Mary Ane Larsen Benson Petrerson ~ Index

Wesley Taft Benson Writes:

"Mary (Ane Marie) Larsen was the first child of Maren Hansen and Magnus Larsen. She was born December 19^th, 1843, at Rostofte, Sjaelland, Praesto, Denmark. Her father, Magnus Larsen, was born October 15^th, 1817, at Langoe, Praesto, Denmark. His parents were Lars Magnussen and Ane Kirstine Hansen. He had five sisters and three brothers. Magnus Larsen worked fourteen years as a butler and coachman for a Danish nobleman. In these occupations he furnished services of high quality. He also became skilled in the weaver's trade, which he learned from his brother and practiced after he came to Utah. He was always kind and gentle with his family. Death occurred at Mendon, Utah, July 23^rd, 1894, and he was buried there.

Mary's mother, Maren Hansen, was born August 8^th, 1824, at Kalvehave, Praesto, Denmark. Her parents were Hans Anderson and Ane Marie Jensen. She had two sisters and a brother. Her brother ran away to sea when he was sixteen years old and was never heard from again. Maren came from a wealthy and refined family, which made the long pioneer trek to Utah especially hard for her to endure. She died in Mendon, Utah, July 23^rd, 1906.

While Magnus and his wife Maren lived in Denmark, nine children were born to them: Mary, Larsene, Ane Kirstine, Sophia, Fredrick, Bolette, Lars, Bolette ^#2, and Amalie.

Copenhagen L.D.S. Branch records show that Mary was baptized August 2^nd, 1857, by A. Jensen and L. Ericson, and was confirmed a member of the Church the same day. These missionaries were transferred from Iceland to Denmark and while working with Erastus Snow, were largely responsible for the conversion of the Larsen family to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mary and her sister Larsene were baptized and confirmed the same day. Their father Magnus and mother Maren were baptized earlier on April 6^th, 1857. He was the first of his brothers and sisters to be baptized. After the Larsens arrived in Utah there were some rebaptisms.

The Larsen family wanted to come to America and become associated with the main body of the Church, but motivation came from another source as well, poor economic conditions in Denmark. Advantages were limited for the entire family. There was not enough work to provide an adequate living for all.

With these powerful forces as a stimulus, the Larsens arranged passage on a German sailing ship, Athenia. They left for America April 25^th, 1862, from Hamburg and arrived in New York June 7^th, 1862. Ola N. Liljenquist served as leader of the company. Poor quality living conditions made the trip almost unbearable. There were more passengers than the boat could accommodate. Nearly all the children under nine years of age died and were buried at sea. (Amalie was one of these). The Larsen family did not take rail passage west from New York, but instead sailed into the Gulf of Mexico and up the Mississippi River to Florence (Omaha) Nebraska, on a steamboat. The journey across the Plains to Salt Lake City was trying and slow. Church teams hauled their provisions, but the family had to walk most of the way. The hardships of the long journey-the heat, the dust storms, and the poor food-were almost more than the refined mother could endure. The father remained pleasant and uncomplaining all the way. Upon arriving in Utah, they found good food and rest for their tired bodies.

In the month of October 1862, the family arrived at Brigham City. Here Magnus Larsen found work with a man who owned a threshing machine and who went around the county doing custom threshing on the farms where grain was raised. The family stayed in Brigham City about one year and then moved to Mendon, Cache County, where they established a comfortable home and spent the remaining years of their lives. Three more children were born to the Larsen family after they settled in Mendon: Peter, Andrew and Magnus, Jr."

Mary did not come to America with her father and mother because of a prior work arrangement with another family, which lasted into the year 1863, and she was not free to go until this obligation ended. Since she was the oldest in her immediate family, she had worked away from home much of the time. In 1860, at the age of seventeen, she was living with her Uncle Paul, Aunt Ane Marie and little cousin Lars Larsen. She left Denmark with them for America at the age of nineteen. On the same ship was another Uncle, Lars Larsen, his second wife, Ellen Margrathea Larsen, and their baby son, Hans Peter Larsen. They sailed on the ship John J. Boyd. The ship left Liverpool, England, April 30^th, 1863, and the voyage was a pleasant one, lasting only twenty-nine days. The vessel was clean and sanitary and the food was good and plentiful. The sick obtained wine, milk, sugar, sago and soup from the captain's kitchen. There were only four or five deaths among the travelers.

