Individual 323: Peterson, Niels Alma

Individual Record 323

Name} Peterson, Niels Alma

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Fam 28 Feb 1878

Place} Lehi, Utah, Utah

Marr.: Date} Exa 10 Oct 1900

Place} Salt Lake LDS Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 16 Apr 1964 D

Place} Eldred Sunset Manor Hospital, Provo, Utah, Utah

Burial: Date} Exa 20 Apr 1964

Place} Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah, Utah

Grave Marker} Yes

Source 1}	82 = Genealogy
Source 2}	1854=Genealogy
Source 3}	1855=1880 USA cen
Source 4}	45 = 1900 USA cen
Source 5}	1725=Marriage rec
Source 6}	1856=1910 USA cen
Source 7}	845 = Military rec
Source 8}	1857=1920 USA cen
Source 9}	1858=1930 USA cen
Source 10}	1806=S.S. record
Source 11}	1859=1940 USA cen
Source 12}	1860=City directory
Source 13}	1861=Newspaper
Source 14}	1125=Death certif
Source 15}	759 = Cemetery rec
Source 16}	1528=Cemetery rec
Source 17}

Parents: } Niels Mathias Sørensen Peterson & Mary Elizabeth Woodward
Household No.} 759

1st Household No.} 759 = Millard County, Utah

Occupation 1} Farm laborer
Occupation 2} Stationary engineer
Occupation 2} Solicitor

Religion/Church} Latter-day Saints

Spouses: Prime} Walker, Annie Sophia
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Niels Alma Peterson was born 28 Feb 1878 in Lehi, Utah, Utah. In later life he often went by his middle name Alma or as N. Alma Peterson. He was the fourth child and first son of Niels Mathias Sorenson Peterson and Mary Elizabeth Woodward. His older sisters were Mary Sophia, born in 1871, Susan Elizabeth, 1873, and Emily Ann, 1875. Susan died in 1879. According to family records, all of the children had been born in Lehi.

In the 1880 U.S. census, Niels A. was living with his family in Deseret, Millard, Utah. His father Niels M. was a farmer. The children were Mary S., 8, Emily A., 4, and Neils A., 2. His siblings born in Deseret included George Christian, born in 1880, Francis Mathias, 1880, and John Minor, 1883. George Christian, a twin to Francis Mathias, died at childbirth.

About 1886, the family moved to Hinckley, Millard, Utah, where they were among the first settlers. The South Canal was also called the "Peterson Ditch" as his father Niels M. was the first watermaster of the district. Here Phoebe Evaline was born in 1888, Leah, 1891, Frederick Eugene, 1893, and Archibald Nephi in 1896.

In the 1900 U.S. census, Niels A. was living with his family in Hinckley, Millard, Utah. His father Niels M. was a farmer. The children at home were Niels A., 22, and Francis M., 19, both farm laborers; John M., 17, Jesse R., 14, Eva, 12, Leah, 9, and Eugene, 6, all attending school; and Archibald, 3.

Niels married Annie Sophia Walker on 9 Oct 1900 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah. Their first home was in Hinckley, Millard, Utah, where they began their family of nine children. Karl Alma was born in 1901 and Verda was born in 1904, both in Hinckley.

Their next years were spent in Eureka, Juab, Utah, and Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah. In Eureka Niels worked as a stationery engineer for the mines. Laurence was born in 1905, and Francis Leon in 1907, both in Eureka. In the 1910 U.S. census, Niels and Annie were living in a rented house at 344 Fourth North, Salt Lake City Ward 3, Salt Lake, Utah. Niels was a carpenter, doing odd jobs. They had been married 9 years. Their children were Carl A., 8, Verda, 6, Laurence, 4, and Leone, 2.

Clara was born in 1910, Owen Rumel, 1912, Zella, 1915, and Vernon LeRoy in 1917, all in Eureka. In September 1918 when Niels, 40, registered for the World War I draft, the family was living in Eureka, and Niels was working as a stationary engineer for the mines. Niels was described as being tall and slender, with brown eyes and dark hair.

In late 1918, Niels and Annie moved their family to Provo, Utah, Utah. In the 1920 U.S. census, they were living at 358 4th Street South, Provo Ward 2, Utah, Utah. They owned their house with a mortgage, and Niels was a stationary engineer for the Union Pacific railroad. Their children were Karl, 18, Verda, 16, Laurence, 14, Leone, 12, Clara, 9, Owen, 7, Zella, 5, and Vernon, 2. Their last child Elayne was born in 1921 in Provo.

In the 1929 Provo City Directory and the 1930 U.S. census, Niels and Annie were still at 358 4th Street South, Provo. They owned their house, valued at $3,000. and owned a radio set. Niels was a solicitor for a correspondence school. The children at home were Lawrence, 24, solicitor for a correspondence school, Clara, 19, stenographer for a wholesale warehouse, Owen, 17, Zella, 14, Vernon, 12, and Elaine, 9.

During the course of their marriage, Niels and Annie lived at various addresses in Provo. In the 1940 U.S. census, N. Alma and Annie W. were living at 444 N. First West, Provo. The children at home were Owen, 28, a laborer for the mines, Vernon, 23, a laborer for the railroad, and Elayne, 19, a stenographer for the county. Niels, no longer employed, had completed one year of college.

In the 1944 Provo City Directory Niels and Annie are listed at 102 W 10th North, Provo. Niels was listed as a city Constable and clerk for the Roberts Hotel. Their sons Owen and Vernon, listed at the address, were in the U.S. Army.

On 26 Oct 1952, Niels was struck by a car as he was crossing in a pedestrian crosswalk in Provo. He brought a lawsuit and was awarded $7,575. for his injuries, but nothing for his loss of time in being unable to complete an LDS reference publication in a timely manner.

Niels was very active in the LDS Church. He was ordained a high priest in 1938, and worked in both the YMMIA and Sunday School organizations, and in the Priesthood quoroums. He taught a Public Affairs class, and wrote letters to the editor of The Daily Herald (Provo, Utah). Toward the end of his life he was writing a geography of The Book of Mormon.

In 1960, Niels and Annie celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, and in 1963 their 85th birthdays with open houses attended by their family and friends.

Niels, 86, died 16 Apr 1964 at the Eldred Sunset Manor Hospital in Provo. Cause of death was from cardio vasculor renal failure and old age. Survivors included his widow, nine children, 29 grandchildren, and two sisters. Funeral services were held 20 April 1964 in the University Ward Chapel with Bishop Ross Denham officiating. He is buried in the Provo City Cemetery, Provo, Utah.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death}

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date}

Place}

Confirm. Date}

Photos} N. Alma Peterson

Immigr'n Date} N/A

Port} N/A

Education: Grade} College, 1 yr or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition}
Cause of Death} Cardia vascular renal

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 20 Apr 2016
Date Created} 27 Jun 1993

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