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258

CHRISS J. PETERSON
Early Wright Pilot - World War 1 Instructor

Chriss J. Peterson was born at Albert Lea, Minnesota, September 19, 1877, one of a large family of children. He attended local schools and at an early age enlisted in Co. F, 1st South Dakota Volunteer Infantry at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and served in the Spanish-American War in 1898. He reenlisted as a Corporal in the 11th Volunteer Cavalry, Troop K on July 31, 1899, and was discharged from the service on June 30, 1901. 

Following this Peterson decided to go West and take up ranch life. Locating in Utah he worked for some times at various jobs, including that of a cook, on ranches there. Then he took up barbering and located in Tucker, Utah.

In November, 1910, a friend induced Peterson to go with him to Denver, Colorado, to attend an air meet to be held there November 16th to 19th. Peterson had never seen any flying and was not particularly interested but finally consented to go. Three Wright aviators, Ralph Johnstone, Arch Hoxsey and Walter Brookins had been engaged to fly at Overland Park near Denver for this event. Before the two men started on their trip they learned that Johnstone had been killed at Denver so they left hurriedly hoping to get there before any more accidents occurred. After Johnstone's death, Hoxsey took over and did the flying while Brookins departed with Johnstone's remains to his home in Kansas City.

As soon as Peterson saw Hoxsey in the air he was so thrilled that he told his friend, "Man, there's a real sport. Some day I'm going to fly like that." His enthusiastic decision made there during Hoxsey's flights remained firm and the following year he joined with other aviation enthusiasts in an unsuccessful attempt to start an aeronautical venture in Denver. Peterson's