HELLO! I AM LORENZO DAVIDSON.
THIS IS A SHORT HISTORY OF MY LIFE
AND IS CENTERED AROUND MY FAMILY.
IT IS WRITTEN AND COMPILED WITH MY BLESSING,HELP AND
ASSISTANCE BY MY GRANDSON, GWYN D.DAVIDSON WHO
HAS SHOWN MORE THAN A PASSING INTEREST IN ME AND MY STORY.
My name is Lorenzo "S" Davidson. I was not christened, nor baptized with the "S" to my name. It is something I have added on my own. I have always liked the name "Steven" (Stephen), and so, I have added the "S" to many civil records. Some Church records may also have the letter "S" as explained above. The "S" carries no period, which if it did, it would signify that the "S" is an abbreviation of some larger name or word. In my case the "S" stands alone- it does not stand for Stephen, it only stands for "S." Our family included my father, Hans Christian Davidson, my Mother Anna Marie Jensen and my older sister, Mary Dorthea (4 years old) and my elder brother, Hans Thomas (2 years old) when they immigrated to this country in 1858. My father was a learned man and was educated in Denmark He had his own home, was engaged in a very promising profession and the family lived "comfortably." After hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught to them by the missionaries, being convinced by the Holy Ghost that this message was from God, Hans Christian and his wife Anna Marie joined this new Church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. But his neighbors, his own family and the police troubled him because he joined this new religion and persecuted him so much that he felt he had to leave Denmark Accordingly they made immediate preparations to leave Denmark and migrate to Zion in the New World- the United States.
My parent's family left Denmark in early March 1858, traveled 800 miles through Denmark Germany, England, then crossing the mighty Atlantic Ocean to New York (3,000 miles) then on the train for 1200 miles through Ohio, Illinois and Iowa, then for 180 miles via ox cart to Winter Quarters. Here my mother procured a horse and cart, placed her two children (Mary Dorthea age 5 and 2 ½ year old Hans Thomas and all our worldly goods on the cart, then she walked across the Plains (1146 miles) leading the horse by tugging on its bridle, finally arriving at Great Salt Lake City in September 1858. My mother was reunited with my father who had been herding animals and after a short rest stay in the City of Zion, my father moved his family to Battle Creek, (now called Pleasant Grove) Utah County in Utah Territory. He did so because A friend loaned him a cave or cellar for the winter, and because they had nowhere else to go. This cave had nothing more than a dirt floor and cold rock walls. It was a very cold winter and my father and mother and their two children spent much of that winter in bed to keep from freezing to death. My parents worked hard that year and found other lodgings- they found. a small farm in Battle Creek, which they purchased. They fixed up the farmhouse and made it warm and comfortable. This was our home for the next five years.
Within 11 months my little sister Bell (Isabell, or, Elizabeth) was born. Two years later on 31 August 18611 was born. Then two years later my younger brother, Amasa was born. With more children in the family it took effort to keep them all busy. My f other, Hans Christian enrolled Amasa and me in the somewhat new Wasatch academy that was right here in our own little town. We were the first in the family to have formal education from without the home. Father was also called upon to give speeches and lecture on the sciences and cartography.
We all had chores and obligations around the farm and more particularly with the animals. In the next 6 years four more children were born into our familay- twins Ephraim and Sarah and Lucinda and Joseph.
I will now bow out of the picture, and turn my story over to my grandson, who will complete it. Besides, I have been dead and gone for many years, long before most of you readers have been born, so he can tell my story in my place.
Lorenzo "S" Davidson
LORENZO "S" DAVIDSON
By Gwyn D. Davidson, a grandson
My grandfather, Lorenzo Davidson was born 31 August 1861 in Battle Creek, Utah (now called Pleasant Grove) in what was then known as the Territory of Utah. He was born during the time of the ill famous civil war that was being waged in the East. His father, Hans Christian Davidson had been born in Denmark and was a convert to the Mormon faith. Hans's wife, Anna Marie Jensen was also a convert to the faith and she had walked more than 1,000 miles across the Great American Plains with her husband. They settled in Great Salt Lake City for a short while then moved to Battle Creek where they lived for a stint of about four years. After subsisting in a cave, or side hill dugout in Battle Creek, Hans C. Davidson again moved his family 85 miles south to San Pete County, where many of the Scandinavian Saints had gathered; the year was 1864. The new place was called Mt. Pleasant and they found comfort in living among other Danes. In time a total of 10 children were born to them: (1) Mary Dorthea Catherine; (2) Hans Thomas [both born in Denmark]; (3) Elizabeth [sometimes called Bell or Isabel]; (4) Lorenzo; (5) Amasa, [These last three were born in Battle Creek]; (6 & 7) Twins Ephraim and Sarah; (8) Lucinda and (9) Joseph; these last four were all born at Mt. Pleasant in San Pete County, Territory of Utah. A little baby girl, named Sarah was born while they were at Battle Creek lived only six months. They loved her so much that when the next little girl was born (one of the twins), she also was named Sarah in honor of the little girl that had died. It was at these two places [Pleasant Grove and Mt. Pleasant] that most of the memories of growing up were developed. They were truly devoted to the faith, and were what is known as "Good Latter-day Saints."
Lorenzo Davidson's older brother, Hans Thomas, was 6 feet three inches in height and weighed in at and 235 pounds. At birth he was "Such a little thing" (said the ladies) for he only weighed 3 ½ pounds. But as he got older there were not too many who would challenge him because of his size. History tells us of one aborted altercation that took place on the unfinished St. George temple. A challenger came after him one day trying to pick a fight. Hans turned down his several challenges, saying he did not want to fight him. The man continued, anyway. Because of his persistence Hans merely poked two of his big fingers in the trouble maker's eyes and the challenger was done for the day. Hans did not seek fights nor did he want any, or run away from one. Even though he was large in stature, (very large compared to men of his day) he was not a fighter and he would rather be called or known as a peacemaker-easy to get along with. When he moved to Bridger Valley, near Fort Bridger, Wyoming the town people gossiped: "Have you seen the size of that new guy building the mill ?" [1] As told by Hans Thomas Davidson to his granddaughter Jeanette Davidson Hopkinson
Lorenzo, was also a big man. Not only was he big, but he also was very strong. He was known for his physical strength. He was 6 feet and 3 inches tall and he weighed 230 pounds. He liked to wrestle and he did not often run from a challenge. He had a nickname that he earned- friends and neighbors called him "Jumbo"-- named for a big and, strong famous circus elephant. The two names- Jumbo and Lorenzo just seemed to go together. The other boys and girls in the family were of average height and demeanor and were a normal part of a normal pioneer family.
There were not many opportunities for work or employment for a young man in that part of central Utah, unless, of course, if one owned some land that could be cultivated. With but few opportunities locally, most young men left home at an early age to seek their fortunes elsewhere. "Jumbo" went as far north as Butte, Montana where he found hard and dirty work in the underground coal mines. Perhaps the name "Jumbo" helped him find such work. At any rate, in time his boss challenged another mine superintendent saying that "Jumbo" could load more coal in an 8 hour shift than any man around and he put up a $50 wager to prove it. It was also stipulated that this contest had to be done after the regular day's work of 8 hours mining. And what would there be for "Jumbo" if he won? The superintendant agreed to pay him half of the prize ($25.00) if he won. Lorenzo loaded 61 mine cars with coal that night after work of (400 pounds each) while the other miner loaded 57 cars. "Jumbo" won the contest and his nickname followed him. And, oh, yes, he received his $25.00. [2] As told by Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
Lorenzo's father, Hans C. Davidson, had written him several times encouraging him to return home. He told his son that it was not a healthy or a desirable atmosphere around the mines. His father also wrote his son to be faithful to the Church and be active in it for that is the only place where one can find pure joy and happiness. Besides he had been gone three or four years and the father wanted to see his son. He also carefully informed Lorenzo that his mother, Anna Marie, was failing in health. Please come home the letters read. Lorenzo had a fond spot in his heart for his mother,
Lorenzo loved his mother and was concerned for her well being, and he wanted to see her again. For example when he worked away from home he would often leave a pile of chopped wood so that she would have plenty for that day's use. One time Lorenzo came home late at night and was awakened by her call for Amasa (next eldest son) to get her some more wood. The younger boy ignored the repeated call which made Lorenzo angry. He jumped out of bed and went to Amasa who still refused to get up, whereupon Lorenzo picked his younger brother up and threw him down the staircase and told his brother: "NOW GET SOME WOOD FOR MOTHER," which he did.
Lorenzo took the next train from Montana to Ogden Utah and from thence to Mt. Pleasant via the Utah Central, but it was too late. His beloved mother, Anna Marie Jensen, had passed away on 2 May 1886, only two days before. Lorenzo, however, had arrived just in time to attend her funeral. The family then sat for a formal portrait [on 5 May, 1886] in Mt. Pleasant, which photo is attached hereto for the record.
After the funeral and taking care of matters at home, Lorenzo began thinking of a former acquaintance --one in which he had had an interest. The girl was about his age but she had moved away and had been gone several years and was now living in Wyoming. He found out where she was living and went to see what prospects there might be. She greeted him with a big iron fry pan, and ordered him off the porch or she would brand him with some "Mormon Hot sauce," which she had bubbling in the pan. He soon discovered that "Hell hath no fury like a spurned woman." "Jumbo" went looking elsewhere.
A NEW WOMAN IN LORENZO'S LIFE
About this time Lorenzo met a charming young widow who was a spiritual giant. She had emigrated to this country from Sweden at the age of 18 and came with her immediate family. She had married and had three little girls, but her husband had died suddenly of "quick pneumonia." Her family lived in Mt. Pleasant and was one of the stalwart LDS Scandinavian families in the area. Here was a ready-made family and a great lady at the head of it. She also saw this handsome young man and considered the possibilities.
PIONEERING INTO IDAHO
This young couple, Anna Louisa Peterson, and Lorenzo Davidson were married civilly on 4 March, 1887 and in a short while after the wedding Lorenzo and his new bride went to the nearby Manti temple where he received his endowments. They lived in nearby Fairview for several years, and in time Mary and a son, Arland Lorenzo, were born to them. Lorenzo and his wife decided that they needed more ground, now that the family had five children in it, so they began making plans to homestead in Wyoming in the Big Horn Basin. They left Fairview on the 15th of April, 1892. This was a wet and cold and a bad time to travel however, they needed to start as soon as possible to arrive in the Basin (500 miles) to be ready and prepared for the first Wyoming winter. Traveling with them were Carl and Lena Gjettrup and their family and also Carl's brother, Pete. They purchased a milk cow so that they had fresh milk as they traveled. Lorenzo drove four head of horses pulling a wagon and a half trailer hitched to it. Christian Jacobsen, a brother in law to Lorenzo, also drove a wagon and team. Lorenzo was 31 years old and his wife, Anna Louisa was 33; the three girls from the first marriage were: Anna, age 13; Ellen, age 11; Rena, (sometimes Regina) age 9; then the two youngest from this marriage were: Mary, age 4; and Arland Lorenzo, nearly 2 years old.
Lorenzo built hutches and cages for all the chickens, geese, turkeys and pigs and mounted the cages all around on the outside of the wagons. Inside the main wagon they kept their household supplies. The trailing wagon that was attached to the main wagon was used as the camp wagon. It contained a small stove, dry goods, a folding table, a few dishes and a dasher butter churn. A large bed was built along the back with places under it for storing various supplies. The third wagon was to be filled with many fruit tree starts, bushes, berries, plants, shade trees and everything for a vegetable garden when those items arrived.
