Additionally, in April 2020, PC's granddaughter Carol sent me his life history recorded by daughter-in-law Virginia Carlston (also below). My dad Larry recorded memories of his grandfather, presumably from his later years when PC lived in Denver with LeGrand for a time (beneath Virginia's history).
Interesting note from dad's history: Once while J. Golden Kimball was visiting Peter C's home, brother Kimball said, "You know Peter, such sons of bitches never lived in the days of Jesus Christ."
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| Peter C with mother Anna and son LeGrand |
b 10 Jun 1878
Married 10 Apr 1907 to Nilla Solbakken Carlston (12 May 1883 - 3 Jan 1948)
LeGrand Alf Carlston (1908 - 28 Oct 1969)
Harold Carlston (1911 -1990)
Kenneth Carlston (1916-1992)
d 9 Aug 1954
Son of:
Hans Carlston (24 Mar 1832 - 5 Sept 1901)
Anne or Anna Mariah Pedersen (4 Apr 1844 to 22 Dec 1919)
set apart 12 Dec 1902 -- Scandinavia
return 15 Mar 1905
set apart 7 Jul 1926 -- North Central States
return 6 Jan 1927
Employment & Address:
1921 Miner, 964 Laird Ave.
1922 Support, 964 Laird Ave.
1923 Support, 437 7th Ave.
1924-1926 Mining, 437 7th Ave.
1927 Salesman, 437 7th Ave.
History of Peter Christian Carlston by Virginia Grover Carlston (March 2001)
Peter Christian Carlston was born June 10, 1878 in Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah, to Hans Carlston (a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and Anna Marie Pedersen. His father had other wives, but he and Anna had eight children, seven boys and one girl. Peter was the fifth child in the family. His brothers were: George Hyrum, John Oscar, William Arlander, Stohl Evan, Allie LeGrand. His sister was Annie Caroline (Bills).
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| Anna Marie and Annie in front. Peter C is third from left. Others unknown, presumably brothers |
Life in bleak Fairview was hard. His father farmed some, but against Brigham Young’s advice. He also delved in mining. Peter attended BYU Academy a year or so and filled a mission to Norway. There he saw Nilla Hansen, a beautiful girl, whom he later courted and married in Salt Lake City.
Peter was a fast driver, quick to make a decision and impatient with dilemmas. He was a sensitive, caring father as shown in this story. As a teenager, Hap (PCC’s son) called him from the scene of an automobile accident he had had, telling his dad the car was impaired. His father merely asked, “Are you all right?”
When LeGrand (PCC son) was serving in the Philippines and Australia during the war, Peter and Nilla prayed that LeGrand would meet and LDS girl to marry. Even their blessings on meals included this plea. It happened! LeGrand met Beryl and later sent for her to come and marry him.
He was a Republican and often that was not the winning ticket. One year, Democratic Governor Maw hired him as a state inspector. It was a great blessing as LeGrand had been paying the bills for months.
Life for Peter Christian was serious business; he didn’t know how to play. Herald and I took his folks and LeGrand to Yellowstone the summer we bought our first Dodge. At Fishing Bridge, LeGrand and Hap caught some trout. Their mom prepared them and fried them over a bonfire while Peter Christian sat in the car with his hat on and read.
There was one exception to his non-recreational life. Nilla liked to play the card game “500” so Peter Christian, LeGrand, Hap and I often played the game with them. I don’t recall that Peter Christian ever won. *Larry's history: Peter C was never known to say an angry word to his wife. This was true even during Nilla's last days when she was not feeling well. Peter C liked to play cards. He was very good at cards. When father taught Nilla and Ken to play bridge and hearts, Peter C would sit and beat them.
Of course, Peter and Nilla’s ties to Norway were ever in their home, especially at Christmas time. He has great respect for his parents. Hans Carlston left Norway because of his conversion to Mormonism. But both Nilla and Peter were true Americans in loyalty to US customs and creeds.
Peter had an insatiable interest, desire and drive to master doctrines of the church. Each morning he would arise hours before the family to read and study. He bought hundreds of church books, and his basement was filled with rare and informative volumes. He especially liked to acquire reference books, such as the Book of Mormon Commentary by Reynolds and the Encyclopedia of Mormons by Anderson. He became an authority on church doctrine and how to find scripture references. He was asked many times each week to answer questions regarding the above. People came to visit and discuss Mormon principles with him.
In honor of his wife and mother, he gave 800 volumes of valuable church books to the LDS Church Historical Library. When asked by a banker why he hadn’t sold the books to the church so he could leave money to his sons, he said his boys were bright and would be able to provide for themselves.
Peter was a loyal husband to Nilla. If he were leaving to go away, even briefly to get groceries, he would kiss her goodbye, and then kiss her upon his return. She was queen in his house. He often bought her clothing and gifts. He was always the first to leave a church meeting to race home to his dear one (illness kept her homebound for many years).
Peter went on a second mission – short term – to Minnesota. People wrote years later of their love of him and their sustained belief and activity in the church.
I like to remember my husband’s description of his mother’s death. They had brought her home to die when no medical care could save her. When she slipped away, Peter Christian asked Herald to kneel by her bedside with him to thank Heavenly Father for her life and companionship of many years.
Peter Christian had a heart attack about 1948. He was advised not to return to his Seventh Avenue home because of the many steps going up to it. So he went to Denver to live with LeGrand and his family for a time. Then he came to live with us for a short time. He hunted for an apartment in the Avenue area, but most of them were upstairs. Then he found a place on Ninth South, not too far from us, with Gaskel and Amy Romney. He was given a room, cooking and laundry privileges. Brother Romney and Peter Christian enjoyed long hours of gospel discussions. Both were well steeped in scripture study.
He left a home, thousands of books and three bright, well trained sons of whom he was proud:
· LeGrand Alf – well educated attorney, who graduated with a Doctor of Law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., after fulfilling a mission to Canada.
· Herald LaMar – who served a mission to Norway, and held two degrees from the University of Utah. He was Director of Placement and the Career Information Center at the University of Utah for 39 years.
· Kenneth Dewitt – a salesman and a University of Utah graduate.
He had three daughters-in-law and many believing grandchildren. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Ensign Stake High Council in charge of training Primary teachers. He was a super-involved and able saint. He was respected and revered as a knowledgeable scholar who believed he would join his lovely wife, parents and Savior. What a wonderful legacy he left us!
From Larry Carlston - Memories of grandfather:
- Grandpa (Peter C. Carlston) would drive over from Salt Lake City every now and then. I really liked being with him. I would sit on his lap and he would read the funnies in the newspaper, stories and books. He spent several hours teaching me how to tie my shoes.
- I remember grandpa would lie in the front room on our old blue sofa. The sofa was put downstairs when we got our new sofa. Later, mother (Beryl) gave the sofa to the Salvation Army or Goodwill and father (LeGrand) was very upset, but he got over it after a while. Sometimes father and mother would talk in low voices in the kitchen so as not to bother grandpa. But he would chime right in when the conversation was about him. Other times one would almost have to shout for grandpa to come. I don’t remember what the conversations were about, but I suspect that grandpa liked to hear what he wanted to hear.
- I remember one time grandpa, father, mother and all of us kids went to many grocery stores and bought baskets of fruit. We stayed up to midnight as grandpa, father, and mother, canned fruit in the kitchen.
- I enjoy turning the windshield wipers on and off in grandpa‘s car. He had a neat switch on the dashboard that was very fun to play with. We would get into trouble when grandpa came out of the store, started his car and the wipers begin moving.
