HOME OF CYRUS SEIR JENSEN AND WIFE ANNE JENSEN ~ Researched and updated by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY ~~~ November 13, 2025 ~~~ Born November 13, 1902

 The true and loving story I want to tell here is one of my fondest memories.  My father went to Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, soon after he and my mother were married.  There, he graduated in Carpentry.  Soon after this time, World War 2 broke out, and because he was married and had two children.  He was then sent to San Diego, California, to help build airplanes at Consolidated Aircraft.   The men you see below are the men he worked with.  Lee Seely is the second from the left.  There was another from Ephraim, but I have forgotten his name.  

 

San Diego

My Father , William Neldon Rigby lived in San Diego during World War II. He left Mt. Pleasant to go to San Diego to help build airplanes for the war. My mother, Helen Irene Rodgers Rigby joined him later. My two brothers, Charles and Richard were just youngsters then. They lived north and east of Sandiego, a town named Linda Vista.  

They moved back home (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) after the war and I (Helen Kathrene) was born in 1947. My Younger brother, Gregory Peter was born in 1952.

On Memorial Day after my mother had passed away, my husband, my mother-in-law and our youngest son visited San Diego with the very purpose of finding out wher my parents once lived.

We had an old greeting card that my mother had saved with an address from one of her friends. I believe it was in Linda Vista, California. My husband and I walked up and down the streets not knowing which house they had lived in. A young woman came out of one of the houses and enquired what our purpose was. She then told me that I should talk to her grandmother Mrs.    Eps.

Mrs. Eps had been a good friend of my mother. My mother called her Epsy. She told me which house my mother and father lived in. She was very congenial. And during those few minutes that we stood there, I felt my mother's presence. It was such a wonderful experience.

These are friends my father worked with at Consolidated Aircraft. My father is the tallest. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helen and Neldon Rigby
They were married at Salt Lake County Courthouse 

My father worked on a ranch in Wyoming before he married.

Neldon Rigby, Verla Rigby Coates, Lyle Rigby (behind) Emma Rigby Smith, Martha Rigby Nelson, Leo Rigby 

CHARLOTTE STAUNTON QUINDLAN JOHNSON HYDE ~~~OBITUARY and History

 

One of the most popular pioneers of Mt. Pleasant is Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde. 

We found this obituary recently and posted it here yesterday, which has given us some additional facts about "Aunty Hyde".

Aunty Hyde died at the home of Mrs. M.M.F.G. Morrison. 

(Mary Margaret Folkwar Cruickshank Morrison) 

was the Relief Society President at that time.

Aunty Hyde taught for 21 years.

Aunty Hyde taught the following students:

Emaline Seely Barton, Oscar Anderson, William Morrison Jr., Sylvester Barton, Joseph Nephi Seeley, Annie Porter Nelson, Melvina Clemensen Crane, Peter Johansen, Chastie Neilsen, Benta Neilsen, Peter Jensen, Allen Rowe, Henry Ericksen, Miranda Seeley Oman, Wilhemina Morrison Ericksen, Hans Neilsen, William D. Candland, Charlotte Reynolds Seeley, Sarah Wilcox Bills, Celestial McArthur Barton, William A. Averett, Amasa Aldrich, James B. Staker, Maria Tidwell Larsen, Libby Barton Averett, Morgan A. Winters, Eli A. Day, W.W. Brandon, Sarah Davidsen Wilcox, Maggie Peel Seely, Samuel H. Allen, Harry Candland, Albert Candland, Charles Averett, Hazard Wilcox and Hans Neilsen.

 

Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde
You would think that a wife of Orson Hyde would be buried in Spring City next to him. You would think that she would have a very distinctive, monolithic marker of granite and stand very tall. Not so for Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde. Of those many names by which she was called, we can only verify that her name was Charlotte Quindlan Hyde. She lived in Mt. Pleasant, taught school in Mt. Pleasant and died in Mt. Pleasant. Her grave marker is about 18 inches tall made of marble. You literally have to kneel down to read her epitaph there.

