He was editor of The Saturday Evening Post for thirty years and owner of H. Peterson & Company publishing firm.

[2] He worked as a clerk in a hardware store at age fourteen, and in 1839 joined the firm of Deacon & Peterson, who became publishers of the Saturday Evening Post.

He refused to publish The Deserted Wife since it depicted a character who forced a young woman into marriage against her wishes.

[3] He addressed the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, and was quoted as saying "Even an army of occupation here could not put the Negro into the street cars.

[6] He was married to Sarah Webb, who edited The Lady's Friend magazine for ten years, and their son, Arthur Peterson, became assistant editor of the Post.