Peter Fort COUNTRYMAN^[1]

1829 - 1906  (77 years)

• Name	Peter Fort COUNTRYMAN
  Born	22 Dec 1829	Watertown, Jefferson, New York
  Gender	Male
  Memberships	Freemason
  Occupation	County Supervisor: County clerk: Jefferson County, NY; Tozer & Countryman (grocery store), farmer
  Politics	Republican
  Religion	Methodist
  Census	1850	Pitcairn, St Lawrence, New York   [2]
  	farmer
  Residence	1855	Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota
  Census	1860	Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota   [3]
  Census	1865	Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota   [4]
  Census	1880	Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota   [5]
  Census	1900	Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota   [6]
  	retired farmer
  Military Event	Civil War - 2nd Mn Inf, Co D: Pvt  [7]
  Served Civil War?	Y
  Military Flag	Y
  Confirmed Ancestor?	Y
  Verified Birth	Y
  Verified Death	Y
  Verified Marriage	Y
  Parents Verified?	Y
  Obituary	Masonic Voice-review, Volume 8 A NOTED MASONIC FAMILY. Death has invaded one of Minnesota's most noted Masonic families and Peter F. Countryman has been borne to the grave by his six stalwart Masonic sons. Brother Countryman was born in Jefferson county, New York, December 22, 1829, and died at Hastings, Minn, February 19, and was buried there February 21, 1906, the funeral services being conducted by Rev. Brother Levi Gleason, a retired Methodist minister who went from New York to Minnesota with the Countryman family. Brother Countryman went to Minnesota in 1855, settling on a farm near Hastings, and resided there and in Hastings until his death. Brother Countryman received the three Masonic degrees in Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 35, now defunct, at Hastings, and served that lodge as secretary several years. He was a man of large intelligence and sterling qualities and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. While not active in Masonry he was much interested in the institution and lived to see his sons highly honored by and conferring honor upon that grand organization. He is survived by six sons and three daughters. The sons, who attended the funeral and bore the body to the grave, are: A. D. Countryman, Appleton, Past Grand Master; L. A. Countryman, Minneapolis, P. M., of Appleton Lodge No. 137 and now secretary of Ark Chapter No. 53 and Deputy Master of Minneapolis Council No. 2, R. & S. M.; F. A. Countryman, Watertown, S. D., P. M. of Kampeska Lodge No. 13, and now E. C. of Watertown Commander -No. 7, K. T.; G. E. Countryman, Aberdeen, S. D., P. M. of Aberdeen Lodge No. 38; M. L. Countryman, St. Paul, Minn., P. M. of Summit Lodge No. 163, and D. M. Countryman, a Master Mason residing in Minneapolis. The daughters are: Mrs. L. A. Cobb, Minneapolis, and Mrs. S. D. Cecil and Mrs. E. H. Markrey of Hastings. —— Photocopy of a biographical sketch in the History of Dakota and Goodhue Counties, Minnesota, Vol. 2, p. 518 (1910). The sketch notes Peter F. Countryman's partnership with I. B. Tozer in a grocery business in Hastings, Minnesota (circa 1875-1883). Peter Fort Countryman left his farm in Hastings, MN, and joined the 2nd Minnesota Infantry in March, 1861, days after President Lincoln was elected; one month before Gen Beauregard fired on Ft Sumter, marking the beginning of the American Civil War. He was 32 years old and left behind a pregnant wife and 6 children. Peter was involved in civil affairs, becoming County supervisor in 1871 and a County clerk in 1872 and 1873. He partnered with I. B. Tozer in a grocery business in Hastings, circa 1875-1883. Later in life, Peter returned to farming. His sons all belonged to the Masonic Order and his daughters were members of the Eastern Star, although Peter did not participate. Peter died on Christmas Day in 1906 and is buried next to his wife Elizabeth at Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings, MN.
  Died	25 Dec 1906	Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota
  Buried	Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota   [8]
  Person ID	I4175	Main
  Last Modified	17 Dec 2023

  
  