The crossing of the Atlantic was a never-to-be-forgotten experience. The ship came within close range of eight icebergs, huge mountains of ice floating upon the water and glittering in the sunlight like crystal. It was a fairyland of beauty to behold, yet hidden danger lurked beneath the sea. The passengers were entertained by whales following the ship and spouting water. At the trip's conclusion, the John J. Boyd docked safely in New York harbor on Sunday, June 1^st, 1863. The passengers were all quarantined for a few days at Castle Garden.

The trip from New York to St. Joseph, Missouri, and on to Council Bluffs was made by rail, then by boat on the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska. (It should be noted here that this part of the trip was made during the Civil War and travel of any kind could be dangerous.) From there to Salt Lake City it was necessary for Mary and her party to walk almost the entire distance. Provisions and baggage were hauled by the wagon train pulled by oxen. While crossing the Plains they witnessed what was probably the most disastrous stampede of oxen in the history of the Mormon pilgrimage across the western Plains. This was a most terrifying experience, for they came very close to losing all their provisions and even their lives. One can only conclude that they were given generous assistance from the Lord or they would never have made it to Salt Lake City.

Sometime in August or early September 1863, Mary and her party arrived in Salt Lake City. She was anxious to be reunited with her family, so they traveled on to Mendon in Cache Valley, for a most joyous reunion. Upon arriving in Mendon, Mary set about to make friends and become acquainted with everyone. Soon she was asked to assist in managing the home of the Joseph Baker family. Here she continued the type of employment she had experienced in Denmark." At this time her ability to speak in English was probably very limited but would improve over time. Not long after her employment with the Baker family she found employment in Apostle Ezra Taft Benson's home in Logan who would become her future husband.

To provide some background about him, the following brief summary of Ezra's life is obtained from his biography found in the book The Benson Family published in 1979 by the Ezra T. Benson Genealogical Society Inc.:

Ezra Taft Benson was born 22 February 1811 at Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts. The first son of John and Chloe Taft Benson of Worcester County, Massachusetts. His father was a farmer and a very industrious man, a quality which his son inherited. Ezra T. lived at home helping him on the farm until he was sixteen years old. At the age of nineteen, his grandmother, Hannah Taft, asked him to take charge of her farm. One year later, at the age of 20, Ezra T. Benson married, Pamelia Andrus, the daughter of Jonathan H. and Lucina Parsons Andrus of Northbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1832, he moved from the farm and bought out his brother-in-law, Calvin Rawson, and operated a hotel for about two years. Through he made money in the hotel business, he could not be content as he had a great desire to visit the West.

Early in 1838, he heard of Quincy, Illinois, and he went there in search of a home. There he met the Latter-day Saints, who had just been driven out of Missouri by mob violence. He heard they were a very peculiar people; yet, in listening to the preaching by their Elders, and in conversation with them, he found them very agreeable. He boarded during the winter with the family of Thomas Gordon who were Latter-day Saints, and formed a high opinion of them.

Elders, Orson Hyde and John E. Page, visited Quincy about this time, having started on their mission to Jerusalem. Their preaching seemed to have the effect of removing whatever doubts remained about the Latter-day Saints. Ezra T. Benson and Pamelia were baptized 19 July 1840 in the Mississippi River. That fall, he went to conference at Nauvoo and was ordained an Elder. After his return to Quincy, he was visited by President, Hyrum Smith. Ezra T. Benson had heard that Hyrum was coming to Quincy, so he waited for him and invited him to his house. Hyrum Smith remained with them about three hours and read and explained to them some of the prophecies. The next day, Hyrum ordained him a high priest after he had organized a stake.

About the first of April 1841, the Bensons moved to Nauvoo, where Ezra T. Benson bought a lot, fenced and improved it, and built a log house on it. Later, he was to build a more substantial house in this city. The lot purchased for the new house was the southwest corner of lot 52 in block four of Kimball's addition to Nauvoo which cost ^$25.00.

Ezra T. Benson erected a red brick house, Two stories high, twenty-four feet by eighteen feet. The house had two rooms on the second floor with a hallway. There was a cellar beneath the west half of the house with a stairway coming down on the inside of the house. This was the house the Bensons left in February of 1846.

On the first of June 1842, Ezra T. Benson started on a mission to the eastern states, where he remained into the fall of 1843. He returned and stayed until May of 1844, when he again started east in the company of Elder John Pack. When the news of the death of the Prophet reached them, they returned. That fall, 1844, he was called to be a member of the Nauvoo High Council, and in December of 1844, he was again sent east on a mission. He presided over the Boston Conference until the beginning of May 1845, when he was counseled to gather up all the Saints who could go and move them out to Nauvoo. The remainder of that summer and fall he worked on the temple, and at night, stood guard to keep off the mob.

