JOHN MEYRICK
A YOUNG CONVERT OF CORAGE ~ 1881--1899
HISTORY OF JAMIMA HUTCHISON MEYRICK
1848 - 1922
Friday, October 1, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Lars and Bodil Madsen ~ Pioneers of the Month ~ September 2010
Mads Madsen born July 20, 1830
Niels Peter Madsen born September 17, 1832
Anders (Andrew) Madsen born March 3, 1835
Anne Margrathe Madsen born October 29, 1837
Jocobine Madsen born June 23, 1840
Niels Madsen born August 29, 1843
Lars Christian Madsen born December 29, 1847
At the time the Mormon Elders visited Denmark, the Madsen family were devout Lutherans. Each Sunday they walked nearly two miles to attend church in Asmindrup. Among the missionaries who first called upont the family were Hans Peter Lund, Lars Erickson, and T.D. Falstead. Since Lars and Bodil always welcomed them, they came frequently to their home and by 1854, the entire family had become members of the Latter Day Saint Church. Soon a branch was organized in Osherred with Lars Erickson as President.
The next year in 1855, Lars decided to sell the farm, put some money in the perpetual emigration fund, and emigrate to the United States to join the Mormons in Utah. The farm was to be paid for in three yearly payments, so only a part of the family could emigrate each year. Disposing of his property, he sent five of his children ahead to prepare the way for the rest of the family. On November 23, 1855, Niels Peter, Andrew, Margrathe, Jacobine, and Niels, left from Copenhagen to begin the long journey to America. At this time Niels Peter, the oldest of the group, was only 23 years old and Niels, the youngest was but 12. Lars and Bodil's courage and faith were unwavering as they watched their young family depart.
Some months later Lars, Bodil and Christian, their youngest child, began their journey to Utah. They arrived in Philadelphia and then took the train to Iowa City, Iowa, where they remained for six weeks, making preparations to cross the plains. In july they joined a large ox-team company, under the command of Captain William B. Hodgett, and started on the long arduous trip to the wild and unsettled West, where they were to endure many unforeseen hardships. No doubt they would have reached their destination much sooner had they not encountered along the way a destitute handcart company led by Captain Martin. They had camped at a fording place on the Platt River and were ready to cross the river when the handcart company arrived. Filled with compassion, Captain Hodgett's company took many of them into their wagons, knowing the extra load would be a heavy burden for their own people and exhausted oxen.
Towards the end of October, as they neared the Red Buttes both companies became snowbound. A relief company sent to rescue them from Salt Lake City also became snowbound near Devil's Gate, Wyoming. When a small group from the relief party finally succeeded in reaching the emigrant company, they found them suffering from the effects of the bitter cold weather and insufficient food. The temperature had fallen to eleven degrees below zero; food rations had been reduced to less than one half the amount necessary to sustain life. Stared and weary, Lars, sixty-one years of age, became ill and a few days later he died. He was laid away as well as could be under the circumstances by fellow travelers at Devil's Gate, near the head of the Sweetwater River and Martin's Ravine.
Leaving a husband and father and most of their belongings at the Gate, Bodil and Christian, on November 9, boarded one of the relief wagons and continued their journey to Utah. The two young men driving the wagon in which they rode preferred to go down the Weber river and left the main company. They had to cross the Weber River many times and at places the ice was broken and the horses could not pull the load up the bank so they were compelled to unload and reload the wagon several times. Bodil reached East Weber on December 21, 1856, ten days later than the company which had taken a more direct route to the Salt Lake Valley.
Learning of her arrival, Niels Peter, who was living in Kaysville, drove an ox team to Weber to meet his mother and brother. Bodil returned with him to his home (a dugout and a wagon bed), to recuperate for the winter, before the family moved again, this time south to Sanpete County. Though she had lost a husband and all of her belongings, she rejoiced at being united with her children once again. In March, 1857, the oldest son, Mads, who had stayed in Denmark to collect the final payment on the farm reached Utah. Crossing the plains during the summer months with Captain Cowley's company, he entered the Salt Lake Valley, September 13, 1857, bringing with him a wagon, a yoke of oxen, and another family.
Mads married Ellen Hansen in Brigham City, Utah. Ellen was the daughter of Hans and Kristen Nielsen. Mads and his wife, Ellen and Mads' mother, Bodil left Norhern Utah during the "Big Move" and headed for Sanpete in 1858.
The above biography is taken from the Madsen Family History.
New Family Search records Bodil's death to be 18 December 1883. She died and is buried in Mt. Pleasant.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
John and Louisa Thalman Hasler ~ Pioneers of the Month ~ August 2010
John
I was born on April 17, 1839, at Mamedorf Ct. Zurich situated on the Zurich Lake, one of the most beautiful places in Switzerland, of goodly parents. My father's name was John Hasler and my mother's, Susana Leyman.
I was brought up in the Protestant Church which was then the dominant church of the State. My parents were particular that I should attend religious class work until I was seventeen years old before I was permitted to partake of the sacrament and be confirmed a full member of that church.
Being the oldest child of our family, I worked on our little farm which was mostly planted with grapevines. It needed skillful work from early spring until fall to cultivate and care for them. In the winter months besides attending school, I spent much time in learning music for which I had a great liking, especially band music. While I had to study a great deal without a teacher, I learned to play different instruments. In those days printed music was quite expensive. I borrowed copies from men that were efficient in the art, and copied most of my pieces and arranged them for different instruments. I often spent whole nights in writing and arranging popular music, and when morning dawned, I would steal up to my room and disarrange my bed to make mother believe I had slept in it.
When I was fifteen years old, I had to recruit in the Military Service. (Probably the war of Sonderbud). My talent in playing an instrument well was soon recognized. I was advanced and before I was 21 years old. I became the leader of the Military Band, was invited to the Cavalry and earned a Lieutenant grade. When I was about 25 years old, there was a great revival in our town of the Methodist sect as we called it. I attended the meetings and soon joined it. I was never much interested, although I was quite favored by the Minister because I was a help to them with the singing.
Later I got acquainted with a young man of my own age, who had recently joined the Mormons. He was getting ready with his young family to go to Utah. Having had some business transactions with him I knew him well and favorably. Since he was situated and had good prospects for the future, I was forcefully impressed. I wanted to know what could induce him to leave his comfortable and beautiful home, parents and relatives, and to to an unknown place. He then took me to his private room and tried to explain the gospel message to me. I was impressed by the strength of his faith, and before we parted that night, I asked a favor of him ~ that if he found that he had not been mislead, he would write to me and tell me all about it and how he was getting along.
