Alma Peter Benson
- Birth
- 21 AUG 1860
- Lehi, Utah, USA
- Death
- 18 DEC 1918
- Newton, Utah, USA
- Father:
- Jens Peter Benson
- Mother:
- Kirsten Martine Eriksen
Noter:
ALMA PETER BENSON 1860 - 1918
Alma Peter Benson was born 21 August 1860 at Lehi, Utah, the eldest
son of a family of eight children born to Jens Peter Benson and
Kirsten Ericksen Benson.
At the age of eight years, Alma moved to Clarkston, Utah, with the
family where they made their home for about seven years.
While there his father, Jens Peter Benson, had some land and a small
irrigated farm. With the early methods of farming the grain was cut
with a cradle. His father would cut the grain and he and his
brothers would rake and tie it in bundles.
Alma also hauled wood from the hills back to Clarkston for fuel as
there was no coal in those days.
His father, being a carpenter, built many of the early houses in the
community and he helped him with that when needed. He also hauled
logs to the sawmill which was located in the northwest part of Newton
to make into lumber.
When he was about sixteen years of age, the family moved to Newton,
Utah to make their home and as they were among the first settlers
there, Alma helped with many of the early projects of the community
such as building the old reservoir, hauling rock from the quarries,
and logs from Logan Canyon to build houses. He assisted with the
construction of the first meeting house in Newton and
helped in building the railroads, at one time going to Montana to
work on the
railroad. He and his brothers Mark and John went to Park City to get
ties for
tracks.
He was married 10 March 1885 to Annie Catherinne Ericksen. To this
union was born eleven children, ten of whom reached the age of
maturity. Their first home was in the northest part of Newton.
Later, with help, he hauled the rock and built the home in which the
family lived for many years.
At the age of 46, he accepted a call to fulfill an L.D.S. mission to
Denmark. This was a sacrifice at the time, as he had to leave his
wife and nine children, and sell his farm, implements, and horses in
order to go. However, in doing so he and his family were blessed.
He filled an honorable mission and returned to his family safe and
happy.
While in the mission field, he kept a diary, which is rather
interesting, as part of it is in rhyme. It is in the possession of
daughter, Amy Richardson. Brother Rasmussen of Honeyville, a former
mission companion to Alma, said that Alma was a savior to them when
they were blue or despondent. He would cheer them up and make them
forget their troubles and go on anew.
About a year after returning from his mission, another child was born
to them. They named her Amy Grace. He told me I was his "missionary
gift". It was a sad day for me when, at the age of nine, my father
passed away.
He spent most of his later years working for the Utah Power and Light
Company and was a guard in Bear River Canyon during the World War I.
He passed away 13 December 1918 and was buried in the Newton
Cemetery. He died in full faith of a glorious resurrection.
Written by daughter, Amy Grace Benson Richardson, Transcribed by
Annette Hancey
Luceford.
Alma Peter Benson was born 21 August 1860 at Lehi, Utah, the eldest
son of a family of eight children born to Jens Peter Benson and
Kirsten Ericksen Benson.
At the age of eight years, Alma moved to Clarkston, Utah, with the
family where they made their home for about seven years.
While there his father, Jens Peter Benson, had some land and a small
irrigated farm. With the early methods of farming the grain was cut
with a cradle. His father would cut the grain and he and his
brothers would rake and tie it in bundles.
Alma also hauled wood from the hills back to Clarkston for fuel as
there was no coal in those days.
His father, being a carpenter, built many of the early houses in the
community and he helped him with that when needed. He also hauled
logs to the sawmill which was located in the northwest part of Newton
to make into lumber.
When he was about sixteen years of age, the family moved to Newton,
Utah to make their home and as they were among the first settlers
there, Alma helped with many of the early projects of the community
such as building the old reservoir, hauling rock from the quarries,
and logs from Logan Canyon to build houses. He assisted with the
construction of the first meeting house in Newton and
helped in building the railroads, at one time going to Montana to
work on the
railroad. He and his brothers Mark and John went to Park City to get
ties for
tracks.
He was married 10 March 1885 to Annie Catherinne Ericksen. To this
union was born eleven children, ten of whom reached the age of
maturity. Their first home was in the northest part of Newton.
Later, with help, he hauled the rock and built the home in which the
family lived for many years.
At the age of 46, he accepted a call to fulfill an L.D.S. mission to
Denmark. This was a sacrifice at the time, as he had to leave his
wife and nine children, and sell his farm, implements, and horses in
order to go. However, in doing so he and his family were blessed.
He filled an honorable mission and returned to his family safe and
happy.
While in the mission field, he kept a diary, which is rather
interesting, as part of it is in rhyme. It is in the possession of
daughter, Amy Richardson. Brother Rasmussen of Honeyville, a former
mission companion to Alma, said that Alma was a savior to them when
they were blue or despondent. He would cheer them up and make them
forget their troubles and go on anew.
About a year after returning from his mission, another child was born
to them. They named her Amy Grace. He told me I was his "missionary
gift". It was a sad day for me when, at the age of nine, my father
passed away.
He spent most of his later years working for the Utah Power and Light
Company and was a guard in Bear River Canyon during the World War I.
He passed away 13 December 1918 and was buried in the Newton
Cemetery. He died in full faith of a glorious resurrection.
Written by daughter, Amy Grace Benson Richardson, Transcribed by
Annette Hancey
Luceford.