Saturday, January 31, 2015

LDS Seminary 1892 ~ Dave Gunderson


The following note comes from Dave Gunderson.  Does anyone know where the 1892 Seminary was located? And, was it a part of an Academy such as BYU Academy?

I  have been trying to finish my book on the Madsen family for about the last few months
and have been seeking help from my family.

One of the grandsons of Anthon W. Madsen has sent me several of the compositions
made by his grandfather at the LDS Seminary in Mt. Pleasant in 1888 - 1890 time frame.
I was surprised to see that the subjects were largely secular in nature and not ecclesiastical in nature.
The subjects included:
  • Three Business Forms
  • The Biographical Sketch.of George Washington
  • Great Men of the American Revolution
  • Youth the Time to Prepare
  • The Sculpture Boy
  • Transformation of Poetry into Pores
  • The Revolutionary War, Etc.
I am wondering if the Seminary in Mt.Pleasant was part of the Academy 

Erma Shelley

Erma Shelly

1/12/1926 ~ 1/29/2015
ShelleyErmaCropErma B. Shelley, our loving mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend, “retired from service” and moved on to be with her beloved husband, Dale, early Wednesday, January 29, 2015. She was born January 12, 1926 in Fairview, UT to Jacob Denzil &; Emily Billings Bushman. Erma married Dale Worth Shelley November 24, 1944 in Fairview, UT solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple June 13, 1945. She loved her home; she loved her gardens; she loved her family; and she loved her temple service. This love flowed from God through her. Family and church service were of utmost importance to Erma. Service to those she loved and cared for, was interwoven in the “fabric” of the life she lived. After losing her beloved Dale way too soon on Father’s Day, June 19, 1977. She went to nursing school and touched many lives as a nurse in the Sanpete Valley Hospital. Prior to working as a nurse she cooked at the Mt. Pleasant LDS Hospital for many years. People would schedule their surgeries to align with her work schedule to enjoy her cooking. Continuous church service – a mission to Holbrook, AZ; Election Board service – her hand writing and memory was so exacting; humanitarian service – every Wednesday; Daughters of the Utah Pioneers – every month; and right to the finish, her many church callings. Survived by her children, Carolyn Jane (Dan) Anderson, Mt. Pleasant, UT; Kathryn (Dave) Lister, Fairview, UT; Devon Scott (Debbi) Shelley, Walla Walla, WA; LouAnna (Ted) Haynes, Eureka, UT; David Mark (Pamella) Shelley; Mattawan, MI; Don Ray (Jana) Shelley, Mesa, AZ; son-in-law, Bruce Whiting, Orem, UT; daughter-in-law, Ruth Ann Milner, Cedar City, UT; 33 grandchildren; 73 great grandchildren & 1 great-great grandchild; siblings, Donna Thorpe, Salt Lake City, UT; Boyd (Carla) Bushman, Chow Chilla, CA; Carma (Art) Humphries, Bountiful, UT; Jean Johnson, Fairview, UT; Lynn Merth (Camille) Bushman, Salt Lake City, UT; Therald (Lorna) Bushman, Salt Lake City, UT. Preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Dale Lynn Shelley; daughter, Gayle Whiting; sister, Helen Bushman; grandchildren, David Lister; Lucus Mark Lister; great grandchild, Ryder Wolfe; brothers-in-law, Glen Johnson & Bert Thorpe; sister-in-law, Elaine Bushman. Funeral service Tuesday February 3, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant 5th Ward Chapel (55 S State). Friends may call Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Rasmussen Mortuary (96 N 100 W Mt. Pleasant), and Tuesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolence at www.rasmussenmortuary.com

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Andrew Madsen's Journal 1869 ~ 1872 Brigham Young Visits, Church Completed, Grasshoppers, Flour Mill, Co-op Herd, Peace Treaty







General Morrow, having made several successful attempts in routing and scattering the Indian Tribes, met with a number of their Chiefs at Mt. Pleasant and a Peace Treaty was concluded.

