Peter Niels Skousen

1856 - 1940  (84 years)   Has no ancestors but 18 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Peter Niels Skousen
  Birth	6 Sep 1856	Århus, Århus, Midtjylland, Kongeriget Danmark
  Christening	9 Nov 1856	Århus, Århus, Midtjylland, Kongeriget Danmark
  Gender	Male
  Initiatory (LDS)	21 Nov 1877	SGEOR
  Death	2 Oct 1940	Colonia Dublán, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México
  Burial	3 Oct 1940	Colonia Dublán, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I162138	mytree
  Last Modified	25 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family	Mary Malinda Rogers,   b. 7 Jan 1864, Parowan, Iron, Utah, United States d. 21 Apr 1945, Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 81 years)
  Marriage	13 Dec 1883	St. George, Washington, Utah, United States
  Children	1. Anna Malinda Skousen,   b. 9 Nov 1884, Springerville, Apache, Arizona, United States d. 30 Aug 1911 (Age 26 years)   2. Peter James Skouson,   b. 27 Jan 1886, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 24 Nov 1956, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 70 years)   3. Angus Philemon Skousen,   b. 25 Apr 1887, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 4 Jan 1976, Yuba, California, United States (Age 88 years)   4. Ruth Skousen,   b. 20 Dec 1889, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 14 Sep 1969, Raymond, Warner, Alberta, Canada (Age 79 years)   5. Estella Skousen,   b. 10 Mar 1892, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 5 Apr 1964, Lordsburg, Hidalgo, New Mexico, United States (Age 72 years)   6. Webster Grant Skousen,   b. 26 Jul 1893, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 25 Jun 1895 (Age 1 year)   7. Vera Skousen,   b. 16 Feb 1895, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 31 Jul 1899 (Age 4 years) + 8. Smith Hollister Skouson,   b. 27 Aug 1897, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 21 Nov 1979, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 82 years)   9. Pamelia Skousen,   b. 28 Dec 1902, Colonia Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México d. 1 Feb 1959, El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States (Age 56 years)
  Family ID	F41217	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Dec 2025

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 6 Sep 1856 - Århus, Århus, Midtjylland, Kongeriget Danmark Christening - 9 Nov 1856 - Århus, Århus, Midtjylland, Kongeriget Danmark Initiatory (LDS) - 21 Nov 1877 - SGEOR Marriage - 13 Dec 1883 - St. George, Washington, Utah, United States Death - 2 Oct 1940 - Colonia Dublán, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México Burial - 3 Oct 1940 - Colonia Dublán, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, México  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  The History of Peter Niels Skousen Compiled by Anjanette Stone Lofgren October 2007 Peter Niels Skousen was born on September 6, 1856 in Randers, Aarhus , D e n mark. He was the son of James Niels Skousen (born as Jens Neilson , Se p te mber 30, 1828, Herslev, Vejle, Denmark, died October 23, 1912 , Alpin e, Ap ache, Arizona, USA) and Sidsel (Cecil) Marie Pederson (bor n Augus t 2 3, 18 26, Laasby, Skandeborg, Denmark, died February 10, 1899 , Coloni a Ju arez, Chihuahua, Mexico). Peter’s father had been one of the Mounted Royal Guards and receiv e d 3 y e ars of military training. He became a proud member of the fine s t ridi n g team in the Danish kingdom. James and Sidsel fell in love, became engaged, and soon set up wha t w a s v ery common in those days in Denmark, a common-law marriage. Jam es w a s twe nty and she was twenty-two. Peter was the second of nine children born to James and Sidsel. Thei r f i r stborn, Petria Skousen was born June 6, 1849, in Aarhus, Denmar k an d di e d almost two months later on August 1, 1849. Seven years later, his parents were married on May 18, 1856, in th e D u m C hurch in Aarhus, Denmark. They were very religious and James wa s ev e n ca lled to assist the minister many times because of his knowled ge o f t he sc riptures. After Peter was born in 1856, his parents had a son named Parley Pra t t S k ousen. Parley was born on February 15, 1859, in Randers, Denmar k an d d ie d two days later on