Elizabeth and Edna Hill married brothers, John and Jorgen Peterson. Edna and Jorgen had 2 sons, Edward and Clarence (probably named after Edna's little brother, Clarence Roy, who had died at 14 months). Edna died at age 25 of TB. Jorgen, reported to be a rounder, went on to have more sons. Elizabeth and John took and raised Edna's son, Clarence. Edward stayed with Jorgen and had a leg amputated from a motorcycle accident. I vaguely remember a one-legged relative who was probably Edward. Edward stayed close with his mother's Hill family.
Five years after Edna died, Elizabeth died at age 37. From her death certificate, it appears she died of chronic hepatitis, but had been ill for many years with endocarditis, an infection of the heart. This left John with 3 young boys.
This is where a real heroine of our family comes in-- Irene Davis. Irene was an immigrant from England living in Salt Lake City. During the years she should have been dating and marrying, Irene was taking care of her mother and sister. I don't know how John Peterson became acquainted with Irene. She may have been his housekeeper.
Irene Davis Peterson continued taking care of her own kin, Elizabeth's 2 boys, Edna's 1 boy, and 2 children born to her and John. From time to time, she would also take care of Edna's other son, Edward. John was an upright, ambitious fellow who earned a living in many ways. He had a lot of rentals, including the house that my grandparents, Harold and Bertha Hill, lived in. Irene's two children, Elva and Herbert, are still alive.
Irene Bertha Davis Peterson
Birth: | Dec. 7, 1886 Gloucestershire, England |
| Death: | Apr. 10, 1975 Hooper Weber County Utah, USA |
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Hooper- Mrs. Irene Davis Peterson, 88, formerly of 2353 D Ave., Ogden, died Thursday at the home of a son, Herbert J. Peterson, in Hooper. Mrs. Peterson was born Dec. 7, 1886, in Compton Abdale, Gloucestershire, England, a daughter of John and Sarah Ann Howard Davis. She came to Utah in 1908. On Oct. 13, 1921, She was married to john S. Peterson in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He died Oct. 11, 1957. She was a member of the Ogden 16th LDS Ward and had been active in the religion class, was a Relief Society visiting teacher, acounselor in the Primary presidency and Primary secretary. She was a member of the Culturettes Social club. Surviving are a son and daughter, Herbert J. Peterson, Hooper, and Mrs. Richard L. (Elva) Hackwell, both of Ogden; two stepsons, Floyd A Peterson and Clyde L. Peterson, both of Ogden; a nephew whom she reared, Clarence R. Peterson, Ogden; 13 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 1 p.m. in the Myers Mortuary Chapel in Ogden with Bishop Harold A. Bluemel of the Ogden 16th Ward officiating. Friends may call at the mortuary Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday prior to services. internment will be in the Ogden City Cemetery. Ogden Standard Examiner April 11, 1975  | |