George Henry Peterson (1838 - 1904)

Born 20 May 1838 in Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Wilde) Peterson — married 30 Mar 1860 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Husband of Mary Ann (Robinson) Peterson — married 27 Nov 1871 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Robinson) Peterson — married 9 Jun 1873 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Jul 1904 at age 66 in Cumberland, Lincoln County, Wyoming, USA

George became a member of the LDS Church between 1830 - 1848.

George Peterson was a Latter Day Saint pioneer.

Biography

He was born on 20 May 1838 in a farmhouse near Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA and his parents were Ann Bunting (Dennis, 1818–1844) and Charles Sreeve Peterson (1818–1889).

On 06 Feb 1842 his parents joined the LDS Church and soon moved to Nauvoo, Illinois, USA as early adherents to the doctrines of the Mormon Church. It was there his mother died in 1844.

When persecution in Illinois got too severe, many of the Saints migrated to Utah, USA.

About 1849 some of his family migrated and while only 11 years old, he drove 4 yoke of oxen all the way from Missouri to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

They first settled in Peterson (Weber City), Utah, USA where he later served as sheriff and worked as a blacksmith with his father. He is credited with building the first cabin there. ^[1]

George served a church mission from 1869-1871 in England, Scotland, France and Germany.

He then lived in Coalville, Summitt County, Utah, USA working as a blacksmith and serving as an officer of the law and as a member of the county board of trade.

In 1881 he moved to Wyoming, USA living in Almy, Evanston, Diamondville and Cumberland while working as a blacksmith. He also served as a school trustee and justice of the peace in Wyoming.

An earnest and conscientious member of the Mormon Church, he visited England, Scotland, France and Germany as an emmisary of that faith. He also carried into practice their doctrine of plurality of wives. With his three wives he had a total of 26 children.

He was the first man arrested under the law against "unlawful cohabitation" - living with a polygamous wife; and was one of the first cases under the Edmunds law in Wyoming, USA. ^{[2] [3]} Abiding, like a dutiful citizen, by the action of the courts, he put away two of his three wives retaining the one pronounced his lawful wife, yet continuing to support the others.

He passed away on 18 Jul 1904 in Cumberland, Lincoln County, Wyoming, USA ^[4] from a wound incurred from an accidental shooting. He was buried on 21 July 1904 at Coalville Cemetery in Coalville, Summitt County, Utah, USA. ^[5] Two of his three wives were also buried in Coalville - Eliza Wilde and Mary Ann Robinson.

Marriages

George Henry Peterson first married on 13 or 30 March 1860 at Sugarhouse, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA to Eliza Jane Wild (1839–1908), daughter of Eliza (Phillips) and William Wilde and their children included ...

1. George William Peterson, b: 13 Jul 1861 Peterson, Morgan, UT; d: 13 Jul 1863
2. Eliza Sophonia (Peterson) Pringle, b: 29 Jan 1863 Weber City (Peterson), Morgan, UT; d: 21 Feb 1926 Uintah, Weber, UT
3. Mary Elizabeth (Peterson) Sneddon, b: 29 Oct 1864 Peterson, Morgan, UT; d: 13 Dec 1909 Diamonville, Uinta, WY
4. Charles Henry Peterson, b: 13 Sep 1866 Peterson, Morgan, UT; d: 09 Jan 1953 Smoot, Lincoln, WY
5. Ann Bunting (Peterson) Keyes, b: 11 Jun 1868 Peterson, Morgan, UT; d: 06 Apr 1956 Ogden, Weber, UT
6. Joseph Edmond Peterson, b: 30 Apr 1873 Coalville, Summit, UT; d: 21 Aug 1873
7. Maude Amelia Peterson, b: 01 Sep 1875 Caolville, Summit, UT; d: 18 Mar 1895
8. Thomas Dennis Peterson, b: 13 Mar 1876 Coalville, Summit, UT; d: 1877
9. John Fredrick Peterson, b: 03 Nov 1878 Coalville, Summit, UT; d: 13 Feb 1925 Uintah, Weber, UT.

