| Notater |
- Jens Peter (Diderichsen) Benson (1851 ker-1852)
Submitted by Cyrel A. Larsen, 3007 Fairview Lane, American Falls, ID 83211, CLarsen21@aol.com; Jens Peter Benson Family Organization, Carol Milligan (president), P.O. Box 56, Newton, UT 84327
JENS PETER BENSON
Compiled by Annette Hancey Lunceford (phone: (801) 375-9145), 459 East Stadium Avenue, Provo, Utah 84604. Edited 1998 by E. Leland Jacobson, great grandson of Jens Peter Benson
Jens Peter Benson was born 26 April 1831 and was christened Jens Peter Ipsen 12 June 1831 at Aakirkeby, Bornholm, Denmark. He was the son of Jeppe and Maren Christine Hanson Kofoed Benson.
At an early age, Peter learned the trades of carpentry and wheelwright service. He served as an apprentice for five years in the old country and became very efficient at this trade. The family lived in a small valley just a few miles inland from the coast. His father owned a small acreage of land, which he farmed, and there, Peter was born and grew to young manhood.
When Peter heard the wonderful message from the Mormon Elders, he was greatly impressed and became thoroughly convinced and was converted to the gospel message. The Spirit bore witness to him as to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon and of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Peter was baptized 10 July 1851 by Elder Aagren Aldreas and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints 27 July 1851, by Elder Hans Peter Jensen. All of his father's family accepted the Gospel, except his brothers, Christian and Hans Kofoed.
At that time, the Mormon religion was very unpopular and people would go out of their way to persecute those who did accept it.
In the early part of December, Peter and part of his father's family joined a large company of emigrating saints in Copenhagen. On 20 December 1852, they left Copenhagen bound for Utah. After a long and tedious journey reached Salt Lake City, Utah 30 September 1853. They had been ten months on the way. What a lot of faith and courage these brave souls must have had, to sacrifice their homes, friends, relatives, and all the comforts of a normal life for their religious convictions; to go into a strange land, thousands of miles away, where they would have to begin life over again, master a different language, and accept the customs of a strange people. Yet, how happy they were to be in the land of Zion, with the Saints and Prophet of God.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, Peter found work as a carpenter and wheelwright. On 12 January 1854, he was ordained a Seventy and was a member of the 39th Quorum of Seventies.
On 26 December 1853, Peter was married to Mary Jane Simpson by Erastus Snow at the home of Thornton Simpson, Mary Jane's father, but they divorced. A son, John Jeremiah Benson, was born after the divorce. He lived and reared a family in the Uinta basin in Utah.
On 8 April 1855, Peter was married to Mette Christine Erickson by Ezra Taft Benson, at his home. Mette had arrived from Denmark a year earlier as part of the company that included Peter's sister Karen.
With Johnston's Army on the march to Utah in 1857, many left the city and moved south. The Benson's moved to Lehi where they lived for several years. Here they shared the hardships and sacrifices of the early settlers, took part in the activities and were willing contributors to the building of that community.
In September of 1857, Mette's younger sister, Kirsten, arrived from Denmark with the Seventh handcart company. She was extremely ill and weakened from the journey. She went to Lehi seeking her sister. Mette and Peter took her into their home and helped her regain her strength.
On 1 November 1857, Peter entered into plural marriage and was sealed to Mette's sister, Kirsten, by Brigham Young in the President's Office.
Johnston's Army entered Utah in 1858, marched on through Salt Lake City and down about 16 miles west of Lehi, where they founded Camp Floyd. Many civilians were employed there and Peter was thankful for the work he was able to do. He was also a cobbler and so kept busy at one job or another. The women made barley beer for the soldiers.
While living in Lehi, Peter was called to go to Salt Lake and work on the Tabernacle. His son, Marcus, says he worked on the roof and daughter, Mary, records that he did some work on the organ pipes and benches. Says Maud B. Jorgensen (granddaughter), "I never enter the building but what I think of him and thrill with the knowledge that he was one of the many who helped with its construction."