During the Fall, the new meeting house was completed and dedicated, the same affording ample accommodations for the Saints.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Moving Picture Comes to Mt. Pleasant ~ 1914 ~~~~Did the Elite turn into the Kinema?


The Elite Theater was built in 1913.

In the late 1920s, 
L.C. and Nada Lund changed the name of the movie house to Star Theater.  Their son, Truxton, later took over the family business and changed the name Kinema. 

The theater, which was considered fireproof when it was built, burned down in 1990.

 Did you Know?  Kinema  is  the British Version of Cinema.    and there are or were hundreds of Kinema's across the United States and world. 

The word ‘cinema’ comes from ‘Kinema’-toscope and is derived from the Greek word kinema-matos meaning the science of pure motion.


  ..And I always thought that it was a cute expression of    "Kinna Ma Go to the Movies?"


Our Relic Home on the far left.



December 25th, 1912 the Elite Theatre, now the Star, presented their first show. Prior to this, some show places had been operat­ing, among them the one on State Street, conducted by C. Purring­ton.  History of Mt. Pleasant, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf p. 197 

Monday, January 26, 2015

North Sanpete High School 1952-1953


(The above photo comes from the yearbook and not an original photo)




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(the following is from the yearbook and not from original print)
(The above comes from the yearbook)



Saturday, January 24, 2015

Female Relief Society September 12, 1878


















Meeting held September 12th 1878

Opened with singing "Oh My Father, Thou that Dwellest".

Prayer by Sister Hasler

Sister Morrison addressed the Sisters and felt glad to be able to meet with the Sisters again, said that she was kept away from meeting last time on account of attending to a dead person but her faith and mind was with the sisters. .............She said that many cases of harsh sickness was among us and urged the sisters to sustain all with their faith and prayers that they may be restored to health again, especially, Sister Lake that was.........for spirit a time we should remember her in our prayers every day that she might be a comfort and help for her family, like she has always been.

A good many other good instruction were given in regard to our children and other principles of the Gospel; and hoped that the sisters would attend meetings more regularly........business is over.

Sister Madsen rose and was very glad to meet with the Sisters after being absent for a while,........said she was tempted to resign her office of Counselor, but thought she was in ...........every time when the thought like that came in her mind,  ........feeling it was a duty for everyone to do what they can for the building up this......anyhow........  Her prayer that we may.........for good reason.

The business was attended to.  Sister G.....Frandsen and Sister M.......were appointed as teachers in the North Ward  and Sister Tidwell and Sister  ?Larsen in the South Ward.  These teachers should keep a book to account for all the donations that are given to them and also the Temple.donations with the names of every sister that gives, also ......... that would be made in each Ward...........   Some arrangements were made for Sister........to go to the City to get her endowments.   Sister Morrison offered to see to her widows..................     to go through the house  .......Sister Josephine.......for her.

Sister Hafen, Sister Fechser and Sister Fowles gave a......., as a temple donation made by them.

The meeting was dismissed with singing, "How Firm A Foundation"; and prayer given by Sister Johnson.

MFC Morrison, Pres
Louise Hasler, Sec.




Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Obituaries of Ellen N. Madsen and Anthon W. Madsen ~ Submitted by David R. Gunderson





                                                        Died February 8, 1970


 Died September 12, 1923

Monday, January 19, 2015

Tales of Copenhagen District ~ Southwest Quarter of Mt. Pleasant


Written by Eli A. Day           



Joseph Page and Joseph Day taught one winter in the second ward schoolhouse. I went to their school. We called that part of the town Copenhagen because so many Danes lived there. There was some rivalry between the Danish boys and the English or Americans, so we had to wrestle and scuffle to see who was champions. Sometimes it was fights. I managed to throw down a very tough match, the champion of Copenhagen, a boy my own age and size, but got through the winter without any fights. In fact, I do not remember having a real fight at any school. When the end of the school was near, Joseph Page examined our class, (I was then in the third reader) and said I was the best in the class. He promoted several of the class to the fourth readers. We were not classed in grades, but in readers. Our books were primmer, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth readers. We had about three spelling classes. No other lessons [were] taught in classes.

