... • • • METTE MARGRETE JUULSEN PETERSON Mette Margrete Juul sen Peterson was born to Juul Eski ldsen and Karen Nielsen on 11 January, 1834. She was born in the Parish of Holme in Aarhus, Denmark . She was the seventh child of a family of eight children. Her father was a smal 1 leasehold farmer and weaver. He died when Margrete was two years old. Her mother had a financial struggle, but she saw to it that the children were educated in the state school in Holme. On 30 May, 1857, Margrete was married in Holme, to Baltzar Sorensen . This was his Danish name, as recorded in the Lutheran Church Register. When they came to Utah, he was known as Baltzar Peterson. After their marriage, the young couple went to the city of Aarhus to make their home . . Bal tzar obtained good work as a coach and transfer man. His work . of hauling freight and passengers to and from the ocean liners that docked at Aarhus was quite interesting . Since he 1 iked good horses he -- used four head of matched black horses for freighting. In the next four years, three children were born to t hem: Niels Juul ; on 13 October, 1857; Soren Baltzar , on 16 January , 1860; Laura, on 24 December , 1861 . Baltzar's mother, Ane Magrethe Baltzarson Pedersen , and sister, Karen, had joined the Latter Day Saint Church about 1852. For ten years she and her daughters had walked four miles each Sunday to attend church services. It was not until late 1862, that Baltzar and Margrete were baptized. On 20 November, 1862, Balt zar and his wife were baptized by Niels Knudsen, and confirmed by G. Garretson and A. W.Winberg, respectively. Baltzar's father, Soren Pedersen, was baptized about the same time and the two families began preparations to emigrate to Utah. On 23 February, 1863, another son, James Joel, was born to Margrete, and on 1 March , 1863, little Laura died. About two months later,on 30 April, 1863, the two families boarded a steamer to travel across part of the Baltic Sea to Kiel, Germany. They then traveled by rail to a city called Altona and then a half-hour's walk took them to the docks of Hamburg, where they boarded the ship "Roland" and sailed across the North Sea to Grimsby, England. It was anything but a comfortable ride because there were about forty steers and several hundred sheep aboard, besides nearly six hundred emigrating saints. After two days in Grimsby, the group traveled by rail to Liverpool. There, 644 Scandinavian saints and 13 English saints boarded the "B.S.Kimball" and set sail for the United States on 9 May , 1863 . They arrived in the New York harbor on the evening of June 13. They were held on board for two days for fumigation and inspection and then were allowed to board a train. Because of Civil War bat tles , the route was a northern one, and at times they had to ride in ... • • • crowded freight cars. This was a difficult journey for all, but especially for Margrete because she had a three month old baby to hold and care for. They went as far as the Missouri River on the train and then by steamboat up the river to Florence , Nebraska. It was here that they were met by the ox teams from Utah, that were to take them to "Zion".They found that because of limited space, they would be obliged to leave much of their bedding and heavy clothing . Baltzar's father, Soren Pedersen, purchased a cow there in Florence. She provided milk on their journey to Utah. This cow was taken along to Richville and was the family cow for a long time . The company was led by John F. Sanders. It left Florence on 6 :.J'\ll.y, 1863, The season of 1863 was especially hot and dry, causing the waters of the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers to dry up in places. All members of the train that could possibly walk had to do this. this was not so hard on the younger ones, but was difficult of the older men and women. When the wagon train encamped near the headwat·ers of East Canyon Creek, just east of Big Mountain, Baltzar made his way down East Canyon to the little settlement of Richville. His brother, Peter, and his sister, Karen--now married to Mads Peter Rasmussen, had emigrated in 1859 and 1861, respectively , and settled in Richville. Arrangements were made for Peter and Mads to meet the emigrant train in Salt Lake City. Baltzar then walked back to the head of East Canyon and rejoined the wagon train. They arrived in Salt Lake City on 5 September, 1863. The family was met as planned, and their baggage and some supplies were hauled to Richville. The first two seasons were most difficult for the little family. They lived in a dug-out, and it was impossible to keep it from leaking during the rainy seasons. While they were living in this dug-out, two more children were born, Joseph Juul on 5 May, 1865 and Baltzar Jr. on 29 May, 1867 . Their food supply the first winter was adequate, but during the second winter about all they had to eat was cooked grain which had been ground in a coffee mill, and they even had to ration that. Tragedy struck on 1 September, 1866, when fifteen-month-old Joseph drowned in the old Mill Race. The body was found on the screen where the water plunged of the water wheel of the grist mill at Richville. A new log house was built and five more children were born to them: Charles Coulsen on 15 July,1869; George Lorenzo on 2 July, 1871; Anna Eliza, on 26 November, 1873; William on 29 February, 1876; and Frederick Leander on 12 February,1879 . William died on 18 April, 1877. In 1886, a large, two-story brick home was built. The two oldest sons, Nels and Soren, had gone to southern Idaho to homestead by this time, but there was still a large family in Richville. • • • The Peterson home in Richville was a gathering place for the young folks for . many years. Margrete was a perfect hostess, al ways making everyone feel welcome and making sure that there were plenty of good things to eat. Parties were livened by the violin music of Bal tzar Jr. and Charles. There would be singing and dancing. Baltzar Jr. and George were known for their "step dancing". Margrete enjoyed life most when the young folks came and participated in good home entertainment. The family gradually became prosperous. Much credit for this can be given to Margrete . She was well educated and had a natural ability to manage. She was resourceful; her judgment was sound; she gave advice when it was 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. She was most immaculate in her dress, person and behavior. She was an excellent seamstress and made all of her own clothes. When there was means to buy, she insisted on good quality, not only for herself, but for her family. She was not extravagant1 for nothing wa~ wasted or mis-used. She insisted on proper care for everything. Bal tzar and Margrete were generous to family members that had remained in Denmark. They forwarded money and helped in other ways to enable Margrete's sister, Maren, and Maren's daughter, Caroline, to emigrate to Utah. In 1909, the daughter, Anna Eliza, her husband, Sanford Orin Porter, and their three children moved from Lyman, Wyoming, bought the family home and most of the farm, and moved in to take care of Bal tzar and Margrete . Baltzar had had a severe stroke and Margrete was not well. Bal tzar died 21 November, 1910. ~ 4 w-o.,.a., ~ ~ ~ ~~~- Margrete lived for eight more years . She continued to keep up a correspondence with family members in Denmark. She was a beautiful letter writer, both in English and the Danish language. Her letters seemed to carry the same feeling and expression as if she were visiting in person. She would always enclose a five or ten d o llar bill in her letters to those in Denmark. If she ever had any favorites among her children or grandchildren, they never knew it; if she passed a favor to one, she never failed to give to all . Margrete became ill with congestive heart failure and had to remain in bed. Her legs became terribly swollen. She died on 18 January, 1919, at the age of 85 . The flu epidemic was still raging and there were no public meetings allowed. The mortician in Morgan County was ill with the flu and her body was not embalmed. On 21 January, a short funeral was he!d ~ ~ \~pf doors, in front of the brick home. She was buriedtt'rt°~tlle "'tittle cemetery in Richville. This small piece of land had been donated to the community by the .,Ee I z a css:fA. f .Q.~ Q<"S O ('S ,