• Home
•  | 
• Login/Register
•  | 
• Help

Baltzar & Mette Margrette Juulsen Peterson Story

Copied by Wanda Mortinson
Transcribed By Anjanette Stone Lofgren, July, 2005.

The record of both families of Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother dates back as far as the date when Denmark officially began to keep records of its subjects. The record states that they were people respected in their communities. They supported their nation when duty called, were industrious and took advantage of every opportunity in education though there were few. In some instances a few members of their family line branched out in other lines, but generally they stayed with the soil. They were owners and leasers of land, productive and enterprising. They were known for their hospitality and were respected citizens of Denmark.

Baltzar Peterson was born December 4, 1834 in Augersler, Piset, Aarhus, Denmark, a son of Soren Pederson and Ane Margrethe Baltzersen. He had a brother Peter and four sisters; Karen, Ane Margrethe, Mette Kristine, and Ane Marie.

As a young man, Baltzar was a coach and transfer man in Aarhus. He took pride in the good horses he owned and used in his business, hauling and loading material to the boats for shipment to all parts of the world.

On May 30, 1857, Great Grandfather Baltzar married Mette Margrette Juulsen, a daughter of Juul Eskidsen and Karen Nielson. She was born January 11, 1834 in the parish of Holme (Skaade) Jutland, Aarhus, Denmark, and was the seventh child of a family of eight children. Great Grandmother Mette’s father was a small lease-holder farmer and weaver. He died when Great Grandmother Mette was only two years old leaving his wife alone to care for the eight young children. The oldest Marie Kristine was only sixteen, the youngest, James, two months old. The mother carried well her responsibilities, and being an intelligent and resourceful woman, saw that her children were educated in the State School of Holm which was directed by the Lutheran Church.

After Great Grandfather Baltzar and Great Grandma Mette were married, they were visited by Mormon Elders about 1860 while living at 1052 Bestegade, Aarhus, Denmark. They were baptized members of the church November 20, 1862 and were anxious to come to America. By now they had four children, Nelse Juul, Soren Juul, who is my grandfather, Laura who died before they sailed and James one year old. The following year, May 1, 1863, these people left Denmark for England by Sailboat. Then they had their first train ride across England to Liverpool. There they were obliged to wait a few days for other immigrants from Norway and Sweden to join them.

On May 8, 1863, 657 saints under the direction of Hans Peter Lund sailed from Liverpool on the U.S. ship, a sort of sailboat. They were 52 days on the water and food water became very bad. There was much sickness and they witnessed some burials at sea. Finally, on the fifteenth of June, 1863, they landed at New York City. Here they were fumigated and sent in cattle cars to a point on he Missouri River. Since the Civil War was being fought at this time, they were forced to take the long Northern Route near the Canadian border. After a short time at Winter Quarters they began the Trek across the barren plains to Utah as members of John F. Saunders Ox Team Train.

Their experiences were similar to those of thousands of pioneers. At one time, while wading across a river, Great Grandmother Mette was swept off her feet while trying to




help little Nelse and Soren and at the same time carry baby James. A nearby man rescued the baby and helped them to the shore. They arrived in Utah October 6, 1863. They went to Weber River County now known as Morgan County, Utah, and settled in Richville. Great Grandfather Baltzar homesteaded a large tract of land and later purchased adjoining fields.

The first year or two were hard to forget. Food was short during the winter. A few dusty beans and some coarse grain ground in the coffee mill was about all they had.

When they received their first harvest Great Grandfather walked over the mountain carrying a full sack of wheat on his back to pay Bishop Nebeker in Salt Lake City for the seed loaned to him.

It was here a baby boy, Joseph, was born, and a year later a tragedy struck. Joseph was drowned in the Old Mill Race. His body was found on the screen where the water plunged over the water-wheel of the old grist mill at Richville.

A year later, Baltzar, the sixth child was born, and soon after the family moved into a new two room log house. Great Grand father and his brothers had worked in the mountains for the logs. It was here that the other five children were born, Charles, George, Eliza, William, who died a year later, and Fred.

Great Grandfather Baltzar and his family improved their land, built buildings and fences which were durable. The children were instructed and trained intelligently to be orderly and efficient in their work. Great Grandfather’s judgment and wisdom in agriculture was unsurpassed for his time, and after 25 years this Danish immigrant was considered the most financially independent man in Richville.

Great Grandmother Mette must receive some of the credit for the family’s successful pursuits in farming and livestock. She was resourceful; her judgment was sound, she gave advice where needed and when it would do the most good. She was quite small (considered tiny) in stature, but was quick and accurate, full of energy, and most immaculate in dress and person.

She was an artist with the needle, made all of her own clothes insisting on the best quality. She was not extravagant for nothing was wasted or misused. She insisted everything be cared for properly. She was a beautiful letter writer, both in the Danish and English languages. She never showed favoritism.

I’m going to tell you the only thing I remember about her. When I was a very little girl I visited in Morgan County with my father, Joel, Mother, little sister and brother. Before we left for home, daddy took me into grandmother’s room to say goodbye. I remember she had on a black dress with white lace at the neck and a little cap n her head. She asked me to come near her. I felt frightened for she looked little and old and wrinkled. She




patted me on the head and then placed a silver dollar in my hand saying it was for me. I never knew great grandfather. He died a month before I was born.

Great Grandfather Baltzar never lost interest in the welfare of his family. As the boys became grown men he helped them acquire farm land of their own. In 1877 he filed on a large tract of land on the Preston Flat and Nelse, Soren Baltzar and Charles went there as farmers. Soren and Nelse played violins and Soren played a trumpet and called for square dances. They were the first musicians on the Preston Flat. Baltzar taught a school of dancing both in Morgan County and later in Preston. He and Charles went all over the country playing for dances. Besides farming Baltzar was a Blacksmith and an excellent horse shoer. As a very young man he shod horses in San Francisco when draft horses were used for all transfer work. He also sheared sheep. George loved the farm and livestock and stayed with it all his life as did Soren Though Nelse took up a few other trades and jobs. Fred sought education and became a high school professor and then a medical doctor. He played a mandolin and sang. Great-aunt Eliza was very artistic. She was very artistic with her needle and oil paints and much credit is due her and her husband for caring so lovingly for the fine family brick home completed 1866 which still stands on the old homestead in Richville. It was considered one of the finest in the county.

This home became a gathering place for the young folks for many years. Many parties gathered at the Peterson home. Everyone sang and danced. Baltzar and Charles played their violins and step dancing was a specialty of George and Baltzar. Great grandmother was the perfect hostess, always pleased to entertain, and making sure there was plenty of food and good things to eat. She enjoyed life most when the young folks came there to participate in good home entertainment.

You must be logged in to post a comment regarding this story.