Lorenzo had wisely planned ahead purchasing the various trees, plants, planting stock and hand tools, plows and he made room for them all. The seeds, plants, trees and bushes etc. were ordered by mail from the Stark Brothers Fruit Farm of Louisiana, Missouri but they had not arrived in Utah via the mail by the time this little group departed. Lorenzo had made arrangements with a friend to bring all these things, which had been ordered by mail, to them while they were on the trail. In time all was received and placed in the wagon Grandfather Lorenzo Davidson brought many of the first fruit trees, bushes, berries, plants, bulbs, vegetables, and flowers starts to arrive in the Territory. He was able to give many plant starts to neighbors and friends from all over. [3] from Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
When they left Fairview Lorenzo had intended to settle in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. He had also considered going as far north as Montana, but when they arrived in Salt Lake City, and heard of the deep snows in these considered places, the upper Snake River Valley looked to be a better choice. There was a lot of snow and rain that fell as they passed through Cache County so they camped for a time in a meadow near the new Logan temple. With warmer temperatures and less snow they continued northward past Swan Lake, and Marsh Creek. Then they began to traverse a difficult 18 mile section through the Portneuf Narrows, or as some called it Portneuf Canyon. Many years later when Grandmother Anna Louisa was reminiscing about the toils of this trip she explained to her young son, Eskil "How hard it was to travel through Portneuf Canyon," She explained. It was filled with huge, black lava rocks, some higher than the wagons and their covers. They had to overcome waterfalls, cascades, marshes, cedar trees and wild range that the Portneuf River meandered through. "Our animals," she explained, "...had to pull our heavily laden wagons through 18 miles of torture until we reached Black Rock. Remember, this was in the days before the railroad," she said.
[4] As told by Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
With warmer days they made better time to Ft. Hall, the Indian post 11 miles north of Pocatello. They continued for 24 more miles to the very beautiful and large waterfalls at Eagle Rock (now called Idaho falls). The following day they made the very important crossing of the East Fork of the Snake River at nearby Lorenzo Village. The water was high and running fast, and Lorenzo guided his small band up-stream about 4 miles to a wide and gentle ford where, with the help of and some well placed rocks and timbers they were able to cross the river and turn east toward their ultimate destination -Teton Basin. [5] from Alvin, son of Arland to Gwyn Davidson
After stopping at Rexburg the men of the company left their families camped at a very beautiful meadow and they rode up the Teton River for 45 miles to Driggs and Darby Flat. Here they found flat ground, rich soil and lots of water and selected sites for homes and barns, fields and pastures, then headed back the 45 miles to Rexburg to get their families. The date was 23 May 1892 when they finally arrived at Teton Basin. They found that only two families- the Henry Todd family and the Ellington Smith family had already homesteaded and were living on Darby Flat. This pioneer group stopped at the Todd home, a one-room log cabin at the mouth of Darby Canyon. When they saw the condition of Grandmother Davidson, they gave their one bed to her while Mrs. Todd slept on the dirt floor. One week later Anna Louisa gave birth to a son-the first white child born on Darby Flat, Idaho. They named the new baby Arthur Cleveland, named for President Grover Cleveland. Lorenzo's party had traveled for 38 days and 430 miles since they left Fairview, Utah Territory. [6] From Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
LIFE ON THE IDAHO RANCH
Mr. Todd had built the walls of another room at the north of his cabin, but winter had arrived before he could finish it. Lorenzo shoveled the snow out of it, chinked the logs and put on a roof. Here his family lived for several cold months until he could clear a bit of land and get things started for his own home. He homesteaded 160 acres adjoining Todd's property and the Gjettrups filed on 160 acres just west of the Davidson claim.
On 5 August 1895 the Darby Ward of the Bannock Stake was organized and Anna Davidson was chosen as the first Primary President. This position she held for seven years. Church meetings were held in the Davidson cabin. Zion was growing and Lorenzo obtained logs and built a larger and better cabin in the center of his fields. The first cabin was then used as a church meeting house and school house. Arland Davidson began his formal schooling in that first farm house. When the stake became reorganized in 1902 into the Teton Stake Grandmother Anna Louisa was set apart as its first Stake Relief Society President, a position she held for nine years. On 13 December 1896 a third son, John David Nathaniel was born and on 19 May, 1899, Eskil Leander was born. He was a large baby and weighed 14 pounds at birth. [7] minutes of the Darby Relief Society meeting
The first settlers, (Henry Todd family and Ellington Smith family) brought water down from the creek flowing out of Darby Canyon. It was at best a very rough hand dug ditch. Lorenzo had other ideas. He obtained pipe from somewhere, built some dams and head gates and brought the water down in a very efficient way by pipes to the fields below. This way he could control the flow and destination of this very valuable resource. [8] Alvin Davidson, son of Arland to Gwyn Davidson
Their neighbor, Ellington Smith had a reputation of "flying off the handle" or "losing his cool." He was bad tempered, and easily lost his temper. He did not run from a fight. The snow was often very deep on Darby Flat. It was wild country and Lorenzo did what he could to protect his livestock from the many preying dogs, wolfs, mountain lions and bears and all other predatory animals. One night he heard some dogs barking and saw them chasing some of the animals that were in the coral. Lorenzo got his gun and shot into the pack hoping to drive them away. He, unknowingly, hit a dog belonging to Mr. Smith. The dog went home, bleeding and the next morning, early, Smith came to the door with a loaded shot gun intending to shoot and kill Lorenzo for shooting his dog. Lorenzo talked to the man for some time; his temper cooled and he went home. Some years later this same Ellington Smith had his troubles and nourished his grievances and imagined troubles until they became mountains. He followed his neighbor, a Mr. Neil into his field and killed him. He shot him at close range with a rifle to the head and Neil fell into the stream of running water which washed much of the matter in his skull away. Anna Louisa, the president of the Relief Society was called to the Neil home where she prepared the body for burial. She packed the empty skull with cotton and made the man's head look acceptable for the viewing. [9] History of Anna Louisa Peterson Davidson by Edna L. Davis.
About this time the Davidsons obtained their first kerosene lamps. They now could read at night or do so many needed chores. They chinked the logs again. Then they papered newspapers all over the inside of the cabin, which made it even a bit warmer.
Eskil shared this family story about himself:
"The following happened at the church sacrament meeting where and when I was to be blessed and christened. My father, Lorenzo, had already chosen a name for me. [In the Mormon faith babies are named (christened) and blessed when they are about one month old ]. However, my mother did not like the name Lorenzo had selected and when she passed me on to the waiting hands of the ecclesiastical authority who was going to christen me, she whispered a strange and new name to him. The name she had chosen and told to the priesthood authority was a Swedish name: "Eskil," a place near where she had been born. And so the christening and blessing passed and Lorenzo had no choice in the matter. The deed was done; my father never did like the name, and he often teased me, calling me "Dick. "He seldom called me by my real and correct name. To him my name was a funny Swedish one. One time I became so mad because he so often called me "Dick" that I obtained a big piece of chalk and I wrote the name "Dick" all over a coal shed- inside and outside, top and bottom, all over. It took me all day. When my father saw all the writing he was moved and he got the point. Seldom did he tease me by calling me "Dick." Actually our relationship between us became better after this learning experience. [10] Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
Every Fall and at various other times Lorenzo did freighting to earn extra money to buy necessary supplies. These were generally purchased in St. Anthony and sometimes special farm machinery was purchased in Idaho Falls then hauled all the way to Teton Basin, a distance of 80 miles.
The Davidson family and the others depended on wild meat for much of their diet. One day Lorenzo and his neighbor were in the nearby hills hunting for elk. The neighbor was on the other side of the stream while Lorenzo was on this side. All of a sudden a huge brown bear leaped out from the forest on to the hunter and took him down. The bear tore off part of the man's left shoulder. Lorenzo, in an attempt to try and save the man's life leaped across the stream, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. He came wildly swinging his gun and with a mighty "Jumbo" swing he dispatched the bear by breaking his gun into two parts crushing and mashing the bear's very sensitive nose. Again and again Lorenzo struck the bear with his broken gun. Again and again he crushed that bear's nose and mouth. It was now a very dead bear. He had killed it with his two bare hands. "Jumbo" killed a bear" the word went out to the neighbors. The man's life was saved. It is no wonder the people called him "Jumbo." [11] As told by Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
Anna Louisa's brother, Andreas who still lived in San Pete County, Utah was a skilled carpenter by trade. Lorenzo and his wife wrote him several letters inviting him to come up north and visit relatives in Idaho. He accepted their offer and spent a full four months with them and remodeled their home by adding three new rooms. This made four very nice large rooms and two more up stairs. The one large front room was used as a bedroom for Mary and Lenora, and it served as a place for dances and parties. Her brother, Andreas had served his sister and brother in law very well indeed. It seemed that most all the activities in the area were held at the now very comfortable Davidson home. [14] History of Anna Louisa Peterson Davidson by Edna L. Davis
[The question arises: How did Andreas travel to Darby, Idaho from Fairview, San Pete County, Utah, a distance of more than 420 miles,(with his carpenter tools). The records do not answer this question. However regular rail service was available before the turn of the century as far south as San Pete County, Utah and as far north as St. Anthony, Idaho by 1898. The steel railroad bridge over the Snake River was completed at Lorenzo, Madison County in 1900. Lorenzo and Anna, his relatives, would likely have met him at the train depot in St. Anthony then by stage or wagon 40 miles to Darby].
Eskil shared the following:
"When I was a little boy I found many Indian arrowheads on the ground. I picked them up by the cans-full. There were many of them and they were easy to find." [12] Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
One Christmas all the children but myself received a dollar for a holiday gift. We were so very poor my parents thought it would be alright if I did not have a gift like all the others because I was the smallest in the family and "he won’t mind." Of course I was hurt. My mother called me into the house and told me to wash my face and hands for she had a surprise for me. I was so very happy and surprised when she presented to me my Christmas—a beautiful orange—, something I had never seen before. It was so sweet and tasty and I never forgot that experience. [13 Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
Lorenzo had heard that a circus was coming to St. Anthony now that the rail line had been completed between Idaho Falls and points north. He wanted his children to have the opportunity of seeing the rare animals that they only read about. As a family they usually made three or four trips a year to St. Anthony to purchase or trade for those items they could not make or raise at home. This would be a good time to make this a shopping trip also, he suggested. They would buy or purchase or trade for such needed supplies as flour, sugar, some canned goods, kerosene, paraffin wax, medicines, sewing materials and supplies, rifle and shot gun shells, and certain other hardware. It was 40 miles from Darby to St. Anthony and it required five or six days to make a complete round trip.
The road between St. Anthony and Darby, Victor, Driggs and beyond to Jackson Hole was a well traveled one. It was used by traveling salesmen, horse traders, gamblers, outlaws, cattle traders, highway men, snake oil peddlers, innocent civilians, hardware and farm equipment salesmen, real estate agents and everyone else who thought he had business or interests on this well traveled and important road. [There was no railroad to Teton Basin until 1912, and to this present date (2010) there is yet no rail service to Jackson Hole from St. Anthony. Freight still is trucked in.] It is no wonder, then, that this road was strewn with many hundreds of wine, whiskey, beer, heal-all liquid panacea, vitamins, tonic and medicine bottles, most of which were smashed or broken or shot-through; but some were unbroken and unscathed, very perfect glass bottles. These, Lorenzo said, were to be found by the children and carefully checked to have no crack, chip, or break of any kind and each bottle was to be carefully stored in a “gunney sack" and carried home with them.
