Peter H. Petersen was born in Niehull, Schleswig, of Danish parentage, in September, 1890. He lived several years in Nevada prior to his entrance into the army, and was employed on cattle and grain ranches and in prospecting in Humboldt County. At the time of entering the Service, he was living in Paradise Valley, in Humboldt County. He went to San Francisco, California, on the 9th of March, 1918, having been assigned to the 32d Company, Coast Artillery Corps, at Fort Winfield Scott. On May 7th he was transferred to Truck Company E. Army Artillery Park, Coast Artillery Corps, at the same fort, and on June 17th went to Fort Funston, in the same branch, but in the 6th Company there. He was serving in the latter company when, on the 12th day of August, 1918, he met with a fatal accident.

At the time he was returning to the Fort from San Francisco and attempted to alight from a street car before it had come to a stop. In doing so he was thrown to the pavement, fracturing his skull, which caused his death. His remains were shipped to Denver, Colorado, at the request of his brother, James A. Petersen, who lives in Agate in that State. One of his closest friends, Mr. H. A. Bradshaw, of Paradise Valley, states that Private Petersen was very well and favorably known in that valley and that he was “every inch an American.” The young man was in every way fitted to represent Humboldt County and the State of Nevada as a soldier of our Country. Besides his brother, he is survived by his father, Henry Petersen, Sherman, Elko County, Nevada.