Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Marie Wilhelmina Catherine Krause Madsen ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ December 2011
MARIE WILHELMINA CATHERINE KRAUSE 350 Born: 27 April 1847 Svenborg, Fuenert (Fynn), Denmark Age: 9 Hodgett Wagon Company Niels Peter and Wilhelmina MaC.; Wilhelmina's biography is taken mostly from a well researched account written by two of her granddaughters, Pearle M. Olsen and Aleen M. Summers. All accounts speak of Wilhelmina as a very "comely" and beautiful girl. Her parents were both from Germany, her mother, Anna Lucia Simonsen Abel, having been widowed previously. When Anna's first husband died, she inherited a wheelwright nail factory. Anna advertised in the "Danish Star News" for a manager to take care of the business and Johan H. F. A. Krause answered that advertisement, was hired, and proved to be very capable. He and Anna married and became the parents of six children. Wilhelmina went to her father's nail factory one day and picked up a red-hot nail that had dropped on the floor, thinking it very beautiful. It left a terrible scar the rest of her life. Another incident at the nail factory would also influence the course of Wilhelmina's life. A crowd had gathered outside the factory where two "Mormon" missionaries were passing out literature and announcing a meeting they would hold in the woods that night. Wilhelmina's mother and her friend, Marie Frandsen, attended and participated in the singing. A mob of persecutors soon came with ropes and clubs, but the missionaries were able to escape and find shelter in the woods. Anna and Marie -learned where the Elders were hiding, took food to them, and invited them to Anna's home to hold another meeting. At this meeting, the same mob came, broke the door to the Krause home, and told the missionaries to leave the country. Before leaving, the missionaries gave each of those present some literature and a song book. Wilhelmina received one of those books and cherished it throughout her life. She loved to sing and had a beautiful singing voice. Other missionaries soon came and taught the gospel to the Krause family. Johan was not interested, but Anna requested baptism, and did not tell her husband. She secretly attended meetings for about two years and finally revealed her actions to her husband, requesting that he take her to "Zion" to gather with the Saints. Johan did not wish to leave his successful business, but he was also a kind man who didn't like to see his wife unhappy. She would often sing from her little book this hymn: "Oh, Zion, when I think ofthee, I long for pinions like the dove, And mourn to think that I should be so distant from the land I love. A captive exile, far from home, for Zion's sacred walls I sigh, With ransomed kindred there to come and see Messiah eye to eye. While here I walk on hostile ground, the few that I can call my friends, are, like myself, in fetters bound, and weariness our steps attends. But yet we hope to see the day When Zion's children shall return. When all our grief shall flee away, and w~ a~ain no more shall mourn. The thoughts that such a day will come makes e'en the exiles r£f£"i:Mi'~weet; Though now we wander far from home, in Zion soon we all shall meet." Johann finally decided to sell the business and go to the United States to begin a new business in St. Louis, Missouri, making wagons and handcarts for the Saints to use in crossing the plains. This relocation and reestablishment of a business required so much money for this family of eight that it was decided to let one child remain in Denmark with friends and go to America the following year with those friends. The children drew lots to see who would stay and the lot fell to Wilhelmina. The rest of the family left from Copenhagen in 1855 with a company of four hundred Saints aboard the ship Charles Buck. 1855 was a terrible year for cholera outbreaks in St. Louis and two of Wilhelmina's little sisters and her mother died in July of that year. From Wilhelmina's biography we read, "Thus, 351 -'" Wilhelmina Krause - Page 2 Anna's hope and cherished dream of gathering to Zion with the Saints was not to become a reality, but her great faith paved the way for her daughter, Wilhelmina, to be among those whose names were to be carved in Utah's history." Meanwhile, in Denmark,Wilhelmina was unaware of the tragedy in her family and was preparing to sail with the Frandsen's when Marie Frandsen's brother tried to prevent Marie from going to Utah by telling the officials that Marie was stealing a child to take with her. The police officers took Wilhelmina's clothes and precious song book and placed her in an orphanage with little but a gray uniform. The missionaries were finally able to make the truth known and obtained her release, but the Frandsen family had been compelled to leave Denmark in the meantime. The Elders arranged for Wilhelmina to travel with the Lars (62) and Bodil (50) Madsen family in the next emigrant group. Wilhelmina became very close to Brother Madsen. One morning while waiting out the bad weather and unloading of the wagons at Devil's Gate, Wilhelmina went with Brother Madsen a ways from the camp. When he collapsed in the snow, Wilhelmina cried and wanted to stay with him, but he took his