Peter Greenhalgh
Paris Post, Thursday, 19 June 1924, page 1
BLOOMINGTON LAST RESTING PLACE FOR BEAR LAKE PIONEER-On Monday,
the 16th, funeral services were held in the Bloomington Ward Chapel in honor of
Peter Greenhalgh, who at the ripe age of 94, passed away at the home of his son,
Franklin, in Brigham City Utah.
Peter Greenhalgh was born in Lancashire, England in the year 1830. he became a member of the Mormon church in 1852, in that year he married Miss Sarah Heald, who was two years his senior. Shortly afterwards they emigrated to Utah, reaching Salt Lake City, 24 Oct 1854. In November of that year, they moved to Willard, where they lived until 1863 when in answer to a call, they moved to Bear Lake Valley, spending that winter within the limits of the present city of Paris. In the spring of 1864, they moved over onto Bloomington Creek, pitched their tent, put down their covered wagon box as a sleeping apartment and in company with a few similarly equipped, commenced the establishment of the Village of Bloomington.
The call that came to Mr. Greenhalgh obligated him for two years and at the end of that time, he was to consider himself released, but when the two years had expired, he wanted no release. He had found as was stated at his funeral, a community of congenial spirits, a real aristocracy. An aristocracy not based upon pomp and show, nor upon wealth and its attendant frivolity, but an aristocracy based upon industry, honesty, integrity, optimism, intelligences, brotherly love and mutual helpfulness.
It is usually harzardous to attempt to name all the worthy men and women who, stood shoulder to shoulder in the formation of that pioneer community. There were so many of them, and they were of such uniform excellence that to omit from the list anyone would be to cause regret. Among them, Peter Greenhalgh stands out as one of the most eminent.
He was leader of the ward choir for several decades. He was superintendent of the Sunday School for 42 years and in that capacity for duration, faithfulness and punctuality, he made a record unequalled by any other man in the church. Mr. Greenhalgh was true to his family, true and loyal to his friends. He loved his friends and his association with them. He was uniformly jovial, had a rare fund of Lancashire wit. It was always a pleasure to meet him.
He had unbounded faith in the truth and divinity of the gospel. His testimony was firm and always borne in unmistakable language. He was a great reader, fond of good literature and kept himself informed along all lines of importance. He was a true Christian, a consistent Latter-day Saint. Though very pious, he never made himself odious, even to the young, by sanctimoniousness.
Mr. Greenhalgh leaves a posterity numbering over one hundred each a credit to his name. The funeral Monday was well attended. Friends from various parts of the county and some from elsewhere being present. Bishop Hart presided. Music was furnished under the direction of the ward choir leader. The speakers were J L Dunford, Wm L Rich, Alvero Dunn, Pres. Charles H Hart, and Bishop A A Hart, all spoke feeling of the splendid qualities and life of the departed.
Interment was in the Bloomington cemetery. The grave was dedicated by George H Ward.