## Wilford Larsen, son of Hans P. & Eleanor Larsen

I remember Daddy Commenting how good his neighbor Wm I Sorensen was to him.
When he was a child he loved to build things and Wm I gave him his first hammer
and nails and always encouraged him to do things for himself. Daddy and Wm I
built the kitchen, pantry and porch onto the old family home. Daddy built all
the buildings around our yard. Chicken coops, pig pen, grainery, barn and a
small workshop and garage. When Lee Larsen and I remodeled our homes, Daddy was
there each time we were working to help.

July 17, 1984 -- by Barbara Larsen Woodward, daughter of Wilford Larsen. (or pa)

# BRIEF HISTORY OF PETER LARSEN

### Written by his wife,
### Hannah Acomb Larsen.

Peter Larsen was born March 5, 1878, in Mendon, Utah. He was the son of Hans
Peter and Eleanor Shelton Larsen. His father was one of the first settlers in
Mendon -- a real pioneer. His mother was born in Philadelphia as her parents
were on the way to Utah to join the saints there. She was a fine, noble woman.

Peter was the oldest of nine living children. Three had passed on in infancy.
As they were not rich enough to hire help, he had to go to work on the farm
quite young and really helped to raise the younger family.

His schooling was very meager. He was taken out for spring work and kept out
until the fall work was done. So a winter quarter every year was the most of
what he spent in school. He was very studious as a boy and as a young man. He
was a great reader and thus became a self-educated man. He was very active in
church work from the time he was a deacon. I think he was a counselor in all
the Aaronic Priesthood Quorums. As a young man he was a teacher in Sunday
School for a number of years. He also was a counselor in M.I.A. For a great
many years he was Secretary and Treasurer for the Y.M.M.I.A. In the days of
Religion Class, he was the supervisor for a number of years. He also was
assistant to Superintendent W. I. Sorensen in the Sunday School--a position he
held until he was appointed second counselor to Bishop M. D. Bird. In the
Mendon Ward. He held that position for four years until he moved to Nevada with
his family.

After his return home, he was associated with Brother Charles Ladle and Brother
Phin Bird on the Old Folks Committee. These three were drawn very close to each
other during those years. After Brother Ladle resigned, Peter was chairman of
the same committee for a few more years. He was also active on the missionary
committee.

In civil affairs he served three terms as city councilman and two terms as
mayor of Mendon city. His advice was sought on many occasions, but no one would
know it by his actions as he was very humble and very unassuming. He often
wondered if he were worthy of the trust that was placed in him.

He married Hannah Acomb on June 29, 1904, in the Logan Temple. Thirty-seven
happy years were spent together. Two children, one an adopted daughter and one
son of their own, made their home complete. He left seven grandchildren whom he
thought were wonderful. He had a great love for little children.

I think one of the happiest times of his life was when his son filled a good,
honorable mission. That meant more to him than any worldly honor.

Peter Larsen died February 28, 1941. He died with full faith in the gospel of
this church. He was a High Priest at the time of his death and still a ward
teacher, a position he held all his life.

Added thoughts for the history of Peter Larsen Jr. By Maggie Larsen Bergener:
Peter was given a very wonderful patriarchal blessing. In it he was told he
would be called to help build up Jackson County, Missouri at the second coming
of Christ. As he had been dead many years, he would come as a resurrected
being.

I don't remember my father ever taking my mother to an "Old Folks Party"
because of his age, but I went with mother one time. She was watching all the
others dance. Suddenly, her wonderful, large son, Pete, came and took her out
on the floor to dance a quadrille! She was so very proud and happy! I never saw
her dance again.

# BRIEF HISTORY OF HANNAH ACOMB LARSEN

I was born in a small, pretty village--Ellerton, Yorkshire, England--November
2, 1870. My parents were Joseph and Mary Bedale Acomb. I was the eighth child
of a family of eleven--the fourth daughter followed by three brothers. Two of
these brothers died in infancy and one grew to manhood. My four older brothers
and two of my sisters all died in childhood. My sister Lizzie was two years
older than I, and Jack was two years younger. We three grew up together until
my sister was twelve years old. Scarlet Fever then took her from us leaving
Jack and I to grow up alone.

Our childhood was very happy. We were not rich and we were not the poorest.
Being the only two children remaining out of eleven, we were well taken care
of, and dearly loved; but we were not spoiled. Oh no, not those parents--they
had no use for spoiled disobedient children.

