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Peter A WOLD

Male Abt 1836 - 1925  (89 years)


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  • Name Peter A WOLD 
    Birth Abt 1836  Norway Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 14 Aug 1925  Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Woldale School named after him in Ellensburg, WA.

      He had lived 45 years in Ellensburg, WA as of 1916. Registered to vote in 1916.

      According to his death record, his parents were Arent Wold and Barbara Wold.

      From An Illustrated History of Kickitat, Yakima, and Kittitas Counties:

      Peter A Wold is one of the picturesque characters of the Yakima valley. He began life at Druntenie, in northern Norway, in 1835. His father was Arnt Lorsen Wold, a farmer in Norway, who died while still a young man, and his mother was Barbara (Rusmus) Wold, also a native of Norway, who died in 1883.

      Mr. Wold's boyhood days were spent in his mother country, where he was given advantage of a good education. While a youth he learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed at home for nine years. In the meantime he read a great deal regarding the United States and of the opportunities it held forth to young men of meager means with push and energy, with the result that he decided to try his fortunes here. He settled in Chicago in 1862, and, being an expert shoemaker, had no difficulty in securing work at his trade. After two years he went to California and located in San Francisco, there, too, working at making shoes. He was so pleased with the country that he induced his two brothers, Lors and Ingelbregt, to join him, and together the three lived in San Francisco for two years, going thence to Seattle, where the subject opened a shop and started business for himself. Before leaving Chicago, however, Mr. Wold became the owner of eighty acres of land not far from the city, which later brought him quite a snug sum. When he arrived in Seattle that city was a mere hamlet, not exceeding three hundres inhabitants. He purchased a block of lots near where the Occidental hotel now stands and these, too, turned to money in the course of time. Later he purchased a farm near Giltman and tried the hop raising business but this venture proved a failure so, after four years he sold out for $800 and came to Yakima county and settled in the Kittitas valley. This was in the sprinf of 1871. Here he leased two hundred head of cows and took up two pieces of land, in all four hundred acres. He did well in the cattle business and made money. As the country developed he began to irrigate his land and raise hay. Here it might be well to note that Mr. Wald was one of the first to lead off in the great scheme of irrigation in the Yakima and Kittitas valleys; he with A. A. Munsen, in 1881, making a ditch heading at First Creek to carry the water fifteen miles down to their farms. Two years later the Ellensburg ditch was begun, and the railroad was constructed through the country.

      He was in Ellensburg at the time of the 1889 fire, and also was on the scene during the Indian troubles, so historic in central Washington. He recalls how at night time the hostile red men kindled fires on the summits of the surrounding hills, supposedly as signals to the Snake tribe, which they evidently were expecting to arrive. Mr. Wold assisted in the erection of block houses near the Catholic cemetery by Ellensburg, and a log house where Mr. Olsen’s place now stands.

      He was married May 2, 1801, to Mrs. Sarah (Digen) Belgum, who was born in Norway and came to the United States in 1881. She came alone to join an uncle who lived in Minnesota. Her father, Michael Digen, bom in Norway, September 21, 1835, still lives in the old country on his farm. Her mother, Marguerite (Dalen) Digen, also a Norwegian, lives in her native land. Mrs. Wold has two sisters, Julia Thompson and Segried Eidal, both of Kittitas county. Mr. Wold bad two sisters, Carrie Anderson, living in Seattle, and Mary Christopher, now deceased. He has also two brothers whose names were mentioned earlier in this sketch.

      He is a member of the Lutheran church. He is an admirer and supporter of Roosevelt, but belongs to neither of the parties, and in no sense is he a politician.

      Mr. Wold has leased his land and his cattle, and is now living in retirement from active work. He now owns only sixty acres of land but he is rated as being well-to-do. He likes his country and considers it an ideal location for the man with limited means.

      Of Peter A. Wold it can in truth be said that no man has done more for the upbuilding and advancement of his chosen locality than has be. He has planted a number of orchards, and has improved and developed four good farms, where families are now living in happiness and prosperity. He has toiled hard and suffered many reverses, but is now receiving the reward of an honest, industrious career, in the enjoyment of the comforts of life and the respect and good will of his neighbors.
    Person ID I1744  Don Carlson's Tree
    Last Modified 31 Dec 2015 

    Family 1 Unnamed,   b. Oregon Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. William A WOLD,   b. Jul 1870, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location
     2. Unnamed WOLD
    Family ID F7025  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Siri (Sarah) Mikkelsdatter DIGENE,   b. 29 Dec 1864, Hedalen, Sør-Aurdal, Oppland, Norway Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Oct 1932, Seattle, King County, Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1891 
    Family ID F1257  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 13 Apr 2005