Peder

Peder (Peter) Pedersen is the son of Christian Pedersen and Jensine Kristine Sorensdatter, both from Denmark. The Pedersen family immigrated from Denmark sailing toward America on the ship “Kenilsworth.” While on the ship, many of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suffered from disease such as cholera.

After their arrival in America, the family traveled by train to Nebraska and joined the Peter Nebeker Company. The Company left Florence on August 7, 1866 bound for the Great Salt Lake Valley. While traveling through Nebraska, 4-year-old Peder passed away. The family lovingly wrapped him in a piece of sheet and buried him in a shallow grave along the Mormon Trail.

Peder's older sister wrote: “My brother, Peder was sick most all the way. My Father and Sister Bine were made to walk most of the way. One day the teamster told us all to get out of the wagon and walk because the roads were so bad. My brother was too sick to walk and too big to carry, so we left him in the wagon. When we were going into camp, we glanced back and saw a man coming along carrying something heavy, it was my brother. The teamster had put him out of the wagon and this man had found him lying by the side of the road under a bush. One morning I woke up and my Father and Mother were sitting by the bed crying. My brother was lying there beside me, dead.”

A memorial in the Holladay Memorial Park remembers Peder and his sisters Ida and Bine.