The district school was just across that street from our home. That is where we
got our education which was by no means free. Our parents had to pay for us to
obtain that. Jack did not like school. He would rather work hard a whole day
than go to school; but he was quick to learn and made a very bright young man.
To me, school was life itself. My greatest ambition was to be a school teacher.
At the age of twelve years and four months, I was through the district school,
I had a four-year scholarship to college, but my health was so poor that our
family doctor begged Mother not to let me go so young as it might bring on T.B.
of the lungs, which was so prevalent in my Mother's family. So, I had to stay
home--a sick, heart-broken child.

My brother and I attended the Wesleyan Methodist Sunday school in the chapel
services in the evening. I really got a good knowledge of the Bible.

Our childhood was uneventful. We went to school, played in the garden, or
worked a little in the garden. Our home was not like the modern home of today.
We had a kitchen, large living room, pantry, three upstairs bedrooms and an
entrance hall, and open fireplaces with oven and reservoir in the kitchen. It
was not very striking from outdoors, but inside--Oh my, it was a real home; and
the flower garden--my Mother's paradise--green hedges all around and flowers
everywhere. If a gooseberry bush died mother would plant a flower. Roses grew
in abundance and house flowers in every window so that you could hardly see
out. That was one thing I did not like. And even now I don't like my windows
crowded.

My parents were old-fashioned people. They were always home when not working;
and no drink or tobacco was used in our home. Good food, good clothes, strict
discipline, no running out at night, and to church and straight home--but lots
of fun going back and forth as the church was at the extreme end of the
village.

Our Christmases were old fashioned and very happy. There was not always snow,
but if there were a good, thick fog and hoar frost on the trees then it was an
ideal Christmas. We had our Yule logs on the fire, candles lit in every room
upstairs and down, and our Christmas carols at midnight. We did not have the
toys the children had today, but we always had something nice and surprising.
We always had an abundance of holly and mistletoe. It seemed like Christmas
meant more to us, not for presents, but for the Christ child--His birth and
what He came for. It really was a time to be happy.

Easter was also a great time as in our part of England, Easter was warm and
nearly our summer. Again the significance of the occasion was stamped on our
minds--the Christ child--a man crucified and resurrected overcame death and the
grave. So passed the years.

At the age of 14, I decided to be confirmed a member of the Church of England.
Thirteen of us, all about the same age, prepared ourselves with the necessary
knowledge and went to Howden, a town about twelve miles from home. A but drawn
by two horses was hired to take us and off we went--a jolly lot of mere
children, but what fun! When we got there, we ate our lunch and then dressed in
our white clothes. The Arch Bishop laid his hands on our heads and confirmed us
members of the church. On our return home we all went to the ministers for
dinner and then a serious talk from the minister ended a very happy day.

Just before my sixteenth Birthday, I went to Selby to visit a cousin of my
Father's. There I met a Sea Captain's wife who wanted a girl to take care of
two children. One was two years old and the other, a small baby. I was right on
the spot as babies, then as well as now, are my one weakness. I went home to
get my parent's consent. They were grieved to have me leave home as they could
support me, but my idea of life was something more than that little, dead
thought pretty spot of a village.

I went to these people. Six weeks after, Captain Thorpe was called to
Liverpool-the second largest city in England--to take a ship out. I went with
them and stayed a year. I then became a little homesick so I went home.
Liverpool to me was a wonderful city. I became well acquainted with it and
could go anywhere alone. When it was my day off, I used to go to the docks, sit
on the wall, and watch the ships come and go. I wondered if someday I would go
out on one of them--maybe to Utah where my cousins' letters came from. I was
very disappointed, when the time did come for me to sail, that it was from
Glascow in Scotland instead of from Liverpool. The year I spent with Captain
Thorpe was a very happy year for me. Mrs. Thorpe was kind to me and I loved the
children.

After I got home in June, I stayed three months then took a position in Barlby,
a pretty little place about ten miles from home. There I spent four happy
years. In fact, I was always happy. My work was in the home of a Minister of
the Church of England, a bachelor of seventy years, and his widowed sister of
sixty years. There were just the three of us during the winter. In the summer
some nieces used to come and we had good times together.

At the age of nineteen, I met and fell in love with a young man who was working
hard for an education in music. He succeeded, went up to London, and took out
his degree as a professional musician. He finally got a position away from home
and we were to be married--our wedding day was set. One of his sisters who
disliked me very much, because I was not educated as they were, set about to
part us. She very cruelly succeeded. No need to say more on that. That chapter
of my life is closed to just the two people involved. Afterwards, I decided it
was all in the program even if it were a cruel one; for in less than one year I
went to Harrogate, a health resort, and there I met the Mormon Elders. I went
as housekeeper for two maiden ladies who were in the dress-making and milinery
business. I had charge of an old aunt, 80 years old, a very sweet old lady. A
fire across the street burned their business house so they had to bring their
business into the house in which we lived. That made less work for me--just a
dining room and kitchen. We did everything with gas so my work was easy and I
was happy again.