Cache Valley was being settled, and in 1867 Peter went to Clarkston and bought some land from George Davis and Bill Sparks, said his daughter Mary. In the spring of 1868, he moved his wife, Mette, and her family to Clarkston, where he took up farming along with carpentry. His wife, Kirsten, stayed in Lehi and raised a garden. When fall came, she also, moved to Clarkston.
It was decided to make another settlement south and east of Clarkston, so in the spring of 1869, Peter was one of the group that helped to lay out the town site that became Newton. The head of each family received ten acres of land in the South Fields, and five in the North Fields. He then built a log house, shed for the cattle and sheep, planted some grain, and made irrigation ditches. In the fall, he moved Mette and her children into the new home in Newton. It was in the south west corner of the town. Drinking water had to be carried from the slough and was not very good.
Their's was a busy life, with plenty of hardships and trials; here they experienced real pioneer life. The ground was so heavy and soggy in the spring they could hardly get around for mud. The water was poor, travel slow, and the climate was very cold. Peter helped to dig ditches, build roads, and he was ever ready and willing to improve the living conditions. Peter helped with many of the buildings and homes in Newton. He made benches for the church house that were used until it burned down.
From Mr. Atkinson, he bought the north half of the block just south of the public square, and on the north east corner he built the rock house. Mette then moved from the log house to the new rock home.
Farming was very hard in pioneer times, grubbing sage brush, using hand plows, homemade harrows, and rakes. Winters were very severe, almost covering some of the log cabins. The pioneers worked hard and played hard. There was no time for idleness. Peter built many houses and repaired many wagon wheels.
At first the people cut their hay with scythes and their grain with the cradle. Later Peter bought a reaper and binder and did much of the cutting. At harvest time, he worked days and most of the nights, cutting grain. He hung a lantern on his machine when he worked at night. When the people desired cash, they hauled their grain to Corinne. This at first was the nearest railroad station. Otherwise, they hauled it to Logan where all they got was scrip.
Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, was living in Clarkston at that time, and Peter became well acquainted with him. He heard him bear testimony as to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. When Brother Harris passed away, 10 July 1875, Peter made the coffin in which he was buried.
Mette died 8 April 1876 of complications resulting from bearing her tenth child.
After Mette's death, Peter moved his wife, Kirsten and her family to the rock house in Newton.
Kirsten lived there until her death. Many of Peter's children and grandchildren have fond memories of the house.
On 11 November 1879, Peter married Christina Nielsen. She was born in Arnager, Bornholm, Denmark, and was a convert to the church. Peter built her a frame house just west of the rock house.
Peter was arrested for polygamy in 1887. He was fined $100.00 and sentenced to six months in the Utah State Penitentiary (located in Sugarhouse, in Salt Lake City). That was a sad Christmas for the family for he left on 23 December 1887. He was discharged from Prison on 24 May 1888, having served five months.
Peter was industrious, honest, a wonderful neighbor, and kind to the poor. He was a faithful Latter-Day-Saint, filled several Home Missions, was a diligent temple worker. He was ordained a High Priest on 23 June 1884, by Orson Smith and was set apart as Second Counselor to Bishop Hans Funk. He held this position until the death of Bishop Funk, which occurred 25 October 1892. At that time, William H. Griffin was sustained as Bishop of the Newton Ward and Peter was made First Counselor to him. This position, he held until his death. He was a willing donator to all Church and civic affairs, always willing and ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. He was honored and loved by all who knew him. One history says of Peter Benson, "He was honest and a good neighbor, kind to the poor, always willing and ready to lend a helping hand in public affairs, a diligent temple worker, and filled several home missions."
He fell from the roof of a building, which may have contributed to his death. He died on 21 June 1898, following a prolonged illness. The immediate cause of his death was "stomach troubles" which had confined him to his bed for three or four months. He was 67 years of age. He was buried in the Newton Cemetery.
He was the father of twenty-four children, twelve sons and twelve daughters. Surviving him were two wives, eight sons, nine daughters, and a number of grand children. The descendants have now become a numerous posterity, with Jens Peter Benson bequeathing to them a wonderful heritage and a name that should be honored until the last generation of time.
