My Genealogy Hound

LEWIS PETERSON, JR., retired, Allegheny, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 6, 1828. His father, Lewis Peterson, Sr., was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1790, and quite early in life removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he worked in a silk store. In 1811 he came to Pittsburgh in the interest of the Pittsburgh Engine company, to manage their business here. In 1812 he formed a partnership with George P. Miltenburger, in the tin and copper business, but in a short time he bought Mr. Miltenburger’s interest, and in 1822 took his brother, Peter Peterson, into partnership, the firm name being L. & P. Peterson. During this period Lewis Peterson, Sr., and George P. Miltenburger built the first double-decked steamboat ever floated on the river, and Mr. Peterson commanded her on her first trip to New Orleans. Freight at that time being scarce, he purchased five hundred barrels of flour at about one dollar per barrel, shipped it to New Orleans on his first trip, and sold it at a fair profit. He was afterward associated with Mr. McNickle in the manufacture of machinery for making cotton and woolen goods; was also with Robert Barkley in the manufacture of lead pipe under the old process. They made the first lead pipe ever manufactured west of the mountains. After the dissolution of the firm of Peterson & McNickle, in 1840, Mr. Peterson went into cotton-spinning and the manufacture of cotton-batting, candle-wick, etc. This establishment was destroyed by the great fire in Pittsburgh in 1845, and Mr. Peterson then, owning a farm near Tarentum, this county, commenced the manufacture of salt. It was upon this farm that oil was first discovered in the county, by Thomas M. Kier, who had obtained permission to drill a well on the premises. In this way Mr. Peterson became interested in oil as well as salt.

Lewis Peterson, Jr.’s, life, like his father’s, has been one of great activity and usefulness. For many years he was engaged in the manufacture of salt, and in the oil business. After the war he built the Rose Dale foundry, and followed the iron industry, which he disposed of in 1878 to William H. Irwin, retiring from active business life. He was several years a member of the city council, and three years mayor of Allegheny City. From May, 1880, to May, 1886, he was a member of the state board of charities. In a historical sketch of the Allegheny General hospital we find the following: “On Dec. 15, 1881, a number of citizens of Allegheny met at the home of Mayor Peterson to consider the propriety of establishing a hospital in Allegheny City.” Further along in the same sketch is the following: “Hon L. Peterson, Jr., a member of the state board of charities, without any official connection with the management, or compensation, has voluntarily rendered valuable service in the work of improving the building and grounds.” Mr. Peterson is held in very high esteem by the citizens of Allegheny. Lewis Peterson, Sr., died in 1885, aged ninety-four years.