cane and pushed her away, telling her she couldn't stay. By the time she returned with help, Lars had died. Wilhelmina stayed with the widow Madsen's family and eventually married her son, Niels Peter. They settled in Mt. Pleasant where they had a home in town and also homesteaded a 160- acre piece of property. Wilhelmina and the children did a great deal of the work and became quite self-sufficient. She developed an infection in one eye, causing her to go blind in that eye, but she continued to read to her children from the Book of Mormon every night and work very hard. Her children said that many times they saw her crying as though her heart would break, then going to her bedroom to pray and coming out smiling, feeling God had given her strength to bear her troubles. Eventually, Wilhelmina placed an ad in a St. Louis, Missouri, newspaper to advertise for her family. Her father was notified and soon he and his daughter, Augusta, arrived in Salt Lake City. They stood on the steps ofthe Deseret News Building each day for a week, inquiring of passers-by for infonnation. They were about to give up when they met a man from Sanpete County and asked him if he knew a George Frandsen. The man knew the Frandsen's and Wilhelmina and after 32 years this family was reunited. Her father stayed for a month. When Johan Krause returned to Missouri, he still maintained that the "Mormons" had stolen his daughter and he was embittered toward them. He and his step-son, Frederick Abel, had become wealthy in St. Louis, having pioneered the plumbing business. They were both reputed to be millionaires and bought one of the first Pierce-Arrow automobiles in that area. Frederick visited Wilhelmina a few years later and offered her anything to renounce her faith and return with her children to St. Louis where she would be given every advantage but she refused. She did keep up communication with her sisters, Augusta and Caroline, in St. Louis. Caroline sent her a gold band ring and told her if she didn't see her in this life she would know her by her ring in the next world. After Wilhelmina's very full, but happy life, she was buried with the ring on her finger. "Sister Mina" served as Relief Society President and I,. .. " was beloved by all. She played her accordian and sang to her neighbors. Her children wrote in a tribute to her: "By her teachings and her good example she instilled into our hearts the good things of life, and taught us to live the Gospel which was so dear to her. She has been a beacon light to us all our lives and made an impression on us that will always be with us. She had a testimony of the gospel. She knew it was true and that there is a God who answers prayers. She paid a full tithing and she kept the Word of Wisdom and we never heard her swear or even use s[ang." Lars & Bodil Neilsen Madsen
This information is taken from "Madsen Family History"
Monday, November 28, 2011
August Lundberg ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ November 2011
August Lundberg History
compiled by Judy Malkiewicz, a great granddaughter
Born Nov 1, 1846 (Uppsala, Sweden) and Died Oct 7, 1919 (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
August Lundberg was born November 1, 1846 in Uppsala, Sweden, believed to be the son of Anders Lundberg (1817-1884) and Louisa Lundberg (dates unknown).
(photo restored by David R. Gunderson)
In 1878, August Lundberg at the age of 30 years left Uppsala, Sweden via Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland for America on the ship Nevada, arriving New York City on July 10, 1878. He was listed as a laborer on the ship rolls and was accompanied by his wife, Sofia Lundberg (age 30), daughter Amanda (age 11, born August 20, 1869 and died August 1, 1929), son Richard (age 8, born 1873 and died 1955), and Oscar (age 4, born October 7, 1875 and died March 11, 1952). They made their way to Fairview, Utah probably via the railroad and stayed there for two years. Initially, August Lundberg set up business as a tinsmith and watchmaker in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
August Lundberg had three brothers: one a musician (name unknown), one an undertaker (name unknown) and one an engraver (Isak Lundberg). Isak’s son (nephew to August Lundberg), Godfrey Emanuel Lundberg (born May 4, 1879 and died January 8, 1933), engraved the Lord’s Prayer on the head of a pin. There was a write-up in The Spokesman Review, Spokane, Washington on this Lord’s Prayer engraving. The pin was on display in Idaho Falls, Idaho (date unknown). Godfrey E. Lundberg also engraved U.S. on head of a needle.
August Lundberg is listed in the 1880 Census as living in Mt. Pleasant, Utah as a divorced man of 33 years of age.
August Lundberg married for a second time (date unknown, but probably in 1880 or 1881) to Christina Matilda Lundberg (born July 5, 1852 and died August 5, 1896).
They had 4 children together, Jennie Lundberg (married James Waldemar) (born December 8, 1881 and died November 3, 1936), and Edwin (also known as Edward) Lundberg (born January 15, 1886 and died December 14, 1943) and never married, Maple Henning Lundberg (born May 12, 1888 and died July 16, 1934) who married Hazel Anderson Lundberg, and Nancy Lundberg (born January 2, 1891 and died March 3, 1943) who never married.