Ezra T. Benson moved out of Nauvoo with his family in the first company in 1846. At Mount Pisgah, Ezra T. Benson was appointed a counselor to William Huntintgton. While at this place, he received a letter from President Young, informing him of his appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve, instead of John E Page. He moved up to the main camp at Council Bluffs where he was ordained as the 20^th Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 16^th of July 1846, by Brigham Young. The next spring he accompanied President Brigham Young as one of the pioneers to Great Salt Lake Valley, and after his arrival there on 24 July 1847, he was sent back to meet the companies which were coming out so that they would be informed that a place of settlement had been found. After he met the companies, he returned with them to the Great Salt Lake Valley, and then started back to Winter Quarters.

In 1849, Ezra T. Benson, Bishop John Rowberry and Cyrus Tolman were sent by Brigham Young to make a survey of the Tooele area and they determined that cattle would do well there. On the 24^th of November 1849. The Saints who settled in Tooele Valley were organized 24 April 1850 into a Branch by Ezra T. Benson. In 1854, a grist mill was built in Twin Springs Creek located near the saw mill. The grist mill remained in the hands of the church corporation until June 1866 when Ezra T. Benson paid Brigham Young ^$3,333.33 for all claims to it; from then on it was known as "Benson's Mill" which still stands today.

In 1855, Ezra T. Benson began construction on a two story house formerly standing on the corner of South Temple and Main Streets in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is the present site of the Kennecott Building. The house was spacious with wide halls, plenty of windows to let the sunshine in, with double verandas on both the first and second floors. These verandas were on the front and the back of the building. The cost was ^$12,000 dollars.

In 1856, Ezra T. Benson, was appointed to a mission to Europe with Orson Pratt. He returned home in the fall of 1857. The year ending in 1859 probably saw much progress made on the "Big House," Plans were made to furnish it, but, the Ezra T. Benson family never did move into this lovely home in Salt Lake City, Utah. President Brigham Young needed Ezra T. Benson to take charge of Church and pioneering activities in Cache Valley, Utah. His wives were probably very disappointed, but they followed Ezra T. Benson to Logan, Utah.

Besides performing missions, for the church, Ezra T. Benson filled many important posts at home. The provisional State of Deseret legislature was organized previous to the organization of Utah Territory, and he was a member. He was also a member of the Territorial House of Representatives for several sessions and was elected to the Territorial Council every term during the last ten years of his life.

In 1868, the transcontinental railroad came into Utah and many Cache Valley people obtained employment on the building of both the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads. The Union Pacific, from Echo, Utah, to Promontory Point, was built mainly by Mormons under contract with Brigham Young who subcontracted to bishops in Cache Valley. In the summer of 1868 Ezra T. Benson, Lorin Farr and Chauncy W. West signed a contract with Governor Leland Stanford of California to do the grading for 200 miles of track west of Ogden for the Central Pacific Railroad. One-thousand workers were employed from Cache and Weber valleys. Upon completion of the railroad, Ezra T. Benson was not able to get a settlement from the railway company and it caused him considerable anxiety. When the railroad was finished and the golden spike was driven at Promontory, Utah, 10 May 1869, the Central Pacific could not keep its agreements and was indebted for the sum of ^$200,000. Elder Benson used up most of his own money so he could offer some compensation to the men who had worked so hard for him.

Ezra T. Benson left Logan the afternoon of 2 September 1869 with Alvin Crockett, for Ogden in connection with this business. Elder Benson felt well to all outward appearances, and he felt confident he could make a settlement with the railroad. On the way to Ogden, his horse got the colic, and when he arrived at the Farr home in Ogden, he bled the horse and then walked it up and down to exercise it, then put it in the barn. As he walked towards Lorin Farr's house, he fell to the ground without warning. He was dead at the age of 58 years, on 3 September 1869. Overwork and the burden of worry had weakened his heart and brought on his death.

Wesley T. Benson continues…

"It was in the spring of 1864 when Mary became acquainted with Apostle Ezra T. Benson. She accepted an offer of employment and went to work for the family in the summer of 1864. She was well prepared for this responsibility because of her experience in managing homes of wealthy families in Denmark. Research of parish registers in Denmark brought to light the name of Mary Larsen coming and going as contracts of service in home management would commence and expire. She would then move on to another home in another parish where she would work out the terms of another contract. In her service for the Benson family, Mary continued the same line of work for which she had much experience and in which she was so competent. Here she was able to use much of her talent in practical home management as an assistant to Brother Benson's wives in the running of their households. In this service she met many people of high station in life. Because of her position and because she was a beautiful young lady with a charming personality, she developed a wide circle of influential friends. When Church leaders and those who were prominent politically came to Cache Valley, they usually stayed at the big Benson house on East Second North in Logan.