This young man was Ulrich Winkler from Zell Ct., Zurich. He later became my brother-in-law. I did not hear from him for two years. I had met his wife's sister that evening before his departure when he explained the gospel to me. I came in the autumn of 1866 on business to the place where she lived and called on her, to inquire about her folks in Utah. She gave me a favorable report of them. I then asked for Mr. Winkler's address. I wrote a letter to him and reminded him of his promise to me. He wrote me a long letter back and told me he was not disappointed. His religion was dearer to him than ever, and he again bore a strong testimony to me of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but in the blunt and out-spoken way he told me that only those that would humble themselves and would ask the Lord in sincerity for a testimony, would find happiness and satisfaction there. I read this letter over and over again.
I wanted to know more about it. I obtained an address of a man that was a member of the Mormon Church who lived in the City of Zurich. I found him with some difficulty. I had been told that he was a teacher and I expected to find a man of that profession, I was disappointed to find him working in a mechanic shop, a factory employee. I asked him if he was a teacher. He looked at me amused, but hesitated. He then said he held that office in his church where he belonged and was proud of it.
Seeing that I wanted to find out more about his belief, he invited me to his home. There I found that he was a teacher after the order of our Lord Jesus Christ. He bore his testimony to me and invited me to come to their meetings which I attended. I received a testimony. I applied for baptism and received that ordinance on the 6th of December, 1968, at the age of 29, by Ferdinand Bruppacher. I was confirmed on the 13th of December by Karl G. Maeser. I was ordained a priest the same month. I started to do missionary work with my former associates, the Methodists, but found a cold shoulder. The Minister warned his flock to beware of me. I had fallen from grace.
After I received that letter from Brother Winkler, I visited his wife's sister several times. We became better acquainted, so I invited her to my home to spend a few days at grape harvesting time which was always great sport with young people. Our acquaintance ripened into friendship. This was, however, before I joined the church, and Miss Thalman had not yet taken that step. I offered my hand and heart to her, but she told me she could not accept my offer as she intended to become a Mormon and go to Utah. That answer usually settled any of her suitors, but this time it did not work with me. By this time I had received the letter to my inquiry from her brother-in-law.
I followed his instructions and was baptized in the Church before she was. However, she was afraid my conversion might not be sincere. So she put me on probation for a time until she was sure I had received a testimony.
I was sent out a lot to attend meetings with Elders to different branches where I took part in speaking and singing. On the 25th of December the same year, Miss Thalman came to Zurich to be baptized. There was no other branch near her home. We went out on the Zurich Lake at midnight as we were watched by a mob which wanted to make trouble. We wandered out away from the city and she and another sister were baptized undisturbed by the Branch President, Benjamin Bruppacher. When we came back, Brother Karl G. Maeser confirmed and blessed her, and we continued our Christmas Festivities.
A testimony was given Miss Thalman at the same time. She had been suffering with neuralgia in her head for about two months previous so that she had scarcely slept at night during that length of time. She had not told anybody of her ailment because she was a stranger there. But when Brother Maeser confirmed her, he told her that she would be blessed with health and her ailments should leave her. She wondered how he could know that she was afflicted because she had told no one. After she went home with a young couple who invited her, she told the lady as she was shown to her room that she could not retire because she expected to sit up as usual with her pains. The sister told her not to mind that. "We are all tired." She lay down as she was told and in a few minutes she was asleep and her ailment never bothered her after that night.
Some time latter we were engaged to be married on the 14th day of May, 1869. As we intended to emigrate the same year, we did not go to housekeeping. My wife and her mother came to my parent's home to live until we were ready to start. Before this time we had tried to dispose of our little farm, but could not find a buyer. As soon as we took the initial step into the Church this obstacle was overcome, although we had to sell at a great sacrifice.
On the 13th of August, we received from Brother Maeser the notice to be ready to start on our journey on the 15th of August. Our trunks were packed ready to be taken to Zurich when we received another telegram from Brother Maeser, asking if we could take a little boy of a poor sister, three and on-half years old, and care for him until his mother could come in another year. Another family took his little sister, a year older. We telegraphed the money, and the mother brought her children the next morning to the depot. I felt bad for the mother who had given up her children in our hands, but she was thankful for the way to open and for the prospect of her to follow. We took an affectionate farewell from my parents, brothers, and sisters, who had opposed our leaving our home so much because they could not see. I told them I had to go to pave the way for them to follow as soon as they could understand the truth, which saying proved to be prophetic. When I came back ten years after on a mission, I was able to baptize my father, a brother and a sister. My mother, one brother and one sister had died before I came back.
Our journey was a pleasant one. We sailed from Liverpool to New York in thirteen days. We were in the first emigration train that took us right through Ogden, Utah. We were met in Salt Lake City by our brother-in-law, Ulrich Winkler. We bought a yoke of oxen, a wagon and some farming tools, and so because my wife's family was united again, the mother and her two daughters.
Brother Winkler had been driven from Richfield the year before on account of Indian Trouble, and he had only been able to put up one room and part of another when we came. We went to work and put a dirt roof on the other room which we occupied that winter. In the spring of 1870, I took up some city lots, made a willow fence around two lots more in basket fashion. Then I started to build a cellar. Not being able to have any more done, I put a roof on the cellar which had two rooms. For one room we were able to obtain some lumber to put in a floor. It was made so far habitable that we were able to move in to it at Christmas Eve. No prince or princess was happier to move into a palace than we were that Christmas eve. We fell in each other's arms and on our knees we thanked our Father in Heaven that we had so far succeeded to have a home of our own; but with gratitude and thankfulness, be it said right here, that we were made more than welcome with Brother Winkler and family. By this time both families were expecting an increase and we got pressed for room.
I was only a week in Mt. Pleasant when Sanpete County received a notice from the Governor that a Military Drill would be held in the fields between Ephraim and Manti, and they wanted it to be lead by a Military Band. I was asked to lead that band.
I got busy. I had brought with me a trunk full of musical instruments. A big drum with sticks were a town property. Everybody knew when it was beaten to bring all men together to guard against Indians. I divided my instruments and drilled almost day and night, our young men. In three weeks at the appointed time, they were able to play a number of national hymns. My skill in writing notes came in handy. I had to write every part of the band. It is needless to say we won the prize because there was no other band to compete with us, although the ever faithful drum and fife were there.
