LOUISA HOMER PETERSON

LOUISA HOMER PETERSON

On a bleak November 2, 1873, there drifted into the modest home of Russell K. and Prianna Homer at Oxford, Idaho, a wee baby girl.

She was the youngest child of a large family of brothers and sisters. Both her parents had been married and had families before their own marriage, so It was a large family with whom she was to be made acquainted. However, she was equal to the occasion and soon found her way into all their hearts. She was indeed a ray of sunshine that radiated love and cheerfulness. She always saw the bright side of any situation. When she was oneyear-old they moved to Clarkston, Utah. Louisa, or “Lou,” as she was called, early learned habits of industry that remained with her to her death. Often her mother had to do her sewing at night, so numerous were her tasks in the day, and when just a little girl, Lou would hold the crude “bitch light” near her mother so she could see her work. After her marriage, her industry became almost legendary. A lesser woman would have dropped at the amount of

work Lou could get through in a day. Her talent was not only for housekeeping, either, for when business called her husband from home, she competently managed the farm and directed the laborers.

In other ways, too, she underwent the hardships of pioneer times. Though able to attend school for only a few short years, Lou Homer was truly educated, not only in the mechanical sense of being able to read and write well, but also in every broader meaning of the word “educated. She had the poise that comes from knowing you are doing the best you can. Everyone felt instantly at ease with her. She had the kindly touch that only the educated heart could have.

She married Ephraim Peterson in Logan, Utah, on September 15, 1890, and on October 4, 1911, they journeyed to the Salt Temple and there were sealed to each other. A son was born to them on July 24, 1891, and was named Ephraim Lawrence.

In 1892, she and her husband, their young son and

Lou’s mother moved to Idaho, settling in Plano, west of Rexburg. Now, they were pioneers in very deed, being among the first to settle the Upper Snake River valley. They made the trip in a wagon with one team, and, soon after their arrival, one horse died leaving them with only one. They cleared the land, planted crops, and often reaped very little to show for their labors. Drouth, insects, dust storms, early frosts —these were the things they had to contend with. Often coyotes, antelope, and other creatures of the desert came to their trough for water. Eventually, after many trying years, those who had the courage to stick with the country were rewarded by being able to obtain water for sub-irrigation. Not the least of the hardships those pioneers had to endure was sickness with a lack of medical facilities, and here Lou Peterson and her mother were often called in to help. People from far and near needed their help, and it was unfailingly given.

In 1918, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson moved from their ranch into the town of Rexburg where they lived until her death.

Though blessed with only one child of their own, they adopted two little girls, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Alice Hedelius Hemsley, died in 1939. she loved children, and they knew it and loved her in turn. She was as a second mother to her grandchildren, her nephews and nieces, and to neighbors’

children. Love was her outstanding characteristic; it led her to such generosity that it was almost a fault. She would have given anything she owned to one who admired it.

She was active in Church, social, and community activities. At various times in her life, she worked in the Relief Society, Primary, and Mutual Improvement Association organizations.

On September 15, 1940, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, and the number of friends and neighbors and relatives who called to offer good wishes bore eloquent testimony of the esteem in which they were held.

She was a beautiful woman. At the time of her death, her hair was still soft and lovely and brown. The wrinkles in her face were caused by laughter and service. Always, she was merry and cheerful. She dearly loved to cook wonderful meals, though for the latter years of her life, her own diet was so restricted by diabetes that to be near food, to see others enjoy it, must have been torture for her; but no one knew it from her actions.

She died June 12, 1941 in Idaho Falls, Idaho of streptococcic infection of the ear, complicated by diabetes. Burial took place in the Fielding Memorial Park at Idaho Falls on June 16, 1941.

While living on the farm at Plano, Eph’s old parents lived near them. Lou was just as kind and attentive to them as she was to her own mother.

Ephraim Lawrence Peterson Married Caddie White

From left to right
Back row: Rachel Maretta Homer, Rebecca Homer
Front row: Louisa Homer, Sarah Homer, Marinda Thornton Homer

Image sources: https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/memories/KWJK-K8D