Carstens, Peter (page 583), a well known and respected farmer of Oakwood Township, was born in Holstein, Germany, May 17, 1852, son of Max and Christina (Barnholdt) Carstens. The father died in Germany when his son Peter was two years old, and the widowed mother subsequently married Jurgen Lohse. Peter was then adopted by his Uncle Claus Singelman, with whom he resided until he came to America in 1872, settling in Iowa. In that state he remained about 15 months, and then came to Wabasha County, Minn., and lived here for three years. He then returned to Iowa, spent nine months there, and subsequently came back to Wabasha County, worked out three years for Hans Behrns. Then in the spring of 1880 he bought the first part of his present farm, a tract of 70 acres in section 17, Oakwood Township, on which was a good house with some straw sheds. The purchase of additional land has brought the area of his farm up to 160 acres. By way of improvements, he has remodeled the house, erected a barn 40 by 60 feet, with full basement and several outbuildings. He is following diversified farming successfully and has a high standing in the community as a useful and industrious citizen. On November 16, 1878, Mr. Carstens was united in marriage with Phoebe Schuchard, and this union has resulted in the birth of ten children: Rudolph, a resident of Renville County, who married Amelia Lehman, and has two children, Alice and Edna. John of Oakwood Township, married Matilda Carstens, and has five children, Elmer, Edna, Luella, Arnold and Harold. Edward, of Renville County, married Ida Kieker, and has one daughter. Herman, of Lake City, married Emily Winkle, and has two children, Lydia and Vera. Alfred, who married Martha Schroeder, and is now operating the home farm with his brother Carl; Carl, associated as above mentioned, with Alfred. Walter, also on the farm; Mary, wife of Oscar Nass of Plainview, one child, Evelyn; Emma, wife of Walter Senst of Zumbro Township, has one child, Evelyn; and Anna, now Mrs. Fred Wempner of Oakwood Township, has two children, Franklin and Kenneth. Mrs. Phoebe Carstens, the mother of these children, died February 6, 1919. Mr. Carstens is a member of the Lutheran church. --From the 1920 Book: History of Wabasha County, Minnesota

Note: At the time of the writing of the book, Oscar and Mary Nass had no living children. Their Evelyn is a typo, mistakenly duplicated from Evelyn Senst of the next line. --Wayne Diercks

Additional Children: Rudolph C. b. 1879, Johann Henry b. 1881, Edward b. 1885