At an appropriate time Lorenzo gathered his children around him, built a small but hot fire, took a piece of fence wire, put it into the fire until it was red hot, then he wrapped that hot wire around the bottom part of the glass bottle (usually 4" to 6"). Lorenzo then took the hot glass bottle and dipped it in a tub of ice water, causing the bottle to break in a very straight line, so that the result looked like a perfectly good drinking glass. One of the boys then would grind the rough edges with the sandstone grinder. The jars were then filled with food and sealed with paraffin wax to complete the works. Thus the Davidson Family "glass works" made many jam, jelly and other food jars for family use. [14] Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
SOME QUALITIES OF GRANDFATHER LORENZO:
(1) Grandfather Lorenzo had a tobacco problem he had not learned to control. However, he had his heart in the right place. He did not want his sons to smoke. He also did not want them to drink liquors. He came to Eskil and talked to him in a serious vein. He said: "If you will not smoke or drink faithfully in your teenager years, I will give you a real gold watch when you are fifteen years of age." Of course this was a wonderful thing because a gold watch in those days was a very rare possession. Accordingly, Eskil promised his father he would live faithful to that trust and charge. Never did Eskil drink or smoke. He was faithful to his promise. When he became 15 years of age, his father, true to his promise gave him a gold Elgin watch. Eskil treasured that watch all during his life. My father, Eskil, gave me that watch and I have that very wonderful watch in my possession to this day (2010) Eskil Davidson to Gwyn Davidson
(2) Lorenzo was asked to go one a mission. He was using tobacco at the time and said he wanted to wait until fall so that he would have time to give up this dirty habit. He did not quit smoking and he did not go on a mission so he sent his son, Arthur age 17 to go in his place to Sweden.
(3) He was a kind father—He loved his children; He provided for their physical and temporal needs.
(4) The Davidson farm was considered the best farm in all of Teton Basin. The real estate agents always wanted to show his farm.
(5) Lorenzo was asked by his stake president to prepare himself to be called and ordained a patriarch. He had a difficult time separating his spiritual and temporal needs and wants, hence that call never came.
(6) Lorenzo was clerk of the school board and had charge of hiring the teachers. He was clerk for nearly 20 years. He saw to it that the students had the necessary schoolroom supplies. He helped make the rough
plank desks and benches. He was also clerk of the irrigation water association and had charge of regulating the distribution of this very valuable resource. Lorenzo built a blacksmith shop on his property for his needs and also for his neighbor's needs. He would usually rise at 4:00 am to sharpen tools, shovels chisels and other necessary tools before breakfast so as not to disturb them.
(7) Lorenzo often pronounced blessings on his children.
(8) He had a smoke house and cured meat and had a reputation of being very successful in preserving and curing meat. he also went to neighbors home and cured meat for them on their own property at their request.
(9) About eight years after the Davidsons settled on Darby Flat the Darby ward was organized and Emanuel Bagley was chosen Bishop. The Manifesto had been read and accepted by the Church. Some members claimed Bishop Bagley was still practicing polygamy and those members thought they had aught against him. Other members who had other claimed grievances could not agree on what was the supposed difficulty and what the disfavor was over. Some of those who claimed the bishop had a problem also had other problems of their own, such as the Word of Wisdom, tithing keeping the Sabbath, card playing and gambling. At any rate Lorenzo and two of his cronies agreed among themselves that they would not vote to sustain Bishop Bagley but would vote to oppose him. At the meeting where the vote was taken the two friends of Lorenzo "chickened out" and voted to sustain the new bishop. This angered Lorenzo, for he had his own tithing and Word of Wisdom problems and he wanted to vote anyway. When it came for a sustaining position Grandfather Lorenzo jumped up on a bench and loudly exclaimed "No! No!” He was promptly disfellowshipped by the bishop. Some years later Bishop Bagley told him he had been excommunicated. because of his non sustaining vote. Later he was rebaptized and was again ordained an elder. [The Church records do not show any excommunication. In coming into full fellowship he had not lost his membership, therefore he did not have to be rebaptized, or be ordained again] .
MOVE TO PARKER
Grandmother Anna L. became very tired of the very cold winters and deep snows at Darby; she was not getting any younger. Grandfather Lorenzo felt much the same, so they took a ride to St. Anthony and looked at several small farms in the area. But there was something more afoot involved in it;—DIVORCE ! Anna had spent her entire life in service to the Church, to others and in teaching her children to be faithful to the Good Lord Above. Lorenzo had become not closer, but further from the Church and its teaching. He refused a mission call, when he was asked to prepare himself to serve the Lord. The stake president asked him to prepare himself and be worthy to serve the people as a patriarch. He refused. Lorenzo and his wife Anna were growing further and further apart. They thought this would be the best time to split and start anew. So, with a new home it was decided to announce this stirring change at the time of the move to Parker in 1912
Anna Louisa loved the Lord, and the Church and enjoyed the many blessings that inured to the family by adhering to is laws and commandments. Grandmother and her family were very disappointed and sorrowful when Lorenzo would not prepare himself to become a patriarch, when called, neither would he send Nathaniel on a mission, and he continued his tobacco habit. They had found fine little farm with two homes on the property nice brick home, ample water in nearby canals. But, Lorenzo moved out and for a time lived with his daughter Lenora and her husband. He tried making a living by doing whatever work came by; He grazed sheep, was a fruit tree pruner, trapped animals, was a big game outfitter and fruit tree manager. Everything went sour for Lorenzo now that he was living alone. He never had much money to send to his three missionaries—Arland and Arthur who were in Sweden serving the Lord, and in time Eskil was serving in the Mexican Mission. Grandmother sold butter and eggs and provided funds for Eskil, her "Baby Boy in Texas" on a mission. She did everything in her power to make it possible for Eskil to stay on his mission for 36 months. But as for Lorenzo he struggled and paid a heavy price not doing his duties as a father in Israel. To his credit, Eskil, the youngest member of the family wrote often to his father, Lorenzo.
The next twelve years were muddy at best to be sure. Lorenzo loved his family but he was removed from them. I am certain his sad and lonely life without his family and wife hastened an early death. He died on 12 April 1924 in Salt Lake City and was buried in a lonely grave in Mt. Pleasant Utah, next to his parents.
SOME LETTERS TO BE CONSIDERED IN ORIGINAL SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION:
1. (From Lorenzo at Filer, Idaho to Eskil Davidson on his mission).
"Filer Idaho August 7, 1921: E L Davidson Sat Antonio Texes
my dear bloved son Eskel it is now a long time since I rote to you so i will try again I am well and feel good now hoping that these few lines will find you well also "I went back in the mountains Herding sheep for a month that are a dogs life" " my helth was very poorly so I quit" .... "mother [Anna Louisa, his former wife] was out there and was just going home haven't herd from Parker since i was there last spring Nethanial wont anser my letters Wall [Well] my Dearboy I hope you are getting along good and love your mission But sory to say that I haint [been] abel to help on your mission Have lost 200 dollar in hard work and cant get it I am not abel to work much for it hant so easy for me to get money to help you I will now send you 5 it are very small it is that much enaway if I have good luck with trapping this fall and winter maby I can doe better" .... Wishing you the best of wishes may god Bless you my his spiret bee with [you] constently Desire are that we may be blessed so we can help you to sustain with your labor.
Be and as Ever your Father L S. Davidson Iona Idaho"
2. Letter from Lorenzo at Filer, Idaho to " Eskal L. Davidson [at] Parker, Idaho" Dated Feb 10, 1924:
"...Give mother[Anna Louisa Peterson, his ex wife] my best wishes as I don't wish her no rong. god bless you and all of yours wishing you all a happy and Prosperus year my best wishes and Love from father, --L. S. Davidson"
3. Letter from Lorenzo in Parker, Idaho to his son, Arland on his mission in Tennessee, dated 7 March, 1915: "Our dear Beloved Son and Boy I will now try and rite a few lines to let you know how we are getting along we are all comferebtly well at home and hoping these few lines will find you the same just received your letter yesterday of feb, 27 and we was glad to here from you agane and to here you are getting along well and up sertinly want to here that you are getting along well i am not feeling exactly well and haven't gon to meating so I will try to rite you a few lines it is almost impossible for me to rite I owe one letter before this one I will endever to rite again ...."
"...good money is aufel scarce and hard to get and it keeps us moving all the time to keep up if it wasent for the cows and chickens I dont know how we could keep up and now they are taring the [sugar beet] slicer down and we wont get eny more [beet] pulp so we want to sell out if we can there are to much work for us to doe here we hafto quit off some of this work as we are to old to stand we should take life a little more Easyr our familey are nearly grown and they want to get of to themselves and look for nomber one ...."
"last Friday I rote a letter to your president souther states mission Chattanooga 417 Tenn and sent him a check for $50.00 for him to send you all you nead get you a good suit of close and get what you need so you can travel and perform your dotey of missionar labor I don't wot you to morn about our affairs at home now is when we nead to help you and when you get home you can help your self ...."
"...We wish you all the best of success and we Pray god will Bless you with his holey spirit and you may enjoy the spirit of your labars seek the Lord always Pray and preach the gospel loud and strong Keep in clost tuch with the holey commandments and the golden rule and then you will make many f rends and you will prosper"
We all remember you in our prares i think of you Every day of our life and we remember what your labor is there for we want to keep in clost touch with you so I will close my letter for today and I Beg parden for not riting before you rite if I don't I dont doe much and get tired to easy we all join in and send our best love to you. Good luck From you Father
Lorenzo Davidson
4. Letter from Lorenzo in Crystal Springs, Filer, Idaho to E. L. Davidson,
in San Antonio, Texas dated 12 July, 1922:
"Cristel Springs Filer Idaho July 12 22
E. L. Davidson
"My Dear boy I will again try rite to you I can say I feal well and good and hope these few lines will find you the same as it leaves me"
"I got a letter from Mary and Charls to my surprise I found in it a letter from you and others ....glad to here from you but area long time ago and your letter traveled a long ways then back to you ...." "pleased to see that you are getting along well with your mission but sory to say it are so hard to get money to help the work along ...." "It has been hard for me to get along I hope to God better from now on for me I am still here working for Tylers I will now send you $15.00 That isnt very much it will help a little ....having considerbel doctor bill to pay and now comes my life inshorance to pay to if I live to years more ...."
"...it are a little warm here at times. The 4 of July it was 111 in the shade, ,but nites are fair cool I work entirely with the Orchard and viniard and garden all the time now ...." "I think you would soon bee Coming home it will bee a great treat to come back again but your labor are worth all ...." "God bless you and your mission laboring that are some thing that you will never forget nor loose if you stay with through the gospel will bee a great credit to you here on earth and here after ...""I dont know how long I will stay here ..." "Nethaniel never rites to me so I quit riting to him I here from the rest of the folks once in a while..." "I am tired to rite so I will quit for this time hoping to here from you soon and to here that you are well and sound and I say to you Enjoy life ....
May peace and gods Blessings bee with you and I wish you all the blessing and best wishes your father can give you. Remain as Ever your Father
L. S. Davidson
Cristel Springs, Filer Idaho
FINIS
In writing this short life history of my Grandfather, Lorenzo Davidson it has done for me at least one important thing. I have learned to love my grandfather and to be patient in his weaknesses. I am amazed at the tremendous hardships he had to pass through on a daily basis just to feed and clothe his family. People of his generation lived in another time and circumstance. They often had no rail service, no electricity, no warm houses, no time for schools; food was gathered that very day to be consumed that day. And, of course there were days when there was no food. Daily living was a constant struggle.
