Lorentz Pearson-A hard thing that turned out really good

                                                           Lorentz Pearson before 1870
                                      His history was written by his daughter Esther Pearson Leak

 Lorentz Pearson, also shown as Lars, was born in Soderhviddinge, Malmohus, Sweden in 1846.  His parents were Pehr Martenson and Pernilla Manson.  He was the second child and first son. Elna was the first born.   His parents were land owners and were hard working and prosperous people.  When Lorentz was 12 years of age his father and two hired men were getting stones out of the soil and hauling them away.  Pehr lifted a load which was too heavy for him and he became sick and died a few days later.  It was a bad situation as the hired man took charge and apparently didn't treat Lorentz well.  Esther says he ran away from home and then says Pernilla, his mother, had her mother, Hanna, take him to her home.  Hanna hired a private teacher for him.  When Lorentz was 13 or 14 years old he was confirmed into the Lutheran Church and then the priest gave him a recommend so he could go to work.  His mother had him apprenticed to a builder where he lived and learned to be a stone and brick mason, plasterer and carpenter.

Pernilla married the hired man soon after the boy left home.  Here is a picture of Lars Jonsson, the hired man. that is a braid of his hair down the left side of his head.

Pernilla Manson Pearson- Lorentz Pearson's Mother

Esther didn't say how Lorentz heard about the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but he was baptized when 21 years old.  His sister Elna was already a member.  About this time his father's estate was settled and he received a sum of money.  He used some of it in going on a local mission and paying the emigration fee for some of his friends.  His mission took him to Widtskofle, Sweden, and there he became a friend to Peter Trulson Swenson who was a convert to the church.  A daughter Ellen (Elna) later became his wife.
     Two years later in 1870 Lorentz immigrated to America.  His sister Elna had already immigrated with her husband, Nils Eliason and two daughters who both died of measles crossing the plains, and was living in Moroni, Sandpete, Utah.
     Thus we see that as the oldest son he would have inherited the farm and stayed in Sweden but because he was discomforted he ended up coming to America which was a great blessing for all his descendents. 

       Pehr Pehrsson, the younger brother who stayed on the farm in Sweden