Peterson, Almer J.

Almer J. Peterson was born in Minnesota and was educated as a pharmacist. He received a law degree in 1915. He worked first as a pharmacist and then became involved in the practice of law. He married Lila A. Phillips in 1916 and they had three children. Peterson moved to Alaska in 1935. He obtained a job as a carpenter with the Matanuska Colony. However, he was soon admitted to the Alaska Bar (1935) after which he began the practice of law, first in Palmer, and soon thereafter, in Anchorage. He was city attorney for two years and a member of the territorial house of representatives. He was also an unsuccessful Republican candidate for delegate to Congress (1946, 1950) and for territorial attorney general (1948). Peterson retired in 1954. He died in Washinngton in 1962 after a long illness.