February 17, 1859. Willard Richard Skousen was born on February 5, 1860, in Randers, Denm a r k. He and Peter were nearly three and a half years apart. James and Sidsel heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and joined The Chu r c h o f Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints when Peter was a baby. Elde r Ma d so n baptized James and Sidsel, and two traveling Elders confirme d the m m emb ers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Th e Skous e n hom e was always open to the Mormon missionaries and becam e a famili a r part o f Peter’s young life. Before leaving Denmark, Sidsel had a desire to share the gospel mess a g e w ith her family, especially her beloved brother who was a school t ea ch er. Her message was rejected and her brother thought he was more ed uca te d t han her because of his profession. She was crushed by her fami ly’ s re acti on to her new religion. The Mormon missionaries and Peter’s parents spoke at lengths about mo v i n g to Utah. This was intriguing to young Peter. James had lost hi s j o b b ecause of his new religion but soon obtained better paying empl oyme n t s o they could have the needed funds to cross the ocean. In the early spring of 1862 when Peter was five years old and Willa r d w a s about two years old, the Skousen’s left their beloved home in D en mar k f or the unknown future ahead of them in the United States. Sids e l wa s fou r months pregnant when they left Denmark. The Skousen’s were probably with the saints who boarded the ship Alb i o n i n Aarhus on the morning of April 7th and sailed to Hamburg, Germa ny . The y arrived in the evening of April 8th. Here the saints boarde d t w o diffe rent ships, the Humboldt and the Franklin. Peter’s famil y boar d ed the s hip, Humboldt in Hamburg, Germany with 323 other LDS im migrant s. Their c aptain was H. D. Boysen and their church leader for th e voya g e was Hans C hristian Hansen. Their journey was a success. The Humboldt arrived in New York on May 2 0 t h, 1862. They continued their journey westward by train and steamb o a t u p the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha). This wa s t h e out fitting place for the journey across the plains for the saint s. P e ter’ s family arrived in Florence in early June. It was here the y join e d th e John R. Murdock Company consisting of 700 individuals an d 65 wag on s. Th ey departed Florence, Nebraska on July 24, 1862. Two weeks after leaving Florence, Nebraska, Sidsel gave birth to a dau g h t er, Hannah Marie (or Johannah) Skousen on August 2, 1862, near th e Pl at t e River in Nebraska. The family arrived in Salt Lake City on September 28, 1862, and whil e h e r e, his father helped cut stones for the temple. Soon after arrivi n g i n Ut ah they moved to Lehi and lived in a one bedroom house just ea s t o f the L ehi Roller Mills. They moved around a lot and then settle d i n Dra per wher e they bought a 40 acre farm. Three more children were born to James and Sidsel while living in Drap e r ; Caroline in 1867, Mary in 1870, and James Niels Jr. in 1872. Two unpleasant Childhood memories for Peter where when at the age of s e v e n, he crushed his finger and almost froze to death. The incident s ha p pe ned while he helped his father with harvesting the crops and cu ttin g w oo d for winter on their Draper farm. One day a log slipped an d crus he d on e of his fingers and nail. Another worker took a handkerc hief a n d spi t his used chewing tobacco into the handkerchief and tie d it arou n d Peter ’s finger. He kept it on his finger for a week. Th e other ti m e they wer e caught in snowstorm while logging. Peter almos t froz e t o death and b y the time he reached home he could hardly walk . Sidse l pu t him to bed w here he spent several days recovering. He bec ame ver y il l as his body wa rmed up and was filled with aches and pains . Peter was a big help to his father helping him in many of his labo r s o n t heir farm. They logged, grew grain, hay, raised dairy cows, an d m an y oth er endeavors to help make a living for the family. Sister Fitzgerald was Peter’s Sunday School teacher who taught hi m h o w t o read and write. When he was ten years old he started schoo l an d w as t aught by Dr. John R. Park. With the help