- JENSE PETER BENSON
[Father of Peter Ephraim Benson: Junes Grandfather]
Jens Peter Benson was born April 26, 1831 on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. He was the son of Yappa and Maren Kirstine Koefoed Benson. His parents owned a small home and a small acreage of land. The family consisted of two sons and three daughters, all of whom joined the Church except the younger brother. His sister Christina, while living in Copenhagen, met the Elders and was Baptized a member of the Church. She was very kind to the Mormon Elders and assisted in teaching them the Danish Language when a Branch of Missionary work was opened on the Island of Bornholm. Christina accompanied the Mormon Elders to Harnage, her home town, and took them to her parents home, They found a warm welcome there and made it their headquarters. Peter was almost twenty years old at that time and after hearing the Gospel Message from these humble Mormon Missionaries, was much concerned after due consideration and earnest prayer, he was baptized July 18, 1851, by Elder Andreas Aagren and Confirmed by Elder Hans Peter Jensen July 27, 1851. Thus Peter was one of the first to hear and Embrace the Gospel on the Island of Bornholm. [Bornholm membership records list his surname as Dideriksen and adds a note he moved to Faaborg 29 Mar 1852, probably as a local missionary there.]
At Copenhagen, the family, all except his younger brother, joined a large company of immigrating Saints. They sailed from that city on December 20, 1852, crossing the Atlantic on the ship "Forest Monarch".
After obtaining wagons, Oxen, and other supplies enough to make the long and difficult trip across the plains, they reached Salt Lake City October 3, 1853. The following year Peter was ordained a Seventy, became a member of the 39th Quorum of Seventies.
He was a good carpenter as he served as an Apprentice for five years to learn the trade in Denmark. He did all kinds of Carpenter work, making furniture, building houses, and working as a wheel-right.
On 26, December 1853 he married Mary Jane Simpson by Erastus Snow at the home of Thornton Simpson, Mary Jane s father. They separated but one child was born from this union after their divorce,- John Jeremiah Benson. Later he met and married Mettie Christine Ericksen, April 8, 1855. By Ezra Taft Benson at his home. She was born September 15, 1833. In Mor, Alborg, Denmark, the daughter of Marcus Ericksen and Kirstin Christensen .together they passed through many hardships, food was very scarce that winter, flour was hard to get, as this was the winter after the grass-hoppers had destroyed much of the grain. Many Saints suffered terribly for want of food.
While living in Salt Lake City their first child was born- Mary, February 27, 1856. The next year he, with his wife and baby, moved to Lehi. This was the year Johnson s Army came to Salt Lake and so many Saints moved south.
November 11, 1857 he married his wifes sister, Christina Martina, Ericksen. She was born in Mor-, Alborg, Denmark, February 23, 1836. (Page 2
While living in Lehi, five children were born to Mette (his first wife) and they were ; Martha, Sarah, Peter Ephraim, Anne Kersten and John Benson. Sarah died when she was fifteen months old and Anne Kersten when about two years old. The children were buried in Lehi. Grandfather having made the coffins in which they were buried.
His second wife, Christena Martina gave birth to four children while living there. They were: Alma, Kersten, Marcus and Samuel.
While living in Lehi, Grandfather, was called to Salt Lake to work on the Tabernacle. He helped to set up the famous big Pipe Organ and helped to make some of the parts.
In the spring of 1868 he moved his wife (Metta) and her family to Clarkston, where he took up farming. He raised wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, some cattle and sheep. Clarkston was located on the side of the mountain on the west and north part of Cache Valley, thus it was very cold, as the winters were long with lots of snow. The crops were very poor and the people as a whole were in poor circumstances. Grandfather continued to do carpente
r work and he also made casket s which the deceased were buried in. He made the casket in which Martin Harris was buried in. (One of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon).
While living in Clarkston, Martha s seventh child, Elizabeth, was born in September of 1868. Jens moved his second wife Christina and her family to Clarkston. Here three children were born to them. Alice, Issac, and Rastus.
Rastus died in infancy.
