Peter Holien was born on September 15, 1876, in a log cabin in Wang Township, Renville County, Minnesota,  to Jorger (George) and Anna (Pearson) Holien. In 1912,  Peter acquired his own land near Hawk Creek in Wang Township and spent the rest of his life farming.   

Peter was a highly inventive man, always looking for a better way to do things.  He also took up photography as a hobby.   A single man, Peter took most of his photos of his siblings and their children.  Several dozen of his glass plate negatives are in the Heen collection, awaiting development and digitization. 

Peter Holien died Feb 9, 1961, and was buried in Wang Cemetery, close to his parents and other relatives.