of these two teach ers , Pet er be came an exceptional student. He loved school so much h e wa s disap pointe d whenever his father needed him to stay home to hel p wit h the far m. Des pite this disappointment, he was unknowingly educa ting h imself th rough la boring with his father. He developed self-init iativ e and busin ess exper ience. Dr. Park spent 30 minutes a day teaching Peter and his classmate s h o w t o read music and how to sing. He would write the staff and not e s o n th e blackboard as he taught them many songs. The children devel op e d int o a good choir in Draper as a result of Dr. Park’s instructio n a n d the ti me he devoted to his students. Peter was about nine when he had a desire to play the fiddle. He made H i s own fiddle by taking an old wooden shoe and obtained strings from ne i g h bor’s broken violin. He found a piece of wood, carved it into a bo w, a n d attached horse hair to it. Peter enjoyed running and was very fast. He raced in the holiday celeb r a t ions and won many prizes. Baseball also became a favorite sport fo r P e te r and the other Skousen’s. It was hard for him to stop a gam e t o g o bac k inside the school when recess was over. One day when Peter was grazing the cattle near the Jordan River, he st u m b led upon an old rusty cap and ball six-shooter. It had probably on c e b el onged to a soldier from Johnston’s Army. Peter took it home whe r e h e cl eaned, oiled, and worked on it until he was able to get it t o sh oot. H e was proud of his accomplishment. Peter was jumping over a stream one day when he found a five dolla r g o l d piece shining through the water. His father took it to Salt La ke C i t y where he was able to get more than five dollars in exchange . A por t io n of it was given to peter and he used it to purchase a bra nd new po n y. He loved his dear pony which he named “Jule”. Jule coul d outru n t h e other boys’ ponies. Peter was heartbroken the day his beloved pony ran away to the hill s w i t h a group of wild horses. He tried unsuccessfully to find his ho rse . I n his own words Peter said; “One time as I was going up a long sl a n t o f a hill in search of my pony I decided to ask the Lord to hel p m e an d t o guide me with His Spirit to where the horse was. I ha d a doll ar w hic h I had saved up by small amounts given me by my parent s. Of cou rs e I th ought I was rich to have so much as a dollar. Bu t I told the L or d tha t if He would help me find my pony I would give t he dollar in ti thi ng. I got up from my knees and started out. Crossin g several hollo w s an d ridges, there came along a band of horses just a s fast as they c ou ld go, kicking up their heels and going down toward s town after wate r an d ther e was my pony with them. I took in after t hem and could hard ly k eep u p with them. I got them in the street tha t went by our plac e bu t how w as I to get them in the corral? That puz zled me but when th ey g ot nea r the corral the little mare of mine kne w the place and wen t righ t into t he corral and several others followe d her. I hurried an d put u p the bar s. I got a rope to catch her. Sh e seemed rather wild , but a s soon a s I put the rope on her, she came r ight up to me just li ke she w as glad t o see me. I let the bars down a nd the other horses we nt out a nd up towa rds the hills as fast as the y could. Yes, my mare ga ve a whi mper like s he would say ‘goodbye’, bu t she soon felt at home ag ain. ” Brother Absalom Heber Smith, the first councilor in the Skousen’s bish o p r ic, baptized Peter in a clear pond fed by a spring in east Draper n e a r th e main creek. He was confirmed a member after the baptism by Bi sh o p Isa ac M. Stewart. In 1870, James married a second wife named Ane Kirstine Jorgensen Hans e n . They had 2 boys and 6 girls; Ella Marie, Erastus, Orson Pratt, Ann a C h r istina, Eliza, Melvina, Mary Esther, and Terry Donahoe. At the age of 17, Peter was attending the School of Deseret in Sal t L a k e City when his father was called to help settle Arizona. He lef t Sid s e l and their children in Utah and took Ane and their children wi th h i m t o Arizona. Peter had to leave school to help his mother run th eir f a rm i n Draper. A year had passed when James returned to Utah from Arizona, leavin