Peter J. Nyberg Biography


	This biography appears on page 332 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				PETER J. NYBERG.  

	Peter J. Nyberg, who established the first automobile business as 
a dealer in the state in 1901, was born in Sweden on the 12th of 
August, 1851, his parents being H. F. and Ingred Kathrina Nyberg. The 
former, who was an iron manufacturer, is now deceased.  

	In his youthful days Peter J. Nyberg pursued his education in the 
public and high schools and when his text books were put aside began 
learning the blacksmith's trade in his father's shop, being thus 
employed until be reached his majority. The stories which he heard 
concerning America and its opportunities led him to a desire to try his 
fortune in the new world and accordingly be left Sweden in 1872, coming 
direct to Yankton, where so many of his fellow countrymen had already 
settled.  He arrived on the 1st of June of that year and was employed 
in railway construction work Later he became fireman on a locomotive 
and in, 1875 he went to Moline, Illinois, where he entered the  service 
of the John Deere Plow Company with which he was connected for two 
years. In 1877, however, he returned to Yankton, where be established 
business on his own account, opening a blacksmith shop and also 
engaging in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. In 1880 he 
extended the scope of his trade to include farm machinery and is now 
one of the large dealers in that line in his section of the state. 
Still his business broadened when, in 1901, he began dealing in 
automobiles, becoming the first to handle motor cars in the state He 
now has the agency at Yankton for the Studebaker, Franklin and Velie 
cars. His trade along the various lines has grown steadily and his 
patronage is now extensive and most desirable, his annual sales 
reaching a large  figure. He has also made wide and wise investment in 
real estate, being now the owner of much  Yankton property. Honest 
dealing has been one of the sources of his success, together with 
indefatigable energy and strict attention to business  

	On the 1st of September, 1875, Mr. Nyberg was married to Miss 
Sene Kvisgood, a native of Norway, who died November 17, 1885, leaving 
a daughter and son Mamie now the wife of George William Fosterson, of 
Yankton; and Ernest F., who is engaged in business with his father. 
There are also three grandchildren, John William, Helen and Edith 
Fosterson.  

	Mr. Nyberg votes with the republican party and, although never an 
aspirant for office, fully  recognizes the duties and obligations of 
citizenship and does all in his power to further the welfare  and 
upbuilding of his community. He is a Lutheran in religious faith and 
his fraternal relations are  with the Modern Woodmen of America Coming 
to the new world in early manhood, he has never  regretted his 
determination to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic, where 
effort is unhampered by  caste or class. He brought with him no 
capital, but he possessed what is of far more  worth-energy and 
ambition He has done to the best of his ability his duty day by day in 
every  relation of life and in working his way upward he has proven the 
force of his character and gained  not only a substantial measure of 
success but also the goodwill and confidence of his fellow  townsmen.