Peter Albert Mickelson

Peter Albert Michelson was the husband of Florence Lyman Mickelson.

Albert and Florence were both born and grew up in Parowan, Utah. Albert helped his dad, Neils Mickelson, on the farm and raising draft horses. His schooling was scant. He went through approximately the fifth grade at the Presbyterian School in Parowan. He had a very close relationship with his brother, George Mickelson, all though their lives-even to the extent of operating a farm together after they were both married.

Albert's grandfather, Rasmus Mickelson, came to Albert's father one day and asked for the team of horses and the plow- and the boy (who was Albert) to plow his (Rasmus') garden. He placed the lines in Albert's hands and told him to hold the lines but- "I will drive them." His commands were "giddyup", "gee", and "haw" and "whoa". Rasmus was able to drive the horses by those commands. They plowed the garden and how proud Albert was to be included in the project. Albert related this incident to his son, Ernest, many years later. Albert grew up to be a very skillful hand with horses. He always had a good team of horses and everyone knew that.

Florence graduated from the 8th grade and did well in school. She loved to read. Florence had many friends. She was a very compassionate person. Albert and Florence were married on November 10 1914, and their first home was in the north end of Parowan. It was an adobe house called the old Peterson house.

After they had Abby, Adrienne and Ernest, they were able to buy a house in town on the East side of Parowan. This house had 3 bedrooms. On this property there was a small barn, corral, and garden area. There were also apricot, cherry and peach trees. Money was very tight during these early years of their marriage. At one point they rented their home to a teacher, Ray Garner. They moved into Albert's mother's home after she died. They took grain to the store and traded it for clothes for the family. They also took wheat to the grist mill and had it ground into flour.

Florence said, in her later years, that she remembered the time when she didn't have a nickel to buy a spool of thread to sew her baby clothes. It was at this time that Albert lost his farm and herd of sheep. The family moved to Oscar Lyman's farm which was 160 acres north of Parowan. Oscar Lyman was Florence's father. The farm had been operated by Florence's brother, Morris Lyman. Due to Morris' ill health, he was no longer able to do the work required there on the farm. Ernest was very excited about moving to the farm. He was in his mid-teens and anxious to get into farming on a large scale. Albert worked this farm on a share basis with his father-in-law, Oscar Lyman. The first year he raised alfalfa seed and hay, corn, barley wheat, potatoes, and pigs. They had milk cows and 3 teams of draft horses.

Albert was an excellent farmer. He had the "feel" of the land. He knew how to organize the things that needed to be done and was a tremendously hard worker. He was strong and very capable. Plowing was the heaviest job on the farm for the horses. One of the first years on the farm, Albert was able to buy a new case tractor – on the installment plan of course.

Florence made sure the children were able to go to church. Albert was busy, but she go him there, too, as often as she could. They were sealed in the St. George Temple on March 22, 1929. Florence did all the usual homemaking chores without a complaint. She had to milk the cow occasionally and never liked it. This was when their oldest son, Ernest, was to young to milk. Albert and Florence celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 1964, all their children were there and many of their grandchildren. They lived a full, fruitful life.

This history was related by their oldest son, Ernest Lyman Mickelson on February 1, 1990.

Parents:

Niels Mickelson (1850 - 1914)

Hannah Taylor Mickelson (1853 - 1927)

Spouse:

Florence Lyman Mickelson (1894 - 1972)

Children:

Alberta Mickelson (1915 - 1987)

Adrienne Mickelson Ness (1916 - 1988)

Ernest Lyman Mickelson (1918 - 1992)

Glenna Mickelson Swapp (1920 - 1994)

Albert Leonard Mickelson (1923 - 1996)

Norman Lyman Mickelson (1925 - 1992)

Hannah Lou Mickelson (1932 - 1933)

Maintained by: Tonya Mickelson Messersc

Originally Created by: Cracraft Proud

Record added: Aug 30, 2005

Find A Grave Memorial# 11648870