Peter F. Christensen was born October 27, 1863 at
Mount Pleasant, Utah, U.S.A. to Frans Christensen
and Sophia Hansen, and was raised in the Elsinore,
Utah area. Peter was interested in farming and the
raising of livestock.

May (Mary Sophia) was born May 21, 1872 in
Kanosh, Utah, to George Staples and Lauretta Rap-
pley. Peter and May were married December 16, 1891
in the Manti Temple by apostle A. H. Lund.

Peter and other members of the L.D.S. church
were called to go to Canada in 1899 to help build and
develop irrigation canals and railroad beds tor train
tracks in this area. In that year, he came by the narrow
gauge railroad to Stirling, without his family, bring-
ing his team of horses, wagon, and slip scraper,
prepared to work on the job. His wagon was the
second outfit to drive into the new Stirling townsite.

Tents were their only homes until lots were
chosen and lumber could be obtained to build homes
and shelters. Peter chose his lot close to the coulee,
because water had to be hauled from there by a
stoneboat with a barrel on it, and livestock could be
driven there daily for their drink of water.

By 1900, his wife, May, and three daughters
came to Stirling by train to be with Peter. Later six
more children were born.

Peter was able to buy his first piece of irrigated
land of 80 acres for $3 per acre, using the scrip he had
earned working on the canal. After farming the
acreage for nearly 20 years, he decided he didn't
want to farm for the rest of his life with a shovel over
his shoulder and wearing rubber boots, so he sold his
80 acres of irrigated land and bought 320 acres of dry
land Northeast of town, which he farmed until his
passing. This land is now owned by his son, Allen.

May and Peter Christensen were both active in
church and community affairs, and their children
remember the times May gave beautiful readings and
poems on many programs.

Peter loved hunting, camping and fishing and
was interested in sports and local affairs. He had a
special way or talent for cutting and caring for meat
such as the salt brine and smoking method.

He also introduced the first alfalfa grown here,
and started the growing of ash trees in Stirling so he
could use the hard wood of those trees when smoking
meat and fish. He had a butcher shop in Stirling at
one time, and a part interest in a butcher shop at New
Dayton.

May was active as a teacher in the Primary, and
was Relief Society president for a number of years.
She was known as a wonderful friend and good
neighbour to all who knew her.

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