Ezra T. Benson came to recognize Mary's unusual qualities and it was only natural that he should fall in love with her. They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, September 15^th, 1866. She was his eighth wife."

At the time of their marriage she was twenty-two years old and he was fifty-five. Upon her marriage she found herself in a complex polygamous family having a varied demographics. The next youngest wife, Elizabeth Gollaher, was twelve years older than Mary. Two of Ezra's living children from his first wife Pamelia, a son and a daughter, were older than she. The amount of interrelationship between these wives and families is not well known. Her five sister traditional wives of Ezra living in Logan included Pamelia, Adeline, Eliza, Mary Knight and Elizabeth.

The total number of Ezra's wives are as follows:

1. Pamelia Andrus- 15 children, 1809–1877 • Marriage: 1831.
2. Adeline Brooks Andrus- (Pamelia and Adeline were sisters) 6 children, 1813–1898 • Marriage: 26 Jan 1846
3. Desdemona Wadsworth Fuller (former wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith) not a traditional wife, married for support and protection only)- no children- lived in Salt Lake City in a one room apartment, how she supported herself is unknown. 1809–1886 • Marriage: 4 March 1847.
4. Eliza Ann Perry- 7 children 1828–1913 • Marriage: 4 March 1847.
5. Lucinda Burton West- no children 1825–Deceased, date unknown • Marriage: 18 March 1847 (There are no records of her coming west to Utah, or any records of her after this marriage date. What happened to her is unknown.)
6. Mary Knight- 7 children 1830–1905 • Marriage: 12 July 1851.
7. Elizabeth Gollaher- 7 children 1831–1904 • Marriage: 4 June 1853.
8. Mary Ane Marie Larsen- 2 children 1843-1926 • Marriage: 15 September 1866.

The living accommodations which Mary experienced after her marriage to Ezra are not documented. Most of his wives had their own homes and perhaps two or more lived in what was called the big Benson house in Logan. It is asummed that Mary lived in this house and continued doing there what she did prior to their marriage.

Wesley T. Benson continues…

"After their marriage, Mary became the mother of two sons, Walter Taft, born June 17^th, 1867 and my father, Henry Taft, born March 19^th, 1869.

In 1869, Ezra T. Benson, through his firm, Benson, Farr and West, (As previously mentioned,) obtained a contract from Governor Stanford to build the railroad west of Ogden, Utah. It was there that Mary had the responsibility of managing the food services for the men who worked for the company. In this connection she met Governor Leland Stanford and he was so impressed by the quality of her work that he offered her the opportunity to come to California and manage his household on the Stanford farm which later became the Stanford University campus. She had an unusual ability for handling food and turning out meals of high quality. She also had a fine way of teaching others how to do the same.

Mary Larsen Benson became acquainted with Brigham Young because of his many visits to the Benson home in Logan in connection with conferences and meetings on Church business in Cache Valley. Naturally she was called upon to supervise the preparation and serving of the dinners that were served to make such an important guest feel at home.

Tragedy visited this family in the fall of 1869 when Ezra T. Benson died in Ogden as a result of a heart attack. Death of a father brings many problems and dislocations in any family. It was most serious in this case because his business affairs with Governor Stanford had not been brought to a successful conclusion, which meant that six families (six wives and thirty-eight living children - 6 children previously deceased) were left with limited resources.

At a Benson family reunion held at the BYU Campus in Logan in June 1923, Frank A. Benson told about life in Cache Valley in 1869. He told how hard it was to make a living and get ahead. He said when he was fifteen years of age he accompanied his father to Ogden for the purpose of bringing a load of salt to Logan. Later, at the October general conference, he was to accompany his father and three of his brothers to Salt Lake City and attend a school Brigham Young maintained for his family. Their father's death, September 3, 1869, brought an end to these plans. It was an unforgettable scene, as Frank stood before the assembled family members, holding back the emotions that swept over him as he described in detail the memorable events of the summer of 1869.

Upon the shoulders of Frank A. and George Taft, sons of Adeline Brooks Andrus Benson, rested the leadership of the Benson family. These two lads now had to wear the mantle of grown men. The future still had great promise but it had to be purchased with sacrifice not known before.

