The passing of some prominent citizens is marked by statues in town squares. Some have a hospital wing or elementary school named after them.

But Canute Peterson’s legacy is more unusual: three houses, one for each wife, standing side by side in the heart of Ephraim.

Peterson was born in Bergen, Norway, where he became a Quaker at a young age. When he was 13, he traveled with his family to the United States. Once he reached Illinois, he became acquainted with the Mormon faith and joined the church at age 18. He married his first wife, Sarah Ann Nelson, in 1849 and was in the first wagon train that traveled to Salt Lake City with Brigham Young.

In 1856, Peterson was returning to Utah from a mission to his native Norway when he was called to lead a company of 320 pioneers in 60 ox-drawn wagons from Florence, Neb. (now Omaha) to Salt Lake City. At first the wild oxen and inexperienced drivers only made four to six miles a day. Once the oxen gentled and the drivers’ skills improved, they could travel as much as 20 miles a day. When some oxen died from overheating, the travelers were forced to lighten their loads. Nevertheless, they stopped to build a bridge over Wood River to make traveling for those who would come behind them easier, and when Indians showed up, they always fed them.

When they reached the Elkhorn River, it was dangerously swollen from heavy rains, yet Peterson and his friend, Ira Sabe, volunteered to swim a rope to the ferry on the other side. “After this,” Peterson is quoted as saying, “when there was any swimming to be done, I was generally asked to do it, and became quite popular.” He also modestly admitted that he was a “lucky hunter.”

There were four deaths before the wagon train straggled into Salt Lake City over the course of several days. The company was all accounted for by September 23, 1856, including Peterson’s second wife, Gertrude Maria Rolfson. Peterson helped found Lehi and lived there until he was called to serve as bishop in Ephraim.

After he arrived in Sanpete in 1867, he built a small adobe house at 10 N. Main St., but his family soon outgrew it, soin 1869 he added on to the west side, creating the striking landmark that stands today: a house with 10-foot ceilings, two stories, and a full attic, just north of Far West Bank. His house has the architectural distinction of a “polygamy pit,” a place where polygamists hid from lawmen after the practice was ruled illegal. Its most famous occupant was Wilford Woodruff, who traveled to Sanpete County in 1888 to dedicate the Manti Temple. Peterson served as the assistant superintendent of the construction of the Manti Temple, and was given the assignment to lay the northwest cornerstone.

Peterson married his third wife, Charlotte Ekstrom, in 1867. He ultimately built two new houses north of his original home so each wife could have her own house. His three marriages produced 21 children.

Peterson’s main livelihood was farming, yet he was not above trying other business ventures to provide for his growing family. In the spring of 1862, Peterson teamed with David Evans and opened a tannery on Dry Creek (located at the northwest corner of 300 North and 100 West in Ephraim). The business lasted eight years before it closed down.

Peterson was credited with helping make peace with the Indians. He visited ailing Chief Black Hawk and presented him with gifts of sugar, ham, bread, beads, molasses and other food, medicine and clothing. After this, the grateful chief put a partial end to hostilities. In 1868, five important chiefs met at Peterson’s home to establish peace pacts. After Sarah served them all a good meal, Peterson crossed the street to share a pipe of peace with the Indians beneath the peace treaty tree. The old juniper still stands west of the creek.

Peterson is credited with a major role in starting Snow College. Many a discussion over the project was held across his dining room table. He was instructed to oversee construction of what is now the Noyes Building in 1899, but didn’t live to see its completion in 1908.

Peterson served as Ephraim Stake president from 1877 to 1902, and was also the stake patriarch when he died in 1902.