Marie Petersen
Maria Catherina Petersen (pictured at right with her daughter Louise) was Hans and Catherina's youngest daughter and next-to-last child. She shares her name with her mother, though in inverted order.
Marie was born on October 31, 1899 in Chicago and and grew up among her older siblings Peter, Maggie, Alfred and George. Older brother Louis was on his own by 1900, having married Anna Majoros. In 1904 Hans and Catherine welcomed their last child of eleven together, Clarence.
When Marie was about one her family relocated to south Milwaukee to be in closer proximity to her uncle Andrew Petersen and his family. They remained there until returning to Chicago in 1905 after the traumatic deaths of Marie's older sister Maggie in 1903 and her father Hans in 1905.
Back in Chicago Marie enjoyed the friendship of numerous nieces and nephews at her brother Louis' home, most of whom were within a few years of her own age. In 1906 her mother Catherine was remarried to Thomas Mikkelsen, a union that produced a half-sister for the Petersen children, Florence, born in 1907. The blended family thrived in Chicago.
In September 1917 Marie was married briefly to George H. Schmidt, a stationary engineer from Chicago, and they had one daughter, Louise. After a divorce Marie married once more, but that union was brief as well.
Post-marriage Marie resumed her maiden name and lived with Louise in Chicago. She was independent-minded, determined to support herself and her daughter, and has been described by her granddaughter as "the original women's libber." She was a car enthusiast, as were here brothers, and was sportily photographed in the family race car which was emblazoned with "Petersen's Garage," her brothers' business venture.
Marie worked for a number of years at the local forest preserve, Dan Ryan Woods, running a concession stand at 87th and Western in Blue Island, not far from the home of her mother, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen. By all accounts she was a loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews and is remembered with great affection by her half-niece Cathie Meyer.
Marie died in 1976 at the age of 77, leaving her daughter Louise and three granddaughters.
