Longest marriage? Utahn says otherwise

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 17, 2005 | by Lee Benson Deseret Morning News

It's been quitea month for Percy and Florence Arrowsmith of Hereford, England. On June 1, upon the occasion of their 80th wedding anniversary, the Associated Press ran a story that was carried in newspapers around the world -- including this one -- that declared the Arrowsmith's marriage as the "world's longest." The claim, according to the AP, was documented by the Guinness World Records organization.

Then just two days ago, on Wednesday, June 15, Percy Arrowsmith died, at the age of 105, leaving behind 100-year-old Florence and officially ending their record marriage at 80 years, 15 days.

But there's a problem, and it's right here in Utah.

According to Reed Madsen of Richfield, his grandparents, the late Peter and Celestia Peterson of Fairview, are the true world champions of marriage. Peter and Celestia were married 81 years, 10 months and 320 days when Peter died 45 years ago at the age of 100 on Oct. 27, 1960. Celestia died a year later, at the age of 101.

The Petersons were married in St. George on Dec. 11, 1878, when they were both 18.

"The report was wrong," says Reed, 79, who was a staff writer and correspondent for 52 years here at the Deseret Morning News and wrote several stories about his grandparents' longevity back when they were alive and kicking. "I don't know how to go about correcting it, but it certainly is in error."

From all indications, Reed has an airtight case that the Petersons were married longer than the Arrowsmiths -- if that's the issue (there could be a distinction by the Guinness folks between "living" and "dead"). Not only are there all those stories he personally produced, but the library archives here at the DMN are filled with other news accounts about the Peterson's longevity.

In Fairview, the Petersons are a household name. When Peter and Celestia were still alive, they were the talk of the town. On their 75th wedding anniversary there was a town day just for them. On their 80th anniversary, telegrams and congratulations came from everywhere, including President Eisenhower.

Today, their legacy lives on in a larger-than-life sculpture of the two of them that was sculpted by Avard Fairbanks and is showcased in the Fairview Museum.

Then there's their not-insignificant posterity. The Petersons had 10 children -- including Reed's mother, Lucile -- and things have only grown from there. "Fifteen years ago, somebody figured it up and their posterity was estimated at 2,300," says Reed. "Who knows how many it would be today."

When I talked to Reed about his grandparents, I couldn't resist asking him the one question I know we're all dying to know the answer to.

No, not, "How did Peter remember 81 anniversaries?"

"What was their secret?" I queried.

"I don't know that they ever said," said Reed. "If I had to say what it was, I'd say they were very family-oriented and congenial with one another. I never heard them say a bad word to each other. They weren't always together, though. He worked hard on the farm and was gone a lot.

"What I remember most is when they were older and them sitting in their kitchen in their matching rockers with their feet up on the oven door."

It's highly possible, in fact, that's precisely what the Petersons were doing the day they set the record their grandson believes they rightly hold. Just kicking back together, and staying warm.

Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.