Hans Henry Petersen (1835-1909)
The above image of Hans Henry Petersen (Larsen) was published by Anthen Henrik Lund in his
"Scandinavian jubilee album," digitized by Google for public domain access.
The ordinance data in New FamilySearch lists Hans baptism and confirmation date as 19 January 1853, rather than the June 19 date listed above. The birth location of "Sordrup" is seen clearly as "Seerdrup" in the parish record below:
LIFE SKETCH
Hans Henry was born in Seerdrup, Slagelse, Denmark, a beautiful, well cared for farming village on the Island of Zealand. He was raised as a Lutheran. His early years were spent working on a farm, as an apprentice weaver and then in a grist mill. His father, Peder Larsen, was a hard working brick mason and stone cutter. From an early age, Hans took the surname of his paternal grandmother Ane Pedersen; changed the "d" to a "t" and thereafter went by the name of Petersen. On January 19, 1853 Hans became the first member of his family to accept the challenge of the newly restored gospel being taught by Mormon missionaries and was baptized intoThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His mother, Ane Kirstine Andersen Larsen followed on 12 June 1853 and then his father did likewise on the 19th of August that same year. In 1857 Hans was set apart as an LDS missionary to serve in his homeland of Denmark. He became branch president at Svenstrup and later District president in Copenhagen. In 1862 Hans Henry emigrated to the US along with his parents and five siblings. He also married Juliana Maria Larsen on the Ship Athena as they were leaving Denmark on 19 April 1862. The marriage was performed by O. N. Liljenquist. Julia was from Helsingor and had joined the Church despite her parents opposition and had been disowned by them. They sailed to New York and then took the trains to Florence, Nebraska. Petersen and family joined one of the down and back companies of wagons sent out from Utah. He was placed in command of a group of about 400 for the journey to Utah. Hans and Julia first settled in Manti, Utah, near his parents, but later moved to Salt Lake City. He organized a Scandinavian choir in that city. In 1868 he moved again, this time to Hyrum, Utah. In Hyrum Hans Henry Petersen served as city recorder, a Justice of the Peace, city marshall and a member of the school board. In the church he served as ward choir director and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. When the Hyrum Stake was formed he was also its choir director. Sources: LDS Church News, Nov. 21, 2009 J. Spencer Cornwall. Stories of Our Mormon Hymns. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1975) p. 131-132. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Henry_Petersen |
This image of Hans Henry and wife Julia Marie was given to the author by the late descendant, Luree Schmidt, a great-granddaughter of Hans' son Theodore Wilhelm Petersen. |
Seerdrup, Slagelse, Denmark -- the birthplace of Hans Henrick Petersen Larsen; so says the Danish parish record; so says Hans Henry's ordinance card when on 12 June 1889 he and his three brothers were sealed to their parents in the Manti temple, special collections #170493.
Hans Henry Petersen was a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter. His most notable work is the hymn "Secret Prayer."
VERSES
|
CHORUS
|