In July or August of that year, Miss Kay came as head dressmaker. She and I
were friends from our first meeting. I gave her apple pie and a glass of milk
then she came in and lived right in with us. I am speaking of Aunt Dearie.

One morning I heard one of the miliners telling one of the other girls about
being to a funny meeting in a little cottage. She said: "They are called
Mormons." I rushed right to her and asked her to tell me where they held their
meetings. She said she would take me next Sunday. My employer was very
disgusted--Mormons, of all people. But I was not afraid. I was having letters
from them all the time. The next Sunday Aunt Dearie, myself and two or three
more dressed up in style (I think we even had trains on our dresses) and went
to the cottage. In a room about fourteen feet square, we saw two men
standing--Brother David Wilcken of Salt Lake City, over six feet, and Brother
Crowther, an elderly man with a period. He was very short and the contrast
between the two was so striking that I began to giggle. All during meeting I
dared not raise my head for fear of laughing out loud. Brother Dave knew all
the Acombs in Salt Lake City so was very anxious to meet me. Miss Kay sat so
straight and precise and took all in, so he decided she was miss Acomb. Imagine
his surprise when he discovered, after meeting, that I was she. He prophesied
right then and there that in three months he would see me baptized. I laughed
some more than enjoyed a nice visit with him hearing all about my Father's
folks. I would like to say here that my Father's parents, brothers, and sisters
all came to Utah in 1855. His Mother died on the Plains. He did not join the
church and would not come with them. The death of his Mother hurt him pretty
badly. He thought such foolishness was the cause of her death. In less than
three months, Brother Dave walked ten miles without his supper to see me
baptized. He got there just as I was going into the water. It was a cold night,
the first of December, private baths had been ordered for my baptism and I had
to travel a few miles on the train. After baptism I was taken to a home of one
of the Saint's where a grand supper was ready, then home again. Brother Dave
sent the message to Miss Kay that he would walk ten miles also to see her
baptized. She ridiculed the idea; but again in less than three months she was
baptized. Joseph Salisbury from Wellsville baptized us both; but I don't know
whether Dave was present of not as I had gone home once more. One year from
then my brother Jack was baptized. In the following Spring my parents were
baptized and in November following, we sold by auction all our belongings and
set sail for Utah.

We had the pleasure of a calm sea and a stormy sea. For several days it was
terrible. I would not like to go through it again. We were four days late in
reaching New York. Our trip on the train was pleasant. With nine elders and a
car full of Saints. On reaching Evanston, Wyoming, my Father's brother and his
wife, his sisters, nephews, and nieces boarded the train. The meeting with
Father after forty years was very touching. They had baskets of food--enough to
feed everyone in that car.

My brothers life was short in Utah. Just about eighteen months after we came
here, he was riding after the cows and his horse mired in a gopher hole. I
threw him over it's head and he was killed. It was a terrible to all of us and
my life was never the same after that. I did love hi so much. Three and a half
years after that my parents had to leave me alone. So the first years in Zion
were not happy ones.

I did not work much in the church as I was away so much of the time nursing the
sick. After my parents were gone, I came to Mendon to Aunt Dearie's. There I
met my husband, Peter Larsen, with whom I spent 37 happy years. After my
marriage, I began church duties. I taught in Sunday School with Sisters Jane
Hughes and Jimima Foster. I enjoyed their association very much. I taught in
primary until we moved to Nevada. After our return, I was put in president of
the primary and held that position quite a few years until my health was too
poor to carry on. I served on the old folks committee with Sister Ellen Ladle,
Ann Larsen, and Emmerine Bird. I enjoyed the company of those sisters very
much.

The later years I belonged to the Relief Society, was a visiting teacher, and
had the teachers topic in charge for quite a few years.

My life in Mendon has been very happy. I have had joys and sorrows as we all
have. My husband has gone ahead of me; but my two children are a comfort to me.
My seven grandchildren are a comfort to me. My son's wife is like my own
daughter, she is very kind to me.

I would like, in closing, to pay a tribute of respect and love to the people of
Mendon. Everybody, both young and old, is just grand to me. Sometimes I feel so
unworthy. I wonder if I'm as kind to everyone as I should be. I have tried to
live at peace with all and to help others all I could. I feel content to end my
days right here among the good people of Mendon.