I have became tolerant of his weaknesses and foibles. He had a tobacco problem; but he was honest. He worked hard. He often delivered the midwife 8 miles away for another family, using his own team, then waited for her by the hour to bring her home—all gratis. I have learned he truly loved his family and tried to do the best he could for them.
I am anxiously waiting for the time when I can meet and greet and thank properly my grandfather Lorenzo.
The Great and Perfect Teacher has touched me in this project. So also has this study. Together they have helped me understand just a little better that we cannot judge any man.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, Ye shall be judged;
And with what measure ye mete, It shall be measured to you again."
Matthew 7:1-2
Gwyn D. Davidson
March 3, 2010
Draper, Utah
Friday, August 19, 2011
Anna Louise Peterson Davidson's Interesting Life Story
Anna Louise Peterson Davidson's Interesting Life Story
Compiled by Edna L. Davis, her granddaughter
Anna Louisa was born March 19, 1859, in Lindesburg, Orebro, Sweden. She was the third child of Johan Erick Peterson and Christina Henrickson. The family lived on a three acre farm on the mountain side. They lived in a time when families had to be self-sustaining and their home was built to meet the needs and conditions of the climate. Their house was a long house built in sections, The living quarters at one end, then the woodshed, joining this the barn, where they kept the hay and next the part where they kept their cows, pigs and chickens. This was all under the same roof because the winters were dark and cold and always lots of snow so that it was not safe to go from one building to another. In the living part of the house was a large fireplace--this was the only heat they had and enough wood had to be stored in the woodhouse to last the winter. Wood was important to them and they kept planting trees on their farm to replace the large ones that they cut down for fuel. In this way their supply was steady.
The land was very rocky and had to be cleared. These rocks were many different colors -red, purple, green and brown, and were made into a beautiful rock wall all around their farm. In the summer their rainfall was heavy and they raised hay for their cows and a good garden. The hay had to be cut with a scythe and piled to dry. It rained so much that the hay had to be carried into the barn and back out many times before it was dry enough to store without mildew. Anna always helped carry the hay and in so doing hurt her back so that she was round shouldered as she grew older.
They washed twice a year: This sounds as if they were not clean but they had many changes of clothes and when they washed they took them to a clear stream to wash them.
Rye bread was used all the time. In the summer it was baked in thin round sheets and dried by hanging it in the top of the house on a long stick between the rafters. It was called "Kanikai". There were lots of wild fruits growing near, blueberries, sour cherries, strawberries and other berries; these were gathered and eaten on their flour mush for supper. The flour mush was made by stirring flour into boiling water and beating it with a whisk until it was smooth and thick. They ate lots of rutabaga and herring. Johan Erick caught many fish in the fjord near by; these he brine-cured and then smoked for their winter supply. They also ate clabber milk, cottage cheese and a special brown cheese made from the boiled whey of the other cheeses.
Once each year the shoemaker made the rounds of the village, staying with each family while he mended their old shoes and made the necessary new ones from skins they had tanned. Anna told an incident that happened at their home as the shoemaker sat in a corner of the room working on the shoes. Anna's mother put a piece of meat on to cook for soup, soon Mariah, the oldest girl came by and salted it, shortly after Johannah, the next daughter, came along and salted it and then the mother came and salted it. Seeing this the shoemaker also put in a handful. When mealtime came the family sat down to eat rutabagas and soup. They all had rutabagas but the shoemaker did not have any soup. The family thought this was unusual, but when Johan Eric took his first bite and spit it out, saying it was brine they knew why. The shoemaker then told what had happened and they all had a good laugh.
The family belonged to the Lutheran Church, and the three girls probably attended a Lutheran school. Their first textbook was a Danish bible, in this way Anna also learned to speak Danish. Later they had a Swedish Bible to study. In the winter when they went to school it was dark most of the time and the girls carried a torch made of pitch so that they could see their way and also scare away any wild animals that might be near. The snow was deep and when they came to drifts, they took turns breaking trail on their knees.
Mariah went away to work. Some Latter-Day-Saint Missionaries came to the home and converted the family and also Mariah. They were all baptized then Mariah sent the Elders to her own family and they were soon converted and were all baptized Nov. 7, 1875 by Bro. Linquist.. John Erick's and Christina's brothers and sisters were all dead and they had few living relatives. They soon sold their farm and possessions to get funds to emigrate to Zion. They took passage June 22, 1876 on the ship 'Idaho'. When they went on the ship they took with them a large sack of "Kanikai," they hid it in their quarters but when they went to get it someone had stolen it.
There were several severe storms but they weathered them all, and after a six week voyage arrived safe in the U.S.A. They took a train to Utah but the trains were slow and had no accommodations to make them comfortable. They bought a lot of bread before they started but they did not like it moist so they cut it into slices and hung it above them in the train to dry so they could eat it. There was no space to make a bed so they had to sit up all the way. Some of the emigrants took off their shoes but their feet became so swollen they could not get them back on. They were really glad to arrive in Utah on July 24, 1876, after a two week train ride.
Brigham Young asked them to settle in Fairview, and they chose a bit of rocky ground which reminded them of their homeland. Shortly after Mariah married and the following year Johanna and Anna also married. Anna met Johan William Peterson, also an emigrant and fifteen years her senior. After a short courtship they were married August 26, 1877. Johan William was a twin and the only one of seven children to live. After the death of his parents he joined the Church and came to Zion. Johan and Anna bought a small farm in Fairview but were not married in the Temple; however when their oldest child, Anna Wilhemine was about a year old, they made the long trip by wagon o the Endowment House, 15 July 1880 and were sealed. They did not understand that Anna Wilhemine needed to be sealed to them and that sealing was not done until after Anna Wilhemine's death and then by her daughter Lucy. The couple had three daughters, Anna Wilhemine, Ellen Olive and Regina Josephine, named after Johan's aunt in Sweden. When Rena was about six weeks old Johan Wilhelm had quick pneumonia. One night Anna Louisa was laying down nursing Rena, she saw that he was having an exceptionally hard time to use the camode and seemed about to pass out. She asked if she should get help. She ran across the field for the Davidson's but he died about the time she returned. He looked so well and peaceful that she could not believe he was dead so they kept him about a week before they buried him.
With three girls, it was hard to make a living. Anna sold an oxen for $75.00 and bought a sewing machine so she could do sewing as well as cleaning for people. She had a few acres of land and raised enough hay to feed several cows and some poultry. Her father and brother helped her some.
Little Anna was always into mischief --one day when her mother went to the neighbors for a few minutes, she got some matches and with the other two little girls took a small wood box and went out by the hay stack to cook a play dinner. They made a fire in the box and soon it was burned and the hay stack on fire, with the three little children trapped in the tightly fenced corral. Mangunsen, their other neighbor saw the fire and rescued the girls but the hay and sheds were completely burned.
Ellen was always ready to ride a horse; one day as the children were playing by the fence some Indians came along and coaxed her to climb the fence and get on the horse behind one of the Indians. Just as she was ready to get on the horse her mother saw her and ran quickly and took her away. The Indians tried to steal the girls several times.
Anna felt that she should marry again and made it a matter of prayer. She dreamed who she should marry and that she should marry in polygamy but she could not bring herself to accept this so when she had been widowed about four years and the handsome and young, Lorenzo Davidson returned after a hunting and mining trip and came courting Anna, she married him. About this time her family had some pictures taken.
Anna and Lorenzo were married in Fairview, March 4, 1887, and they lived comfortably in Anna's little house. About this time Anna's father married in polygamy and Anna's little girls loved to go down the road to visit "Muister", as they called John Eric's second wife. In December Anna had another daughter, Mary, and in July 1890 a son Arland. About this time Ellen had scarlet fever and one day ran to the door and the cold breeze caused them to go down. She was very sick and her head became twisted. They decided to take her to the Manti Temple and have her baptized for her health. and have Rena baptized there too. Ellen's head became all right.
Things came up to cause them uncertainty so they decided to emigrate to Wyoming and settle in the Big Horn Basin. Anna was expecting another baby in May so they quickly sold the little home to get supplies and equipment to take them there before the baby would arrive.
They used two wagons with a trailer wagon behind the second one. The trailer was fixed similar to the wagon a sheepherder uses. Across the back was a large bed for them to sleep in and under the bed was stored boxes of clothing and many needed supplies, for they had to take with them all the things they would need for at least a year. There was a small stove in it and a cupboard for dishes they used along the way. On one side of the wagon they fastened a couple of water barrels and pen or cages with chickens and a pig in them. Anna also had two large tubs in which she had cans filled with house plants. There were geraniums, fuchsia, wandering jew, petunias, strawberry plants and others. Rena tells how they had to be watered everyday. Anna took her sewing machine, spinning wheel and wool cords, along with other things and Lorenzo had farming supplies in the other wagon.
They left Fairview about the 16th of April. They stopped in Salt Lake City so that they might go through the nearly completed temple. It was a long trip. Anna and the children walked a lot of the time. One evening as they were camped on a side of a hill a herd of sheep were driven along above them. A large rock was loosened and rolled down striking Anna's leg and hurting it so that she had a hard time to get about for some time. Shortly after they reached the Idaho border (Eed-ahow, as the Indians called it, meaning "Sun shining over the mountain.") their travels became more hazardous, the trails were dim and wound through tall sage and other bushes and trees. There were storms leaving mud and flooded streams to ford. Anna had a steadfast character, When she set about doing a thing she accomplished it. Her faith and determination were exceptional and she bore the hard trip uncomplainingly. As they neared the Teton Valley they encountered many high drifts of snow along the road. They entered Darby
about the 24th of May. The snow was so high they were afraid they could not reach the Big Horn Basin before Anna's time would arrive, so they decided to make their home in Darby instead.
The Henry Todd family had homesteaded in the valley the year before and had built a one room log cabin which they shared with Anna and the children. Here on May 29th, Anna had her baby Arthur and Mrs. Todd gave Anna her own bed and took care of her all the time. Arthur was the first white child born in the valley.
Later the family with their wagons camped near Darby Creek while Lorenzo cleared ground for a little crop and garden and cut logs for a cabin. The little girls carried water from the creek for drinking. Each morning a bucket of
fresh milk with dry bread crust in it was put in the creek to keep it cool and sweet for their supper. There were sage brush and large sunflower roots all over and these Anna used for fuel. Anna and the girls gathered wild berries to add variety to their diet of venison and cooked whole wheat. Clean whole wheat was put in a large iron pot and covered with water then cooked until tender. Rena says the children loved to get handfuls of this to eat as they played. The large dirt roofed cabin was finished and the family were inside before the real cold weather. Very little garden had been raised that year so Lorenzo went to St. Anthony and brought back a few staple foods including
a little dried fruit and a sack of potatoes that froze on the way home. The potatoes were kept frozen and when the family wanted a special treat it was cooked frozed potatoes.
When the land was surveyed they found that the cabin was on the line between them and their neighbors, the Todd's. They continued to live here for several years and Lenora was born here 30 March, 1894. A large canvas was hung around the bed so that the children would not see the birth. Lorenzo went on skis for Mrs. Barney the mid-wife who lived 18 miles away and pulled her back to the cabin on a toboggan. Anna had chills and fever after the birth and Mrs. Gjettrup came and stayed with her until she could get about again. That winter, the snow was deep and the dogs were hungry. They would get into packs and chase the cattle, killing and eating any that fell. One night while Anna was still in bed after Lenora's birth, Lorenzo heard them chasing his animals, he took his gun and shot into the pack scattering them. He hit a dog belonging to Ellington Smith. The dog went home bleeding and the next morning Smith came to the door with a shot gun to kill Lorenzo for shooting his dog. Lorenzo talked to him or some time and his temper cooled a bit and he went home.