Mary Larsen Benson shared in the generosity of the older and better established of the Benson families. Now that she had two infant sons, her responsibilities seemed overwhelming. However, there was a spirit of concern about the welfare of all members of the family and a willingness to share whatever was available. She was always grateful for the wonderful attitude on the part of the other wives who helped her during these difficult times."

Mary had been married to Apostle Benson for three short years. She along with the other Benson family wives was confronted with very limited resources. The majority of Ezra's finances were exhausted when trying to provide some compensation to the men who had worked for his company Benson Farr and West which itself had not been paid by the Central Pacific Railroad upon completion of the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit.

Upon Ezra's death it was essentially every family for themselves. With herself and two young sons to support she was facing serious circumstances. How she survived this period of her life is not documented. It assumed that she reverted to the type of work she was experienced in doing prior to her marriage. At this time her parents and other family members were living in Mendon. How much if any support she received from the greater Larsen family is unknown.

Concerning Mary's parents family:

Mary struggled on in these circumstances while raising her two sons as a single mother for nine years when she met Peter Peterson who would become her second husband. At this time her oldest son Walter Taft Benson was eleven years old and the younger, my grandfather, Henry Taft Benson was nine years of age. Mary was the only one of the Benson wives to remarry.

In 1878 Mary met and married Peter. Details of their courtship is unknown. Peter was 31 years old and Mary was 34. At the time of their marriage, Peter was not active in the Church he once joined. He had previously requested excommunication four years prior to their marriage. Why she agreed to marry him under these circumstances is not known. It is known that with her two young sons she was facing economic hardship at the time and Peter otherwise was kind, respectable, industrious and handsome and Danish like herself. He also had a farm and a seemingly bright economic future. Before we continue this story, lets find out some of Peter Peterson's history to better know and understand him.

The following is a condensed introduction to him:

Peter was a tall, large-framed, handsome man and was called 'Big Peter' by his friends. He was kind hearted and gentle. (From Mary Larsen B. Peterson's history.)

Peter was born 9 October, 1847, in Strandby, Viborg, in Jutland Denmark, to Jens Pedersen and Helle Hansdatter, the second child and their only son. His older sister was Berthe Marie, and younger sisters were Bodil Marie and Amine Karfine.

After hearing the gospel and their subsequent conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the family emigrated to America and eventually Utah. During their voyage across the Atlantic two of the sisters died while crossing the ocean and the third died shortly after reaching Iowa in 1859. After living about two years in Iowa (most probably Council Bluffs) the family started for Utah across the plains. They arrived in Ogden in 1861 in the Captain Brown's Company. Peter was known as Peder Jensen in Denmark according to the patronymic system of names. Both given and surname were altered after arriving in America.

Shortly after arriving in Ogden, they relocated to Millville and spent several years there. It was likely that while living at this location Peter received his endowment on January 13^th, 1865 at age 18 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. It is evident that by receiving his endowment at 18 years of age that the family was very much active in the Church at this time. Later they moved to Hyde Park and remained there nearly five years. Finally they settled in the area of the Logan fourth ward. Peter lived there with his parents until 1877 and when 30 years old struck out on his own and homesteaded a farm in Petersboro which he later developed into one of the best in the state.

Peter began farming in Petersboro in the 1870's, and the family moved to the farm about 1880. The farm became known as a fine example of farming, and was frequently visited by experts and investigators from all parts of the world. He was a prominent leader in dry farming and also had a large number of livestock. His methods were always progressive and modern. His farm was completely equipped with modern machinery and tools. His careful use and good care of machinery and tools made them last several times longer than the ordinary life of a machine. He was a great lover of horses and he never would permit them to be mistreated or underfed.

Peter served as an Election Judge in 1880, and was a much-respected man in the valley. He was the owner of one of Cache Valley's best farms in the Petersboro precinct. In this precinct he had held all the minor offices of trust, such as postmaster, road supervisor, constable and justice of the peace. He was a prominent stockholder in the Cache Valley Banking Company. He has been for years an active worker for the Republican party, and his ideas on the conduct of public affairs have been listened to by all who have held the reigns of public office in this county for years.