g h i s s econd family behind. He came to pack up his family and move th e m t o Ari zona. Three teams were driven by Peter, Willard, and their fa th e r. On their way to Arizona they stopped in St. George, Utah where Pet e r a n d Willard took out their endowments. Peter was ordained an elde r i n t h e Melchizedek Priesthood. They arrived at Allen’s Camp, later called St. Joseph, on December 2 4 , 1 8 77, where they pledged to live the United Order. Peter taught sc ho o l he re and was also the assistant postmaster. He kept books for th e U n ite d Order. James was very strict about living the United Order while in St. Jose p h . What the head of the church said was the word of the Lord to him . T h e y milked cows and shared all the crops together. James and Willa r d h a d a bit of a falling out and Willard left St. Joseph. On November 11, 1884, James went to Prescott for trial as a polygamis t . H e departed on December 7 for the Yuma Penitentiary with six month s ' c onfi nement and a $500 fine. Because he had no money to pay, he wa s g ive n thir ty days more in its place. He said, "It was the best month 's p a y I ever r eceived." James was released from the federal penitenti ar y i n July 1885 a nd rejoiced in seeing his two families. As a convicted polygamist, James could not afford to live with both of H i s families in the Untied States so he had Sidsel move to Colonia Jua r e z w ith the help of Peter, Dan and James while he stayed on the far m i n A rizo na and took care of Ane and her young family. It was a sad d ay w he n he pr epared to bid Sidsel, his lifelong sweetheart goodbye. I t too k tw enty-on e days for the little caravan to reach Juarez, Mexico. Later, Peter worked near Holbrook, Arizona where he had a contrac t w i t h a railroad building firm that lasted almost a year. Peter ha d cha r g e of the commissary, kept the company books, and was paymaster . He t h e n worked near Springerville, Arizona with his business partne r Natha n B en jamin Robinson. They had a contract with John A. West to w ork on t he r ail road in the San Francisco Mountains. They freighted fro m one tow n t o ano ther. Nathan’s wife, Annise Adelia Bybee Robinson, co oked foo d fo r the cr ew, at times consisting of 50 men. She became ill and was also 8 months pregnant at the time and went t o s t a y with her sister in Snowflake, Arizona. A few weeks before the b ir t h o f the baby, Nathan was worried about his family and returned hom e . S hort ly after returning home he told Annise that he was going to fi n d a m issin g cow. He came upon the tracks and followed them to Show L o w Cree k wher e he found some Indians killing a beef. Fearing he woul d te ll oth er whit e men what they had done, they shot and killed Natha n an d hid hi s body i n the Show Low Creek. They weighed his body down i n th e water wi th larg e rocks to keep the body hidden. This was on Jun e 1 , 1882. When Annise realized something was wrong, she sent for help. Nathan’ s h o r se had returned home with out him and had an Indian lariat on it . T h e se ttlers were scared at the news that Indians had killed Natha n an d we re hi ding in a barn at the John Reidhead Farm in Lone Pine. Nathan’s body could not be found until some of the searchers praye d f o r a ssistance in their search. Soon after his foot was seen floati n g u p an d down in the Show Low Creek. His body was recovered and the f at her les s family buried him in the Snowflake, Arizona cemetery on Jun e 4 , 188 2. Peter heard the news while he was in St. Joseph on his way to Round Va l l e y and was very concerned about Annise and her four children and unb o r n ba by. He had a hard time sleeping as he camped that night and couldn’t sto p t h i nking about the Robinson family. He heard a soft voice tell hi m th a t th e family would devolve into his hands. He had no desire to ta ke an o the r man’s wife but prayed about this new development and was a t peace . Peter visited the Annise and her children a few weeks later at Snowfla k e , Arizona. She was happy to see him and insisted that he stay fo r a c h i cken dinner. She had just delivered her son, Phileon Benjamin R obin s o n a few days before and her heart was grieving for her husband a nd w a s co ncerned for the welfare of her