On August 25, 1895, Darby Ward of the Bannock Stake was organized and Anna was chosen as Primary President, this position she held for about seven years. The first counselors she chose were Nancy C. Nelson and Charlotte Bagley with Elizabeth Bagley as secretary. Later Otelia Holden and Margaret Hill served as counselors and Heneretta Mancrisies and Etta Herendeen served as secretaries. Sister Winters was president of the Stake Primary in 1901. Church was held in the Davidson cabin and Lorenzo got out more logs to build another house in the center of his field. This was a larger and better built cabin. The first cabin was then used as a church house and a school house for a little while and Sarah Holden was the first teacher. Arland went to school here.
A third son Nathaniel was born Dec. 13, 1896, and Anna was real sick again and was confined to her bed with milk leg for a long time.
Every fall and at various times in between Lorenzo did freighting to earn a few extra dollars to buy necessary supplies for them. He did freighting for Robert Miller in Jackson Hole, bringing all the supplies for his big ranch from St. Anthony and Idaho Falls. He also freighted for Blogets Store in Victor. There would be barrels of sugar, oatmeal, pickles and also boxes of dried fruits, also grain and hay for the animals in winter. Their winters were extremely cold, getting as low as 40° below zero with drifts sometimes twenty feet deep. The winters lasted about seven months. Rena tells about one year they ran out of hay for the animals in April, so early one morning while the snow was crusted over, Lorenzo took the dry cattle and with the girls helping him, drove them over the still covered fence posts and fields to a meadow of wild hay where the snow was beginning to melt. They had to go early because after the sun came up the snow would start to soften and the animals would sink in and flounder around until they became exhausted and not be able to get out.
Anna made lye from ashes and straw, then made soap both for laundry and hand use. She grated potatoes and covered them with water in big tubs until the starch formed on the bottom of the tub, then she would skim off the potatoes and pour off the water leaving the starch to be cut into chunks and dried; using it to thicken milk and make puddings for variety. She also made sweet soup, a mixture of dried peaches, prunes, apricots, currants, etc. cooking them until tender. This was a special treat. She gathered small birch branches about 12 inches long, pealed and dried them and tied them into a bundle small enough to be held comfortably in the hand and used it as a whisk or beater to make smooth flour-mush and also to beat eggs, etc. She made pants from wagon covers for Lorenzo. She cleaned, washed, corded and spun wool into yarn and knit it into stockings for her children. She sewed all their clothes, making many of them from flour sacks, and with the flour brand plainly showing on the clothing. Lorenzo tanned the skins of the animals he killed for food and Anna made them into shoe boots for her children to wear in the winter months, and a few times made some for herself and Lorenzo. She used mutton tallow to make large candles for light at night. Each fall the bed tick or mattress was filled with fresh straw to make high soft beds to keep them warm during the cold winter nights. She also pieced quilts together and corded wool for batts, then quilted them so they could be used.
Anna Wilhemine and Ellen were old enough to go out and do housework and this they did a lot. Anna Wilhemine also had a few dates. One night she did not get home as soon as her mother felt she should. Her mother felt that something was wrong, so she got out of bed and was directed to go into the field, there she found them. The boy friend had been trying to force Anna to satisfy his desires, and that was the last date with that boy friend. Nov. 29, 1897, Anna Wilhemine married George Dewey and moved to Chapin where George had a homestead.
On May 19, 1899 Eskil Leander was born to Anna. He was a very large baby, weighing 14 pounds, and again Anna was very ill for quite a while. About this time they got their first Kerosene lamps and they thought them real fine. They house-cleaned by pasting a layer of newspapers all over the cabin walls, this made them clean and also much warmer. That winter Mary had rheumatism and was so ill she was not expected to live. Anna cared for her carefully and through that and the faith and prayers of her parents and the administration of the Elders, Mary recovered but always had a bad heart condition.
Anna's Sister Johanna and her family came to Darby and homesteaded. They moved the first log cabin Lorenzo built, that had been used for a school house, to their land and lived in it for a good many years. Lorenzo built another two rooms onto their own home.
It seemed there was lots of sickness about and Anna's family had their share. All the children had worms; but Lenora and Nathaniel had them the worst. One time when Lorenzo was away from home freighting, he had the feeling that he was needed at home, so he traveled all night, arriving home out 5 a.m. and found Nathaniel very sick with convulsions. They had very little medicine at that time so when the children had worm convulsions they put liquid asefedity under their noses and around their mouths to make the worms go back into their stomachs and not choke them. They sometimes put turpentine on a cloth and put it by their mouth also. They would put a spoon between their teeth to keep them from biting their tongues. They always kept quinine for fever and almost everyone wore an asefedity bag around their neck. (The odor should have kept everything away).
On June 22, 1902, that district became the Teton Stake and the ward was reorganized. Anna was chosen President of the Relief Society Organization and she chose Sister Holden and Sister Valentine to work with her. This meant extra work for her to do and Lorenzo kept a team of horses in the stable ready for her to use whenever she needed them, and that was often for she was always called to help the sick and those in trouble.
Ellen Married Alonzo Ellis in St. Anthony Oct 28, 1903 and made her home in Darby for a while.
Lorenzo had been spending all the time possible freighting and had not fixed up the barns and corrals as good as was needed. He had plenty of good poles ready to use but no time to fix them. One time when he was away freighting, Anna took her young sons and they went to work. They dug holes and put the poles in them and made a good fence and tight corral to shelter the cattle. When Lorenzo returned and saw what they had done, he quit freighting and really went to work and took care of the farm and the cattle and from then on they began to prosper.
Anna was saddened by the birth of a still born son on March 4 1904. She had been carrying water from the ditch to use for washing when she felt something go wrong and the child never moved after. Three days later when he was born, and he was a large baby, he had started to decompose and was in terrible condition. Lorenzo made a coffin for the baby from an old Kerosene can box. Ellen covered it and fixed it nice and Rena dressed the baby as best she could and it was laid away. Jan Hill and Grandma Larsen were called to help take care of Anna for she was very ill and had to stay in bed for over a month. This was Anna's last baby.
At this time there was a diphtheria epidemic in the valley, every family had sickness and some lost several children. While Anna was still in bed from child-birth both Lenora and Arthur became sick with it. They were put in the bedroom with their mother and Rena took care of them all for they had to be kept isolated from the other members of the family. Peeled onions were kept in the room and also in the other part of the house to draw the germs and each one had to wear an asefedity bag. Arthur's throat was almost black and he was not expected to live. Anna and Lorenzo sent word to the Stake President to pray for him. The following night Arthur kept asking for a
bucket of cold water, and said he would die if he did not get it. Lorenzo carried Anna over close to Arthur and sat her in a big rocking chair and covered her up warm while she talked to Arthur. After she talked to Arthur she talked things over with Lorenzo and they decided to get him the water. Lorenzo brought in a bucket and Anna added enough warm water to take the chill off. Arthur took hold of the bucket and ducked his head in it then said "Wait a minute." then ducked his head again a second and third time, then took a big drink and said, "It is enough, take it away." Then he swung his feet out of bed, saying he was well and he practically was for the next day he was outside playing a bit with Arland. His poor tongue began peel off in big chunks. Not any of the other children caught the disease and the epidemic began to subside. There were no other deaths in the community after Arthur got well.
Through the Relief Society program Dr. Schuppe came to the valley to teach a course in practical nursing. Anna and her daughter Mary took the course and little Lenora went along. Lorenzo grumbled about it because he could not see how it would do them any good but just the same he had the team and buggy ready twice a week for them to go to Driggs to take the lessons. Every time they went Anna also took butter and eggs along to sell.
Rena, the third daughter married Frank Peterson February 28, 1905. She had been working in Jackson Hole and met him there.
Anna taught her girls to cook and to sew but whenever a pig was killed they all liked her to make head-cheese. To make head-cheese; Anna cooked the head of the pig after cleaning it thoroughly, then cutting the fat off and grinding the lean meat through the food-chopper. To this she would add a little diced onion, salt and pepper and
some of the liquid in which the meat had been cooked; then she would cook it a little and cool it and it was ready to slice. Little Pigs were also made from good lean beef scraps, seasoned with salt and pepper and onion, then wrapped in sinew and boiled until tender then cooled and sliced for supper. M-m m-m good.
One day Arthur and some boys from the neighborhood were chasing some young colts. Arthur grabbed the tail of one and away they went. The young colt kicked back and caught Arthur above the eye on the left temple and peeled the flesh back showing the skull. Anna cleaned the wound and cared for as best she could while George Dewey took a team of horses that were in the barn and drove as fast as he could to Driggs to get the doctor to sew it up. Thirteen stitches were needed and Arthur always carried the scar from it.
Mary, the fourth daughter, planned to marry, and Anna was determined that this daughter, since she was marrying the bishop's son, should go to the temple, for her other daughters had not married in the Church. She bought material for temple clothes and a lovely white dress for Mary, but Chester Loveland did not have a testimony of the Gospel and would not go to the temple. He and Mary were married at home by his father, on December 24, 1906. However the marriage was not a success and Mary returned home after only a few months and the following October a baby daughter was born to her. In the meantime Anna's brother Andrew came to Darby and built a couple of new rooms on the house in place of first two log ones that Lorenzo had built. This made four nice rooms downstairs and a couple upstairs. The one large front room was used as a bedroom for Mary and Lenora and also for dances and parties. The family were comfortable.
Clark Barzee came along in a wagon with an organ to sell.He stayed with the family one night and brought the organ in so they could enjoy it and Lorenzo liked it enough to trade Barzee a young horse so they could keep it. Lenora loved music and took care of the Durrant children to pay for lessons.
The Bishop wanted Lorenzo to go on a mission and Anna was very happy but he decided that he could not leave his farm for the young boys to take care of and made arrangements for Arthur to go in his stead. After Arthur had been gone almost a year, Lorenzo figured it was costing him too much money and he wanted Arthur to come home, but Anna would not hear of it, she felt there was not any sacrifice too great for the Lord's work. Lorenzo became over wrought and the tension carried over to Sweden where Arthur was serving his mission. He became seriously ill and the Doctor could not find what was causing the trouble so he sent him home much to Anna's sorrow.
Anna had many unusual calls while she was in the Relief Society; she went out and helped the sick, delivered several babies, washed and dressed the dead and prepared them for burial. She took care of the Larsen baby after it was run over with a load of grain and it's head crushed. She was blessed that she was able to push it back into fair shape. Another time Mrs. Allred died of cancer of the abdomen and had laid in a hot feather bed for many hours before they had a chance to take care of her and she was in really bad condition. Anna washed and scrubbed herself and her clothing afterward but the odor stayed with her for a couple of weeks. Ellington Smith, who had threatened to kill Lorenzo years before, had his troubles and he nursed his grievances and imagined troubles until they became mountains and led him to following his neighbor, Mr. Niel to his field and killing him. He shot with his rifle real close to his head and Mr. Niel fell into the ditch of running water and the water washed part of the insides of his head away. Anna was called to the Niel home to prepare the body for burial. She had to put cotton into the head to fix it up, but she did a very good job of it. A team and buggy or sleigh was always in the barn for Anna's use.
One night Lorenzo went to bed while Anna was away on a call but woke up after a while and could not rest so he went to look for Anna and found her with her horses down in a snowdrift. Anna was president of the Relief Society for nine years and her daughter Mary was her secretary for most of that time.