On March 4, 1869, he with Bishop Wm. F Rigby Sr. and others went to Newton to survey the town and lay off the Township. Here he built a home, planted a garden, built sheds and stables for his cattle and sheep. He moved his wife Metta and her family here. Here they experienced real pioneer life. The ground was heavy and soggy in the spring, thus making it hard getting around in the mud. The water was poor for culinary use and had to be hauled from a slough. The crops were poor, travel slow, and climate cold. They would mow the grass on the vacant hills to feed their cattle.
Here three more children were born to Mette: La Zina, who died when she was about 4 years old, Elmira and Tinas, who was born March 28, 1876. The baby Tinas and Mette both died. This was her tenth child. April 8, she passed away leaving six children-- two sons and four daughters. Her two oldest daughters were married and had homes of their own. Mette had a sweet disposition and was loved by all who knew her. She was a good housekeeper and a wonderful Mother.
After her death, Jense moved his second wife, Christina and her family to Newton. On November 11, 1879 , he married Christina Nelson who had immigrated from Denmark the year before. To Christina was born five children: They were -- Maggie, Caroline, Nephi, Annie, and Joseph. Joseph died in infancy.
Jens was ordained a High Priest, June 23, 1884 and set apart as 2nd counselor (Page3 to Bishop Funk. He held this position until the death of Bishop Funk, when William Griffin Sr. was made Bishop of the Newton Ward and Jense was sustained as his 1st counselor. .this position he held until his death which occurred June 21st 1898 , after a most useful life. He had proved faithful under all tests and trials.
He was industrious, honest, and a good neighbor, kind to the poor, a willing donator to all Church and civic affairs, a diligent Temple Worker and always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He filled several home Missions and was honored and loved by all who knew him.
He was father of twenty four children, 13 sons and 11 daughters and a numerous posterity, bequeathing to them a wonderful heritage of a righteous life and example and a name that should be honored till the last generation of time.
"Long was the journey of Jense (Jens) Peter Benson was born 26 April 1831. Pedersker is given as his birthplace; also Aaker Parish, and Aaker, Bornholm, Denmark.
His parents were Yeppa Benson (Jeppe Bendtsen) and Maren Kirstine Hansen Kofoed (old spelling, Koefoed). He was the seventh of eleven children. At least five of these died in childhood. Peter, his parents and three sisters, Karen, Martha, and Christina joined the church and came to Utah. The family was among the first to accept the gospel in Denmark, being baptized in 1850, 1851, and 1852.
The family lived in a small valley just a few miles inland from the coast. Soon after joining the church the family home burned to the ground, no doubt hastening the decision to cast their lot with the Saints in America. In December 1852, they left Bornholm for Copenhagen to join the first large company of Saints bound for Utah. They sailed on the Steamship Copenhagen to join the first large company of Saints bound for Utah. They sailed on the Steamship "Obotroit" for Kiel, Germany and encountered storms on the way. They traveled by rail to Hamburg, Germany where father Yeppa was bitten by a dog. There they boarded the steamship "Lion" which sailed for Hull, England on Christmas day.
Quoting from Chapter 11, "Under the Midnight Sun", by Albert Zobell, Jr., "A sever storm was raging on the North Sea, a storm which claimed about 150 ships, and the people of Hull were greatly surprised when the "Lion" appeared on the Horizon.
After a train ride to Liverpool, England the emmigrating Saints went aboard the packet ship "Forest Monarch", which was hauled out of the dock and anchored in the river Mersey on the last day of the year.
Here the ship lay at anchor for two weeks awaiting favorable winds.
One night the ship became entangled with another ship, and sustained some damage. A few days later, during a heavy storm, the "Forest Monarch" got adrift, pulling up both anchors, and at just the right moment was saved by two tug boats from running aground. One emmigrant had been bitten by a dog, and was counseled to return to shore and wait for the next company. So when sails were actually hoisted, 16 January 1853, the company under President Forsgren's direction numbered 297.
The Atlantic crossing was tedious. The provisions were poor and the supply of fresh water inadequate to reach New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, where they arrived 16 March 1853. Four deaths and three births occured."