little ones. Peter assured he r th a t the L ord would watch over them and provide for them. Peter returned to his home at Round Valley where his mother, Sidsel, l i v e d. Peter told his father about his plans to marry Annise. His fat h e r su ggested that he first get a wife who could be his own for eterni t y s inc e Annise and Nathan had been sealed. Peter and Annise set a wed di n g dat e that was a few months away and Peter had to hurry to follo w hi s c ounsel. He found a girl of 19 by the name of Mary Malinda Roger s wh o co nsente d to marry him. Peter and his two fiancés made the journey from Snow Flake to St. Geor g e . Peter first married Malinda as his eternal companion and then Ann i s e a s his companion for life only on December 13, 1883 in the St. Geo r g e Temp le, 18 months after the death of Nathan Benjamin Robinson. Pe t e r was twe nty-seven, Annise was twenty-six, and Mary was nineteen wh e n th ey joine d this union. Peter and his wives returned to Round Valley where they began their l i v e s together. Peter became a home building contractor in the Nutrios o C r ee k area. In the fall he was asked to teach again and went to St . Jo h n t o take the required examination. When he arrived at the offic e he w a s as ked if his last name was Skousen. When he answered “yes”, h e was t ol d no t to bother to take the exam because he would not be hire d even i f h e ha d passed. Charges had been filed against Peter for pol ygamy . A few d ays later, Peter and Brother Samuel Jarvis had a home mi ssio n ary appointm ent to visit the St. John’s Ward. Upon their arriva l the y w ere warned th at the marshal had been out looking for Peter. Th e nex t da y on their wa y home they saw some dust rising up ahead of the m and t he n a buggy came i nto view. They knew it must be the marshal s o Peter l ai d down in the bac k of the wagon and covered himself wit h a blanket . A s they got closer t o the marshal, Brother Jarvis steere d the horse s bac k and forth across th e road and yelled like he had bee n drinking . The M arshal left him alon e and kept on going. After Peter returned home he decided to move to Snowflake were he wa s a b l e to help work on the new stake house which was under constructio n . H e worked on the rounded staircase and painted the gallery. Mar y a n d the ir first Child, Malinda (b. November 9, 1884), moved with Pet er a n d she s tayed with her parents. Annise stayed behind in Springervi lle w i th her c hildren and new baby, Zebulon (b. December 13, 1884). President John Taylor warned the polygamist Saints in the area to le a v e A rizona and take their families to Mexico where they could not b e bo th ere d by the law. Peter and Mary packed up their belongings an d join e d a co mpany of thirty-two wagons. His sister, Hannah, and her h usband , E rnest L eander Taylor, were also in this company. When they were in Luna Valley, New Mexico, a snow storm came throug h . T h e melted snow left behind a lot of mud causing many problems fo r th e co mp any. They had to travel down a steep mountain called Milliga n’s S lid e Of f and attached pine trees to the backs of the wagons to he lp slo w th em do wn. Women had to walk with their babies and try to kee p thei r bal ance w ithout assistance while the men struggled to bring th e wagon s dow n the in cline safely. They reached the boarder safely an d the Mexi can o fficial s were shocked to see so many wagons entering th eir country . By March 7, 1885, the company reached the Casas Grande River just no r t h o f La Acension. They camped here until it was decided where the y w o ul d settle. The church purchased about 40,000 acres of land for th e Sa i nt s to live on and they found a desirable location to begin thei r sett le men t. Just as their crops were beginning to grow, they receive d an or de r fr om the local governor that all the Mormons in his state o f Chihua hua, mus t immediately leave Mexico. They were granted permissio n to sta y u ntil t heir crops were harvested. Apostle Lorenzo Snow wa s visitin g i n Mexic o City at the time and was sent word about the orde r. He spok e w ith th e Mexican president who resolved the problem and re moved the g over nor fro m office. The Saints were once again able to get back to work on their