In 1870, on the 14th of June, our first son was born. We named him Henry Hasler. He brought great joy into our home. At this time, I got ten acres of land in the field which I cleared, plowed, and planted in wheat which brought us a fair crop even in the first year.
In 1872 another son had come to bless our home, but we did not have him very long. He lived only three months. The same year we went to Salt Lake City with ox team to get our endowments and were sealed to each other for time and eternity by Joseph P. Smith.
In the fall of 1872 a severe trial overtook us. I was suddenly taken down with typhoid fever, which later developed into rheumatic fever. I was laid low all winter. My life hung on a thread for months. My body was reduced to a skeleton. The cords of my limbs were drawn together. In those days there was no medical help obtainable. We had to depend entirely on the Lord, much faith being exercised by my family and the brethren of the Holy Priesthood. I was for months delirious.
In the first days of my illness I told my wife of a dream I had. I dreamed I was working in the field when a personage dressed in a military suit came to me and wanted me to follow him. He promised me work that would be to my liking in music and band. I could be a great leader. This was very tempting to me, but I thought then of my wife and family who so much depended on me. I pleaded with him to let me then go to town to consider it. I was thinking of gaining time and that I could get help of the Priesthood. I told my wife if I would get delirious again to get my brethren to help me for fear this man would come back and overpower me. I did not want to go with him.
My wife told the dream to those who came to administer to me mostly every day. Some of them got weak in the faith and felt that it was almost a greater blessing to pray to our Father in Heaven to take me and release me from the misery for I suffered much. Many of them, however, were faithful and fasted and prayed for my recovery. I was not able to help myself in the least for months. My wife carried me from one room to another so she could be near me and help me while doing her household duties. My little son, Henry, also took the typhoid fever and hovered between life and death, but his grandma was able to care for him a great deal.
I was not able to help myself in the least. I had to be fed like a child. On the 25th of March, mother was confined to her bed and in this sorrowful and trying condition she was delivered. We were made happy to receive a little daughter that had been sent to come to bless and comfort us in this trying time. It nearly cost the life of our mother who had become so worn out of strength through this long siege of sickness. After the excitement was over, she became unconscious. Her mother and sister tried every means to bring her out of her stupor, but to no avail. Then her sister ran for blocks to get some elders to administer to her. While she was gone, in the agony of the situation I managed to get out of my bed and over to her. As I said before, I had not been able to lift up my body in a sitting position without being helped. I laid my hands upon her,l and in the anguish of my soul I cried to the Lord to spare her life. I think it was more than an hour before she gained consciousness. Her sister brought another elder and again we pleaded with the Lord for her recovery when she was able to recognize us. Her recovery was speedy and in a short time she was able to care for us again. We named our little daughter Lydia Hasler.
On the first of May, I was carried in a chair out of the cellar to fresh air for a little while. My recovery was slow. After the warm weather came, however, I was able to help myself around with crutches. While I was in this weak condition I started to write music for brass band, which was a great help and blessing to us. I received wheat and provisions for my work.
In 1875, on the 31st of January, another son came to bless our home. We gave him the name of Walter Hasler. In that fall we had started to build our house over the cellar. We hired the adobes mostly made, but I was not able to do much. I had finally thrown away my crutches.
In that year the United Order was organized. We joined. My oxen and wagon were not of any use to us, so all was given up to the order. I was to teach music, and those that could do masonry and carpenter work had to do the building. The mason did not get to the top when he drew out of the Order. The carpenters did the same. On account of inefficient leadership the Order lasted about two years when it was dissolved again. I then started to do the carpenter work myself. I had a few tools to work with. I got it so far along that we could move in two rooms before the hard winter set in. We had lived in the cellar for five years.
In the year 1877 on the 15th of July, another sweet little girl was born to us. She, too, was not permitted to stay long. She took scarlet fever. Those were hard trials, but we had to submit to the will of the Lord. She lived only about seven months.
On the 22nd of December, 1878, Emil Hasler was born. At that time our grandma Thalman took sick, and on the 5th of April, 1879, died at the age of 76 years. She had never been able to learn the English language, but she had always rejoiced in the gospel.
In 1880 another son was born. We named him Edward Hasler. He lived only a short time.
At the April Conference my name was called to go on a mission to Switzerland. On the 14th of April, I left my home and family and arrived in my field of labor, Bern, then the Mission Headquarters.
I was called to work in the office for about six months to arrange the music to the songs of the German Hymnbook. One thousand copies were edited in the German Language.
After this work was finished I was sent to the northeastern part of Switzerland which was at that time a far-scattered field. Besides my missionary work, I organized a choir in every branch and held singing practice almost every evening. Many young people that loved music and ones that were not even members came to our practices, and became interested. Some would become investigators in the gospel.
In the Autumn of 1882, I was released and had charge of an emigration of 72 saints, thus fulfilling a prophesy pronounced upon my head by a patriarch, that I should go on a mission to my native land, and bring some sheep home with me. I had a chance to preach the gospel to my schoolmates, although with little result.
When I was at home, I did Sunday School class work and conducted the singing. I was choir leader for over twenty years, free of charge. In the first years, I wrote the music to our hymns up to the time the Psalmody was printed. My wife wrote the words to the music in the copies.
In 1883 we welcomed another baby girl who was given the name of Mina Ottillia Hasler.
In about 1890 I started to travel through Sanpete County and Sevier County selling musical instruments, teaching music in the homes, organizing choirs, and helping the people to have advanced students play in their meetings and Sunday Schools.
On the 12th of August, 1894, I was ordained a High Priest by the hand of John B. Maiben. I then served in that quorum as secretary and as leader of the singing.
I was successful in starting and leading a number of my students who are now taking prominent parts in their art in our Church. Among them are Professors McLellan, Anton Lund, and Clair Reid.
I had been successful in obtaining a genealogy of my ancestors comprising over 300 names for whom most all the baptisms had been attended to and some endowment work done. The rest I have to leave to my children.
I was able to give my children liberal educations. The main reason I started to travel and be away from home was that our little farm did not support the family. The children had grown older. The boys in connection with their schoolwork were able to take care of the farm work. Other boys had to leave home and seek work somewhere herding sheep or hire out in mines at the tender age when they need home influence the most. They might get in an environment where bad habits are easily formed. I felt that I could better stand hardship than they could temptation, so that they could have the advantage of schools and learning.
