Peter Isaacson GGG Grandpa through Melvin Denham

Peter Isaacson: Click here for Familysearch
Born:May 30, 1828, at Sønderhå, Thisted County, in Denmar
Baptized:1854
Died:9 June 1920 Ephraim, Sanpete, Utah
Burial:Click here for findagrave



Conversion:
Peter Isaacson was born May 30, 1828, at Sønderhå, Thisted County, in Denmark. His parents were Isaac Oleson Hjortsvang and Anna Margethe Pedersen. He was twelve years old when his father died. The young boy worked for eight years as an apprentice to learn the trade of a carpenter and worked in this capacity until he left his native land. Peter complied with compulsory service in the Danish military, and served two years fighting in the war between Denmark and Germany. His brother later served in the military and lost his life in the second war the Danish had with Germany in 1863. The LDS missionaries contacted Peter and he was impressed with them. He accepted their message, even though they spoke no Danish and he spoke no English He was converted by the language of the Spirit. He was baptized by Peter Paulsen in 1854. He served a short time as a missionary to the Danish people. His desire to come to America was great. As a carpenter, he saved eight hundred dollars to pay for his ticket. He visited his mother to tell her he was planning to go to America. His angry step-father ordered Peter from the house because he had joined the Mormon Church. This forced estrangement from his dear mother was difficult. With the courage of his convictions he turned to walk the long journey back to his lodging, very cold, discouraged and unhappy. As he was walking along in the cold he looked up and there was a man dressed in brown clothes walking along beside him. For a while there was silence then the man spoke and said, “Peter, I want to tell you that you are doing the right thing by going to America. You will never regret it. You will be greatly blessed for the things you are doing for yourself, and your children and your children’s children. Don’t worry about your mother. Later you’ll have a chance to help her. Remember to always be as you have been in your life and your blessings will be great.” Peter talked to the man about his plans to go to America and a few other things. They walked along for a little ways and Peter looked up to speak again and the man was gone. It was level country and he looked in every direction but never saw him again. He believed this man was a Heavenly Visitor. Peter had been very close to his younger sister Maria. She had been taught the gospel with him and she believed, as he did, but she was young and did not have the courage to join and accompany her brother on his journey to America. The eight hundred dollars Peter had saved was much more than the cost of a ticket, so he used the extra money saved for his sister’s passage to help other immigrants.