. to secure a station and warehouse at Peterson. Peter began buying wheat from local farmers and shipping it back to the eastern part of the U.S.

In 1870, a post office was established in Peterson and Even A. Hjelie was appointed first postmaster.  In 1871, Peter Peterson Haslerud developed a "trout farm" on his property outside Peterson and continued to expand the boundaries of the town.

In 1873, Ole Ensberg started a blacksmith shop and in 1874 an additional quarter section of land was laid out into lots and added to the village of Peterson.  In 1875, two general stores, a hardware store, and a drug store were established.  In 1875, the telegraph was installed at the railroad station and G.P. Haslerud (Peter Peterson Haslerud's oldest son) was appointed agent.  Also in that year fifteen additional acres were platted and Prospect Park, Mill, Centennial, Fillmore, Church, and Myrtle Streets were named.  In 1876, a mill was built with farmers living in the surrounding areas subscribing most of the stock.  A livery barn, a steam mill,  the Peterson Hotel, the Northwestern Bar and other small businesses opened for business.

In 1882, the Minnesota and Dakota Gazetteer, gave a contemporary  description of Peterson:

"An unincorporated village of 100 inhabitants in Rushford Township, northeastern part of Fillmore County, and a station on the Southern Minnesota Railroad, 25 miles from Preston and 120 miles from Minneapolis.  It is situated on the Root Rover which furnishes power to a flour mill at this point.  A steam flour mill is also in operation in the village and there is a Lutheran church and district school.  The exports are flour and wheat.  Modes of communication are: Western Union Telegraph, American Express, two stages semi-weekly from Pilot Mound to Peterson via Arendahl and daily mail service."

[[File:Peterson City Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Peterson City Hall]]
Peterson was organized as a village in 1909.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|author-link=Warren Upham|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n213 194]}}</ref>