Ancestors in the Attic

Our presenters for our January 20, 1924 meeting were authors Meliscent Peterson Gill and Patricia Louise Peterson who spoke about their ancestor, Soren Peterson’s experience as an emigrant and Civil War Veteran. Soren was from Denmark and came to America to find employment so he could get married. He sent letters back to his family about his experience in the war, which included a stay in Andersonville Prison. He survived, brought his wife over and fathered several children in America. The letters prove a fascinating glimpse into life at Andersonville, a horrible time of starvation and disease which Soren miraculously survived although his death was recorded at the camp. It took years for the American descendants to prove he did not die at Andersonville. The presenters wrote three books about the families including the Ancestors in the Attic: Soren Peterson Chronicles of Danish American Family which was the subject of the talk. At the end of the talk the authors provided tips about self publishing.