Some number of years prior to meeting his future wife Mary, Peter had a number of problems with local L.D.S. Church leaders. He was cited by the Teachers Quorum, November 15^th, 1874, and he requested excommunication on April 18, 1875. (Research notes of Alton H. Peterson, grandson.) His activity in the church eventually dropped off, especially after being visited by some men from the Teachers Quorum (the punitive arm of the Church at that time.) He reportedly dumped at least one of the brethren in the mud, which angered them. The brethren had threatened to excommunicate him because of business dealings with a particular party -Peter called their bluff- they apparently backed off, but he also quit attending church and continued business dealings with those whom he wished. (A.H.P.'s notes.) He felt it most unfair that his sons could be claimed in the Eternities by another man (ed. -his wife having being sealed to Ezra T. Benson, her first husband) and no mention is included in the record of Final Receiver's Receipt, No. 4148, Application No. 5032, and voiced that opinion at a church conference. (This later event must have occurred in the early 1880's indicating that his problems with the Church developed over a period of years.)

Alma Sonne (former Assistant to The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles) recalled, in a conversation with Alton H. Peterson, one of Peter's grandchildren, remembering Peter's standing to express his thoughts in a church meeting, including not wanting to attend church any more. There is no record of excommunication. (L. D. S. Church records verified by Coila P. Robinson, c. 1980.) The 1900 United States Census shows the family, with Peter, age 45 and a "farmer," Mary, 47 and "keep house" (housekeeper).

Sometime in late December of 1913 Peter went to Ogden for medical treatment and upon his return he was asked what the doctors had to say about his case. He replied in rather a humorous tone of voice, They had enough to say. He has never complained about his troubles and although his sons and wife have detected that he was not in the best of health, they had no idea that his condition was so serious. On New Year's Day Mr. Peterson went to Ogden for further treatment. It was not understood when he left home, or that an operation would be necessary. He went unaccompanied and nothing was heard from him until Saturday when the family was phoned to come at once as the their father was near death. They later learned that he underwent surgery for cancer of the prostate, their first knowledge of this operation. He had underwent the operation from which he rallied very nicely. He was conscious until about 11 o'clock on Saturday, at which time he began sinking very fast.

Four of his five sons living in Logan at the time left on the afternoon train and arrived at his bedside a few minutes prior to his death which occurred about 4:00 pm on January 3^rd, 1914. A large growth, about the size of an orange was removed in the operation. The body was brought to Logan Sunday night, and was removed to the Petersboro residence the following morning. His funeral was held Wednesday, January 7^th, 1914, at the Mendon L.D.S. Meetinghouse, with burial in the Mendon Cemetery."

Her marriage to Peter brought together a sharp contrast in her two households and the environments which she experienced as a married woman. Her first marriage to an Apostle, a man who was called to be a special witness for the Savior, to the Church and the world was constantly filled with heavy Church activity, visiting general authorities and other relationships involving the upper echelons of Church leadership. She was exposed to many discussions of Church doctrine, local and Utah Territory civic planning, missionary activity, meetings, conferences and discussions of how to further the cause of Zion and build-up the kingdom of God on earth. As a wife of an apostle she enjoyed a special status with her acquaintances. Her marriage to Peter who had previously apostatized from the Church was the opposite; no church activity, and living with a husband who had a negative attitude toward the church and the gospel of which she had a testimony of and had emigrated to Zion to embrace.

After their complete move to the Petersboro ranch with no immediate neighbors, compounded by the poor horse and buggy transportation at the time, she was somewhat isolated from social activity and a sense of community. These conditions made any contact with the Church very difficult. Even her parents family who had gone inactive in the Church living in nearby Mendon were of no help here (with the possible exception of her sisters Sene and Sophia). The contrast must have been very apparent and concerning. On the positive side, she now had a husband who loved her, gave her economic security and a sense of companionship.

Wesley T. Benson continues…

After they were married, they lived in Logan until the summer of 1879, when the family, with twin sons Oliver Larsen Peterson and Edward Larsen Peterson and Henry Taft Benson moved to Petersboro, Utah. Walter Taft Benson remained in Logan and found employment. Petersboro was practically unsettled prairie, and there they lived in a frame structure.

It should be noted here that Walter actually lived in the Peterson home for a number of years prior to the permanent move to Petersboro. Uncle Walt never married and lived with our family (his niece Virgo's) in the later years of his life. I remember him telling me that when he was about sixteen to eighteen years of age, Peter informed him it was time for Walter to leave. Uncle Walt said that I left home with only a string of sleigh bells to begin life on my own. He later went into the freighting business among other later occupations. Walter was never active in the Church (it was always assumed that he had been baptized in his youth but there was no record of it) however he was always very proud of his Benson heritage. His younger brother Henry (my grandfather) wasn't baptized until he was married. This was the only known living baptism of all of Mary's sons. Neither of Mary's two Benson sons learned to speak their mother's native Danish.

