`(by Mrs. Deseret C. Moon)

Williams Peter Camp was born April 19, 1859 in Salt Lake City, a son of Williams Washington Camp and Amelia Evans Camp.

Both of his parents were Utah pioneers. Peter was born one block east of the Eagle Gate in a house that was recently torn down to be replaced by a grocery store.

His early boyhood days were spent in Salt Lake City where he attended school. When 17 years-old he moved to Samaria with his mother’s family. He became engaged in farming and freighting to Montana, using ox teams at first and later horses. Soon he met and courted Ann Morse, who had immigrated with her parents from Mountain Ash, South Wales to Utah with the Saints and later came to Samaria. Peter and Ann Morse and his mother went to Salt Lake City in a covered wagon when the young couple were married. After their marriage in the Endowment House on March 5, 1879, they returned to Samaria where they made their home and their three eldest children, Williams Peter Jr. Ann and Albert M. were born.

In 1884, Peter was called on a mission for the church to the southern states where he labored for more than two years. His wife was adept in sewing and a willing worker who labored diligently to help the ward support her husband and maintain the home in his absence. She also cared for her sons, William Jr. and Albert M. The daughter, Ann, had died in infancy. On March 13, 1887, Peter returned from the mission field.

Soon after his return they found an opportunity to homestead 160 acres four miles north of Samaria. Their home was a log one which he built himself. The sagebrush was so high they were not able to see over it. It took many hours of labor to clear the land and prepare it for crops. Food was scarce so they used plenty of mushrooms, watercress and venison. In 1890 it was possible for them to build a new home and they were very happy. The house still stands. It was in the new home that Alvin M., Margaret, Amelia, Deseret, Richard, Emma, Olive, Joseph & three others, who died in infancy, were born.

Peter was active in building up the community and church. He served in the first Sunday School which was organized in their home. He was also a member of the first bishopric of the Pleasant View ward, the first postmaster at Pleasant View and the first Justice of the Peace.

Included in his work was the breaking of wild horses. He also owned a shearing corral which he operated for a number of years. In 1899 he filled a short term mission for the MIA to Emery stake in Eastern Utah. He served many years as a home missionary in the Malad stake, was secretary of the Sunday School stake board for some time and was also secretary of the YMMIA board for several years.

In 1907 he sold his farm in Pleasantview to his son, Williams P. Jr. and moved to Logan where they lived for one year and then came back to the farm and traded his home in Logan for a farm in Holbrook where he and his wife spent a number of years farming. They later sold their farm in Holbrook and moved to their old home in Pleasant View. 

Peter always enjoyed dancing and in his younger days, took active part in the “Home Dramatics” company of the Samaria ward.

Uncle Peter, as he is lovingly known to his friends, has witnessed many changes in his 94 years, especially in the mode of travel. When he was first married it was believed a team and wagon were fine for travel and when springs were added, they thought the peak in comfort had been reached. Then came the white top buggy, then the surrey and finally the Ford which he mastered, perhaps with more difficulty in driving then he experienced with six spans of horses with which he was much more familiar.