Peter N. Behr

Peter N. Behr, Seward Township farmer is one of the successful agriculturalists of that precinct, where he has resided on the southwest quarter of section 28 since 1883. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Aug. 3, 1861. His parents were Christian Behr and Maggie (Hansen) Behr, both natives of Germany, where the latter died in 1871. The husband and father came to the United States in 1882 and bought a few acres of land in Clinton county, Iowa, where he resided with a daughter until his death in March, 1887, being about 75 years of age at the time of his demise.

Peter N. Behr grew to early manhood in the country of his nativity, living with his parents until seventeen years old, when he worked out for a period of two years. In 1881 he emigrated to the United States, and selected Teeds Grove, Iowa, as his first place of residence, near which place he worked on a farm for two years. Then he moved to Clinton, in the same state and bought a team and ran a dray two years. Disposing of his business in Clinton in 1883 he came to Nobles County, Minn., and bought the southwest quarter on section 28, Seward Township, and returned to Clinton, where he worked as a teamster for C. Lamb & Son lumber dealers, for two years. He then moved back to his farm in Nobles County and began the work of improving the place, there being nothing on the farm but on old "shack" and only a few acres had been broken when he purchased it. He now has a model farm, and in the last few years has made the place more profitable by a complete set of tiling. He has added to his possessions by the purchase of the adjoining quarter section on 29. He is an extensive grain raiser, and has large herds of finely graded cattle and hogs.

Mr. Behr was married in Clinton, Iowa, March 9, 1889, to Dora Siemens, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1882, her parents being Peter and Annie Siemens, who reside in Tama County, Iowa. To the union have been born seven children, as follows: Annie, Christ, Dora, Mary, Maggie, Minnie, and Martha.

Mr. Behr has held office almost continuously since residing in the county. He was township assessor seven consecutive years, has been a member of the township board a number of years and is at present holding the office of president of that body. He was the clerk of school district No. 37 three years, and was a director of the same district for a number of terms. The family affiliates with the Pfingsten German Lutheran Church.

Source: An Illustrated History of Nobles County, Minnesota by Arthur P. Rose 1908
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U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Church Records, 1781-1969
Name: Peter Nicolaus Behr
Record Type: Burial
Death Date: 14 Nov 1930
Burial Date: 17 Nov 1930
Church Name: Immanuel
Church Location: Fulda, Minnesota
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