Wesley T. Benson continues…

"In the autumn of 1887 the family moved to Petersboro to remain permanently. They moved to the old Peterson home that still stands. At that time the home consisted of one room with a dirt roof. The dirt roof was taken off and a bedroom was built on top. In 1889 a rock lean-to was built on the west side. Two years later a room was built on the north side and in 1900 four more rooms were added.

In 1889 more land was bought and developed by the skillful farming of Peter and sons. Edward was appointed by his father to keep accurate records of all farm supplies, expenses, earnings, savings, etc.

Mary and Peter had a family of seven sons, including two sets of twins: Oliver and Edward Larsen (twins), Levi Larsen, Fred Larsen, Willard Larsen, and the last twins, Jessie and Miles Larsen.

The farm grew in size and productivity to become one of the finest integrated ranch properties in the state of Utah at the end of World War One. Mary's contribution was so outstanding that she could share the praise for this accomplishment equally with her husband and her sons who then managed the property.

During the years of Mary's life in Petersboro she was a hardworking, industrious little woman who was loved by all who knew her. She was immaculate in her appearance at all times, and kept her home in the same manner. She was thrifty, punctual, strong-willed and dominant. Peter heeded and listened to her desires. Her aim in life was to have something bigger and better, and enjoy the advantages here because they were so limited in Denmark.

Mary would get up early in the morning, milk the cows and then prepare breakfast, which included lovely, light biscuits. This she did every morning for forty years. During these years she cared for and cured the family supply of meat for the year, never once having any spoil. She brined and smoked the hams, shoulders and bacon. They were wrapped and put in wheat sacks, then placed deep under the wheat in the granary. As many as twelve pigs were killed a year. She canned and preserved and made pickles from their own garden. She also made bread, cookies and butter. The fresh milk was kept in the cool cellar in large flat pans. Within twenty-four to thirty-six hours she would skim the cream off the top with a short-handled wooden ladle. Then she would churn the cream, work the buttermilk from it and place the butter into round molds. Each mold of butter was wrapped in a square piece of waxed paper which she bought in a square pack, individually cut. Later she had her name stamped on the paper. She often carried a basket of butter and another of eggs, or sometimes two large baskets of eggs, to Mendon, walking a distance of four miles on the railroad tracks which were directly west of the Peterson home. This produce she exchanged at the Hyrum T. Richards store for groceries or money. There wasn't much time for recreation, but the entire family did enjoy going by horse and buggy and visiting relatives and family.

Sadness again came into the lives of Mary and her family when Peter Peterson died in the Dee Hospital in Ogden on January 3^rd, 1914. The funeral was held in the old rock church in Mendon."

One of the later problems Peter had with the Church was the doctrine of the time which stated that the children of a woman would remain with her in eternity together with the man to whom she was sealed regardless of other husbands. This then would leave Peter without any posterity and seemed very unfair to him and others like him. The Church has since in recent times amended and clarified this doctrine in certain circumstances where multiple fathers are involved. This clarification allows both of the fathers to be sealed to the same woman and then the details of which husband the mother and the children will eventually be sealed to will be worked out during the millennium between the involved fathers, their mother, and the Savior. For this to eventually take place the husband to which the mother will permanently be sealed and the mother must be judged by the Savior to be eligible for eternal life or the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Under this doctrine if both Peter and Mary are heirs of eternal life their sealing could take effect and Peter would be taken care of by the Savior. When both husbands are considered, Ezra having many other wives and Peter with only one, the odds would seem very much in his favor for having the sealing between he and Mary being effectual in eternity. In as much as Peter turned away from the Church after having been endowed, but otherwise a good, kind and honorable man who raised an honorable family his future status is in the hands of the Lord as it is with everyone else. We will all have to see how this works out. After all, he may be able to work through these problems in the spirit world.

The lesson to be learned here is that regardless of what disagreements we may have with any member, or leader of the Church, or how we may have been offended or disturbed by some doctrine we don't completely understand, our relationship with the Savior should be our main focus and He will always make it right with us. If we are always true and faithful to Him, keep His commandments and remain worthy to retain the Gift of the Holy Ghost , He will manifest His spirit and truthfulness to us through the Holy Ghost, and in the end, balance the scales of mercy and justice, and make things right and just according to our works as defined by the oath and covenant of the priesthood.