Charlotte Quindlen was born 22 of August 1802 at Lower Pensnock, Salem, New Jersey. Charlotte Quindlan was the name used at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City when she was sealed to Orson Hyde in 1852. The marble marker lists her as Charlotte Staunton Hyde as does the Mt. Pleasant History Book. Perhaps the name Staunton came from another marriage. From the dates we find that she was fifty years old when she married Orson Hyde.
The following is taken from the book “Orson Hyde Olive Branch of Israel”
“Orson Hyde was chosen as an original member of the Council of the Twelve in 1835, when the Mormon Church first organized this governing body. Orson's most well-known accomplishment was as a Mormon missionary to Jerusalem (1840-1842) to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews. Because his words have proven prophetic in the many decades since his entreaty, a peaceful garden on the Mount now honors him and his supplication. In 1979 civil authorities in Jerusalem invited the development of a five-acre hillside garden in honor of Orson Hyde.
“Orson Hyde was a remarkable individual. He received esteem in many roles, among them apostle, teacher, missionary, orator, scriptorian, journalist, editor, lawyer, judge, statesman, colonizer, and administrator; also as the husband of eight wives, the father of thirty-three children, a friend of mankind, and a servant of God.” MYRTLE STEVENS HYDE,
During the years 1850-1852 Charlotte Quindlin Johnson lived in Kanesville, Iowa at the home of Orson Hyde as a domestic assistant to his first wife Marinda. She was already a member of the L.D.S. Faith. She had been divorced from a man named Johnson. She was described as a seamstress who also liked children. She helped Marinda with her children Alonzo, Frank and baby Delila. She was with the Hyde Family at Winter Quarters and as they traveled across the plains to Salt Lake, arriving in 1852. Marinda and Charlotte got along very well.

Orson and Marinda discussed the possibility of inviting Charlotte to become a wife rather than a domestic. Orson had also married Mary Ann Price who for a time was a domestic in his household. Orson and Mary Ann were married in Nauvoo in 1843. Orson talked with Brigham Young about taking Charlotte as another wife and Brigham Young approved. Orson proposed to Charlotte, she accepted and they were sealed as husband and wife in the Endowment House 22nd of November, 1852. She was the fourth wife of Orson. Besides Marinda and Mary Ann, Orson had married Martha Rebecca Browett, who he later divorced in 1850. Martha went on to become the wife of Thomas McKenzie who also divorced her.

In the spring of 1853 we find Marinda, Mary Ann and Charlotte all living together under one roof in Salt Lake. Charlotte, however, was having a hard time adjusting to being a plural wife and departed the family, a mutual decision between she and Orson. They were separated, but never divorced. Brigham Young granted official separation for Charlotte and Orson Hyde in 1859.

Charlotte came to the Sanpete Valley long before Orson shows his influence here. It was during the “big move” with the earliest Saints first to Fort Ephraim, then north to resettle Mt. Pleasant. The first pioneers had been driven out of Camp Hambleton, located one mile west of the current city of Mt. Pleasant. She first made her living as a seamstress then as a school teacher while the settlers still lived inside the fort. A schoolhouse was then built outside the fort. She was fondly called "Aunty Hyde" by her students. She inspired many of her students to become teachers themselves.

In Mt. Pleasant History by Hilda Longsdorf the following description of Aunty Hyde school: “In a little log house about 12x15 feet, on the south side of the street on First North, about midway between State and First West, (in the area where Mary Ursenbach now lives-2008) Charlotte Staunton Hyde taught school. The building was also known and later used for Lesser Priesthood meetings and similar Church gatherings. Mrs. Hyde was a woman who no doubt had earlier in life received quite a liberal education, and although described as “a little old woman who smoked a pipe and was quite deaf,” she was affectionately called "Aunty Hyde". Many amusing stories were told of her school, but with all her students there remained pleasant memories. There being no handbell, as in later years, the children were always called from their play to the schoolroom with her familiar call, “To Books. To Books. To Books.””

