James Peter Andersen

This life sketch of James Peter Andersen was compiled from two sources: 
     1) an email I received from dad - it included PDF files of a written history of James Peter Andersen
     2) a history that is posted on Family Search 

 I tried to meld the two life sketches together into one and added some details (family names and dates gathered from Family Search) so that it makes more sense and tells the complete story.

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James Peter Andersen 

1855 - 1946

Husband to Elizabeth Crowther
Father to Fay Emanuel Andersen
Grandfather to Rene Andersen

(Dad's great-grandfather)

 James Peter Andersen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Nov 28, 1855 the oldest son of Jens Peter Andersen and Rebecca Christiana Friis. When he was only one year old (1856) his father was called by Brigham Young, with a company of Scandinavian natives to settle Sanpete County. They located in Ephraim and built a home. Here his father was engaged in farming for a little over six years when they were again called to settle Sevier County. This time they moved to what was then known as Glenwood.

James was then only a small lad of eight years but he drove a yoke of oxen from Ephraim with a load of logs that were to be used in building the new home. He was so small that his father tied him on to the load of logs with a rope while crossing the Sevier River at the point called Rocky Ford lest he should fall off into the river.

His father built the first home in Glenwood. James helped to make the adobes by tramping the mud. It was one large room and was also used as a house of worship until an adequate place could be built for this purpose. James well remembered the visit of Apostle Hyde and how his parents entertained him by the request of the Bishop in that ward.

As a small lad he herded cows outside the town and was always on the lookout for Indians who were very unfriendly. About two years after they settled here the Black Hawk War broke out. One morning when he and his little sister, Mary were milking the cow, bullets from the Indians arrows flew past them and they ran frightened to the house with out the milk. They were driven from Glenwood and moved to Richfield and from there back to Ephraim where his father assisted in building the old Ephraim Fort as a protection from the Indians.

At the age of eleven his mother Rebecca died (November 24, 1866)  leaving he and his little sister, Mary and small brother, Joseph.  He watched over his little sister, Mary and tried to give her every wish. They were very close all the days of their life.

Left to right:  Joseph, Jens Peter (father), Mary, and James Peter as adults

His father married again (Maria Thomasdatter) and had a large family by this marriage.  Since James Peter was the oldest he helped all he could to bring in money for the family’s needs. 

He had very little schooling and often went hungry and his few clothes were homemade.

His first store shoes were bought from a traveling store and were red boots.  They were his pride and joy and the envy of all his pals.  His pants were often made from buckskin and when it rained or they got wet they would shrink so much that if was difficult to get them off or on.

It was not long his father’s second marriage that he went to live with a half-sister (Emma Alice Swenson) and her husband in Fountain Green working his own way at what ever he could.

He was only 13 years old (another account says 15) when he began to freight from Ephraim to Pioche, a mining town in Nevada. (Another account says Delemar, Nevada).   It took him just one month to make the trip. This was in December and the weather was very cold. He had insufficient clothing to keep him warm so had to walk a lot of the way to keep from freezing.

In March another attempt was made but he only could go as far as Beaver. When he returned his sister’s husband had died (Wiley Payne Allred Jr – died April 18, 1873) leaving her with two small sons (Orsen Pratt Allred and Parley Wiley Payne Allred). James then assumed the responsibility of caring for the family in which he did with credit. He built her a home and provided for her needs until she remarried (Cyrus Hyrum Brown) and left this home he had built for her.

October 31, 1875 he married Elizabeth Crowther in Moroni, Utah at the age of 20 years. He had only 50 cents and with this he bought the license.  His bride also had 50 cents and with this they bought enough factory (cloth) to make a tick (mattress).  Together they filled it with fresh corn shucks for their bed.  Their first home was a dugout.

James knew the value of money and was ambitious so about four years later he rented a farm five miles north of Fountain Green at the head of Salt Creek Canyon known as Water Hollow. In a few short years he owned this farm where he and family worked in the summer months and in the winter moved to town where the children could attend school.

He had a large family, nine boys and three girls.  Two of the boys died infancy.  He was always kind, considerate and loving with his family.