Christina Matilda Lundberg died August 5, 1896 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah and is buried at the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
At some point, probably circa 1890, August Lundberg went to Salt Lake City, Utah and studied to become a dentist. He is listed in the 1890 census as living in Salt Lake City, Utah.
August Lundberg had a dental office Murray, Utah circa 1890.
In addition, the 1900 Census revealed August Lundberg listed as living in Salt Lake City, Utah with his son Maple Lundberg, age 12 and daughter Nancy Lundberg, age 9. His wife, Christina Matilda Lundberg having died in 1896. Also in the 1900 Census, Jennie Lundberg (age 24) and Edwin Lundberg (age 14) are listed living together in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
On June 5, 1902, August Lundberg married for the 3rd time to Sarah Matilda Johnson Lundberg (went by Matilda, born July 29, 1870 and died October 14, 1943) in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had one son together, Roy August Lundberg (born June 16, 1912 and died May 8, 1933 of a brain tumor – he never married).
The Lundberg family must have lived in Murray, Utah at this time because August Lundberg ran for political office as a councilman for the Socialist Party in the fall of 1903.
However, while living in Murray, Utah and working as a dentist, Dr. August Lundberg maintained a branch dental office in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
Dr. August Lundberg’s dental office in Mt. Pleasant, Utah was on Main Street. In addition, he ran the Pastime Pool Hall in the same building. By 1906, Dr. August Lundberg built a whole block of buildings on Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, Utah known as the “LUNDBERG BLOCK”.
The August Lundberg house in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.
In 1908, Dr. August Lundberg brought the first automobile to Mt. Pleasant, Utah. It was a Locomobile (from Hilda Madsen’s book, “Mt. Pleasant 1859-1939” page 195).
However, according to Hilda Madsen, Dr. August Lundberg only kept the Locomobile for a month or so and replaced it with a bright red 1908 Northerner like this one.
Dr. August Lundberg’s 1908 Northerner automobile was featured in the Mt. Pleasant, Utah Pioneer Days in 1912.
By 1910, August Lundberg was back in Mt. Pleasant, Utah according to the 1910 census. The 1910 Census shows August Lundberg, age 60 years, living with his wife Matilda, age 40, son Edgar (should have been Edwin), age 25, son Mapen (should have been Maple), age 21, and daughter Nancy, age 17. (More on August Lundberg's children in a future post).
Dr. August Lundberg ran the Mt. Pleasant Electric Power Plant and lost it in a flood. Dr. August Lundberg visited his son, Maple Henning Lundberg and Maple's (Mape) wife, Hazel Theora (Jensen) Anderson Lundberg in Mackay, Idaho on November 11, 1918 Armistice Day.
Dr. August Lundberg died in Mt. Pleasant, Utah at the age of 73 years from General Debility and Neurothemia (a stomach disorder with increased acid and irritation).
August Lundberg died at the age of 73 years and was buried from the North Ward Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, Utah on October 10, 1919. August Lundberg is buried at the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.
Translation from Swedish:
As mentioned shortly in latest edition of the Utah-Paper (a weekly newspaper in Swedish), Dr A. Lundberg died in his home in Mount Pleasant, Utah, October 7, 1919, 73 years old.
He was born in Uppsala, Sweden November 1, 1846, arrived in Utah in July 1878 and settled in Fairview, Utah where he stayed for two years, thereafter he moved to Mount Pleasant where he resided till his death.
Dr. Lundberg left behind his wife and eight children, five sons and three daughters. These are: Mrs Amanda (Lundberg) Cox in Rupert, Idaho,
Richard Lundberg in Idaho Falls , Idaho
Oscar Lundberg in Fairview
Mrs. James Waldemar (Jennie Lundberg)
Edwin Lundberg, Mt Pleasant,
Maple H. Lundberg, Mackay, Idaho,
Miss Nancy Lundberg and
Roy Lundberg, Mt. Pleasant, Utah
The deceased was married 3 times.
The burial ceremony was held at Northward Chapel last Friday, October 10, 1919, led by Bishop H C Jacobs. The Wardels choir sang “I Need Thee Every Hour” and “Nearer My God to Thee”. Speakers were Måns Månsson, President C N Lund and Bishop Jacobs. Wilford Hafen performed a solo song “O My Father” and the choir sang “Home Sweet Home”. Bishop Jacobs held the final prayer and gave his blessings for the deceased’s final resting room.
Dr. Lundberg was what you call a “self-made-man”. He was a dentist, optician, electrician, blacksmith as well as repair-man of watches. He was the man who brought the first wagon with leaf springs, the first sledge and also the first automobile to Mount Pleasant
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