Heinrich Gotbar Petersen was born April 4, 1854 in Stedesand, Tondern, Schweis-Hold. He married Margaretha Metta Lund. After serving in the army he found that he had no means of supporting their 8 children (one of these died) in Germany. They decided to homestead in the Dakotas. In 1891 he took their eldest son and went to find a place to live before sending for the rest of the family. He died May 31, 1878 in Lisbon, ND.