One night, while playing in the streets of the old town, my crowd heard a racket down in "Copenhagen," so we went down to see and enjoy the fun, but it came near not being fun, for we found a crowd of boys abusing a few girls that were with them. We promptly demanded that they stop their abusive talk and actions. They wanted to know who we were, and we told them we would soon show them who we were if they did not let those girls alone. We nearly had a battle royal on our hands, but they concluded to behave themselves. This does not mean that the boys of that part of the town were any worse than those in other parts, for there were hoodlums in every quarter of Mt. Pleasant.

One night, while playing in the streets of the old town, my crowd heard a racket down in "Copenhagen," so we went down to see and enjoy the fun, but it came near not being fun, for we found a crowd of boys abusing a few girls that were with them. We promptly demanded that they stop their abusive talk and actions. They wanted to know who we were, and we told them we would soon show them who we were if they did not let those girls alone. We nearly had a battle royal on our hands, but they concluded to behave themselves. This does not mean that the boys of that part of the town were any worse than those in other parts, for there were hoodlums in every quarter of Mt. Pleasant.

Another time the crowd I was with heard an awful racket nearly in the same part of "Copenhagen." So down we went to enjoy the fun. We found a large gang of boys around a wagon with a hayrack on it in the street. There were boys there, I guess, from nearly all parts of the town and such a shouting as they were making. They had been in to Foutin's melon patch, but had found it bare. "Bring out your melons! Where have you hid your melons? Don't be so stingy." And even worse things were being shouted by the disappointed crowd of would-be pilferers.

I had been there only a few minutes when the house door opened and out came Mr. Foutin. Hoop! Skat! How that crowd scattered and ran. I soon found myself standing alone by the wagon and rack. Thomas Foutin came very quietly up to me and spoke very nicely to me. I told him I had heard the noise from up in town and had come down to see what was going on. He said the crowd had been there for about an hour, running through the garden and corrals and stables, shouting for melons, but he could not give them any for his melons were all gone. He made no threats, but wished the crowd would go away or keep quiet so that he could sleep.



THE DANES IN MT. PLEASANT (taken from Knudsen Chronicles page 59)

COPENHAGEN DISTRICT

The Knudsen family lived in the southwest quarter of town, called the "Copenhagen District" because so many Danes made their homes there. An interesting culture developed. Because there were so many Sorensens, Madsens, Olsens, Hansens, Rasmussens, Jensens, etc., nicknames based on former hometown, physical characteristics, or a humorous happening became common. For instance, James Christensen, who came from the town of Hobro, was commonly called James Christensen Harbro. Ole Sorensen, who said the word 'absolutely' often, was called Ole Absolutely. Examples of other amusing names were Olaf Coffee Pot, Chris Golddigger, Stinkbug Anderson, Fat Lars, Dirty Mart, Alphabet Hansen, Bert Fiddlesticks, Otto By-Yingo Anderson, Pete Woodenhead, Long Peter, Little Peter, Salt Peter, Shimmy Soren, and Shingle Pete.

The Word of Wisdom was not stressed so much at the time, so they followed the customs of their homeland and continued to drink coffee and homemade brew called Danish Beer. Symbols of hospitality were the coffee pot simmering at the back of the stove and freshly-made cinnamon buns or cookies covered with a colorful cloth waiting to be shared. If anyone chided them, they commonly replied with a smile, "Brother Joseph never meant the Word of Wisdom for the Danes."

One Dane explained, "Not all the goot tings should be left to the yentiles."

Preaching at a funeral of a friend, a Dane said, "He has gone to Heaven where there is no sorrow, or pain, or Word of Wisdom."

The Danes had a great ability to laugh at themselves: "The Danes of Mount Pleasant, it was said, had pretty wives, while the Swedes had homely wives. The reason: the Swedes were hard workers, while the Danes loafed around and picked out the pretty girls when they came to town."

At times, old prejudices from Europe caused problems, but laughing about it seemed to help defuse anger: "A Dane and a Swede were arguing about the virtues and vices of the two nations. As the argument reached its peak, the furious Swede demanded, 'What could be dirtier than a dirty Dane?' To which the Dane triumphantly responded, 'A clean Swede."'