“Mrs. Hyde lived in a little log house west of the school. She often brought her bread to the schoolhouse to bake. She had a skillet with a tight-fitting lid and in this, by heaping on it coals from the fireplace, which was in one end of the building, she baked the bread during school hours. She was paid for her services as a teacher with any produce or garden stuff available.
Mrs. Hyde taught for some time in the log meeting house in the fort. Many attended school. A number of the pioneers were polygamist families and usually were large families. In some cases the entire family had attended her school as was the case in Abraham Day’s family, Joseph, Abraham Jr., Eli A., Ezra, and Ephraim, children of the second wife, all attended; among others who also in later days became prominent citizens were her students Emaline Seely Barton, Oscar Anderson, William Morrison Jr., Sylvester Barton, Joseph Nephi Seeley, Annie Porter Nelson, Melvina Clemensen Crane, Peter Johansen, Chastie Neilsen, Benta Neilsen, Peter Jensen, Allen Rowe, Henry Ericksen, Miranda Seeley Oman, Wilhemina Morrison Ericksen, Hans Neilsen, William D. Candland, Charlotte Reynolds Seeley, Sarah Wilcox Bills, Celestial McArthur Barton, William A. Averett, Amasa Aldrich, James B. Staker, Maria Tidwell Larsen, Libby Barton Averett, Morgan A. Winters, Eli A. Day, W.W. Brandon, Sarah Davidsen Wilcox, Maggie Peel Seely, Samuel H. Allen, Harry Candland, Albert Candland, Charles Averett, Hazard Wilcox, and Hans Neilsen.

Although records show that Mrs. Hyde was not the first teacher in the community, in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on the south side of the center driveway, is a little marble slab now yellowing with age, upon which is engraved: “Charlotte Staunton Hyde, wife of Apostle Orson Hyde, born in Penn., Died in Mount Pleasant, December 3, 1881, age 78. At rest now---Through the kindness of pupils of early days, this stone is erected to her memory, she is the first school teacher in Mt. Pleasant.” M.M.F.C.M.”

Many, many children benefited from her talents, from her love, and from her example.

SOLAR FLARES, 3I/ATLAS

 

 

Velma May Moosman

January 9, 1940 — November 4, 2025

Mount Pleasant

Listen to Obituary

Velma May Moosman, 85, of Mount Pleasant, Utah passed away on November 4, 2025. Velma was born on January 9, 1940 to her loving parents Leroy James and Guelda Rose Bucklar Moosman. Growing up in Circleville, Utah Velma enjoyed a childhood surrounded by friends, family and the wonders of small town life. Her family moved to Mount Pleasant while Velma was a teenager. Over her lifetime Velma lived in many new communities and grew through the new experiences and challenges she encountered along the way. She raised four children teaching them the importance of family, self-reliance and hard work. Velma loved to share her stories of growing up, and of her many adventures wandering through the deserts of southern Utah with her sisters. Later in life she enjoyed cooking, quilting, sewing and helping with humanitarian projects. Her family will forever be reminded of her each time they see a jigsaw puzzle strewn across a table ready to be assembled.

 

Mom shares this message:

“Thank you to family and friends for the contributions you made to my overly filled cup of life. No regrets, No should haves. The day has come that there are no more tomorrows for me. I want my family to know they were and will always be loved.”

 

Velma is survived by her four children; Deborah (Thomas) Rees, Holly (Kent) Rosenlof, Chad (Charese) Johansen, and Mary Johansen; 13 grandchildren and 21 beautiful great grandchildren; her sisters LuJean and RoseMarie.

 

Velma is preceded in death by her husband Roy Daniels; her parents LeRoy and Guelda Moosman; her sisters Mary Elizabeth (Harvey) Madsen and Jeneal Anderson; her brothers DelRoy John Moosman, Foster Valdean Moosman, and George LeRoy Moosman (stillborn).