Lorenzo was never satisfied after Arthur returned from his mission and early in the spring of 1912, he and Anna went to Parker where they arranged to buy a farm. They mortgaged this farm and paid Frank Mason for it in full. The plans were to pay off this mortgage when the farm in Darby was sold but the mortgage was never paid off. They moved part of their things to Parker and cleaned up the place a bit and ran both farms the first year then they rented the Darby farm the second year. Anna was not happy to move and mortgage their home. There were two houses on the Parker farm; a small one in which the Davidsons lived until the Masons moved out in the fall. Anna had some remodeling done in the large house, changing the stairway so that it was between the kitchen and bed room instead of in the front room. They papered all eight rooms after cleaning them thoroughly. Anna saved carpet rags and made them into carpet so that she had enough carpeting to cover the large front room and her bed room. First straw was brought in and scattered evenly over the floor for a cushion, then the carpet was laid over the top and pulled tight and tacked along the walls. There was also carpet for the girls bed room upstairs. They bought a gasoline lamp for the front room, which made it up to date.
The year after they came to Parker, Arland was called on a mission to Sweden and left Salt Lake about the middle of November. Lorenzo thought this was too much expense but Anna was determined he should have his mission. He was in Sweden until the Elders were evacuated because of World War I, the he finished his mission in South Carolina.
On December 24, after Arland left for his mission Arthur married Lottie Rhodehouse in the Salt Lake Temple and Anna was glad this was a temple marriage. Lorenzo had a lot of cows and chickens and Anna made butter; sometimes as much as 75 pounds a week, this she sold along with about 25 dozen eggs to customers and the stores in St. Anthony. Saturday was delivery day and there was good market for her butter for everyone who tasted it liked it for its’ sweetness and she was known for the full measure in each pound.
Every winter each ward would send home missionaries or visiting teachers to different wards to teach the members and visit them. Many times the visitors to Parker Ward came from the Marysville Ward and many times they made Anna's home their headquarters while they visited the members. It was always a joy to Anna to sit around the stove of an evening and discuss the principles of the gospel with them, also to discuss the things in the Bible. Anna always took her family to Sacrament meetings and Sunday School and she tried to live the Gospel principles the best she knew how. When the Tabernacle at St. Anthony was dedicated in 1916, she was happy to go there and listen to the instructions of the Leaders of the Church.
Anna was always busy--what with making butter the year around, in summer she helped in the garden and canned enough fruit, jam, and pickles to last the large family the year around. There was hired help during the haying and harvesting seasons to cook for. In the winter there were quilts to make, one year they finished ten of them. Whenever Lorenzo killed either beef or pork, Anna took care of the small pieces, making the head cheese, little pigs, pickled pigs feet, etc.
Arland returned from his mission in January 1916. In the spring he and Mary returned to the dry farm where they had homesteaded, in the winter they returned to Parker.
On October 4, 1917, Mary married again, this time to Charles Housley; December 20 Lenora married Harvey Tyler; on March 8, 1918 Arland married Elizabeth Pearce and on June 5 Nathaniel married Ella Grover. All were married in the temple as Anna always wanted them to do. Anna and Lorenzo had not been getting along as good as they should have and in a disagreement, Anna got a rib broken. They no longer found happiness together so they decided to separate. Life with Lorenzo had been as Anna had dreamed it, long before she married him when she had inquired of the Lord in prayer. She had dreamed that she held his hand and they hunted all over the mountain for water but could not find any. After hunting all over she looked down from the mountain and saw Peterson, her first husband, sitting beside a spring of water. She realized that this dream symbolized her life for as time had passed she and Lorenzo had had less in common until now there was nothing left. They went together to St. Anthony and had the divorce arraignments made without anyone else knowing anything about it. This was the winter of 1918 and 1919. Anna kept the farm still with it's original mortgage and Lorenzo went trapping again.
Nathaniel and wife had been living in the small house helping with the farm and now he and Eskil took over the work until Eskil was called on a mission. He left for the Mexican Mission in June 1920. It was a struggle for Anna to get the funds to keep him there, but she did even though her health was failing. She also went to the temple in Salt Lake City and had Hans C. Davidson's third wife, Anna Dorthea Mortinson, sealed to him as she had promised Anna Dorthea to do before she left Fairview many years before. She did quite a bit of temple work at this time. In the early spring Eskil returned from his mission and took over the farm and Nathaniel rented a farm in Rexburg. Anna was not well and when Mary left her second husband she came back to Parker and helped her mother and Eskil on the farm. Anna did little that summer and after the holidays she had a severe pain and swelling on her left side over her hurt rib. After about three days the swelling came to a head and broke and about a quart of pus drained out. The abscess opened both to the outside and into her stomach so that when she ate or drank anything it would run right out, and she soon began to waste away. It was necessary to keep a binder about her and pads on the abdomen to take care of it. The odor was terrible and it was necessary to fumigate the house all the time so one could stay and do the necessary things. The doctors were called and said that though she had a tumor they did not advise an operation. All her children came home to help as it was necessary to have someone with her night and day, to turn her or give her a drink as needed.
Anna never lost faith that she would get better until the Doctor told her there was no use to operate for it would only prolong her suffering. He was an L.D.S. doctor and she looked up at him and asked, "Don't you have any faith?" Her desire to live was lost and she went into a coma, becoming rational only once in a while to speak to one of the children. Most of the time she seemed to be conversing with some unseen persons above her bed. Three days later she died, this was as had been promised her in her patriarchal blessing "that she should live as long as she desired life."
Her family were all with her at the time of her passing and honored her with their love and devotion for her life of sacrifice and her wonderful teachings to them. She died March 9, 1925 and after a sweet funeral was laid tenderly away in the Parker Cemetery on March 12, 1925.
Compiled by Edna L. Davis, her granddaughter
Anna Louisa was born March 19, 1859, in Lindesburg, Orebro, Sweden. She was the third child of Johan Erick Peterson and Christina Henrickson. The family lived on a three acre farm on the mountain side. They lived in a time when families had to be self-sustaining and their home was built to meet the needs and conditions of the climate. Their house was a long house built in sections, The living quarters at one end, then the woodshed, joining this the barn, where they kept the hay and next the part where they kept their cows, pigs and chickens. This was all under the same roof because the winters were dark and cold and always lots of snow so that it was not safe to go from one building to another. In the living part of the house was a large fireplace--this was the only heat they had and enough wood had to be stored in the woodhouse to last the winter. Wood was important to them and they kept planting trees on their farm to replace the large ones that they cut down for fuel. In this way their supply was steady.
The land was very rocky and had to be cleared. These rocks were many different colors -red, purple, green and brown, and were made into a beautiful rock wall all around their farm. In the summer their rainfall was heavy and they raised hay for their cows and a good garden. The hay had to be cut with a scythe and piled to dry. It rained so much that the hay had to be carried into the barn and back out many times before it was dry enough to store without mildew. Anna always helped carry the hay and in so doing hurt her back so that she was round shouldered as she grew older.
They washed twice a year: This sounds as if they were not clean but they had many changes of clothes and when they washed they took them to a clear stream to wash them.
Rye bread was used all the time. In the summer it was baked in thin round sheets and dried by hanging it in the top of the house on a long stick between the rafters. It was called "Kanikai". There were lots of wild fruits growing near, blueberries, sour cherries, strawberries and other berries; these were gathered and eaten on their flour mush for supper. The flour mush was made by stirring flour into boiling water and beating it with a whisk until it was smooth and thick. They ate lots of rutabaga and herring. Johan Erick caught many fish in the fjord near by; these he brine-cured and then smoked for their winter supply. They also ate clabber milk, cottage cheese and a special brown cheese made from the boiled whey of the other cheeses.
Once each year the shoemaker made the rounds of the village, staying with each family while he mended their old shoes and made the necessary new ones from skins they had tanned. Anna told an incident that happened at their home as the shoemaker sat in a corner of the room working on the shoes. Anna's mother put a piece of meat on to cook for soup, soon Mariah, the oldest girl came by and salted it, shortly after Johannah, the next daughter, came along and salted it and then the mother came and salted it. Seeing this the shoemaker also put in a handful. When mealtime came the family sat down to eat rutabagas and soup. They all had rutabagas but the shoemaker did not have any soup. The family thought this was unusual, but when Johan Eric took his first bite and spit it out, saying it was brine they knew why. The shoemaker then told what had happened and they all had a good laugh.
The family belonged to the Lutheran Church, and the three girls probably attended a Lutheran school. Their first textbook was a Danish bible, in this way Anna also learned to speak Danish. Later they had a Swedish Bible to study. In the winter when they went to school it was dark most of the time and the girls carried a torch made of pitch so that they could see their way and also scare away any wild animals that might be near. The snow was deep and when they came to drifts, they took turns breaking trail on their knees.
Mariah went away to work. Some Latter-Day-Saint Missionaries came to the home and converted the family and also Mariah. They were all baptized then Mariah sent the Elders to her own family and they were soon converted and were all baptized Nov. 7, 1875 by Bro. Linquist.. John Erick's and Christina's brothers and sisters were all dead and they had few living relatives. They soon sold their farm and possessions to get funds to emigrate to Zion. They took passage June 22, 1876 on the ship 'Idaho'. When they went on the ship they took with them a large sack of "Kanikai," they hid it in their quarters but when they went to get it someone had stolen it.
There were several severe storms but they weathered them all, and after a six week voyage arrived safe in the U.S.A. They took a train to Utah but the trains were slow and had no accommodations to make them comfortable. They bought a lot of bread before they started but they did not like it moist so they cut it into slices and hung it above them in the train to dry so they could eat it. There was no space to make a bed so they had to sit up all the way. Some of the emigrants took off their shoes but their feet became so swollen they could not get them back on. They were really glad to arrive in Utah on July 24, 1876, after a two week train ride.
Brigham Young asked them to settle in Fairview, and they chose a bit of rocky ground which reminded them of their homeland. Shortly after Mariah married and the following year Johanna and Anna also married. Anna met Johan William Peterson, also an emigrant and fifteen years her senior. After a short courtship they were married August 26, 1877. Johan William was a twin and the only one of seven children to live. After the death of his parents he joined the Church and came to Zion. Johan and Anna bought a small farm in Fairview but were not married in the Temple; however when their oldest child, Anna Wilhemine was about a year old, they made the long trip by wagon o the Endowment House, 15 July 1880 and were sealed. They did not understand that Anna Wilhemine needed to be sealed to them and that sealing was not done until after Anna Wilhemine's death and then by her daughter Lucy. The couple had three daughters, Anna Wilhemine, Ellen Olive and Regina Josephine, named after Johan's aunt in Sweden. When Rena was about six weeks old Johan Wilhelm had quick pneumonia. One night Anna Louisa was laying down nursing Rena, she saw that he was having an exceptionally hard time to use the camode and seemed about to pass out. She asked if she should get help. She ran across the field for the Davidson's but he died about the time she returned. He looked so well and peaceful that she could not believe he was dead so they kept him about a week before they buried him.
With three girls, it was hard to make a living. Anna sold an oxen for $75.00 and bought a sewing machine so she could do sewing as well as cleaning for people. She had a few acres of land and raised enough hay to feed several cows and some poultry. Her father and brother helped her some.
Little Anna was always into mischief --one day when her mother went to the neighbors for a few minutes, she got some matches and with the other two little girls took a small wood box and went out by the hay stack to cook a play dinner. They made a fire in the box and soon it was burned and the hay stack on fire, with the three little children trapped in the tightly fenced corral. Mangunsen, their other neighbor saw the fire and rescued the girls but the hay and sheds were completely burned.
Ellen was always ready to ride a horse; one day as the children were playing by the fence some Indians came along and coaxed her to climb the fence and get on the horse behind one of the Indians. Just as she was ready to get on the horse her mother saw her and ran quickly and took her away. The Indians tried to steal the girls several times.