I tried to keep my children under Church influence. I was strict with them to attend Sunday Schools and meetings, and went with them to attend these functions until the habit was formed. I had the pleasure of seeing two of my sons take missions. My daughters, teaching schools, were also useful in church organizations. I give my Father in Heaven my thanks and the gratitude of my heart that he has blessed me, not withstanding many failings, had kept me in the faith of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
John Hasler died January 10, 1914 at the age of 75 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah
Thursday, July 1, 2010
James and Christena Christensen ~ Pioneers of the Month ~ July 2010
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James and Christena Christensen
the following is taken from Knudsen Chronicles by Shirley Parkin Porath
James Christian Christensen
Born: 24 Jun 1825 ~ Horbro, Veijle, Denmark
Married Christena Madsen December 1859 in Mt. Pleasant
Died: 23 October 1880 ~ Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah
Christena Madsen Christensen
Born: 27 January 1843 ~ Jyderup Hollsbaek, Denmark
Died: 15 November 1900 ~ Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah
Children Born
Hannah Christena 27 Apr 1862
Annie Johanna 7 Nov 1864
Emma 24 Mar 1867
Dianthe Dorthe 22 Oct 1870
James 5 Oct 1872
Hans 26 Oct 1875
Caroline Andrea 29 Mar 1879
Christena's Early Experiences in Utah
Christena's early life and experiences coming to Utah are chronicled in "Willie Handcart Pioneers," chapter 15. Saints in Salt Lake City provided food and shelter while the members of the Willie Company rested
and recuperated from their arduous trek. Information about Christena's life after she reached Uta is found in a short history written by her daughter, Annie.
"The family lived as best they could, doing whatever they could find to do to keep body and soul together. When Sanpete County was colonized, Mother and the two older girls, Hannah and Christena, remained in Salt Lake City to work. In order to live they had to work every day, so they were not able to go to school. Finally these two girls went to Ephraim to join their mother and their younger sister and brother."
The journey of these two young girls to Fort Ephraim is related in Christena's own words:
"We managed to get to the town of Nephi thinking we would be able to get to Ephraim along with some people who might be going there to live. After several days of waiting, we found a man who was going to drive a cow to that place. We persuaded him to take us along. We had to walk, but we wanted to get where Mother lived. The weather was cold, and the only shoes we had were moccasins. He drove the cow, and when we reached the Sanpitch River, he put us astride the cow while he waded and led us to safety. Arriving at Ephraim at midnight, we went from house to house to find Mother and our younger brother and sister. We finally located them and found them sleeping on the floor covered only by a quilt. We cried for joy at beholding them again. Cold and hungry though we were, we were happy together. The next day we secured work and went to live with our employers."
Pioneer Settlers in Mt. Pleasant
Annie continued: "Christena worked for a time at whatever employment she could find. At Ephraim she met James Christensen Harbro. Christena and James were married in Ephraim in December of 1859. In the spring of 1860 they moved to Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah, known at that time by the name of Hamilton. Father and Mother thus became pioneer settlers of Mt. Pleasant. There the name Harbro was informally added to his name to distinguish him from many other Danes who carried the surname Christensen.
"He helped build the old fort and many bridges and passed through all the hardships of those days, half of which will never be known." Christena's brother, Andrew, and youngest sister, Anna Marie, lived with Christena and James for many years. In his younger years, Andrew was known by the name Andrew Harbro instead of Madsen because there were so many other Madsens in Mt. Pleasant."
Hannah was one of the first children born in Mt. Pleasant. from her biography we learn details about their family:
"Their home was a crude log cabin with a dirt roof. It contained very meager furniture. However, this was home sweet home to those faithful, devoted Latter-Day-Saints who came to this country from their native land in order to worship the true and living God and be among the people of Zion."
Family Life
Their daughter's autobiography emphasizes: "The holiest and sweetest thoughts coming to me from those early days are the lessons my parents taught me ~ my Pioneer Parents whom my soul revered. Kindness, tenderness, and love filled their hearts and home each day."
"At the age of four years while riding to the fields in her father's wagon, Hannah was miraculously saved from death. The horses became frightened because of a roller which her father had tried to the back of the wagon. They dashed southward while the wagon box containing the child bounced and bumped over huge rocks and boulders until it fell to the ground. Hannah crept from the wagon box and found shelter and safety under a fence where she was later found by her father and many others who witnessed the runaway. They thought she had been killed. They took her home where Christena wept with joy at seeing her child alive. She carefully examined the tiny body and found Hannah had suffered only a few light bruises. However, one horse was killed in this mishap."
Hannah often helped James in the fields and sometimes remained all night with her father while he irrigated their acres of land.
Annie wrote: "I always helped my father in the fields. I loved nature and did all kinds of outdoor work. My father called me "Jim" as I was always on hand to work for him ~~lifting wagon boxes, hay sacks, and other things. I did man's work in the field. I rode horses and met with many accidents but was never seriously hurt. I never gave up work because the boys were too small to help father."
In the fall of 1867, Indian threats increased, and James became a Minute Man during the Black Hawk War. Many times he stood guard to protect property or rode out to search for and try to retrieve stolen cattle.
Because of their poverty, at times James "hired out" his older daughters to work for others. Hannah tells mof working for C.N. Lund where she "did all kinds of work as well as their chores." She also worked in chester for her Uncle Andrew Madsen for fifty cents a wek. After three weeks of hard labor.."she was able to buy a pair of shoes with copper toes." She also bought material for her dresses, which were all made at home.
Annie wrote: "when I was twelve years old my father came to me and said, "I have hired you out to work for J.C. Jensen to care for their baby, a sweet little girl named Hattie." I sang the baby to sleep and washed dishes and did other household duties for fifty cents a week. I worked there off and on for years as they needed help. As I grew older, I was paid seventy-five cents a week. This helped to buy cloth for my dresses." She worked all one summer for C. Brotherson. "I went with him to the fields and helped weed his wheat fields. He paid me twenty five cents extra for this work. I lived there and worked all of one summer.
In later years of his life, James made several trips to the mining camps to take loads of grain to sell in order to get money to pay his taxes. On one of these trips, he contracted a severe cold, but he traveled night and day when he learned of the death of his infant daughter, Caroline Andrea, eleven months old, who died 22 February 1880, while he was away. When he reached home, he was grief stricken over the loss of his little one and remarked, "I see you are all here but one."