We do not know if Yeppa sailed on the "Forest Monarch" with the rest of the family or on a later ship, but information received from the LDS Church Historian's Office in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1956 tells us Yeppa, his wife Maren, and Christina and Peter (Jens Peter) crossed the plains in the John E. Forsgren Company. "No record of sailing from Liverpool."
They went up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, MO where they stayed for about a month and then on to Keokuk, Iowa which was the outfitting station that year. There they secured supplies, wagons, and oxen for the journey. Most of the oxen had not been worked and few of the men had experience in driving teams. This resulted in many upset wagons in gullies and ditches. Finally, with 34 wagons and about 130 oxen, the company rolled out from the camping grounds near Keokuk, Iowa on 21 May 1853. There were a thousand miles of plains, hills and mountains to cross, rivers and streams to ford, blistering summer heat with wind storms and summer showers, hot days and cold nights, especially as they neared the Rocky Mountains. The wagon company was always on the alert for indians. On 30 September 1853, nine months after leaving Denmark, they reached Salt Lake City, Utah.
The parents, Yeppa and Maren, made their home in Lehi. Their pioneering was to continue for many years. One of their first challenges was that of learning a new language.
- From The Contributor, Vol. 13, p. 508-509 (Logan, Utah Library):
Peter's sisters, Martha and Karen, and Karen's husband Jens Nielsen (James Nelson) and their baby daughter left Copenhagen on Monday 26 December 1853 aboard the steam ship "Eideren" bound for Utah, under the leadership of Hans Peter Olsen, a missionary from the valley, who had labored about 10 months on the island of Bornholm. Like the preceding company, these emigrants traveled by way of Kiel, Gluckstadt, and Hull to Liverpool, where they arrived 9 January 1854.
Here they were compelled to wait nearly two weeks, during which time the greater portion of the children were attacked with fever, resulting in the death of twenty-two of the little ones. Two adults also died. On 22 January 1854, the emmigrants went aboard the ship "Benjamin Adams", together with a few German Saints.
- From The Contributor, Vol. 13, p. 508-509 (Logan, Utah Library):
Detailed Emigration Account 1854, Seventieth Company.
"The 'Benjamin Adams' sailed from Liverpool, England on the 28th with 384 Saints on board, arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA on 22 March 1854 after a pleasant and prosperous voyage. Eight deaths occurred during the voyage, namely two very old people and six children; two children were born on board and nine couples were married.
One March 25, 1854, the company continued the journey from New Orleans by the steamboat 'L.M. Kennet' and arrived in St. Louis, Missouri on April 3, 1854. During the passage up the river, considerable sickness prevailed and fourteen of the emigrants died.
In St. Louis, where an organized branch of the Church existed, the immigrants joined the former company which had crossed the Atlantic in the 'Jesse Munn' and H.P. Olsen became the leader of all. Under him, the survivors of both companies continued the journey by steamboat to Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri, which had been selected as the outfitting place for the Saints who crossed the plains that year. The Scandinavian immigrants made their encampment near Westport." (Millennial Star, Vol. XVI, pp. 94, 256, 272, 297; Morgenstjernen, Vol 11, p. 53)
- From "Under the Midnight Sun", Albert L. Zobell, Jr., pl 58.
"Of all the immigrating Saints of 1854, this large company of Scandinavians suffered most from the Cholera epidemic. So great was the mortality rate from the fever, which struck the children in England, the deaths on board enroute, the cholera, and the deaths of the march across the plains, that of the 680 persons who left Copenhagen in December 1853, about five hundred reached their destination, Salt Lake City, 5 October 1854."
Karen and Jens' infant daughter was among those stricken with cholera. She died 13 April 1854 shortly after arriving in St. Louis.
Mette Christina Ericksen, who would later become the wife of Jens Peter Benson, was also in this company, along with her 11 year old sister, Elsa Marie. Elsa, too, became a victim of the cholera epidemic, and died near Florence (Omaha), Nebraska.