Wesley T. Benson continues…

These incidents were related by May a daughter of Mary's brother Peter Larsen:

"That same year her husband also built a red brick home, four rooms and bath upstairs and four rooms in the basement, at 265 North First West in Logan. There was also a handsome brick barn in the back of the lot, with a loft for hay for the horses. Mary did not make much fuss about the building of that home, but when it was finished she refused to move to Logan. The house served as a home for the boys attending college- Willard, Jessie and Miles. It was also a place where the family went while in Logan. It was furnished with beds and a kitchen so they could prepare a meal. Later Fred and Emma lived there until their home was built on the ranch and Willard and his wife lived there when he taught at the Logan High School. Mary believed in education and wished all of her sons to have an opportunity to attend college.

Mary Larsen Benson died on 21 February 1926 at the age of 83 and she is buried in Mendon, Utah. Mary lived a full life with many friends relatives and acquaintances. She was a gracious, kindly woman who was interested in others. She was true to the covenants she made in the Endowment House with Ezra T. Benson. There were many tribulations which she had to deal with, but, she remained faithful to the end of her life."

In addition the hardships which she faced in this life, Peter's animosity toward the Church proved to be an additional difficulty for Mary. Due to the distance of her home in Petersboro from Logan, coupled with her husband's attitude towards the Church her opportunity for full activity was greatly diminished. Her parents inactivity in the Church in nearby Mendon didn't help either. All of her nine sons including the two sons of Ezra T. Benson were raised outside of the Church. Walter may have been baptized sometime during his younger years but had little other Church activity. Henry was not baptized until 1904 which together with his ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood and temple sealing, was a combined condition of marriage required by his then fiancee and future wife, Selma Lundberg. Walter's temple ordinances were completed after his death. Other than the lack of Church activity, her marriage to Peter was generally happy.

None of Peter's sons joined the Church. However, some of Peter's posterity have joined the Church and have active Church families. They have been faithful in doing genealogical and temple work and have instigated the sealing of Peter and Mary in the temple and have initiated the temple ordinances for all of the Peterson sons.

Her daughter-in-law Selma Benson, Henry's wife, was her main support from an active member of the Church. Selma was an active church member and an ordinance worker in the Logan Temple. In addition Selma was the dominant individual in keeping Church activity alive and well in this part of the Benson family. We all owe a debt of gratitude to her for a service well done.

When Mary was aged and knew that the end was near, she asked her daughter-in-law Selma, to see that she was buried in her temple clothes. Selma complied, and upon Mary's death saw that she was dressed accordingly as Mary desired, but she was not allowed to place the veil on her head by Peter's sons who were raised in the tradition of their father. The best that Selma could do was to tuck the veil inside the casket next to Mary's head prior to its final closing.

Mary's L. Peterson children with Peter Peterson:

1. Oliver Larsen Peterson, 1879–1955.
2. Edward Larsen Peterson, 1879–1962.
3. Lee Larsen Peterson, 1880–1970.
4. Fred Larsen Peterson, 1883–1952.
5. Willard Larsen Peterson, 1886–1978.
6. Jesse Larsen Peterson, 1887–1933.
7. Miles Larsen Peterson, 1887–1938.
8. Hannah Peterson, 1890–1890. (Mary would have been 47 years old upon her birth.)

Memories

My mother Virgo Benson Anderson had many fond memories of visits to her grandmother Mary. She had no memory of Peter as she was only two years old when he died. While there she would often play with her uncle Fred's son and her cousin Conrad Peterson. They would play what they called "War" in the unfinished upstairs of uncle Fred's brick house next door. She indicated that grandma's house was a unique place to visit. There was a large white polar bear skin rug on her living room floor with its taxidermied head attached and mouth open showing it's large teeth. Mother was always fascinated by this. On the side of the living room there was a large china cabinet filled with a beautiful variety of vases, etc. On a later visit to the Peterson ranch mother asked Fred to go into grandmother Peterson's old house and select some of those items and give them to her as keepsakes. He gave her a crystal pitcher and several crystal plates which are still in the possession of our family. The crystal pitcher he gave her was used by Mary to give cold milk to some of the railroad workers when they constructed the rail line in front of the house.

After the funeral of Uncle Walter Taft Benson in 1957. Aunt Em (Emma- Fred's wife) invited our family to the Peterson ranch for dinner which she served on the front porch of her home. After dinner I walked out to explore some of the ranch buildings behind the house. In one shed I found an old steam powered tractor from bygone days. I was amazed by how large and awesome it looked. The Peterson's later donated this old tractor to Utah Sate University's Jensen Historical Farm in nearby Wellsville, where it still remains.

After my grandfather Henry Taft Benson retired, he leased his farm which was located adjacent the Peterson ranch to his Peterson brothers which provided him with an income though his retirement years. After his death in 1947, his farm was then sold to the Petersons.

Ronald Benson Anderson