James Passes Away
Again we quote from Annie's autobiography: "In the fall of 1880 when I was fifteen years old, my dear father became very sick with typhgoid fever. Day and night for three weeks we watched over him. One day he called me to him and said, "You stay with me. You are more able than Mother." (Christena suffered ill health much of the time.)
"I did the best I could. I sat and held his hand and cried. He told us what to do with some of the cattle and that he could not remain with us. On October 22, 1880, at the age of forty-five, he passed away, leaving poor mother with four unmarried children to care for .....Hannah had been married in May. Emma was thirteen, James was eight and Hans but five when father passed away."
Annie expressed her admiration for both her parents in this poem:
MY PIONEER PARENTS
My mother, Pioneer so loved, so true
Can I sufficient honor show to you?
Shall I not speak your name among the rest
Whose children now arising call them blest?
In looking back, my inner eyes behold
Tear-dimmed what cheerily you told.
How with your parents you left friends and home
Over rough rivers, plains, and hills to roam
To live the Gospel, newley then restored,
And be in fellowshiup with Christ, the Lord.
You heard His messengers His truth expound;
It touched your hearts, you hearkened to the sound,
Obeyed the call, did what it bade you do,
Repented, were baptized, and then you knew
That Christ had now His marvelous work begun:
A boy had seen the Father and the Son.
Converted by the Lord's own perfect laws,
You knew that Joseph Smith His prophet was.
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
His statutes right, His commandments pure.
With honest hearts you did His truth embrace,
Ready all hardships, even death, to face.
Father and Mother, noble Pioneers
Heroic, beautiful your life appears.
Hard, grievous trials in your path were cast,
But you proved brave and faithful to the last.
And now I bless you for the sacred touch
Of faith sublime for which you bore so much,
And which inspires my soul to follow too
And gain the prize, Eternal Life with you..
Christena Passes Away
Annie wrote: "When we celebrated my birthday on November 7th, my mother was with us and was so happy. My niece, Sina Clark, played a lively tune called 'The Cakewalk' on our organ, and how Mother danced around the table. Howerver, within the following week she was stricken and suddenly passed away on the 15th of November."
Christena spent much time caring for Emma's daughter, Vida, who at the time was about five years old. During her illness, Christena worried, "What will my little Vida do without me?"
About her mother, Annie wrote this tribute: She was kind, generous, and full of faith. She was loved by all who kenw her. She knew the want and privation of pioneer life and walked her trail in this life uncomplainingly, with a smile on her lips and joy in her heart. She taught her children the priceless heritage of the Gospel of the Son of God as she understood it. If she could now see the faithfulness of her children and grandchildren, she would weep with joy and thank God for them all."
Thursday, June 24, 2010
John and Karen Knudsen
This is the story of the lives of my beloved grandparents, John and Karen Knudsen by Lucille R. Seely; written in approx 1965
John Knudsen was born October 17, 1828. Karen was born January 28, 1829
Long long ago in the far away country of Denmark, lived a happy family - a father and mother and two small daughters - four and six years old. The father, John K. was born in Oslo, Norway, but after meeting Karen and she had to become his wife, they settled in Vaile, Denmark.
John was a tailor by trade, and a good one. He made a good living for his family. Karen was religiously inclined but wasn't satisfied with her religion. In the course of time some Mormon missionaries, representing a new religion, Latter Day Saints, visited their home and Karen became very interested. It was so clear to her that this was what she had been praying for. The more she investigated, the more positive shw was that it was the truth. She tried to get her dear John to go with her to the meetings, but he refused by saying, "these missionaries are just trying to break up my family".
Poor Karen, how very sad she was and how she prayed for the Lord to help her and open John's eyes and heart so he too could see this was the true religion. Her prayers were finally answered as John began to treat the missionaries with more kindness, and soon accompanied Karen and the little girls, Hannah and Marie to the services. Karen was overjoyed one morning when John very seriously told her he felt in his heart and soul these missionaries were true messengers from God, and when it could be arranged, they would both be baptized.
After their baptisms they could think of nothing except preparing themselves for the long journey across the ocean so they could be in Zion with the body of the saints. Their friends and family thought they had taken leave of their senses, but they were willing to face anything that might come for the sake of the Gospel.
It must have been hard to leaave their homeland. Karen spoke often of her beloved Vaile, where lily of the valley and other beautiful flowers grew wild in profusion. But the decision had been made, so they disposed of their home and belongings and were soon on their way in a sailship. Karen was pregnant with her third child when she embarked on this perilous journey.
When about midway, many of the children became ill and little Hannah was one of these, and after a few days she passed away and had to be lowered into the mighty Atlantic. What a trial this was for poor John and Karen, but they bore it bravely and I have heard my Karen say that when it came her turn to be called to the great beyond, she would try to find her little Hannah.
Days and weeks passed and finally after riding the calm and rough sea for six weeks, they landed in New York. The next problem was to get transportation. They came across the plains in 1864. A son was born enroute. The following is excerpts taken from the book "Knudsen Chronicles pages: 104- 115: The son was John Knudsen, Jr.. Records indicate they were at Bitter Creek, Wyoming. Karen's granddaughter, Lucille reported, "The day her baby was born, Grandmother mixed some bread."
After about two and half months on the trail, the wagon trains arrived in Salt Lake City. The family didn't remain in Salt Lake Valley but soon settled in Provo where Karen and John again made their living as milliner and tailor. They wanted to stay because they enjoyed city life, but their plans changed when Brigham Young called them to make their way to Mt. Pleasant, a small settlement in Sanpete County, Utah.
A fort was built in Mt. Pleasant in 1859. The inside of the thick walls served as the back wall of each of the living quarters, which were all sixteen feet square. All their doors and wondows faced Pleasant Creek, which ran through the center of the fort. A bridge crossed the creek about halfway through the fort. Close to the bridge was the long, earthen-floored, one room schoolhouse run by A.B. Strickland and Mrs. Oscar Winters. A huge fireplace in the east end of the schoolroom served for both heat and light. The same building served as chapel, theater, dance hall, and meeting house.
When the John Knudsen family reached Mt. Pleasant, they lived in one of the sixteen-foot square rooms in the fort. The exact date of their move to Mt. Pleasant is not known, but John's beginning date of service in the infantry of the Home Guard was 1 April 1866.
