Peter Christian Christensen

Peter Christian Christensen was born Feb 5, 1839 in Elling, Denmark to Anders Christian and Sophie Marie Pedersdatter Christensen. Peter was a veteran of the Utah War and Indian Wars. Peter is a Pioneer of Richmond.

Early Life, Conversion & Westward Journey

In 1855, Brigham Young—President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—instructed Church Apostle Erastus Snow to begin preaching in the country of Denmark. The Christensen family joined the Church the same year, and soon later immigrated to the United States to live with the Saints in Utah. They left Copenhagen, Denmark on April 18, 1857 on the steamship L.N. Hvdit to England, then sailed to America on the Westmorland on April 25, 1857. 

After landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they took a train to Iowa City, Iowa, and the family joined a handcart company to get to Florence, Nebraska Territory. They joined the Captain Christian Christiansen Handcart Company to head west to Utah. 

The Christensen family suffered many hardships while crossing the plains. At one point, Peter had to carry is older sister Anna due to having a cold and could not walk the miles necessary.

Life in the Salt Lake Valley

Utah War

As the family neared the Salt Lake Valley, they got word about Johnston's Army and them coming to Utah, and they would have to hurry and move south as soon as they got to the valley. The family entered the valley on Sep 13, 1857. 

At some point, Peter became friends with the Cornelius Traveller family and began living with them. Though most moved south to Provo, Utah to escape Josnston's Army, Peter was one of the many young men who helped prevent the US Army from entering the valley. After pestering the army by burning the grass they would use to feed their horses and causing their cattle and mules to stampede, 1858 Peter was called to begin burning homes and buildings so that the army couldn't ransack and plunder. However, they never had to.

"Peter said that when the general came to Brigham Young's home, he paused in front of it, got off his horse, took off his hat, and drove his sword into the ground, and gave a salute 'to the home of a man who was such a great colonizer.'"

After the War

After the war, the Salt Lake Valley went back to its usual days. As the other Christensen family members moved elsewhere in the state, Peter remained in Salt Lake City working with Brigham Young. He became so close to Brigham Young that his friends called Peter "Brigham's Pet," and in his later years, his children and grandchildren remembered Peter talking about Brigham Young as if Brigham was his best friend.

Life in Richmond

Sometime between 1860 - 1863, Peter moved to Richmond and was housed with the Traveller family once again. In March of 1865, Peter married Jane Caroline Traveller. It is said in family histories that the Christensen family had the first coal oil lamp in Richmond townsfolk gossiped over that "the Christensnes are going to have their lamp lit tonight." Their son Orval remembers:

"We all wanted to go to the store to buy more oil for the lamp when it was needed, because the storekeeper would always put a gumdrop over the spout of the gallon can to keep the oil from spilling out. Whoever went to the store got the gumdrop to eat, and we enjoyed it, oil or not."

Sawmills

Peter owned several sawmills in Deep Canyon, Crooked Canyon, Cherry Creek, High Creek, and White Canyon. He purchased the one in White Canyon from William Van Noy. Orval remembers:

"My first logging job was with my dad and my brother Ern at High Creek. ... One morning, while we were at work, Dad cut off his middle finger with the saw. He spit a wad of tobacco on it, wrapped it up in his old bandana handkerchief, and worked the rest of the day. I slept in the same cabin with Dad, and that night he walked the floor all night long holding his hand high in the air. He was too stubborn to let anyone know how much it hurt though."

On May 3, 1914, Jane died. Peter was now a widower who had also lived past the death of four of his 11 children.

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. 

On Sep 14, 1864, the Richmond Home Guard was created with Henry Standage as Captain. At any cost, the city Guard was to protect. Most of the Guard, including Peter, consisted of Minute-Men. They had regular drills every night.2 The Home Guard was released from active duty on Oct 25, 1864. 1.1

On April 11, 1865, Peter joined a company under Captain Erastus Curtis to Sanpete County, Utah. They marched to Salina, Utah and had a battle with some Native Americans in Saline Canyon. During this time, he was also under the command of Captain John L. Prie, where he made scouts, patrols, and expeditions to Henry Mountain and Thistle Valley. He was released from active duty on Nov 1, 1867.1.2

Member of the City Council (1900 - 1902)

Epilogue