 

There will be a Service of Remembrance for her family and close friends on Friday, November 14th, 1:00 at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 96 North 100 West, Mount Pleasant, UT.

 

Velma will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her love and sense of adventure will live on in the hearts of those she touched.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Velma May Moosman, please visit our flower store.

HOME OF JOSEPH JENSEN and wife ROSELIA ANN FARNSWORTH (from our archives)

 

 

 

PIONEER OBITUARIES

 

STUDENTBODY OFFICERS NORTH SANPETE HIGH SCHOOL 1931

 

 

Lois Jennie Christensen Jessen

August 4, 1934 — October 22, 2025

Mt. Pleasant

Listen to Obituary

Lois Jennie Christensen was born August 4th 1934 in Moroni Utah, to Darwin Christensen and Verbena Sudweeks. She loved her childhood in the little town of Moroni. She had two older sisters, Joyce and Wanda.

She felt a very close connection to her Grandpa Christensen who lived just across the street. She would walk across Main Street once or twice a day to just sit and be with him. He would tell her about the beautiful place Denmark, where he had come from. This became one of her deepest wishes to go see this land. Many years later this dream came true.

Lois attended kindergarten where she made a very special friend, LaRue Tidwell, who lived a short distance from her home. She hadn’t met her until school. They became best friends and were inseparable for the next six years. About a week before Junior High School was to begin, her friend LaRue got sick. In a short few days things turned worse and she died from the dreaded polio disease. Lois attended the funeral on the first day they were to go back to school. She said this was the saddest day of her life.

Lois met Edward Clarence Jessen in January of 1952 at a dance at the Old Bungalow. He danced with her, then asked if he could give her a ride home. From that night on they were always together. They married March 6, 1953 in the Manti Temple. This fulfilled a goal that she set for herself when she and her Primary class had attended the temple to do baptisms for the dead. She got to see this beautiful place and wanted to return there to be married, and she did. They were married for 72 years.

They became the proud parents of Vickie ( Cory), Craig (Susan), Randy (Sue), Julie ( Clark), Jim ( Vikki), Patti ( Scott) Brad (Jennifer).

They raised their family in Hunter Utah and then in Spanish Fork Utah.

Later in life, they moved back to the family farm in Mt. Pleasant. With much hard work it became their beautiful home. They loved when they were called to serve as ordinance workers at the Manti Temple and enjoyed serving there.

She loved her garden and her flowers. She would eat the produce from the garden and always enjoyed her tomato sandwiches.

She spent endless hours doing Temple and Family History work. She learned to love her ancestors and do their temple work for them.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Joyce and Wanda, a son in law, Clark Taylor and three great grandchildren.

Lois Jennie Christensen Jessen lived with love and gratitude each and every day to the very end. She loved her Heavenly Father, and her Savior Jesus Christ. She loved The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And she loved each and every member of her family with all her heart.

Funeral services were held October 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center (461 N. 300 W.) with a viewing from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

To Watch Recorded Funeral Service Click Here.

To Watch Recorded Graveside Service Click Here.

HOME OF HENRY MILLS AND WIFE ANN ALLEN

 

MAYBELLE FRANDSEN LETTERS TO THE PYRAMID

 

HEAP BIG WATERS 1918 ~~~Shared by Judy Malkiewicz

 

June 18, 1918, during W. D. Candland's term as mayor, Mt. Pleasant was visited by a number of floods, one being the biggest in the history of the city. Great boulders and rocks were carried with the stream of mud, damaging bridges and fences, sweeping down the streets and through city lots, covering gardens and filling basements, and completely filling the channels with debris, rocks, etc. One life was lost, that of Louis Oldham, who, near his home east of the city, slipped and fell into the stream. Some days later, his body was found in the debris west of the city. A few days after the flood, a group of convicts were sent from the state penitentiary to assist in clearing out Pleasant Creek channel. Many local men volunteered their assistance. p 200 "History of Mt. Pleasant" by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf

Mt. Pleasant's First Murder (taken from History of Mt. Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf)