SHORT HISTORY OF A PIONEER
Inger Susanah Petersen Christensen

Written by her daughter - Mary Jane Christensen Brown

Inger Susanah Petersen was born in Pederstrop, Copenhagen County, Denmark, on April 4, 1859. The daughter of Hans Petersen and Maren K. Nielsen. She was the sixth of ten children and was seven years old when the family came to Utah. Her father was a miller by trade, and while they were not wealthy, they were always comfortably provided for.

When they first heard the gospel message, Susanah or Susie as she was generally called, was about three years old. She had been very and was left with 'an affliction in her limbs which caused them to draw up and she was unable to walk for many months, and it was feared she might never be well again. One of their neighbors who belonged to church, told them of some of the healings which had taken place through administrations of the elders.

Little Susie was very much interested and begged for the elders to come and administer to her. Her father was very prejudiced and would not hear of it'. There had been so many rumors about the Church. But Susie begged so hard and so constantly and was so sure in her childish faith that she would be healed that her mother went to cottage meetings to investigate for her self and was converted. She soon had the consent of her husband for the administration and the child was instantly healed.

This made a deep impression on all the family and friends. The family were members of the Lutheran Church and were deeply sincere. They were converted and baptized into the Church in 1864, against the protest of their pastor.

Persecution began immedicately for them, as it did for thousands of faithful souls through the history of Christianity. All of their family who hadn't joined the Church and their friends turned against them. So to find peace, they like most of the people who in those days, those who joined the Church wanted to. come to Utah or Zion as it was known to them then. They didn't know then what the journey would mean then. The Petersen family along with a large company of converts, 684 in number, set sail for Hamburg, Germany, then to embark on an old sailing vessel named "Kenilworth", on May 25, 1866. They an eventful voyage. Two of the Petersen family remained in Denmark, a daughter Kirsten was married and had a small son. Her husband had not joined the Church, and Peter remained to labor with the missionaries, He was a fine young man nineteen years of age, very earnest and faithful. A daughter Juliana, a sixteen year old had died a few months earlier, it was hard for them to leave the spot where she was buried.

The oldest now who was with the mother and father was Hannah, fourteen years old, then Willhelmina or Minnie as she was called, twelve years old, a boy Erastus, and little Susie, and a baby Christina, just eighteen months old. They were eight weeks on the water. The drinking water was so stale that nearly everyone became ill. Storms came up and fire broke out on the ship three times. It was very hard for them to see her little body wrapped and fastened to a board and lowered overboard. The little baby Christina became so ill she died and was buried at sea. But they were far from their goal and there could be no turning back.

Susie was too young to realize all the hard ship and worries. She romped with the other children on the ship. One day a man who had become demented, jumped overboard and almost pulled Susie with him, but she clung to the railing and saved herself.

They had some good times on board too. The Captain was jolly and ordered a celebration for the 4th of July in honor of the USA. Everyone marched through the captains cabin and had cake and wine. They had cake and candy for the children, then games and dancing finished the day. On July 17, 1866, they docked in New York harbor. After delays and the usual inspection, the imigrants started west on the trains. They went by train to Wyoming where they organized into companies to make the rest of the journey by ox team. There was over 400 people in the group. On August 2, they started across the plains which was by far the hardest part of the journey. It was hot and dusty, their feet became sore and tired. The oxen were so heavily loaded that all who could walk were obliged to do so.

Many dear friendships were formed during these days which lasted through the years.

The evening meetings and dances were bright spots in the journey. One day when the girls Hannah and Minnie along with their chums were out gathering chips for the fire, some Indians took Hannah and Stena Larsen away to their camp. When the girls did not return, an alarm was sounded and the men went out to hunt for them. They were finally found but the pioneers had to give the Indians provisions and jewelery for the return of the girls.

The girls were very frightened and never left camp again.

When ever the company came to a stream of good water, they would think their fill and fill their bottles and containers to last until they came to more good water which some time was a very long way. Susie didn't like to wear sun bonnets, she took hers off at every opportunity. One day she fell into a bunch of prickly pears and her arms and legs were sore from the spines.

When they reached Green River, the weather became cold and snow fell. Their shoes were worn out and their feet became sore and frost bitten.

There was a thrashing machine and horse power wagon being brought to the valley along with the company, and after the snow storm the driver let a number of the children ride on the machines for several miles. As it was fall the wild berries were ripe and they were glad to have them to eat.

Father Petersen was jolly and a good companion, always trying to be cheerful and pleasant. Many times he would carry Susie and say "I'm sure,my dear it cannot be much further". "Cheer up you know we are going to Zion." "Then everything will be all right." But Susie was young and couldn't grasp the significance of it all.

She remembered however, how good the fresh bread tasted in the Dutch over, burned in the coals of the camp fire, and the buffalo meat that smelled so good to the tired travelers. Finally on October 1, 1866, the company arrived in Salt Lake City after traveling steadily for over four nonths. The company was met by some of the saints and places were provided for rest and shelter for a few days. Then Father Petersen and his family went to live on what is now Highland Drive in a dug out until work could be found and a better home provided. It was quite a trial to them to be in a strange land, unable to speak the language and knowing no one except the friends who journeyed with them and who were now scattered and in the same plight. As Father Peterson was a miller by trade he was able to get a job at Neffs Flour Mill in East Mill Creek, he worked there for some time.

It was two or three years later when they were getting established and had a nice farm of 26 acres all in crops when the grass hoppers came and cleaned up everything. Everyone fought the hoppers with fire and water and everything they could but to no avail. It was hard for them to get used to everything so different, but their faith was steadfast and Zion the land of their hearts desire. bore their trials with faith and courage.

Epidemics of diptheria and small pox swept over the valley and many families were almost wiped out. There were no facilities to combat the diseases. While still a young child, Susie had to go bare footed and herd cows around the hills. She saw 'many days of hunger and privation until they were established. When she was fourteen years old she took pity on a family who had the small pox. She took them food and gathered up all their dirty clothes and washed them. She got the disease in its worst form and nearly lost her life. She was a mass of sores from head to foot, lost all of her hair, (she had beautiful long hair). She was so near that they measured her for her coffin. She was conscious and heard them what they said but could not move or speak. Finally the scab across her lips broke. They put a glass over her mouth and found moisture there from her breath so they knew she was alive. She prayed so hard that they would not bury her alive.

She saw the day when flour was $12.80 per hundred lbs, and Calico .75~ Per yard.

But through all their privations they were full of faith and hope and joy in the tasks they were accomplishing in building an empire of peace and prosperity and building faith in the hearts of men and sending messages of salvation to the world.

A son was born to the Petersens family about two years after they settled in their new home, making ten children in all. He was named Hans after the father. He was a fine lad and a joy to his parents. In his young manhood he filled a mission in New Zealand and died soon after his return home. His death was caused by a run away accident. He was to have been married when the accident occured. Soon after Han's birth the parents received word that their son Peter who had remained in Denmark as a missionary was coming to Utah with a group of converts. He never arrived as he was killed on the plains accidently by a man who was shooting game for food. He was burried in Wyoming. This was a hard trial for the family.

The homely arts of spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, candle making, curing meats, making butter and cheese and raising everything they needed for food were all well done by mother Petersen. She was a model housewife and mother. No one ever saw her with idle hands, and she taught her children

in the same spirit of industry. Little Susie learned to knit her own stockings, to sew and mend and do all the things for courageous living in those days.

She was only twelve years old when she went out to work in homes of women who needed help while raising their families. In this way she learned a great deal about nursing, which helped her out later with her own family and when she worked in the Relief Society.

While sewing in the Relief Society and all the rest of her life she was ready to help anyone. She took care of the sick and laid out the dead, made clothing and would give the last thing she had for anyone who needed it. When Susie was eighteen years old she met and married Andrew Moller Christensen, a young convert to the Church. He joined the Church in Denmark and served a mission there before coming to Utah. They were married in Moroni, Utah, by Apostle Orson Hyde on October 17, 1877. The next summer they were sealed in the Endowment House. They moved to Alta where he was interested in mining. Later they moved to Mill Creek where they lived for many years. They became the parents of eleven children, six girls, and five boys. Three of their children died in infancy. At present the eight living are married. There is forty four grand children, thirty great grand children, one great great grandchild.

Soon,after her second child was born Susie was afflicted with cancer in her face. She suffered terrific pain for about six months, but through her great faith she was healed by administration. She is still living and for the past eighteen years has spent most of her time as an ordinance worker in the Temple as well as doing for the dead in the Salt Lake Temple. Her husband died March 3, 1917, after a severe illness.

There has been many healings, and faith promoting incidents in her life She and her husband and family have been kind neighbors, true, loyal citizen of their adopted country. There has been in their ancestry a line of fine honest stock. Some musicians, writers, pastors, and other artisians. Their children and friends honor them and their memory. There has never been a .all for help or kindness unheeded, by Aunt Susie as she has lovingly been called. No sacrifice has been too great for her to make in the cause of right. Her life has been well lived though she has suffered a great deal of pain and sickness.

Susie fell and broke her hip and after three weeks in the hospital she died on December 20, 1944

May God bless her.

Written by - Mary Jane Brown (Daughter)

Copyright 2001 www.OrsonPrattBrown.org