Marie Wilhelmina Catherine Kraus Madsen ( From our archives)

 

                                                                   

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"

MR. AND MRS. LARS MADSEN

Artwork by Ephraim Madsen

 

PYRAMID PHOTOS

When the Mt. Pleasant Pyramid Office was moved
to Springville these photos were given to us to
share at the Relic Home.  Some do not have names or descriptions.  Let us know if you can add any details 

 

NaDene Sorensen 

Kaytlin Thompson
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HARRY POTTER ACTORS

L to R: Keaton Bouck, Anna Ledingham, Glen Ledingham 

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KayLee Taylor

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BRASS BAND AT THE DEPOT

 

The following was recorded by Mrs. Louise Hastler: In the autumn of 1869 the governor sent out a notice to the citizens of Sanpete County that a military drill would be held the first week

in November, did requested all soldiers and men that could bear arms to be ready and on hand for a three-day drill. The gathering place would be between Ephraim and Manti. All captains and officers of the Indian War organizations should be represented and also the Military bands . . . .

When this notice was served the brethren wanted to make a good showing and made necessary preparations. John Hastler had arrived in Mt. Pleasant in October and brought with him a full set of musical instruments from Switzerland. Bishop Seeley and the leading brethren engaged him to organize a Brass Band at once. This was affected about the 15th of October, 1869, with John Hastler, James Hansen, Bent Hansen, John Waldermar, Andrew Beckstrom, Daniel Beckstrom. James C. Meiling, August Wall, Aaron Oman, Peter Syndergaard. Andrew Syndergaard, Soren Hansen, Lars Nielsen (Fiddler), Mortin Rasmussen, Jacob Hafen, Ulrich Winkler, Oscar Barton, Charlie Hampshire, and Paul Coates. John Hastler and Olaf Rosen­lof were chosen as their leaders. John Hastler distributed the instruments at once.

In three weeks, at the appointed time, they were able and ready to play six or more of our national and popular tunes, which made a good showing for Sanpete County. Their efforts were much praised and appreciated by the visiting staff."
At these drills all the Indian War officers and soldiers wore blue coats trimmed with brass buttons. These coats were home­made, but, in the different communities there were a number of tailors as well as women who came to the various homes and made men's clothing. It is remembered that Mrs. Jepsen Stohl, as well as others, were thus employed.
HISTORY OF MT. PLEASANT by HML pp 131-132

ERICKSEN FAMILY

FRONT ROW:
DON NIELSON
Marjorie NIELSEN
Barbara Peel
Naomi Ericksen
Dick Ericksen

Second row:
Grant Nielsen
Grandpa Ericksen
(holding Willa RaE SEELY)
KENT Seely
Grandma Ericksen

BACK ROW:
Howard Nielsen
Alice Peel
Margaret Peel
Lois Peel

 

PHOTOS FROM ALICE HAFEN ALBUM

Front:  Peter Hafen, back left; Ross Childs, Middle: Kay Childs, Far back left: Donald Hafen, 
Far center: Tyler Tuttle, Far right: Michael Boyd Hafen
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Mary Napier Rowe

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Party for Quilters
Given by Dorothy Jensen in her home
Back: Mary Roberts, Berniece Coates, Winona Zabriskie, Dorothy Jensen, Leone Besser, 
Front: Denise Madsen, Alice Hafen

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Relief Society Function (no names given)
My Guess left to right:  Pearl Christensen, Roxie Washburn, Ila Tidwell, Amy Ursenbach, Johanna Hafen, Louise Seely, Morae Wilkey, unknown, Talula Nelson

WHO WAS DR. CASSADAY??

 

Who was Dr. Cassaday?

Marlane Harless brought in this picture from her Aunt Elva Guyman's Collection.  The upstairs window of the far-right building says "Doctor Cassaday".  Does anyone have any knowledge or history of Doctor Cassaday?  Can you identify the era when this picture was taken? Was it before the automobile?  Was it before the famous Main Street Fire?  We have our ideas, but we would like to hear yours.

My brother Pete found this obituary for H.V Cassaday on Family Search. Thanks Pete

EARLY PHOTO OF MAIN STREET ~~~~ ELVA GUYMAN COLLECTION ~(From our archves)

 

Marlane Harless brought in this picture from her Aunt Elva Guyman's Collection.  The upstairs window of the far-right building says "Doctor Cassaday".  Does anyone have any knowledge or history of Doctor Cassaday?  Can you identify the era when this picture was taken? Was it before the automobile?  Was it before the famous Main Street Fire?  We have our ideas, but we would like to hear yours.

DESERET NEWS 1862~~~JOSEPH PAGE and others RETURN WITH MORE IMMIGRANTS~~~SUPPLIES SENT TO OVERLAND STAGE ~~~Social Hall Built,

                                                                                   
 

HOME OF GEORGE FARNWORTH AND WIFE SUSANNAH COATES (from our archves)

 

 

 

BONNIE HANSEN PEEL

 

Bonnie Laraine Peel

Listen to Obituary

Bonnie Hansen Peel passed away from natural causes on August 3, 2026 in Payson, Utah. She was a devoted wife and mother.

She was born November 13, 1933 to her parents Lester J Hansen and Mary Ethel Larsen in Ephraim, Utah.

Bonnie married Thomas R Peel in Salt Lake City, Utah. They later moved to Mt. Pleasant, Utah to live where they raised three beautiful, wonderful daughters, Pamella, Suzanne, and Sharleen.

Bonnie was a beautiful seamstress. She was a homemaker, enjoyed canning and was a great cook. She was a farmer’s wife and worked side by side with her husband and taught her daughters the value of hard work.

Bonnie is survived by her daughters, Pamella (Terry) Rigby and Sharleen Nicosia; grandchildren, Michael, Lesa, Rickie, Tyler, Wyatt, and Austin; and thirteen great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Tom; daughter Suzanne (David) Bailey; son-in-law Samuel Nicosia; brothers, Burke, Philp, Larry, Jerry, Teral; sisters LaRue and Dixie.

A visitation will be held Monday, August 10, 2026 from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m. Both will be held at 96 North 100 West, Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Interment will take place in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit our flower store.

HOME OF ANDREW EMIL SORENSEN AND WIFE ELLA MINETTA FECHSER ~~~ (From our archives)

 

 

 

MAYBELLE FRANDSEN'S LETTERS TO THE PYRAMID