Their daughter, Johanna, then six years old, died 14 July that year, and was buried in one of the first graves in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Boundaries were later surveyed and changed slightly, so the burial place was lost. This was a source of great sadness to Karen, who wanted to know exactly where her daughter was buried so she could take flowers. Their third daughter, whom they christened Anna Johanna, was born in Mt. Pleasant on 8 December 1866.
By the time the final peace treaty ending the Black Hawk War was signed in 1872, many settlers had already erected homesteads outside the fort. The Knudsen family lived in the fort until John Jr. was about six years old in 1870, so the family was among those outside the fort before the final peace treaty was signed. Karen gave birth to another son, Andrew, on 21 July 1870.
Family stories indicated that John Sr. traded their feather bed for a city lot with an adobe house which lacked a roof. This entry in the book Mt. Pleasant confirms that fact: "about this time John Knudsen Sr. purchased his city lot, giving their choice feather bed in payment." Their property was located at what is now Third South and Second west, quite a distance from the protection of the fort.
John Sr. and John Jr. worked together to cut straight willow, weave them together, and plaster them with mud to make a roof.
Earning a livelihood on the farm was not easy for the tailor and the milliner, former city dwellers. Making the transition from lush, green, rain-blessed Denmark to the dry, thirsty fields of Sanpete County must have been very difficult. John, Sr. never did adjust to farm life in rural Utah. He continued to carefully stitch articles of clothing, sometimes seated on a table or bench with his legs folded in front of him in what we would call 'indian fashion'. Most often, he made burial clothes for people in Mount Pleasant and nearby communities.
With young John's help, Karen managed the home and fields. Native bunch grass and sagebrush had to be grubbed out slowly and painfully before crops could be planted. Planting, weeding, irrigating, and harvesting required long hours of hard physical labor.
Karen and John were thrilled when their daughter, Annie, who married Magnus G. Rolph, gave birth to a beautiful, dark-eyed baby girl whom they named Etta Althea. They welcomed a second granddaughter, Ena Lucille, on 8 March 1890. This blond, blue-eyed baby was born at Karen and John's home.
However, a tragedy occurred when Annie's third daughter, Anna, was born on 27 September 1891. Annie probably contracted 'childbed fever' caused by lack of cleanliness on the part of the midwife. During her illnes, Karen helped Annie in every way she could and also took care of the three little girls.
In her lifestory, Lucille wrote. "Mother was very sick, and Grandma and Grandpa Knudsen stayed close by. Grandma told me lots of times of bringing me to see my mother. I climbed on the bed and loved her so hard, and Grandma said to Mother, "I better take Lucille away, as it's too hard on you." My Mother replied, "let her love me, I'm afraid she won't have me very long." "She told her mother, 'you take my little girls, and if possible, raise them together', and Grandma did. "Our dear Mother hung on for about three weeks, and then the reaper came and took her away."
John and Karen became substitute parents to the newborn daughter and her two older sisters.
Lucille's remembrances of her grandparents: Karen was a good housekeeper After the beds were made, and that was early, nothing could be laid on them; not even a hat. She insisted on everyone wearing an apron. Then she cooked a meal, her cooking utensils were always washed and put away before the meal was served.
Sunday was the girls' day off. All Karen asked of them was that they attend Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting. If they did this they could go to the depot and see the trains come and go. Really a highlight in their young lives.
above is Karen and John (center front) at the 1914 Pioneer Celebration
John and Karen had five children, but only the two sons lived to raise their own families. The posterity from the three granddaughters they raised: Etta R. Peterson, Lucille R. Seely and Anna R. Gunderson was much greater than that of the sons.
John and Karen were now getting along in years and Karen often said she was so tired and ready to go to meet those who had gone before. Thirty years after the death of her daughter, Annie, she passed away quietly at the age of ninety three and was laid to rest beside her daughter and her daughter's husband Magnus Rolph. She was buried on John's birthday.
John lived five more years with a granddaughter, Anna and her husband, Vern Gunderson. He was very lonely for Karen after their long life together. He enjoyed visiting the Manti Temple, which he helped to build. He was a faithful tithe payer.
In January, 1926, John attended church and within a week he was also taken home to join Karen. He was buried on January 28th, Karen's birthday.
God bless the memories of these two noble pioneers and all who sacrificed to make this desert blossom as a rose. ~ Lucille R;.Seely
Postscript: In 1966, Ruby Knudsen Wiseman, in doing genealogical research, discovered Uncle Andrew Knudsen was the only child sealed to John and Karen. Arrangements were made to complete the sealings in the Salt Lake Temple. Chesla S. Patterson would stand for her grandmother, Annie Knudsen Rolph. Present were Ruby K. Wiseman, her husband and Chesla K. Patterson.
During the sealing ordinance, Chesla felt the pressure of a loving caress on her hand. She quietly looked to see from whence it came. It was then she realized who that person was; and for the first time felt the living presence of her grandmother. Tears of joy fell from her eyes as she whispered a prayer of Thanksgiving to her Heavenly Father for the heritage that is here because of the sacrifices made by her beloved great grandparents, John and Karen Knudsen.
Another spiritual experience by Ruby Knudsen Parken Wiseman
"After I had been working in genealogy for a while, I was having a rather hard time finding leads to
Grandma's family, so I wrote to her granddaughter, Lucille Rolph Seely, who was reared by her. I asked what information she had to help me in my research. She wrote back to tell me about a little black book where Grandmother kept information of the Temple work they had done, but Lucille felt sure the book must have been lost because she hadn't seen it for many years. Then, in a few weeks, I received a package in the mail containing the little black book! A lady brought the book to Lucille in a store one day an said, "This must be your Grandmother's." "This book proved to be a gold mine to me in finding those of Grandma's loved ones who needed their Temple work done.
"Some weeks later, I found myself waking every morning about two or three o'clock with my thoughts on Grandma and Grandpa. After several nights of this, I wondered why. Was it possible they were trying to tell me something? I spent many hours trying to find the answer. Then the thought came to me that their older children had not been sealed to them! Uncle Andrew, their last child, was born after they themselves were sealed in the old Endowment House where, at the time, only couples were married and sealed. He was born under the covenant, but what of their other children?.... I finally concluded the other children must not have been sealed to them. Father was the oldest living child and married in the Manti temple after its dedication in 1887. Anna, the next child was married in the Logan Temple before the Manti Temple was in use. The two girls who were born in Denmark both died very young; the one was buried in the ocean and the other died shortly after they went to Mt. Pleasant. My grandparents probably thought their own sealing would automatically take care of the sealing of their children to them.