George Henry Peterson married secondly on 12 or 27 Nov 1871 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA to Mary Ann Robinson (1849–1925) and their children included ...

1. William Henry Peterson 1872-c1886
2. George Henry Peterson 1874-1877
3. James Albert Peterson 1875-1945
4. Martha Peterson 1876-1883
5. Jesse Yelton Peterson 1878-1973
6. Violet Berthina (Peterson) Olson 1883-1961
7. Mary Ella (Peterson) Bryant 1889-1971.

George Henry Peterson married thirdly on 09 Jun 1873 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA to Mary Elizabeth Robinson (1854–1929) and their children included ...

1. Richard Samuel Peterson 1874-1925
2. Maude Matilda Peterson 1876-1877
3. James Evans Peterson 1878-1955
4. Lydia Ann (Peterson) Beaver 1881-1964
5. Dorothy Pamela (Peterson) Gould 1885-1968
6. Martha (Peterson) Moore c1887-1920
7. Elizabeth Peterson 1890-1890
8. Julia (Peterson) McPhie c1891-1983
9. George Henry Peterson 1893-1969
10. Sarah Emily Peterson 1896-1982.

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.morganhistoricalsociety.com/sites.htm
2. ↑ "Today In Mormon History" for 24 Feb 1887 G. H. Peterson, of Almy, Uinta County, Wyoming, USA; Text: "after a preliminary examination before Judge Corn, of Evanston, admitted to bail in the sum of $300"
3. ↑ Chronology of Important Events: April 1887 on Sons of Utah Pioneers (SUP Online); Text: "Geo. II Peterson was tried at Evanston, Wyoming, on a charge of unlawful cohabitation, and discharged."
4. ↑ Utah Death Certificates 1904-1964 on FamilySearch database with images (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XZGJ-DFX : 11 Sep 2015) for George Henry Peterson, d: 1904
5. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #74133 for George Henry Peterson, b: 20 May 1838 Rancocas, Burlington County, New Jersey, USA; d: 18 Jul 1904 Lincoln County, Wyoming, USA; buried: Coalville Cemetery, Coalville, Summit County, Utah, USA; with personal & gravestone photos

• 1850 USA Census of Utah County, Utah Territory; on FamilySearch database with images (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCSX-46B : 09 Nov 2014) citing NARA#M432; family#282; with George H. Peterson in household of Charles S. Peterson

• 1860 USA Census on FamilySearch database with images (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH24-8JN : 30 Dec 2015) with Geo. H. Peterson in entry for Chas S. Peterson

• 1870 USA Census of Utah; on FamilySearch database with images (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNCT-WKD : 17 Oct 2014) citing FHL#553,110; NARA#M593; p46; family#384; for George H. Peterson

• 1900 USA Census of Election District#2-3 Almy town, Uinta County, Wyoming; on FamilySearch database with images; citing FHL#1,241,827; NARA#T623; sheet#9A; family#141; (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3VY-4BX : 22 Jan 2015) for George H. Peterson

• 1900 USA Census of Red Canon, Uinta County, Wyoming; on ancestry.com citing sheet#9; visit#137; family#141; which included ...

62 Peterson George H., b: May 1838 England; immig: 1860 for 40yrs - naturalized; m: 1873 for 27yrs; occ: blacksmith

54 Peterson Elizabeth (wife)

21 Peterson James (son)

14 Peterson Doratha (daughter)

12 Peterson Martha (daughter)

10 Peterson Julia (daughter)

07 Peterson George (son)

03 Peterson Sarah (daughter).

• "Charles Sreeve Peterson: with Ancestors and Descendants" by Mary Loys (Peterson) Gillespie & Kay Loree (Peterson) Cavender c2001; call#929.273; p442

• http://www.wildeandclarkancestors.com/georgehenrypeterson.htm

• https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1017747?availability=Family%20History%20Library

• "My Ancestral Story" by Spencer E. Stucki; Eugene B. Stucki m: Leonora Spencer (1917-2000)

• http://GeorgehPeterson.wikispaces.com (dead link)

Acknowledgements

• Peterson-2070 was created on 01 Nov 2012 by Spencer Stucki. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Spencer and others