newly cre a t e d town. During this time Peter’s mother, Sidsel, arrived with her s o n s, James, Daniel, and his wife. It had been almost two years since the Saints had began to develop t h e i r new town when word arrived that they were not living on the lan d th a t h ad been purchased. This was a huge blow to them and many wer e disc o urag ed and returned to the United States. Most of them picked u p the i r belon gings and moved to the proper site which was not as desir able . O nce agai n they began to prepare the land for their settlement . Pete r a nd his br other James freighted from New Mexico and purchase d a saw m il l for thei r new colony which had been named Colonia Juarez. Peter had been called to be the Elder Quorum President and also trav e l e d as a home missionary. Annise and her children were moved to Colonia Juarez about 1887. Ei g h t m ore children were born to her and Peter in Mexico; Don Parley (b . M ar ch 2 6, 1888), Verna (b. Sept. 12, 1889), Effa (b. Nov. 2, 1890) , Haze l (Sept. 21, 1892), Marie Lula (b. March 9, 1895), Eva (b. May 5 , 1896) , An ita o r Annetta (b. 1897, d. 1899), and Merle Tresa (b. Marc h 26, 19 00). Peter and Mary also had eight more children born to them in Mexico; P e t e r James (b. Jan. 27, 1886), Angus Philemon (b. April 25, 1887), Ru t h (b. Dec. 20, 1889), Estella (b. March 20, 1892), Webster Grant (b. Ju l y 2 6, 1893, d. June 25, 1895), Vera (b. Feb. 16, 1895, d. July 31, 189 9) , S mi th Holister (b. Aug. 27, 1897), and Pamelia (b. Dec. 28, 1902). The two wives lived in corner houses at either end of a city block. A n n i se lived here until Peter purchased land in San Jose, Mexico and mo v e d he r and their children in 1895 or 1896. By 1900 they were livi n g i n Colon ia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico where Annise’s youngest Chil d wa s bo rn. Peter purchased the first header for harvesting wheat and the first tr a c t or that permitted him to pull several plows at a time. He took grad i n g c ontracts with two railroads in Arizona and the head engineer of o n e f ir m was so impressed he asked him to handle an extra tough job. T h e ro a d had to be made though Noco, Arizona which was based on a consi de rabl e a mount of rock. He accepted the contract even though it mean t h e wou ld h ave to do a lot of blasting which usually meant trouble wi th t he tow n’s a uthorities. Peter had a talent for being diplomatic an d als o welco med ch allenges which helped him with this job. In February 1893, the Skousen family received word that Willard’s wif e , S ophronia Ann had passed away. She left behind three young boys . H e r inf ant son had died in April of 1892. Willard brought his son s to M e xico t o live with his mother while he went to find work. Event ually , a romanc e blossomed between Willard and Annise’s daughter, Laur a Anni c e Robinson. They were married on December 23, 1896. Peter ha d want e d to take La ura on as a third wife and Peter’s brother, Jim, wa s als o sw eet on her. Annise said no, she will marry Willard, and Pete r gave h i s consent. In 1902 Peter sold his farm in San Jose, Mexico, and prepared to m o v e t o Canada. He took his daughter, Malinda, and some of his sons wi t h h im. Peter’s brother-in-law, Ernest Taylor, also went with peter an d t oo k so me of his sons and his daughter, Nora. The girls did the cook ing . T hey s ecured some farm land and built a house. They attended the ir c hur ch mee tings in Raymond, Taylor Stake. In the spring they worked hard to put in their wheat crop, only to h a v e i t lost to a hail storm. They prayed and determined they should s pe n d th e winter in Lethbridge. The two families rented a house and us e d t hei r horse teams to haul coal from the mines 5 miles away. It wa s s o c ol d that the horse’s nostrils would fill with ice and they coul d har dl y bre athe. In the spring Annise’s family and some of Mary’s children moved to Ca n a d a where they lived for many years. Several of the children were ma rr i e d while they lived there. Annise and Peter were farming in Raymond , A l be rta, Canada in 1911, when Peter’s brother, Willard, and his fami ly m ov e d to Canada. Willard and his wife, Laura, decided that Canada w as t o o co ld and moved to New Mexico. Peter