In 1854, Peter was ordained a Seventy and bacame a member of the 39th Quorum. That year, he also married MARY JANE SIMPSON, but they divorced. A son, John Jeremiah, was born after the divorce. He lived and reared a family in the Uintah Basin, Utah, USA.
On 15 April 1855, Peter Married METTE CHRISTINA ERICKSEN, who had arrived from Denmark the year before. Quoting from his daughter Mary's writing, then the grasshoppers came, food was scarce and there was lots of suffering. Father was a good carpenter, having served a 5 year apprenticeship in Denmark. He was also a first class wheelwright".
Peter's mother, Maren, died in Lehi in 1856. At this time, Martha was working in Salt Lake City and, on arriving home to visit her parents, found that her mother was dead and buried.
Peter and Mette's first child, Mary, was born in Salt Lake City in 1856. With Johnston's Army on the march to Utah in 1857, many left the city and moved south. The Benson's moved to Lehi where they lived for several years. There in November 1857, their daughter Martha was born. In June 1859, Sarah joined the family, but was taken by death in September 1860. Peter Ephriam was born in January 1861, Anna Kersten in January 1963. She died in September 1865.
John was also born in Lehi in June 1866.
Johnston's Army entered Utah in 1858, marched on through Salt Lake City and down about 16 miles west of Lehi, where they founded Camp Floyd. Many civilians were employed there and Peter was thankful for the work he was able to do. He was also a cobbler and so kept busy at one job or another. The women made barley beer for the soldiers.
On November 12, 1858, Peter entered plural marriage as he took to wife Mette's younger sister, Kirsten, who had arrived from Denmark the previous year.
While living in Lehi, Peter was called to go to Salt Lake and work on the Tabernacle. His son, Marcus, says he worked on the roof and daughter, Mary, records that he did some work on the organ pipes and benches. Says Maud B. Jorgensen (grand-daughter), "I never enter the building but what I think of him and thrill with the knowledge that he was one of the many who helped with its construction".
Cache Valley was being settled, and in 1867 Peter went to Clarkston and bought some land from George Davis and Bill Sparks, said his daughter Mary. In the spring of 1868, he moved his first wife, Mette, and family there. His wife, Kirsten, stayed in Lehi and raised a garden. When fall came, she too, moved to Clarkston. Peter and Kirsten's children born in Lehi were Alma Peter (August 1860), Christina Martena (February 1863), Marcus Joseph (April 1865), and Samuel (February 1867).
Peter was living in Clarkston when Martin Harris died, and he made his coffin.
It was decided to make another settlement south and east of Clarkston, so in the spring of 1869, Peter was one of the group that helped to lay out the town site that became Newton. He then built a log house, shed for the cattle and sheep, planted some grain, and Clarkston, so in the spring of 1869, Peter was one of the group that helped to lay out the town site that became Newton. He then built a log house, shed for the cattle and sheep, planted some grain, and made irrigation ditches. In the fall, he moved Mette and her children into the new home in Newton. It was in the south west corner of the town. Drinking water had to be carried from the slough and was not very good. Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Clarkston in October 1868.
LaZina was born in Newton in November 1870 and died in 1875. Elmira was born February 1873 and on 28 March 1876, their tenth child, a son, Tenus, was born and died. Mette passed a way, just a few days after Tenus' birth, on 8 April 1876. She left six living children, two of whom were married.
The home in Clarkston was sold to a Mr. Loosle, and Kirsten and family moved to Newton where she took over the care of the motherless family. Her children born in Clarkston were Alice Marie (February 1870), Isaac (May 1972) and Rastus (September 1875) who lived only 11 days.
Farming was very hard in pioneer times, grubbing sage brush, using hand plows, homemade harrows, and rakes. Winters were very sever, almost covering some of the log cabins. The pioneers worked hard and played hard. There was no time for idleness. Peter built many houses and repaired many wagon wheels. The harvest was reaped with a
cradle or scythe and threshed with a flail. Then he bought a dropper where five men were kept busy binding behind it. Later he purchased a binder. The women gleaned in the fileds, for every bit was precious. They fought drought, frost, grasshoppers, and storms.