Anna felt that she should marry again and made it a matter of prayer. She dreamed who she should marry and that she should marry in polygamy but she could not bring herself to accept this so when she had been widowed about four years and the handsome and young, Lorenzo Davidson returned after a hunting and mining trip and came courting Anna, she married him. About this time her family had some pictures taken.
Anna and Lorenzo were married in Fairview, March 4, 1887, and they lived comfortably in Anna's little house. About this time Anna's father married in polygamy and Anna's little girls loved to go down the road to visit "Muister", as they called John Eric's second wife. In December Anna had another daughter, Mary, and in July 1890 a son Arland. About this time Ellen had scarlet fever and one day ran to the door and the cold breeze caused them to go down. She was very sick and her head became twisted. They decided to take her to the Manti Temple and have her baptized for her health. and have Rena baptized there too. Ellen's head became all right.
Things came up to cause them uncertainty so they decided to emigrate to Wyoming and settle in the Big Horn Basin. Anna was expecting another baby in May so they quickly sold the little home to get supplies and equipment to take them there before the baby would arrive.
They used two wagons with a trailer wagon behind the second one. The trailer was fixed similar to the wagon a sheepherder uses. Across the back was a large bed for them to sleep in and under the bed was stored boxes of clothing and many needed supplies, for they had to take with them all the things they would need for at least a year. There was a small stove in it and a cupboard for dishes they used along the way. On one side of the wagon they fastened a couple of water barrels and pen or cages with chickens and a pig in them. Anna also had two large tubs in which she had cans filled with house plants. There were geraniums, fuchsia, wandering jew, petunias, strawberry plants and others. Rena tells how they had to be watered everyday. Anna took her sewing machine, spinning wheel and wool cords, along with other things and Lorenzo had farming supplies in the other wagon.
They left Fairview about the 16th of April. They stopped in Salt Lake City so that they might go through the nearly completed temple. It was a long trip. Anna and the children walked a lot of the time. One evening as they were camped on a side of a hill a herd of sheep were driven along above them. A large rock was loosened and rolled down striking Anna's leg and hurting it so that she had a hard time to get about for some time. Shortly after they reached the Idaho border (Eed-ahow, as the Indians called it, meaning "Sun shining over the mountain.") their travels became more hazardous, the trails were dim and wound through tall sage and other bushes and trees. There were storms leaving mud and flooded streams to ford. Anna had a steadfast character, When she set about doing a thing she accomplished it. Her faith and determination were exceptional and she bore the hard trip uncomplainingly. As they neared the Teton Valley they encountered many high drifts of snow along the road. They entered Darby
about the 24th of May. The snow was so high they were afraid they could not reach the Big Horn Basin before Anna's time would arrive, so they decided to make their home in Darby instead.
The Henry Todd family had homesteaded in the valley the year before and had built a one room log cabin which they shared with Anna and the children. Here on May 29th, Anna had her baby Arthur and Mrs. Todd gave Anna her own bed and took care of her all the time. Arthur was the first white child born in the valley.
Later the family with their wagons camped near Darby Creek while Lorenzo cleared ground for a little crop and garden and cut logs for a cabin. The little girls carried water from the creek for drinking. Each morning a bucket of
fresh milk with dry bread crust in it was put in the creek to keep it cool and sweet for their supper. There were sage brush and large sunflower roots all over and these Anna used for fuel. Anna and the girls gathered wild berries to add variety to their diet of venison and cooked whole wheat. Clean whole wheat was put in a large iron pot and covered with water then cooked until tender. Rena says the children loved to get handfuls of this to eat as they played. The large dirt roofed cabin was finished and the family were inside before the real cold weather. Very little garden had been raised that year so Lorenzo went to St. Anthony and brought back a few staple foods including
a little dried fruit and a sack of potatoes that froze on the way home. The potatoes were kept frozen and when the family wanted a special treat it was cooked frozed potatoes.
When the land was surveyed they found that the cabin was on the line between them and their neighbors, the Todd's. They continued to live here for several years and Lenora was born here 30 March, 1894. A large canvas was hung around the bed so that the children would not see the birth. Lorenzo went on skis for Mrs. Barney the mid-wife who lived 18 miles away and pulled her back to the cabin on a toboggan. Anna had chills and fever after the birth and Mrs. Gjettrup came and stayed with her until she could get about again. That winter, the snow was deep and the dogs were hungry. They would get into packs and chase the cattle, killing and eating any that fell. One night while Anna was still in bed after Lenora's birth, Lorenzo heard them chasing his animals, he took his gun and shot into the pack scattering them. He hit a dog belonging to Ellington Smith. The dog went home bleeding and the next morning Smith came to the door with a shot gun to kill Lorenzo for shooting his dog. Lorenzo talked to him or some time and his temper cooled a bit and he went home.
On August 25, 1895, Darby Ward of the Bannock Stake was organized and Anna was chosen as Primary President, this position she held for about seven years. The first counselors she chose were Nancy C. Nelson and Charlotte Bagley with Elizabeth Bagley as secretary. Later Otelia Holden and Margaret Hill served as counselors and Heneretta Mancrisies and Etta Herendeen served as secretaries. Sister Winters was president of the Stake Primary in 1901. Church was held in the Davidson cabin and Lorenzo got out more logs to build another house in the center of his field. This was a larger and better built cabin. The first cabin was then used as a church house and a school house for a little while and Sarah Holden was the first teacher. Arland went to school here.
A third son Nathaniel was born Dec. 13, 1896, and Anna was real sick again and was confined to her bed with milk leg for a long time.
Every fall and at various times in between Lorenzo did freighting to earn a few extra dollars to buy necessary supplies for them. He did freighting for Robert Miller in Jackson Hole, bringing all the supplies for his big ranch from St. Anthony and Idaho Falls. He also freighted for Blogets Store in Victor. There would be barrels of sugar, oatmeal, pickles and also boxes of dried fruits, also grain and hay for the animals in winter. Their winters were extremely cold, getting as low as 40° below zero with drifts sometimes twenty feet deep. The winters lasted about seven months. Rena tells about one year they ran out of hay for the animals in April, so early one morning while the snow was crusted over, Lorenzo took the dry cattle and with the girls helping him, drove them over the still covered fence posts and fields to a meadow of wild hay where the snow was beginning to melt. They had to go early because after the sun came up the snow would start to soften and the animals would sink in and flounder around until they became exhausted and not be able to get out.
Anna made lye from ashes and straw, then made soap both for laundry and hand use. She grated potatoes and covered them with water in big tubs until the starch formed on the bottom of the tub, then she would skim off the potatoes and pour off the water leaving the starch to be cut into chunks and dried; using it to thicken milk and make puddings for variety. She also made sweet soup, a mixture of dried peaches, prunes, apricots, currants, etc. cooking them until tender. This was a special treat. She gathered small birch branches about 12 inches long, pealed and dried them and tied them into a bundle small enough to be held comfortably in the hand and used it as a whisk or beater to make smooth flour-mush and also to beat eggs, etc. She made pants from wagon covers for Lorenzo. She cleaned, washed, corded and spun wool into yarn and knit it into stockings for her children. She sewed all their clothes, making many of them from flour sacks, and with the flour brand plainly showing on the clothing. Lorenzo tanned the skins of the animals he killed for food and Anna made them into shoe boots for her children to wear in the winter months, and a few times made some for herself and Lorenzo. She used mutton tallow to make large candles for light at night. Each fall the bed tick or mattress was filled with fresh straw to make high soft beds to keep them warm during the cold winter nights. She also pieced quilts together and corded wool for batts, then quilted them so they could be used.
Anna Wilhemine and Ellen were old enough to go out and do housework and this they did a lot. Anna Wilhemine also had a few dates. One night she did not get home as soon as her mother felt she should. Her mother felt that something was wrong, so she got out of bed and was directed to go into the field, there she found them. The boy friend had been trying to force Anna to satisfy his desires, and that was the last date with that boy friend. Nov. 29, 1897, Anna Wilhemine married George Dewey and moved to Chapin where George had a homestead.
On May 19, 1899 Eskil Leander was born to Anna. He was a very large baby, weighing 14 pounds, and again Anna was very ill for quite a while. About this time they got their first Kerosene lamps and they thought them real fine. They house-cleaned by pasting a layer of newspapers all over the cabin walls, this made them clean and also much warmer. That winter Mary had rheumatism and was so ill she was not expected to live. Anna cared for her carefully and through that and the faith and prayers of her parents and the administration of the Elders, Mary recovered but always had a bad heart condition.
Anna's Sister Johanna and her family came to Darby and homesteaded. They moved the first log cabin Lorenzo built, that had been used for a school house, to their land and lived in it for a good many years. Lorenzo built another two rooms onto their own home.
It seemed there was lots of sickness about and Anna's family had their share. All the children had worms; but Lenora and Nathaniel had them the worst. One time when Lorenzo was away from home freighting, he had the feeling that he was needed at home, so he traveled all night, arriving home out 5 a.m. and found Nathaniel very sick with convulsions. They had very little medicine at that time so when the children had worm convulsions they put liquid asefedity under their noses and around their mouths to make the worms go back into their stomachs and not choke them. They sometimes put turpentine on a cloth and put it by their mouth also. They would put a spoon between their teeth to keep them from biting their tongues. They always kept quinine for fever and almost everyone wore an asefedity bag around their neck. (The odor should have kept everything away).
On June 22, 1902, that district became the Teton Stake and the ward was reorganized. Anna was chosen President of the Relief Society Organization and she chose Sister Holden and Sister Valentine to work with her. This meant extra work for her to do and Lorenzo kept a team of horses in the stable ready for her to use whenever she needed them, and that was often for she was always called to help the sick and those in trouble.
Ellen Married Alonzo Ellis in St. Anthony Oct 28, 1903 and made her home in Darby for a while.
Lorenzo had been spending all the time possible freighting and had not fixed up the barns and corrals as good as was needed. He had plenty of good poles ready to use but no time to fix them. One time when he was away freighting, Anna took her young sons and they went to work. They dug holes and put the poles in them and made a good fence and tight corral to shelter the cattle. When Lorenzo returned and saw what they had done, he quit freighting and really went to work and took care of the farm and the cattle and from then on they began to prosper.
Anna was saddened by the birth of a still born son on March 4 1904. She had been carrying water from the ditch to use for washing when she felt something go wrong and the child never moved after. Three days later when he was born, and he was a large baby, he had started to decompose and was in terrible condition. Lorenzo made a coffin for the baby from an old Kerosene can box. Ellen covered it and fixed it nice and Rena dressed the baby as best she could and it was laid away. Jan Hill and Grandma Larsen were called to help take care of Anna for she was very ill and had to stay in bed for over a month. This was Anna's last baby.
At this time there was a diphtheria epidemic in the valley, every family had sickness and some lost several children. While Anna was still in bed from child-birth both Lenora and Arthur became sick with it. They were put in the bedroom with their mother and Rena took care of them all for they had to be kept isolated from the other members of the family. Peeled onions were kept in the room and also in the other part of the house to draw the germs and each one had to wear an asefedity bag. Arthur's throat was almost black and he was not expected to live. Anna and Lorenzo sent word to the Stake President to pray for him. The following night Arthur kept asking for a
bucket of cold water, and said he would die if he did not get it. Lorenzo carried Anna over close to Arthur and sat her in a big rocking chair and covered her up warm while she talked to Arthur. After she talked to Arthur she talked things over with Lorenzo and they decided to get him the water. Lorenzo brought in a bucket and Anna added enough warm water to take the chill off. Arthur took hold of the bucket and ducked his head in it then said "Wait a minute." then ducked his head again a second and third time, then took a big drink and said, "It is enough, take it away." Then he swung his feet out of bed, saying he was well and he practically was for the next day he was outside playing a bit with Arland. His poor tongue began peel off in big chunks. Not any of the other children caught the disease and the epidemic began to subside. There were no other deaths in the community after Arthur got well.