Hannah Acomb Larsen died Thursday, February 10, 1955. She is buried with her
husband in the Mendon city cemetery.

# ELIZABETH ACOMB BUTTLE

### Dad Acomb's sister

Pioneer woman passes away - Elizabeth Acomb Buttle closes her long and useful
career. (Salt Lake Deseret News Saturday August 2, 1912.)

Elizabeth Acomb Buttle wife of the late Wm. Buttle died at her residence, 458
West Fifth South, Salt Lake City, Utah, August 2nd, 1912, of muscular heart
trouble. She was the daughter of John Amomb and Ann Hutton Acomb, born at
Ellerton, England, April 16, 1835.

When a young girl in her teens, she embraced the gospel in her native land. On
April 16, 1855, with her parents, one brother, and one sister, she set sail
from Liverpool, landing at New Orleans. From thence up the Mississippi River to
St. Louis, then to St. Joseph, Missouri. From the latter point she traveled by
ox team to Salt Lake City, arriving on October 26 of the same year.

While on the journey from St. Louis she was bereft of her mother from the
affects of cholera. The steamer was stopped, the lady taken ashore and buried
on the banks of the river.

At the time of the move in 1858 she, with her family, went as far south as
Provo, returning when the Johnson army had passed through the city. In 1857 she
was married to William Buttle and was the mother of 8 children.

Her residence ever since she came to Utah has been in the Sixth Ward of this
city, where she was known by all the early settlers as well as those of early
generations. She was an active member of the ward Relief Society, a faithful
Latter-day Saint, a charitable and kind and loveable character, beloved by a
large circle of friends.

She is survived by five children: Mrs. Mary A. Buttle Snarr; William J. Buttle;
Joseph A. Buttle of Provo, Utah. Robert E. Buttle and Mrs. Elizabeth Buttle
Martin. One brother--John Acomb--the well-known railroad conductor. Also
nineteen grandchildren and five great-grand-children. The funeral service will
be held at the sixth ward meeting house on Sunday, August 4, at 3 o'clock p.m.
The remains may be viewed at the residence from 12 to 2 o'clock p.m. Burial
will be in city cemetery.  BIOGRAPHY OF MARY WANN SHELTON Written by Charles
Worley

Mary Wann Shelton's life began in North Shields, England, on April 4, 1834. She
was born of poor parents and had only the bare necessities of life. The first
few years of her life were uneventful. As time went on, she had to take her
place in the duties of the farm on which she lived. At the age of ten, she had
to get up at dawn to help milk the cows. After this was done, she had to help
her mother in the household duties.

She did not have any time to play as did some of the more fortunate children;
but she was always held down by her work. Mary had no schooling in her younger
life except for some knowledge that she gained from sessions with her mother.
They would often spend the night studying reading or writing. After doing this
for some time, she became quite proficient in these arts. For the next six
years her life remained about the same as it had been before. Mary still lived
on the farm and did the chores that a young girl should.

When she was seventeen, she became associated with a young Mormon Elder, John
Shelton. Through him she became acquainted with a new form of religion:
Mormonism. In England at this time, Mormonism was not too popular, and many
people scorned it and persecuted the people who believed in it. After knowing
Mr. Shelton for about six months, she joined the church herself. Mary did this
much against the wishes of her parents who were devoutly Protestant. Again
against the wishes of her parents, she married the Mormon Elder--John Richard
Shelton. When she did this, she just about severed herself from her family. Her
husband was having a hard time in his work because of the opposition of the
other religions of England. After much consideration, the Sheltons and a few
more Mormon families decided to go to America--the land of the free.

The boat was very crowded because of the excess of people that were going to
the United States. The trip was miserable because they had to sleep on the
decks exposed to the winds and cold. After a miserable six weeks on the open
seas, they finally reached New York where they stayed for a month pending
instructions from the church. In New York they lived a dismal life because they
were so poor and had hardly any friends. They finally received word from the
head of the Mormon Church and were sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Here
Mary's life became more eventful. She had her first child and it gave her much
pleasure and responsibility.

In Philadelphia, John Shelton, who was a blacksmith by trade, started to work
in the steel mills. Along with this he still carried on his work and duties
with the church. His job in the mills brought him his first real money.