  Father	Daniel B. COUNTRYMAN,   b. 6 Nov 1785, Minden, Montgomery, New York ,   d. 20 Mar 1864, Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota  (Age 78 years)
  Mother	Mary FORT,   b. 27 Feb 1795, Palatine, Montgomery, New York ,   d. 5 Oct 1855, Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota  (Age 60 years)
  Married	Abt 1822	Jefferson, Schoharie, New York
  Family ID	F1486	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Elvira GLEASON,   b. 27 Mar 1828, Pitcairn, St Lawrence, New York ,   d. 27 Nov 1900, St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota  (Age 72 years)
  Married	26 Apr 1849	St Lawrence County, New York
  Children	+ 1. Ambrose Demetrious COUNTRYMAN,   b. 8 Feb 1850, Fine, St Lawrence, New York ,   d. 23 Feb 1927, Appleton, Swift, Minnesota  (Age 77 years)   2. Levi Alasco COUNTRYMAN,   b. 16 Nov 1851, Fine, St Lawrence, New York ,   d. 5 Jun 1941, Bloomington, Hennepin, Minnesota  (Age 89 years)   3. Florence A. COUNTRYMAN,   b. 9 Aug 1854, Fine, St Lawrence, New York ,   d. 29 Aug 1928, Codington County, S Dakota  (Age 74 years) + 4. Emily Josephine COUNTRYMAN,   b. 11 Jan 1856, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 20 Mar 1933, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota  (Age 77 years) + 5. Harriette Lana “Hattie” COUNTRYMAN,   b. 9 Dec 1858, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 18 Jul 1926, St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota  (Age 67 years)   6. Mary Eliza COUNTRYMAN,   b. 14 Jan 1859, Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 20 Jul 1865, Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota  (Age 6 years) + 7. Marcellus Lawrence COUNTRYMAN,   b. 27 Aug 1861, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 28 Oct 1944, St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota  (Age 83 years) + 8. George Edwin COUNTRYMAN,   b. 31 Jul 1865, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 25 Apr 1934, Aberdeen, Brown, S Dakota  (Age 68 years) + 9. Daniel Melville COUNTRYMAN,   b. 25 May 1867, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 23 Sep 1950, Bloomington, Hennepin, Minnesota  (Age 83 years) + 10. Luceba “Minnie Lulu” M. COUNTRYMAN,   b. 5 Dec 1870, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 16 Oct 1948, Hennepin County, Minnesota  (Age 77 years)   11. James Harvey COUNTRYMAN,   b. 1875,   d. ?   12. John Harvey COUNTRYMAN,   b. 27 Nov 1875, Nininger, Dakota, Minnesota ,   d. 30 Aug 1876, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	19 Dec 2023
  Family ID	F1484	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Residence - 1855 - Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota Census - 1865 - Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota Census - 1880 - Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota Census - 1900 - Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota Died - 25 Dec 1906 - Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota Buried - - Lakeside Cemetery, Hastings, Dakota, Minnesota  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  peter_fort_countryman

  
  

  Headstones

  Peter Fort Countryman Headstone

  
  

• Notes

  CIVIL WAR: Private Co. D 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, mustered in 2 Mar 1861 St. Paul. (He was 32 years old) Mustered out 3 months later. According to 1890 Census of Union Veterans and Widows, he enlisted 17 Feb 1865 and was discharged 19 Jun 1865, serving only 3 months, 28 days. Discharged with chronic diarrhea. https://familysearch.org/records/collection/1877095/waypoints —— Peter Fort Countryman was a County supervisor in 1871 and a County clerk in 1872 and 1873. Peter F. Countryman was the brother of Levi Nelson Countryman (1832-1924) and was involved in the business of Tozer & Countryman. Peter F. Countryman (1829-1906) was born in Jefferson County, New York, moved to Minnesota in 1855, settled in Hastings, Minnesota, initially was engaged in a mercantile business, served in the Second Minnesota Regiment during the American Civil War, subsequently was a farmer, and died in Hastings, Minnesota. http://www.angelfire.com/mn/thursdaynighthikes/linwood1east.html —— After the war, he sold his farm and purchased interest in a grocery business in Hastings for about eight years. When his health failed he returned to farming. In 1880 he was farming in Nininger. He was paid $50 to use his house as a smallpox hospital, but it was considered a public nuisance and hazard and was burned in 1883. In 1891 he retired and moved back to Hastings.

  
  

• Sources

  [S95] Correspondence, Various, 179,180,190:Gar Watson. [S84] 1850 United States Federal Census. [S142] 1860 United States Federal Census. [S83] 1865 Minnesota Territorial & State Census. [S148] 1880 United States Federal Census. [S145] 1900 United States Federal Census. [S77] Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, National Park Service. [S96] Find a Grave, database and images, 93941656.