Niels Peter Ipson is probably the most written about of all of my ancestors. He is my 3rd Great Grandfather on my Father's side. He is the reason we carry the last name of Ipson.
Niels was born in Denmark on a small island. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, married, and migrated to Utah with others of his faith. He was in a handcart company and crossed the plains from Iowa to Salt Lake City with all of their belonging in a handcart. He was a true Pioneer. His handcart company left the same year as the ill-fated Willie and Martin companies, but they left earlier and arrived safely.
Niels was called to do many difficult things in his lifetime. He was asked to take on a second wife, a widow from Sweden, whom he didn't know that wished to join the saints with her children. He agreed and married her when she arrived and provided a home for her in Manti, Utah. This wife, Inger Lena Pearson was 10 years older than Niels and he had one child with her...Peter Ipson, my Second Great Grandfather.
Niels was called to settle the Muddy Mission in 1866. The Muddy River is in present-day Nevada. They tried to establish a settlement there and grow cotton and other crops. Niels took his family, except for his second wife, and moved to the settlement named St. Thomas. He was called to the priesthood leadership there. After a few years, Brigham Young visited the Mission and realized how hard life was for them and he gave them permission to return to the other settlements. They left in 1871.
Niels ended up settling in Panguitch, Utah and Panguitch Lake.
I understand Neils Peter Ipson crossed the Atlantic on the Enoch Train, a model of which was at the Church History Museum for years and I was privileged to be a docent there and talk about the ship. I also read Muddy River and liked the book very much. That was a very hard thing to do for those pioneers back then. I am glad to know these things about my ancestor.
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