The family became quite prosperous and Mary was gifted with another child.
While the family was still prosperous, Mary, who was a good singer, sang in
light operas. This allowed her to be away from her family and provided some
necessary recreation. Mary was a fine mother, her children (she now had four)
were always treated in the best manner. Their clothes were always handmade, but
were very nice. Her family was always fed well because she was a good cook. She
made the best of what they had. While Mary and John and family were still in
Philadelphia, John was seriously hurt in an accident in the steel mills. During
the time John was sick unable to make a living, Mary had a difficult time
making ends meet. She had to cook and sew for other people to bring in a little
money to support the family. Though this was a great task, she never let it get
the best of her and kept her usual high spirits. After some months, John
finally regained his health and was ready to start work. Just at this time he
received word from the Mormon church that they wanted him to move to the west
and help in the colonization of that new area. John, always loyal to his
church, packed up his family and proceeded to Utah in the year 1853.

The Sheltons and some other Mormon family bought some wagons and oxen and
started on their journey. It was not very difficult until they reached Illinois
because there were traveled roads and they could make good time. When they
reached the western side of Illinois, the going because harder. Instead of the
well-traveled road, they now had to travel on trails and more often most of the
people had to walk a lot of the way. In the wagon that John and Mary were in,
making it very uncomfortable. On the journey they encountered many hardships.
Often they would come on unfriendly bands of savages and they would have to
fight them. They would often go hungry because of the lack of provisions. They
would sometimes be able to get fresh meat by hunting in the country they were
passing through. This was never possible when they were in Indian territory.
They had many hardships pertaining to getting their wagons across their
country. They would often have to ford rivers, chop down trees so they could
pass and move large rocks so that the wagons could continue to the west.

This little Mormon party finally reached Utah in the year 1862 after a long and
painful journey. In Utah they settled in Cottonwood where they made a little
home. John set up a blacksmith shop and again took in business. All this time
he was doing his work as a Mormon Elder. Life went on in Cottonwood
successfully and Mary had her fifth child.

The Sheltons liked Utah because they could do as they pleased without any
interference from others. After two years in Cottonwood, they were sent by the
church to Mendon, Utah, a small and new town.

In Mendon John again set up his blacksmith shop and built a house and started
to cultivate the land. The farm was run by Mary and much of the work was done
by the children. The farm worked out well and became quite productive and
helped pay the family's expenses while John was doing his religious duties. The
Shelton's house was often the scene of a gathering for religious purposes.
There were five more children born to Mary in Mendon.

In 1883 a great disaster came to the Sheltons. John Shelton died of the
injuries which had never healed from his accident in the steel mills in
Philadelphia years before. We call it hernia now. This left Mary to face the
world alone without the help of her husband. She still had five unmarried
children to support. She was a wonderful manager and put her resources into
play. Mary continued to make the farm pay and furnished food for her family.
She sewed to help pay expenses. She owed money on the farm and still, with all
her responsibilities she managed to pay off all her honest debts.

During all this time of trial she took time to enjoy the recreation of the
community. She sang in the ward choir and also entertained her children and
made them happy and contented. Mary made many friends in Mendon and was well
liked by all. She was noted for her kindness. She was was always ready to help
the sick and those in need. The Shelton household was open to the unfortunate.
Mary would take in people who were cold and hungry and provide for them while
in town. Often the Mormon Elders and missionaries would stay with the Sheltons
and they held many meetings in her home.

Mary Wann Shelton continued to take care of her children in Mendon until she
died at the age of 72 on March 6, 1905. Many people mourned the loss of this
great pioneer woman. She was buried on March 9, 1905. All of her ten children
were present at her funeral. At the time of her death she had one hundred
descendants.

(POST SCRIPT)

I, Maggie Larsen Bergener, can remember my grandmother Shelton. She was a
beautiful woman with pretty, wavy, auburn hair. She was always prim and neat
with her white apron with hand-made lace on the bottom. She was quite strict in
her ways. I used to hold my breath if hurt when I was a child and she told my
mother, "I would soon break her of that."

Mother left me with an older sister while she went with relief society one day.
I had whooping cough at the time. I started to dig holes in the front yard with
a knife and hurt myself and started to cry. I was holding my breath and I
looked up and saw grandmother Shelton coming down the street. When I came to, I
was in a tub of cold water. I didn't hold my breath anymore.

I never did see my grandfather, but mother said he had double teeth all the way
around and lots of thick, dark hair. After his passig away, if our grandmother
was alone, we children took turns staying at night. She always had a nice treat
for us. I was twelve years old when she passed away.

* * *

* Note by Mark Esplin: This file contains histories of a number of different
  people. The only one that I am directly related to is Mary Wann Shelton.
  Wilford and Peter Larsen are brothers to my mother's mother Elizabeth Larsen.
* 29 Sep 2010 - Converted to [markdown](http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown) by Daniel Esplin.