Sorenson, Peter



Partial 1899 Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Map focus is Kellogg's Corners area located in the Northwest section of Somers.
Today's location is I-94 and Racine-Kenosha County Line Road.

Peter J. Sorenson
Peter J. Sorenson was born in Denmark on November 10, 1858.  He immigrated to America in 1878 (US Census 1910).He was married in 1887 (US Census 1900) Miss Christina Johnson who was born August 27, 1865 in Denmark.  Peter and Christina had three daughters and one son.  See the Sorenson parcel in Section 6 on map above.
According to Ella Sorenson's obituary (Peter's daughter), the house on the Sorenson farm was built in 1837 and was the original parsonage for the Kellogg's Corners Methodist Church.  Peter died on May 25, 1923 and Christina died on June 24, 1935.  They and their three daughters are buried at Sylvania Cemetery.
Children of Peter and Christina:
Amelia.  Born June 12, 1887.  Died September 12, 1887.  Twin to sister Ella.
Ella.  Born June 12, 1887.  Died November 12, 1989 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Ida.  Born November 30, 1889.  Died August 12, 1953.
Raymond F. 

Inscription on Elizabeth Sorenson grave:
Born at Torpenholt Sjalland
February 3, 1872.  Died at Racine, Wisconsin June 12, 1895
(She may have been Peter's sister.  She was a dressmaker in Racine.)
(Source:  Mary Ann Culshaw Falk and the Sylvania Cemetery Trustees)


Sorenson "In the News"
Ray F. Sorenson, 1501 West Blvd. is in an excited and nervous state of mind today.  He asserts that masked men, on two occasions, have made threats against him unless he quit work on the farm of his father in Somers Township, Kenosha County.
This afternoon a Journal-News representative interviewed the young man and got his story of the treatment he has received at the hands of the mysterious individuals.
"My father," said Sorenson, "is at the Sunny Rest Sanitarian suffering from tuberculosis.  For the past two months I have been working on the farm solely to keep things going.  I never knew there was any objection to my being on the farm until about two weeks ago."
"I was driving from my home to the farm when an automobile was driven in front of my car and the highway blocked.  Two men, wearing masks, got out of the auto and walked to my car and warned me to leave the farm as my father was perfectly able to hire a man.  They said I should return to my family in Racine."
"Without further parley they re-entered their car.  I think there were two or more men in the machine at the time.  They drove off and I hurried to the farm and passed off the incident as a joke of the part of some one."
"This week, Wednesday night I drove in from the farm to my home and left for the farm about 11 o'clock p.m.  Shortly after I saw an automobile following me, but soon lost tract of it.  Arriving at the farm I drove the automobile into the garage and had just stepped out when two men, masked, one armed with a gun, confronted me.  The man with the gun shoved it against my ribs and ordered me to come with him, and said if I failed to leave the farm I must take the consequences."
:I replied that if I was to be forced off the farm I should be allowed to get my clothing.  They escorted me to the door of the house and then rushed me back to the auto and drove away.  I think I was in in the machine more than an hour and a half when they stopped, ordered me out and point out the way to Racine and again warned me not to return to the farm.  I arrived home at 3 o'clock Thursday morning.  I did not know any of the men and I cannot imagine what harm I am doing in working on my father's farm.  I do not know whether or not I shall return to the farm.  They did not threaten to kill me, but simply said if I continued to work there I must stand the consequences."
(Source:  Racine Journal April 14, 1922)