Daughter of Niels Johansen/Rassmussen and Maria Christina Christensen

Married James Petersen, 16 Oct 1879, Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah

History. Annie Eliza Rasmusen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her mother, Marie Christine Johansen, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and bought passage for herself and her two daughters, Caroline and Annie, to come to Utah with a group of saints.

When the day and time came for sailing, Caroline was nowhere to be found. After a frantic search with no results, the missionaries advised her to go on, as all her funds had been spent on the passage. This she did, and nothing was heard of Caroline for many years. Marie and Annie felt very concerned for their daughter and sister and made many attempts to locate her.

A missionary from Castle Dale went to Denmark and found her years later. He learned that she had married a man named Zeplar. She told him that her father had told her that she wasn't Marie's child, but a niece, and persuaded her to hide and stay in Denmark.

Annie and her mother were in the first company of Scandinavians who traveled from New York to Utah by railroad. They settled in Mount Pleasant where her mother met and married Niels Johansen. After a few years, her mother died and Annie lived in the home of her stepfather Niels and Maria Johansen.

When James and Annie were married, their first home was a dugout on 20 acres of land downriver on Cottonwood Creek. Their first child, Elsina Marie was born in that dugout. Later, they rented a small cabin where their next three children were born. Finally, they built their permanent home in Castle Dale. James made his own bricks for the home, mixing them barefooted.

To help make ends meet, James and Annie ordered extra supplies to be sold. Annie would order extra lace, pins, thread, and other notions (sewing materials) and kept them in a clothes cupboard that had been given her by her stepfather as a wedding present. (An outlaw named "One-Eye Joe" was said to have broken his leg and came to have Annie take care of him. He knew of her compassion for the needy and sought her out for help. After his leg was well, he gave her $5.00, which in those days was a goodly sum. And with this money, she was able to start her store.)

As time went on, the business grew and was transferred to shelves in the parlor of the family home and then to a frame building on the front of their lot. Eventually, James and his sons built a fine two-story brick building on a lot on Main Street (which James traded for a team of horses and a wagon). The upstairs of the store was used as a dance hall. James hung a sign on the stairs leading to it that read, "No whooping, hollering, or spitting on the floor – James Petersen".

Vern was a coat and hat checker, and he made his spending money doing this and sweeping out the dance floor after each dance. It is said that the Petersen store was the best store in that part of the state.

James was an enterprising businessman and was interested in everything of benefit to his town and country. He served on the Emery Stake School Board as a secretary and treasurer for many of the 35 years he was a member. He had charge of the building of the first and second Emery Stake Academy buildings. From 1881 to 1893 he was the Secretary of the first Sunday School in this area. Later he was chosen as Superintendent of the Castle Dale Sunday School, which position he held for several years. He served as a High Councilman under three different Stake Presidencies. He helped in the construction of most of the canals and roads in that section of the state. He also served as President of the Town Board, School Trustees, and Secretary of Irrigation, and also held many other positions.

It is interesting to note that while James was a Democrat, Annie was a Republican. It was her little joke that she could cancel his vote if she wished to do so. They both took their voting very seriously, and even more so after their son, Vern, was defeated by 32 votes in an attempt to be re-elected to the office of Emery County Recorder after two terms. James and Annie were in California at the time, and they felt that if they had been home, they could have helped to get their son re-elected. After that, they made sure they were at home for election day.

James was known to many townspeople as "Uncle Jim" or "Uncle Store Jim." He was a jolly, fun-loving man, always ready to relax and laugh at something funny. But at the same time, he could be conscientious and serious if the occasion demanded. His children and grandchildren can remember the several old, humorous songs he would sing to them while he was playing with them or bouncing them on his knee. He kept a notebook in his pocket upon which he kept notes of talks from Church leaders and accounting information.

Annie was of a quiet, serious nature, doing her work well and uncomplaining. She was known throughout the area for her compassionate service and charity and was loved by all for it. She was a teacher in the ward Relief Society since its organization there and was a visiting teacher. Her patriarchal blessing told her to never turn anyone away in want, and that if she fed the hungry, angels would eat at her table. She lived for that blessing, as there was never a more humble and conscientiously charitable woman.

The Petersen home was the ideal place for parties because of its spacious lawn and trees and because of its fine hospitality. Many events took place there. The home was considered a fine one for its day. The house stood back off the street surrounded by an orchard with lawn under the trees on the west side and the garden on the east, beyond the washhouse. Mulberry trees were planted on two sides of the lot to act as a hedge while cottonwood trees were across the front and the street side. Behind the house were patches of strawberries and gooseberries. Back beyond were pear trees near the granary, then the coal shed, and further up the path and through a gate was the barnyard. This farm had every animal that a farm used to have – horses, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, turkeys, pigeons, etc. There was a big barn that kept the buggy, harness, and equipment. The chickens stole nests, and it was fun for the youngsters to look for the eggs. Water for irrigation ran through ditches, and this made a very interesting place for children to play.

All was not play, however. The children were taught to work. In the years of the store, Elsina and Hannah were clerks there. Mother Petersen had much to do to keep her brood fed and clothed. Each child was assigned a task to do to help, and it made for a better living. The boys helped their father with the farm, orchard, and garden, while their sisters helped in the house. Apples had to be stored and some dried and put away. Cabbages and root vegetables and potatoes were put in cellars for use when there weren't fresh ones available. Corn was dried, meat cured, the pork barrel had to be filled and jerky made. Of course, many kinds of fruit and preserves were bottled, and they even used wood ashes to make soap. All these things with sewing, mending, cooking, and baking gave them plenty to do to keep busy.

After their children had all left to start their own lives, James and Annie spent much of their time in southern California where several of their children lived. James was often asked if he was a retired farmer. With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, "No, just a tired one." Annie was taken to Salt Lake City for medical treatment in 1930, where she died on November 7th at the age of 70. Her wish was granted that when her time came she wouldn't be left alone. From the time of her death, James' health grew worse and seven months later, on June 2, 1931, he passed away in the home of his daughter, Irene Ostler, in California. Both James and Annie are buried in the little family plot in Castle Dale.

At her funeral, the Relief Society made the following tribute to Annie:

"She has been very quiet and unassuming, not a woman of great show or display, but following the example of our Savior in love and charity, she has gone about performing her duties for her family and among her friends and neighbors in her quiet, gentle and motherly way. Her husband and family only can appreciate to the fullest extent her real worth as a mother, and now that she has advanced to a higher plain, they will realize more how unceasingly she toiled for their welfare and advancement.

"For 51 years she has been to the guiding spirit in that home, constantly admonishing them to righteous living, doing her duty but never complaining, always anxious to lend a helping hand to the motherless, the needy, and those in distress.

"She lived a well-rounded life of a true Latter-Day Saint. She has set a pattern that others would do well to emulate. Sister Annie Petersen has acted as a visiting teacher in the Relief Society of Castle Dale ever since its first organization on Aug 24, 1882, and has faithfully performed her tasks, never an excuse offered in the place of duty, always ready and willing. Her influence has been felt in every home in the ward, and her presence will be greatly missed. Her labors as a member of the working committee, which office she held in the Relief Society for many years, has been of the highest type, always taking responsibility until the work was completed, and in this respect, we shall miss her greatly."