Canute Peterson
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
In Central and Southern Utah few men were better known, and none will be remembered more
favorably, than Canute Peterson, who died a Patriarch in the Latter-day Church and president
of the South Sanpete Stake of Zion. He was a man of genial qualities and general intelligence,
respected and esteemed by all classes.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
A natural humorist, he was ever brimming over with good nature, and was as hospitable and
kind as he was mirthful and entertaining. By birth a Norseman, he inherited the noblest qualities
of his race, and in the building up of this State, especially the part known as Sanpete County,
with which his name is identified, he was a power for good from first to last. A prominent
ecclesiast, and an all-round man of affairs, his principal vocation was farming, in which he
engaged on quite an extensive scale. He was a father not only to the Scandinavian people,
but to all the people over whom he presided, and he enjoyed their love and confidence to the
end of his days.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
Canute Peterson was born in Eidsfjord, Hardanger, Norway, May 13, 1824. As a lad of thirteen
he emigrated with his parents to America, taking passage at Gottenborg, Sweden, for New
York, on board a Swedish brig whose captain was a Norwegian. They sailed early in June and
landed about the middle of August. Among the passengers were the Sondrason and Hogan
families, also Norwegians and acquaintances of the Petersons. Ellen Sondrason, a little girl of
Canute's own age, lived to become Mrs. Ellen Sanders Kimball, one of Utah's three Pioneer
Women. From New York the Peterson family and their friends proceeded to Chicago, where
the Sondrasons left them and went to Indiana. The Petersons and Hogans remained in Illinois,
settling in La Salle county. Up to this time they had heard nothing of Mormonism, except in the
way of vague rumor and sensational report; but they were destined to become well acquainted
with that religion, whose future home, Nauvoo, was less than two hundred miles from their
place of residence.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
In the year, 1842, Mormon missionaries from Nauvoo made their appearance in La Salle
county, Elder George P. Dykes being the leader of the party. They preached the Gospel and
baptized nearly a hundred persons, among them Canute Peterson, then a youth of eighteen,
who became a Latter-day Saint on August 12th of that year. A branch was raised up, with Ole
Hyer as its president. Subsequently a stake to be known as "New Norway" was projected at
La Salle, which part was visited for that purpose by the Apostles Brigham Young, Heber C.
Kimball and Parley P. Pratt; also at another time by Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith. It
was predicted that a temple would be reared at that place. Pursuant to these ends some
surveys were made, but the project was then abandoned.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
In October, 1844, Canute Peterson paid a visit to Nauvoo, attending the first general
conference of the Church held after the murder of the Prophet and the Patriarch. While there
he was ordained to the office of a Seventy and called into the ministry. His first mission was to
Wisconsin, where he labored successfully among the Norwegian inhabitants of that State,
converting and baptizing quite a number and organizing a branch of the Church. His associate
in this labor was Elder Gudmund Haugaas.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.376
The year 1849 witnessed his migration to the West, in company with his young wife, Sarah
Ann Nelson. She was a very estimable woman, well fitted to be the wife of such a man.
Though American born, she was of Norwegian extraction. Her parents [p.377] were Quakers,
who left Norway in 1825 to escape religious persecution. They were passengers in the little
sloop "Restaurationen," otherwise known as "the Norwegian Mayflower," and were among
the first Scandinavian emigrants to the New World. Their daughter Sarah was born in Kendall
Township, Orleans County. New York, February 16, 1827. After her father's death, when she
was a mere child, she went with her mother to La Salle County Illinois. There she taught
school, and became acquainted with Canute Peterson, whom she admired for his genial
nature and sturdy manly qualities. She was particularly struck with his great kindness to his
widowed mother, whose chief support he was. Sarah Nelson became a Latter-day Saint in the
midst of the persecution of the Mormon people in Illinois, and accompanied them into the
wilderness, parting for the Gospel's sake with even her beloved mother, who, still a Quaker,
with others of her kindred remained behind. Before reaching the Missouri river she was
attacked with cholera, and was miraculously healed under the administration of Canute
Peterson, who had learned to love her dearly. The feeling was mutual, and on reaching Mount
Pisgah early in 1849 they were married, Apostle Orson Hyde performing the ceremony.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.377
The Petersons arrived at Salt Lake City late in October the same year. They lived through the
winter in the Old Fort, where their first child, a son, was born, February, 1850. Soon they were
called with others to settle Lehi, and forthwith took up their residence at that place. While
living there Elder Peterson was given by the Church authorities a mission to his native land.