Janet Rebecca
James William
George Christian
David Edger
Thomas Milton
Robert Vernor
Mildred Elizabeth
Fay Emanuel – Dad’s grandfather
Mary Jean
Alvin Glen
Linford  - died in infancy
Joseph Odell – died in infancy

Back row:  ?, ?, James Peter, Elizabeth Crowther, Thomas Milton, Fay

Front row:  David Edger, Mildred Elizabeth, Mary Jean, Alvin

He was called on a mission for his church (October 1896) and left his wife to care for the children and look after the farm.  The older boys helped with the farming.  His wife cooked for the sheepherders to keep him on a mission.

He spent 26 months in Kansas and Arkansas.

When James Peter returned from his mission, his health began to fail.  In 1907 he was stricken with sciatic rheumatism and for 13 weeks was confined to bed.  His doctor advised a warmer and dry climate so he went to Moapa Valley in Nevada in the spring of 1908.  He was impressed  with the country so he sold his farm for $6000 and 2000 sheep for $2 a head and on August 21 moved to this valley. 

He purchased part of the old Koenig ranch.

In November of the same year he purchased the Brigham Whitmore store and the following year was made Postmaster in Overton, Nevada.  This position he held for 6 years then turned it over to one of his daughters, Mildred.   And he became owner of the F. F. Gunn Store.

He put his boys to work on the farm and his girls that were old enough to work in the store – JP Andersen Mercantile – the only store in the valley at that time. He was a very successful merchant and a friend to anyone in need. He gave the farmers credit from one year to the next till they received their returns from the cantaloupes they shipped.

His was a true religion, for he cared for the widows and the needy.  Many a basket of groceries and clothing were sent to those in need without any thought of renumeration.  No one was turned away hungry from his door.

He was a successful businessman and able to give all his children a start in life.  To all of them he gave a home and to some who stayed near him, a farm.  Some of his sons moved back to Utah to make their home.

He and his wife Elizabeth were the ideal couple and loved each other dearly.  When she passed away, January 19, 1937 he was heart broken.  He suffered from palsy and for more than 10 years before his death he was almost helpless.  This humiliated him beyond understanding since he was so independent and had always been able to help others, but he was so patient, kind, and truly a gentleman.  He turned the store over to his younger son, Alvin.  His last six years he lived in the home of his son, Fay.  While here he was completely helpless and was in a wheel chair.  He enjoyed reading and even at this age could read without glasses.

Carrie, Phil (dad's uncle), and Fay

James Peter (seated)

He loved his grandchildren dearly and was so happy when they came to visit him.  He always had a nickel or dime to give them when they left.  His great desire was to go to his Eternal Home and often expressed his wonder why he had to stay so long.  He was 91 when his call came.  He passed as gently as he had lived, on September 15, 1946.  He was buried by the side of his wife in the Pioneer Cemetery in Overton, Nevada where he had erected a double tombstone waiting for his call to go to her.  He had also purchased his coffin from the Priesthood and it had been stored in the Welfare Building for years. Though it was a homemade one it was beautiful and strong.

He was a wonderful husband and father to his ten living children. He loved his many grandchildren and was proud of them. He was a High Priest in his church and lived the commandments.

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Note from Shannon:  This week I had the chance to visit with my elderly friend, Myrtle Brown (age 97) who lived in Overton, Nevada and knew Fay and Carrie Andersen.  She also knew of James Peter Andersen - mostly because of his store.  She told me all about the JP Andersen Mercantile located on Main Street and what a great store it was.  She said that it was the only store in town and they carried everything -- from food to hardware to fabric.  She shared a memory of going down to the Mercantile with her father, carrying a basket of eggs.  Her dad placed her on the sales counter and with those eggs they purchased fabric to take home and make clothing.

In the late 1930's / early 1940's the store was purchased by another family and converted into a theater called El Notrevo, which is Overton spelled backwards.  Clever, eh?  An article HERE details the history of the theater.  

Around 1975 it was purchased and renovated and became the Pioneer Theater.  It is still in operation today.

The building is one of the last remaining original buildings on Main Street in Overton.