Andrew Peterson formed a patent leather company in Woburn, Andrew Peterson and Son, in February of 1914. He served as president while the treasurer and superintendent of the company was his son, Herman P. Peterson. The third member of the company, his son Alfred W. Peterson, left the firm in 1918 to establish his own patent leather business. Incorporated in 1920, Andrew Peterson and Son had a plant in North Woburn that by 1922 was employing 75 workers. By 1925 Herman P. Peterson had formed a partnership with Edward H. Merrill, founding a new patent leather company, Peterson and Merrill Inc., where he served as treasurer. That company, while successful, had closed by 1937 due to an increase in competition from the introduction of plastics into the field.
From the description of Peterson Leather Company records 1921-1941 1921-1930. (Minuteman Library Network). WorldCat record id: 312507274