September, 1852, found him on his way to Europe. His wife, who was an excellent manager,
supported herself and the children during his absence. She was of a cheerful, optimistic
nature, always looking on the bright side of things, and though her trials and privations were
many, she never became discouraged, and never faltered in her faith. She had a kind,
motherly heart, was naturally hospitable, and possessed in a marked degree the cardinal
graces of faith, hope and charity.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.377
Her husband was absent four years. At Copenhagen he was sent to labor in Norway, and in
company with Elders G. N. Hogan and Carl C. N. Dorius he arrived at Risoer, May 10, 1853. In
the Risoer, Brevig and Frederikstad branches and surrounding parts he labored for several
months, adding numbers to the Church. He was then chosen by the president of the mission to
introduce the Latter-day Gospel in Christiania, the capital. He entered zealously upon his task,
and after much labor and many hardships, caused by the opposition of the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities, a branch was organized in that city December 8, 1853. Among those
who assisted in the work were Elders C. C. A. Christensen, Carl C. N. Dorius and J. F. F.
Dorius. The Christiania branch soon became one of the most flourishing branches in Norway,
and is now one of the most important in the Church. Elder Peterson returned to Utah at the
head of a large company of Scandinavian, English and American Saints.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.377
He continued to reside at Lehi, where he was counselor to Bishop David Evans, until 1867,
when he was called to be the Bishop of Ephraim, in Sanpete County. The Indian wars in that
section were then raging, and it was a time of great peril and agitation. Bishop Peterson played
a notable part in bringing about peace with the red men, ten of whose leaders came to his
house in August, 1868, and there made an agreement to cease hostilities; a treaty that has
never been broken. "The White Father" was the name reverentially bestowed upon him by the
now friendly Lamanites. Mrs. Peterson, soon after her arrival at Ephraim, was chosen by the
sisters of the Relief Society to preside over their local organization. Under her able
management it became very prosperous, owning a hall of its own, caring faithfully for the poor
and sick, storing up grain, assisting missionaries and their families, making generous donations
toward the building of the Manti Temple, and aiding in the emigration of the poor; raising
thousands of dollars for this purpose in Ephraim alone.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.377
From 1871 to 1873 Canute Peterson presided over the Scandinavian Mission, bringing home
with him on his return a large company of emigrants from that land. In 1877 he was chosen by
President Brigham Young, who also set him apart, to preside over the Sanpete Stake of Zion,
and in that capacity he served his people well and faithfully for many years. So united was his
stake, and so popular was he as its president, that he was called by the Gentiles "King
Canute," partly in derision and partly in admiration of his successful administration. His wife
Sarah was made counselor to Mrs. M. A. P. Hyde, President of the Stake Relief Societies,
thus enlarging the sphere of her activities. But while, like her husband, a public servant,
visiting the various towns and holding frequent meetings with the sisters, she continued to
discharge her domestic duties, in which she was expert, and was the same loving mother and
affectionate wife [p.378] as before. She had nine children in all, two daughters and five sons
surviving her. She died May 20, 1896, much mourned, especially by her husband and his other
wives, who with the children and kindred all were devotedly attached to her.
Orson F. Whitney, History of Utah, Vol. 4, p.378
President Peterson had three families, and at the time of his death was the father of fourteen
living children. Some years before, he had been ordained a Patriarch, and he officiated in that
calling along with his duties as stake president. In December, 1900, Sanpete County,
previously one stake, was divided into two, and he was retained to preside over the South
Sanpete Stake, embracing the town of Ephraim, his long-time home. He died there, October
14, 1902.*
*
Divisions naturally developed, prompting the church to appoint outsiders as bishops. The
fourth, a Norwegian named Canute Peterson, arrived from Lehi in 1867 and, after signing a
peace treaty with the Indians, helped bring stability and prosperity to a newly incorporated
(1868) City of Ephraim. By 1872 the city had built two imposing structures a block apart on
opposite sides of Main Street--a co-op store and a tabernacle.
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