was ordained a high priest on August 31, 1907 by Heber S. All e n a n d was a member of the Taylor Stake’s High Council. Peter started a mercantile business in Canada and it was very successf u l . Peter and his family were doing quite well until the depression o f 1 9 0 6-1908 hit them hard. Peter had to sell all he had for pennies o n t h e d ollar and chose to leave Canada. At the age of fifty-two with t wo w iv es a nd fifteen living children Peter had to start over. The Skousen’s returned to Mexico where he repurchased his San Jose fa r m . Mary and her family lived with him there. In 1911, Peter along with Alonzo, Adelbert, and Harvey Taylor joined t o g e ther in a partnership to invest in building a flour mill. Their bus in e s s was very profitable until the Mexican Revolution. Considerabl e pro p er ty was confiscated by rebels including thirty head of horses w hich l ef t t hem with no way to work their farm. Losses amounted to $15 ,000 . H e ha d to sell his stock in the mill for $18,000 in order to bu y mor e tea ms. “Shortly after this he purchased a steam tractor and thresher an d a n e w w agon for the tractor. While bringing the merchandise overlan d nor t h of L a Acension where General Pancho Villa was camped, soldier s deman de d all t he water in the wagon tank. This caused delay while g etting m or e wate r in order that the tractor could continue under its o wn steam . Upon ar riving in La Acension, Peter bravely went up to see P ancho V i lla. He co rdially greeted the general and told him of his rec ent purc h ases and thei r need in farming. He then requested a pass s o that he c o uld go on with out any further trouble. Pancho agreed tha t farming nee d ed improvemen t in Mexico and ordered his secretary to ma ke out the nec es sary document. A captain suggested there should be a d uty on such mer c handise. Pan cho ignored him, signed the pass and wish ed Peter a goo d t rip and success. Peter again displayed his ability a s a diplomat.” ( Sk ousens in Americ a, pg. 40) Peter and his sons worked hard during the summer with their new farm e q u i pment. They were able to get much more accomplished with their ne w ma c hi nes rather than using horses and old plows. Peter’s farming wa s a gr e a t success. The Mexican Revolution was getting too dangerous for women and Child r e n t o stay there, so on April 24, 1914, they left for El Paso, Texa s . P ete r went to Arizona for sometime and then returned to Mexico. Peter built flour mills in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico . H i s s ons tired of the mill business and wanted to return to farming . Pe t er s old his Colonia Dublan mill in 1924 and returned to farming. Peter purchased a new Buick Touring Sedan and on November 14, 1928, P e t e r drove President Heber J. Grant and his party from Columbus to Col on i a J uarez and then to Thatcher, Arizona for church conferences. On May 14, 1938, Peter, Bishop Call, and the Aaronic Priesthood Quo r u m o f Colonia Dublan, traveled to San Jose to erect a monument on th e g ro un d where the pioneers first camped in Mexico in 1885. Annise passed away on August 24, 1924, in Los Angeles, California wh i l e v isiting her daughter, Hazel. She is buried in Mesa, Arizona. Mar y p a sse d away on April 21, 1945, in Phoenix, Arizona and is buried i n Mesa . Peter Niels Skousen passed away on October 2, 1940, in Colonia Dubla n , C h ihuahua, Mexico. He fathered 18 children and raised 5 step-childr en . H e was a devoted husband, father, and member of the church. H e w a s a har d worker and worked hard to provide for his family. He wa s buri e d on Oct ober 3, 1940 in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico. Sources: Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sain t s , Vol. E Treasures of Pioneer History: Vol 3, The Mormons in Mexico Biography of Annise Adelia Bybee Robinson Skousen Biography of Laura Annise Robinson Skousen History of James Niels Skousen by Rita Maree Johnson Skousens in America, Peter Niels Skousen 1856-1940 by Max B. Skous e n a n d Meryle M. Gelisse Ancestry.com Ancestral File ® LDS Immigration Index Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel International Genealogical Index Humboldt Ship Passenger List 1870 Utah Census 1880 Utah Census