While they lived in Clarkston the wheat for bread was crushed with one of Johnston's Army's cannon balls. Wood for fuel had to be hauled from the hills and chopped by hand. Wool was washed, carded by hand, then spun into yarn on a spinning wheel, dyed, and then knit into socks, stockings, and mittens. Grand-daughter, Maud, remembers
seeing her mother spin yarn on the big old spinning wheel made by her grandfather, Peter Benson. It was in the upstairs of her old home and burned when the house caught fire about 1928. Most of the clothing was made in the home. Even straw was braided (seven strands) and made into hats. From wood ashes they made lye, with which to make soap. Starch was made from potatoes, and candles from tallow.
Peter helped with many of the buildings and homes in Newton. He made benches for the church house that were used until it burned down.
From Mr. Atkinson, he bought the north half of the block just south of the public square, and on the north east corner he built the rock house.
Alma's youngest son Isaac and wife, Lucy Atkinson Benson, lived in the rock house for a number of years, after which it was rented to several families. Ivan Benson and wife, EllaRee, then occupied the house until Ivan passed away. EllaRee remarried and sold the rock house in 1963. It was purchased by Alma and Annie's grand-daughter, Katheryn Tubbs Rasmussen, in 1981.
Peter was arrested for polygamy in 1887. He was fined $100.00 and entenced to six months in the Utah State Penitentiary (located in Sugarhouse, in Salt Lake City). That was a sad Christmas for the family for he left on 23 December 1887. He was discharged from Prison on 24 May 1888, having served five months.
He was ordained a High Priest and set apart as 2nd Cousnelor to Bishop Funk on 23 June 1884 and he occupied that position until the death of Bishop Funk. He served as 1st Counselor to Bishop William H. Griffin from 5 February 1898 until his death on 21 June 1898. He fell from the roof of a building and died soon after from the injuries. He was 67 years of age. He was survived by two wives, eight sons, nine daughters, and a number of grandchildren. He was buried in the Newton Cemetery. One history says of Peter Benson, "He was honest and a good neighbor, kind to the poor, always willing and ready to lend a helping hand in public affairs, a diligent temple worker, and filled several home missions."
This history is a compilation of information from several sources:
Maud B. Jorgensen, grand-daughter of Jens Peter Benson
Mary Benson Larsen Goody Griffin, daughter of Jens Peter Benson
Marcus Joseph Benson, son of Jens Peter Benson
Alice Marie Benson Jacobson, daughter of Jens Peter Benson
Vilate Sharp, niece of Jens Peter Benson (Christina's daughter)
Sarah Harris, niece of Jens Peter Benson (Martha's daughter)
"Under the Midnight Sun", Albert Zobell, Jr.
"History of the Scandinavian Mission, Andrew Jensen
"The Contributor", Vol. 13, p. 508-509.
Information from Church Historians Office, Salt Lake City, Utah
Compiled by Annette Hancey Lunceford (phone: 375-9145)
459 East Stadium Avenue, Provo, Utah 84604
Newton-----Cache Valley----October 24, 1876
- A Patriarchal Blessing Given by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of PETER BENSON, son of Jeppa Benson and Maren Christena Benson, born in Aaker Sogn, Bornholm, Denmark, April 26, 1831.
"Brother Peter, by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, I lay my hands upon your head and pronounce and seal a blessing upon thee as the spirit your head and pronounce and seal a blessing upon thee as the spirit may direct. Thou art of the House of Israel and have embraced the gospel with an honest heart, of which thou art entitled to any blessings which thou shalt receive in the tribe of Ephriam, this gospel with an honest heart, of which thou art entitled to any blessings which thou shalt receive in the tribe of Ephriam, this being thy lineage which is also the lineage of thy fore fathers, for whom thou hast a work to do. Therefore, live up to thy privileges and thou shalt have great joy and rejoicing when thou shalt meet thy kindred and friends behind the vail.
Be prudent, seek wisdom in humility and thou shalt find favor in the eyes of the Lord, thou shalt be strengthened in body and mind.
Be prudent, seek wisdom in humility and thou shalt find favor in the eyes of the Lord, thou shalt be strengthened in body and mind.
