IA 37th Inf Co C. Residence: Keokuk, Iowa. Born in Norway. Civil War: Age 45. Enlisted 9 Nov 1862. Mustered 27 Oct 1862. Private. The 37th was known as “The Graybeards” and the “Silver Grays”. The minimum age of enlistees was 45, the average age 57, the oldest was an 80 year old man from Muscatine, Iowa, named “Curtis King”. The 37th was assigned guard duty at railroads around St. Louis, Missouri; then to guard the prison in Alton, Illinois, and later to guard supply trains near Memphis, Tennessee. Their final assignment was to guard prisoners in Ohio. The unit, including Peterson, was mustered out 24 May 1865, Davenport, Iowa. Sources: (ISW-V p805) (IVAL p483)