"When I made out a family group sheet and put it in the library to be processed and checked, I knew they had made me understand what they wanted, and my nights were not disturbed again. I am so grateful to know that communication can come through from beyond the veil so important missions can be accomplished. It was a marvelous experience to be part of this reunion at the time the sealing was performed in the Salt Lake Temple. As I have done endowments and sealings for their nieces and nephews, I have experienced such a joy in this work, and I have felt their presence and help in many ways."
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
THE NIELSON STORY ~ Pioneers of the Month ~ May 2010 by Fern McIntosh Jacobs
The Nielson Story
Compiled from many sources by Fern McIntosh Jacobs 1969
Retyped by Belva Jones McIntosh June 2000
Some parenthetical comments and highlighting done by Beverly McIntosh Brown
This is written as an epitaph to the lives of great, strong, wonderful people who worked very hard that we might enjoy the fruits of their labors. Many people came to America from their homes in the “Old Country” for the sake of religion. May the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren honor the names of these, their progenitors and keep their stories ever alive and vital in their lives that we may appreciate their sacrifices and appreciate what we have. Let us pattern our lives with the ideals and standards of honesty and labor that the world will be a better place for us having lived.
The summers in this far off land are very beautiful, with many fertile green fields as well as numerous wooded sections of equal beauty. There are no mountains as here in Utah, but more level country with green rolling hills. The fruits and crops of Sweden are much the same as here.
Valby Kyrkheddinge was the birthplace of both Nils and Karna. Nils was born the 14 day of May 1826. His father was Nils Nilsson, born October 12,1786 in Skivarr, Sweden and his mother was Elsbeth Nilsdatter, born in 1801 in Evelov, Sweden.
Nils and Elsbeth’s family consisted of Peter, who died at the age of seven, Nils, and two older daughters, Ann and Marna (or Karna). They passed away in their twenties within two weeks of their mothers passing, leaving the father, Nils and Nils Junior alone. We do not know the cause of these three sudden deaths, but it seems very tragic.
Nils and Karna were married the 15th of February 1856 in Valby Kyrkheddinge. Karna was born the 28th day of December 1833 and was the daughter of Hans and Kjerstine Larsson Akesson. Hans was said to be the strongest man in that part of Sweden. In this family were two brothers and one sister, Andrew, Ingra, (lovingly called “muster”, which in Swedish means Aunt) and Hans. They were all born in Vallby. Three of them were given the name of Hansson while the youngest, Hans, born soon after his fathers death, was given his fathers name of Hans Akesson. The children all came to America, but the mother stayed in Sweden and remarried and had another family, some of these coming to America later.
While in Sweden, Karna learned the art of weaving fine fabrics. She wove all types of material – linen, wool, linsey, flannel, and heavy wool for suits and coats. Karna was a very nice looking girl in her younger years, being strong, healthy with a wealth of beautiful hair. Her hair was very long, thick and medium brown that she braided into two large thick braids.
At this time there were Latter Day Saint Missionaries coming into Sweden. They found the door of the Nilsson family and they embraced the gospel while in their fatherland.
Nils II and Karna had two children, Hans and Anne, born to them before Grandpa Nils, at the age of 71 years, passed away. He had been called “Rich Nils” and had much land and livestock in Sweden. Nils II was given all the holdings of the family as he was the only surviving member and also, in Sweden it is the custom for the oldest male member to inherit all the inheritance.
Twin girls were born to them in 1860, and were named Benta and Chasta or Kjerstie. They decided to come to America and Utah to join the Saints. There were many converts who wanted to come here too, but many lacked the finances with which to make the journey. Nils wanted to bring his money to America, but this being impossible, he converted all his lands and livestock into cash and loaned it to the converts so that they could come here too. When in America they were to repay the loans. In this he hoped to get his money here with him. The idea was good but it didn’t work. People had no idea how hard it would be to make money here, no matter how hard they worked. So, as a result, Nils did not get the return of his finances to help him get started in the New World, and he and his family had to work very hard to make a living. Karna used to tell the grandchildren that she married Grandpa Nils for his money, as he was rich in Sweden. She had been engaged to be married to another boy in Sweden, but Nils had won her hand. It was her little joke, as has been said, he lost all by coming to Utah. Even in Mt. Pleasant where they settled, he was called “Rich Nils”. He always had an extra team of oxen more than the “regular run” of pioneers of the early days. Karna loved her husband and family and was perfectly happy here in America because all her children were here and soon prospering, even though they all had to work very hard.
The Nilsson family said goodbye to all their friends and loves ones and started on their long trek to Utah. It is not known which boat brought them to America or in which company they crossed the plains. (Let’s find out more and add to this humble beginning of this story). As they progressed on their way, and after their long ocean voyage, they purchased a wagon, a yoke of oxen, a cow and a stove. They had the cow for many years that gave much rich milk for their journey and later too. They made these purchases in Omaha, Nebraska. They brought many copper kettles and pans from the old country.
The Nilsson family arrived in Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah in 1863. They all lived in the old fort there for one year before building a house outside the walls. A few people were still living in the old fort when they arrived. It was remembered that the Madsen family were there at that time. They took the lot on Main Street and Second West on the Northwest corner of the intersection. They had property west of the tracks, one ten-acre field and one 20-acre farm near the H. P. Jensen (called the Pete Sherrif) place. At that time the Asa Coates family lived on “Uncle Hans” corner (across the street south). The family of Bent Hansen lived west of the Nilsson home.
Nils brought many tools with him from Sweden, so he made most of the furniture for their home. He had been a cabinetmaker. They first built a log home, but later it was torn down and an adobe house was built in its place. The one big room and a kitchen were built first and later three more rooms and a hall were added. There were heating stoves in the big room and in “Gustie's Room” as it was called.
They planted many lovely apple and plum trees on the lot in town. The delicious Sweet Bow and Red June trees were in the front yard while Pear, Red Astrican and Early Harvest trees were in the west part of the lot. Wheat, oats, barley, corn and peas were raised on the farms. Sheep were raised and Karna sheered them, washed the wool, carded it, spun and dyed it and wove it into fabric. She could weave it into plaids or stripes as well as plain colors.