Through the Relief Society program Dr. Schuppe came to the valley to teach a course in practical nursing. Anna and her daughter Mary took the course and little Lenora went along. Lorenzo grumbled about it because he could not see how it would do them any good but just the same he had the team and buggy ready twice a week for them to go to Driggs to take the lessons. Every time they went Anna also took butter and eggs along to sell.
Rena, the third daughter married Frank Peterson February 28, 1905. She had been working in Jackson Hole and met him there.
Anna taught her girls to cook and to sew but whenever a pig was killed they all liked her to make head-cheese. To make head-cheese; Anna cooked the head of the pig after cleaning it thoroughly, then cutting the fat off and grinding the lean meat through the food-chopper. To this she would add a little diced onion, salt and pepper and
some of the liquid in which the meat had been cooked; then she would cook it a little and cool it and it was ready to slice. Little Pigs were also made from good lean beef scraps, seasoned with salt and pepper and onion, then wrapped in sinew and boiled until tender then cooled and sliced for supper. M-m m-m good.
One day Arthur and some boys from the neighborhood were chasing some young colts. Arthur grabbed the tail of one and away they went. The young colt kicked back and caught Arthur above the eye on the left temple and peeled the flesh back showing the skull. Anna cleaned the wound and cared for as best she could while George Dewey took a team of horses that were in the barn and drove as fast as he could to Driggs to get the doctor to sew it up. Thirteen stitches were needed and Arthur always carried the scar from it.
Mary, the fourth daughter, planned to marry, and Anna was determined that this daughter, since she was marrying the bishop's son, should go to the temple, for her other daughters had not married in the Church. She bought material for temple clothes and a lovely white dress for Mary, but Chester Loveland did not have a testimony of the Gospel and would not go to the temple. He and Mary were married at home by his father, on December 24, 1906. However the marriage was not a success and Mary returned home after only a few months and the following October a baby daughter was born to her. In the meantime Anna's brother Andrew came to Darby and built a couple of new rooms on the house in place of first two log ones that Lorenzo had built. This made four nice rooms downstairs and a couple upstairs. The one large front room was used as a bedroom for Mary and Lenora and also for dances and parties. The family were comfortable.
Clark Barzee came along in a wagon with an organ to sell.He stayed with the family one night and brought the organ in so they could enjoy it and Lorenzo liked it enough to trade Barzee a young horse so they could keep it. Lenora loved music and took care of the Durrant children to pay for lessons.
The Bishop wanted Lorenzo to go on a mission and Anna was very happy but he decided that he could not leave his farm for the young boys to take care of and made arrangements for Arthur to go in his stead. After Arthur had been gone almost a year, Lorenzo figured it was costing him too much money and he wanted Arthur to come home, but Anna would not hear of it, she felt there was not any sacrifice too great for the Lord's work. Lorenzo became over wrought and the tension carried over to Sweden where Arthur was serving his mission. He became seriously ill and the Doctor could not find what was causing the trouble so he sent him home much to Anna's sorrow.
Anna had many unusual calls while she was in the Relief Society; she went out and helped the sick, delivered several babies, washed and dressed the dead and prepared them for burial. She took care of the Larsen baby after it was run over with a load of grain and it's head crushed. She was blessed that she was able to push it back into fair shape. Another time Mrs. Allred died of cancer of the abdomen and had laid in a hot feather bed for many hours before they had a chance to take care of her and she was in really bad condition. Anna washed and scrubbed herself and her clothing afterward but the odor stayed with her for a couple of weeks. Ellington Smith, who had threatened to kill Lorenzo years before, had his troubles and he nursed his grievances and imagined troubles until they became mountains and led him to following his neighbor, Mr. Niel to his field and killing him. He shot with his rifle real close to his head and Mr. Niel fell into the ditch of running water and the water washed part of the insides of his head away. Anna was called to the Niel home to prepare the body for burial. She had to put cotton into the head to fix it up, but she did a very good job of it. A team and buggy or sleigh was always in the barn for Anna's use.
One night Lorenzo went to bed while Anna was away on a call but woke up after a while and could not rest so he went to look for Anna and found her with her horses down in a snowdrift. Anna was president of the Relief Society for nine years and her daughter Mary was her secretary for most of that time.
Lorenzo was never satisfied after Arthur returned from his mission and early in the spring of 1912, he and Anna went to Parker where they arranged to buy a farm. They mortgaged this farm and paid Frank Mason for it in full. The plans were to pay off this mortgage when the farm in Darby was sold but the mortgage was never paid off. They moved part of their things to Parker and cleaned up the place a bit and ran both farms the first year then they rented the Darby farm the second year. Anna was not happy to move and mortgage their home. There were two houses on the Parker farm; a small one in which the Davidsons lived until the Masons moved out in the fall. Anna had some remodeling done in the large house, changing the stairway so that it was between the kitchen and bed room instead of in the front room. They papered all eight rooms after cleaning them thoroughly. Anna saved carpet rags and made them into carpet so that she had enough carpeting to cover the large front room and her bed room. First straw was brought in and scattered evenly over the floor for a cushion, then the carpet was laid over the top and pulled tight and tacked along the walls. There was also carpet for the girls bed room upstairs. They bought a gasoline lamp for the front room, which made it up to date.
The year after they came to Parker, Arland was called on a mission to Sweden and left Salt Lake about the middle of November. Lorenzo thought this was too much expense but Anna was determined he should have his mission. He was in Sweden until the Elders were evacuated because of World War I, the he finished his mission in South Carolina.
On December 24, after Arland left for his mission Arthur married Lottie Rhodehouse in the Salt Lake Temple and Anna was glad this was a temple marriage. Lorenzo had a lot of cows and chickens and Anna made butter; sometimes as much as 75 pounds a week, this she sold along with about 25 dozen eggs to customers and the stores in St. Anthony. Saturday was delivery day and there was good market for her butter for everyone who tasted it liked it for its’ sweetness and she was known for the full measure in each pound.
Every winter each ward would send home missionaries or visiting teachers to different wards to teach the members and visit them. Many times the visitors to Parker Ward came from the Marysville Ward and many times they made Anna's home their headquarters while they visited the members. It was always a joy to Anna to sit around the stove of an evening and discuss the principles of the gospel with them, also to discuss the things in the Bible. Anna always took her family to Sacrament meetings and Sunday School and she tried to live the Gospel principles the best she knew how. When the Tabernacle at St. Anthony was dedicated in 1916, she was happy to go there and listen to the instructions of the Leaders of the Church.
Anna was always busy--what with making butter the year around, in summer she helped in the garden and canned enough fruit, jam, and pickles to last the large family the year around. There was hired help during the haying and harvesting seasons to cook for. In the winter there were quilts to make, one year they finished ten of them. Whenever Lorenzo killed either beef or pork, Anna took care of the small pieces, making the head cheese, little pigs, pickled pigs feet, etc.
Arland returned from his mission in January 1916. In the spring he and Mary returned to the dry farm where they had homesteaded, in the winter they returned to Parker.
On October 4, 1917, Mary married again, this time to Charles Housley; December 20 Lenora married Harvey Tyler; on March 8, 1918 Arland married Elizabeth Pearce and on June 5 Nathaniel married Ella Grover. All were married in the temple as Anna always wanted them to do. Anna and Lorenzo had not been getting along as good as they should have and in a disagreement, Anna got a rib broken. They no longer found happiness together so they decided to separate. Life with Lorenzo had been as Anna had dreamed it, long before she married him when she had inquired of the Lord in prayer. She had dreamed that she held his hand and they hunted all over the mountain for water but could not find any. After hunting all over she looked down from the mountain and saw Peterson, her first husband, sitting beside a spring of water. She realized that this dream symbolized her life for as time had passed she and Lorenzo had had less in common until now there was nothing left. They went together to St. Anthony and had the divorce arraignments made without anyone else knowing anything about it. This was the winter of 1918 and 1919. Anna kept the farm still with it's original mortgage and Lorenzo went trapping again.
Nathaniel and wife had been living in the small house helping with the farm and now he and Eskil took over the work until Eskil was called on a mission. He left for the Mexican Mission in June 1920. It was a struggle for Anna to get the funds to keep him there, but she did even though her health was failing. She also went to the temple in Salt Lake City and had Hans C. Davidson's third wife, Anna Dorthea Mortinson, sealed to him as she had promised Anna Dorthea to do before she left Fairview many years before. She did quite a bit of temple work at this time. In the early spring Eskil returned from his mission and took over the farm and Nathaniel rented a farm in Rexburg. Anna was not well and when Mary left her second husband she came back to Parker and helped her mother and Eskil on the farm. Anna did little that summer and after the holidays she had a severe pain and swelling on her left side over her hurt rib. After about three days the swelling came to a head and broke and about a quart of pus drained out. The abscess opened both to the outside and into her stomach so that when she ate or drank anything it would run right out, and she soon began to waste away. It was necessary to keep a binder about her and pads on the abdomen to take care of it. The odor was terrible and it was necessary to fumigate the house all the time so one could stay and do the necessary things. The doctors were called and said that though she had a tumor they did not advise an operation. All her children came home to help as it was necessary to have someone with her night and day, to turn her or give her a drink as needed.
Anna never lost faith that she would get better until the Doctor told her there was no use to operate for it would only prolong her suffering. He was an L.D.S. doctor and she looked up at him and asked, "Don't you have any faith?" Her desire to live was lost and she went into a coma, becoming rational only once in a while to speak to one of the children. Most of the time she seemed to be conversing with some unseen persons above her bed. Three days later she died, this was as had been promised her in her patriarchal blessing "that she should live as long as she desired life."
Her family were all with her at the time of her passing and honored her with their love and devotion for her life of sacrifice and her wonderful teachings to them. She died March 9, 1925 and after a sweet funeral was laid tenderly away in the Parker Cemetery on March 12, 1925.
Lorenzo Davidson and Anna Louise Peterson
This Blog is created to Share the Life Histories of two remarkable people, Lorenzo S Davidson and Anna Louise Peterson.
Lorenzo Davidson was born, August 31, 1861 in Pleasant Grove, Utah; the son of Danish Emigrants, Hans Christian Davidson and Annie Marie Jensen who had come from Denmark in 1858 in the Iver Iversen Company. The Davidson Family moved to Sanpete county in about 1865.
Anna Louise Peterson was born March 19, 1859 in Lindesburg, Sweden, daughter of Johan Eric Peterson and Chrisina Hendrickson. Their family came to America in 1876 came across America by train. and settled in Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah.
We hope to tell some thing about their posterity.
Lorenzo Davidson was born, August 31, 1861 in Pleasant Grove, Utah; the son of Danish Emigrants, Hans Christian Davidson and Annie Marie Jensen who had come from Denmark in 1858 in the Iver Iversen Company. The Davidson Family moved to Sanpete county in about 1865.
Anna Louise Peterson was born March 19, 1859 in Lindesburg, Sweden, daughter of Johan Eric Peterson and Chrisina Hendrickson. Their family came to America in 1876 came across America by train. and settled in Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah.
Lorenzo and Anna Married 4 March 1887 in Fairview, Utah
We hope to tell some thing about their posterity.
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