Thou shalt have the spirit of council, and be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, of doing much good among the Saints, thou shalt assist also in gathering the honest in heart out from Babylon. The Angel, who has watched over thee in the past shall, not forsake thee in the future, but he will whisper in thy ear and warn thee of hands of the Lord, of doing much good among the Saints, thou shalt assist also in gathering the honest in heart out from Babylon. The Angel, who has watched over thee in the past shall, not forsake thee in the future, but he will whisper in thy ear and warn thee of danger. Therefore, be upon thy guard and thy days and years shall be prolonged until thou art satisfied.
Thou shalt be blessed in thine out goings and in thy comings and in thy basket and store, thou shalt give unto the needy and feed the thy basket and store, thou shalt give unto the needy and feed the hungry, and as a father in Israel, thy name shall be handed down in honorable remembrance with thy posterity from generation to honorable remembrance with thy posterity from generation to generation, and thou shalt have an inheritance among the Saints, for the Lord is pleased with thine integrity and will give unto thee as thou shalt merit, and thy last days shall be thy best days. This blessing I seal upon thy head and I seal thee up unto eternal life, to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, evenso.
Amen."
Transcribed by Carrie Milligan.
- A sketch on the life of Jens Peter Benson, by his grand-daughter, Ester Paul Benson Dame.
Ester Paul Benson Dame.
Jens Peter Benson was born at Arnager, Bornholm, Denmark, 26 April 1831. He was the son of Yeppa and Maren Christine Hanson Koefoed Benson. His father, Yeppa Benson, was born 20 October 1795, the son of Bendt and Kersten Pederson Jensen. His mother, Maren Christene Hansen Koefoed, was born 21 January 1795, the daughter of Hans Clausen and Kersten Didericksen Koefoed. Peter's father and mother were married 5 Jun 1819. To this union were born eleven children, six boys and five girls; however, six of these children died young, leaving two boys and three girls.
They were Karen Kristine, leaving two boys and three girls. They were Karen Kristine, Christina, Jens Peter, Martha Kristina,and Christian Peter Ipsen Benson.
At an early age, Peter learned the trades of carpentry and Benson.
At an early age, Peter learned the trades of carpentry and wheelwright service. He served as an apprentice for five years in the old country and became very efficient at this trade. His father owned a small acreage of land, which he farmed, and there, Peter was old country and became very efficient at this trade. His father owned a small acreage of land, which he farmed, and there, Peter was born and grew to young manhood.
Peter's sister, Christina, was baptized into the church by Elder George P. Dykes, one of the first missionaries sent to the Scandinavian countries. At the time of her conversion, she was living in the city of Copenhagen, where she was engaged in tailoring and dressmaking. She was a very faithful member and assisted the Elders in their missionary work. She was called by the President of the mission, Elder Erastus Snow to accompany the Elders and act as an interpreter. When the Elders were called to do missionary work on the island of Bornholm, Christina accompanied them to her home town and took them to her parents home. Here they were made welcome and established their headquarters in this humble home.
When Peter heard the wonderful message fromt the Mormon Elders, he was greatly impressed and became thoroughly convinced and was converted to the gospel message. The Spirit bore witness to him as to the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon and of the mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Peter was baptized 18 July 1951 by Elder Aagren Aldreas and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints 27 July 1851, by Elder Hans Peter Jensen.
All of his father's family accepted the Gospel, except his brother, Christian. At that time, the mormon religion was very unpopular and people would go out of their way to persecute those who did accept it.
It was in 1850 that the first Mormon Elders were sent to the Scandinavian countries, to open up a mission there.
Elder Erastus Snow, leader of the Scandinavian mission, arrived in Copenhagen 4 June 1850 accompanied by George P. Dykes and John E. Forsgren. Numerous converts were made in Denmark at this time. The new members became very earnest in their desires to emmigrate to Zion. Arrangements were made for a large company to leave for America by the latter part of December of 1852, and nearly three hundred persons living in the Scandinavian countries were ready to s
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1831 - 1898 (67 år)
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