They had not been in their new homeland long when Annette Elizabeth and Andrew, twins, were born to them on the 14th of October 1864. This made two sets of twins for them and their son Hans, which made up the family now, as little Annie had died a week before the last set of twins were born. Uncle Hans was so deeply moved when this happened that he prevailed upon the parents to name the little twins after her. Thus, Annette, which is supposed to mean “Anne-Too”, and the boy was christened Andrew, in remembrance of little Annie.
As Karna worked on her loom, she would have the twins play with the empty spools under the loom so she could tend them and do her important work at the same time. She would have certain definite hours to work on the loom and then hurry to do her other tasks and then come back to the weaving regularly so as to accomplish as much as possible in every day.
At one time Grandpa Nils Nielson (as the name was spelled in America) wanted to take a second wife in Polygamy, but Grandma Nielson said to go ahead, but if he did she wouldn’t be there when he brought her home, so he reconsidered.
In the very early days, when the Indians would be a threat to the small community, Grandpa Nielson owned a gun and would take his turn being the guard to watch over the town at night. Grandma would try to talk him into staying near their home instead of making his rounds, but he did his duty to the town.
The new kitchen was built onto the house about the time that Augusta was born on the 27th of August 1868. Niels was born May 11 1871.
The children and mother worked very hard and Nils, the father too, until he became ill and was never well after that. Karna sat at her weaving day after day and worked very hard at it. The children would help pick peas, rake hay with a hand rake, weed, pick potatoes and glean after the threshers.
Karna’s loom was set up in the kitchen in the southeast corner by the door into the big room and by the kitchen window so as to have light to work by. The homemade cupboard was in the southwest corner of the kitchen and in the northeast corner was the washstand with the wash dish. The big stove stood on the north side.
At first there was a pole fence around the lot with the big barrel in the southeast corner next to the street. This barrel was a very important part of life at that time as it contained the culinary water supply for the family. A big creek ran down Main Street in front of the house and stones were placed down into the creek bed to form steps to get down to dip the water out. This barrel was filled with water from the ditch every night and let settle and then the top was used in the house for all their needs. Of course a barrel was always placed under the rain pipe too, in order to catch all the run off rainwater from the roof, as it was softer water than from the ditch and was used for washing the hair etc.
Grandma Karna would always do the milking. She would go out with an apron over her long dress and a big hanky tied around her hair and soon would come back with the bucket full of milk. Later Uncle Andrew took over this task.
In their cellar hung sides of beef and pork on rails from the ceiling, as well as smoked hams and sausages. Bins of all sizes held apples, each kind in its department. There was plenty of food for all with milk, cheese and butter topped off with delicious home made bread. There were not quite so many vegetables but no one starved. Grandma made delicious “starch cake” made mainly of potato starch and eggs. There were no salads, but Thin Pancakes and Ebelskevers with jars of cream and homemade malt beer. Much of this was drunk in the early days because of the impure water.
Karna had an even temper and loved her children and grandchildren very much. Nils was not well the later years of his life and finally passed away April 3 1885.
Swedish was spoken in the home, but the children learned to speak English too. So the grandchildren could understand Swedish but not speak it.
When any of the grandchildren came to sleep with Grandma Karna, she would fry thick juicy slices of ham, boil potatoes and make milk gravy for breakfast. Then she would have the child take a basketful of eggs to Longsdorfs store and get groceries for them. In her later years Grandma Nielson enjoyed sitting by her little kitchen window in the dark and watching the people go up and down Main Street. She passed away the 23 of August in 1920 in Mt. Pleasant and was buried beside her husband in the town cemetery.
Their children all lived in Mt. Pleasant all their lives. Hans, whose birthday was the 14th of March 1857, married Amelia Simpson on the 13th of March 1890. He was 33 years old and she was 25 at the time. She was a lovely woman and a very good cook. They had three children – Frances, Pricilla Caroline, and Goldie Benta. The girls were beautiful but didn’t live long. Pricilla passed away at the age of 16 and Goldie died when she was 27 years of age. Frances married Miriam Thurman. They adopted one child, Stephen.
Benta married Niels S. Nielson and didn’t change her maiden name. He came to America with very little money but accumulated until they were considered some of the more well to do in the community. He and his brothers began the Sanpete Co-op Store and later the Commercial and Savings Bank. They had three daughters, Addie Victoria, who passed away at the age of two and one half of membranous croup, Irene, who lived to be 33 years old and Beatrice who lived to be 73 years of age. She married Ira Wickliffe and they lived in Long Beach all their lives. Their three children were Irene, who died at 16 years of age, Eunice and N.S. Eunice married Mr. German, but he passed away. N.S. married and has several sweet children.
Chastie married Oscar Anderson on 12 October 1878 and had six children but tragedy came to the family and three of them passed away within five weeks with diphtheria and the fourth boy, Gerald L., died at the age of 20. The first ones were Francis O., Archie J., and Lettie C., then Gerald came next, followed by Anna and Addie who lived to raise nice families and at this date (1969) Addie is living in Pasadena, California. Anna married Owen Niling and had two girls, Virginia and Irene. Addie married Howard Strang and they had Marilyn, Richard. Annette Elizabeth married Joseph Monsen on November 4, 1886 in Mt. Pleasant. They were blessed with three children, Florence Karna, Raymond Joseph and Venetta Dorothy. They all lived into mature age and all had families. Florence married Vance McIntosh and their children were Florence Fern, Edwin Joseph, Jean Annette, and Donald V., with one child dying of immaturity, Robert Vance. Ray’s children were Shirley Rae, Richard, and Joseph. Venetta had four nice children, Dorothy Edna, Phillip, Jack and Robert. She married Harold Jensen. Ray’s wife was Lucille Tilson.
Andrew and Niels never married. They lived in Mt. Pleasant all their lives with the exception of the later years when Niels resided in Long Beach. Andrew had a very exceptional characteristic of kindness to all. He was nicknamed Judge as he acted in this capacity in the community for many years. Niels was very frugal and they both accumulated quite a bit of money before they passed away.
Augusta married Albert Edwin Peterson on December 20 1896. They were the parents of three children, Albert (Bert), Helen and Stanley. Bert married twice. One wife was Viola Phillips. From this union was born a little girl, Bonnie. Later he married Josephine and they had a daughter also and named her DeeAnn. Bert died of a heart attack and Helen of complications of arthritis and diabetes. Helen’s husband was Bernard O’Neil and they resided in San Pedro, California. Stanley took Iris Rasmussen for his mate and they had two children, Andy and Sally.
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