Master and half owner of the schooner Winnie Wing. One of the best known captains of the Great Lakes, having braved many of the worst storms during his career as captain, thereby showing his ability and skill in handling a vessel.
At the age of fifteen he became a sailor, sailing from Denmark on coast vessels of the Baltic Sea. In the winter of 1861 he took passage at Hamburg, Germany, on the ship John Bertram, and set sail for New York. From there he went to Chicago, arriving in March. At once began his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes, on the schooner O. Hayden for about one-half the season; he then shipped on the Metropolis for the balance of the year. During the season of 1862 he was on the schooner Three Bells, and in 1863 on the schooner Manitou, Walrus and Marcon. In 1864 he went to New York, where he took passage on the steamer Morning Star, going to Havana, New Orleans and back to New York. Later he returned to Chicago, and in 1865 sailed on the schooner Triumph, which was lost at the North pier during the early part of the season. He then shipped on the schooner Planet, and in the fall of that year made a visit to his old home in Denmark, crossing the ocean on the steamer Allemania. Returning in 1868 he sailed on the schooner Sonora as mate, and in the same capacity for a part of the season of 1867. In 1868 he was mate of the schooner Beloit; 1869 he sailed on the Minnie Corlett as master, remaining with her until 1872, when he purchased an interest in the Winnie Wing with Edwin Nickerson, for a total cost of $15,750.
For more than a quarter of a century he commanded that ship with a record that would be difficult to surpass. The Winnie Wing was used to transport grain and lumber. He also owned half interest in the schooner Apprentice Boy, in partnership with Capt. John Peil, purchasing it about 1889.
In 1868 Captain Peterson was married to Miss Anna Miller, and to them five girls and two boys were born. Peter, the eldest son became a bookkeeper. Thomas J. followed in the footsteps of his father, serving as mate of the Winnie Wing.
At the age of fifteen he became a sailor, sailing from Denmark on coast vessels of the Baltic Sea. In the winter of 1861 he took passage at Hamburg, Germany, on the ship John Bertram, and set sail for New York. From there he went to Chicago, arriving in March. At once began his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes, on the schooner O. Hayden for about one-half the season; he then shipped on the Metropolis for the balance of the year. During the season of 1862 he was on the schooner Three Bells, and in 1863 on the schooner Manitou, Walrus and Marcon. In 1864 he went to New York, where he took passage on the steamer Morning Star, going to Havana, New Orleans and back to New York. Later he returned to Chicago, and in 1865 sailed on the schooner Triumph, which was lost at the North pier during the early part of the season. He then shipped on the schooner Planet, and in the fall of that year made a visit to his old home in Denmark, crossing the ocean on the steamer Allemania. Returning in 1868 he sailed on the schooner Sonora as mate, and in the same capacity for a part of the season of 1867. In 1868 he was mate of the schooner Beloit; 1869 he sailed on the Minnie Corlett as master, remaining with her until 1872, when he purchased an interest in the Winnie Wing with Edwin Nickerson, for a total cost of $15,750.
For more than a quarter of a century he commanded that ship with a record that would be difficult to surpass. The Winnie Wing was used to transport grain and lumber. He also owned half interest in the schooner Apprentice Boy, in partnership with Capt. John Peil, purchasing it about 1889.
In 1868 Captain Peterson was married to Miss Anna Miller, and to them five girls and two boys were born. Peter, the eldest son became a bookkeeper. Thomas J. followed in the footsteps of his father, serving as mate of the Winnie Wing.
Master and half owner of the schooner Winnie Wing. One of the best known captains of the Great Lakes, having braved many of the worst storms during his career as captain, thereby showing his ability and skill in handling a vessel.
At the age of fifteen he became a sailor, sailing from Denmark on coast vessels of the Baltic Sea. In the winter of 1861 he took passage at Hamburg, Germany, on the ship John Bertram, and set sail for New York. From there he went to Chicago, arriving in March. At once began his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes, on the schooner O. Hayden for about one-half the season; he then shipped on the Metropolis for the balance of the year. During the season of 1862 he was on the schooner Three Bells, and in 1863 on the schooner Manitou, Walrus and Marcon. In 1864 he went to New York, where he took passage on the steamer Morning Star, going to Havana, New Orleans and back to New York. Later he returned to Chicago, and in 1865 sailed on the schooner Triumph, which was lost at the North pier during the early part of the season. He then shipped on the schooner Planet, and in the fall of that year made a visit to his old home in Denmark, crossing the ocean on the steamer Allemania. Returning in 1868 he sailed on the schooner Sonora as mate, and in the same capacity for a part of the season of 1867. In 1868 he was mate of the schooner Beloit; 1869 he sailed on the Minnie Corlett as master, remaining with her until 1872, when he purchased an interest in the Winnie Wing with Edwin Nickerson, for a total cost of $15,750.
For more than a quarter of a century he commanded that ship with a record that would be difficult to surpass. The Winnie Wing was used to transport grain and lumber. He also owned half interest in the schooner Apprentice Boy, in partnership with Capt. John Peil, purchasing it about 1889.
In 1868 Captain Peterson was married to Miss Anna Miller, and to them five girls and two boys were born. Peter, the eldest son became a bookkeeper. Thomas J. followed in the footsteps of his father, serving as mate of the Winnie Wing.
At the age of fifteen he became a sailor, sailing from Denmark on coast vessels of the Baltic Sea. In the winter of 1861 he took passage at Hamburg, Germany, on the ship John Bertram, and set sail for New York. From there he went to Chicago, arriving in March. At once began his career as a sailor on the Great Lakes, on the schooner O. Hayden for about one-half the season; he then shipped on the Metropolis for the balance of the year. During the season of 1862 he was on the schooner Three Bells, and in 1863 on the schooner Manitou, Walrus and Marcon. In 1864 he went to New York, where he took passage on the steamer Morning Star, going to Havana, New Orleans and back to New York. Later he returned to Chicago, and in 1865 sailed on the schooner Triumph, which was lost at the North pier during the early part of the season. He then shipped on the schooner Planet, and in the fall of that year made a visit to his old home in Denmark, crossing the ocean on the steamer Allemania. Returning in 1868 he sailed on the schooner Sonora as mate, and in the same capacity for a part of the season of 1867. In 1868 he was mate of the schooner Beloit; 1869 he sailed on the Minnie Corlett as master, remaining with her until 1872, when he purchased an interest in the Winnie Wing with Edwin Nickerson, for a total cost of $15,750.
For more than a quarter of a century he commanded that ship with a record that would be difficult to surpass. The Winnie Wing was used to transport grain and lumber. He also owned half interest in the schooner Apprentice Boy, in partnership with Capt. John Peil, purchasing it about 1889.
In 1868 Captain Peterson was married to Miss Anna Miller, and to them five girls and two boys were born. Peter, the eldest son became a bookkeeper. Thomas J. followed in the footsteps of his father, serving as mate of the Winnie Wing.
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