Saturday, January 17, 2015

GEORGE WILLIAM DAY HISTORY

GEORGE WILLIAM DAY HISTORY

This history was written by his daughter, Olea Day Cox in 1956. Material was gathered from,
histories, old letters, neighbors and friends who remember him as a youngster, as well as when he was
older and as I new him as a Father.

He was born in Mt. Pleasant Utah, Sept. 7, 1865 to Abraham and Charlotte Melland Day.
His father was born Sept. 24, 1817 near Winham, Windham Co. Vermont. His mother in Killamarsh
Derbyshire England 25, Dec. 1832. Abraham had joined the L.D.S. Church was married and on his way to Utah when Charlotte, a young girl, was put in his company to cross the Plains. He was called to serve in the Mormon Battalion so had to leave his family. After it was over he went back and for two years worked hard to get wagons, oxen, provisions, etc, to finish his trip to Utah.
After they reached Salt Lake he took Charlotte for his second Wife. The family lived here for
many years, and then they were called to go to Springville. Charlottes cabin was built in Hobble Creek Canyon. She had several children at this time. Because of Indian troubles Abraham took this family and moved to Mt. Pleasant, leaving his first wife and her family there, this was in 1860. Here six more children were born. George was the ninth child born in the family.

Their pioneer life was not an easy one. Four children died young, living in dugouts and in the
Fort for years. When George was born they had a two room cabin built by his father on the corner
block now where the Mt. Pleasant swimming pool is. The children were very poorly clad, went bare
footed in the summer, attended a ward school, but had very few books. George being one of the
younger ones had a chance for a better education.
He was only seven years old when his Mother died in 1872. He had an older sister who was
married, Dora Day Johnson, who did a lot for the younger children who were left. George worked with his father on the farm and in the mountains, building roads, cutting timber, hauling the lumber.

There is a canyon now east of Mt. Pleasant by the name of Days Canyon.
He was baptized a member of the L.D.S. Church Sept. 9, 1881. He was 16 years old at the time.
Have often wondered why Grandpa Day a convert to the Church back in Vermont did not have it done when he was eight. I think he was more a colonizer than a church man: was a very good surveyor, had several saw mill, etc. He could do most anything when it came to pioneering. His son George (my father) did farming, was a very good carpenter. He built two homes, his first one on his father’s lot, this he sold and built one on North State Street in Mt. Pleasant. Here is where I (Olea) was born.

Elizabeth Ellis Staker was a neighbor girl. They played together, went to school together, only
six months difference in their ages, fell in love and were married in the Logan Temple, 17 Nov. 1886.
He held the Priesthood of an Elder and was an officer in the Elders Quorum.
He loved to play baseball, was the catcher on the team. He played a long time after they were
married. I still have a picture of the team He hunted wild game, especially deer. Had his own reloading
outfit. My Mother , Ellis, always said George was fun and a favorite among the young people. He also played an accordion, loved to sing and played for many of the dances at that time.
He owned two small pieces of land, five acres in the east part of town and a small farm north of
Mt. Pleasant near where the trail road crosses the main highway.
Their first child, Arthur G. was born 20 Nov. 1894. Mother said she was kidded a lot because I
was so dark and had so much brown hair, I must of got that fro my Father as his complexion was on
that side where mother had blue eyes and light hair. Over the years they had saved and put their money in some Mill Stock and lost it all thought some crocked fellows. He got very discouraged at this time. A few years before this his Father, Abraham, and the two wives, Elmira and some of their families had moved to Lawrence, Emery County, helping with the surveying work.
As they were getting along in years, they decided to have a reunion of the two families, which
turned out very successful. George’s brother Arthur had went to Kelowna B.C. Canada to make his
home. He and his wife, Jannie and two small children came down for the big event. Many pictures were taken at this time of both families together, which are cherished today by all the descendants of
Abraham Day and his two wives Elmira and Charlotte.

While here Georges brother Arthur had talked a great deal about Canada and had encouraged
him to come up and look the country over. Now this being the time he had just lost his saving sand was so discouraged so he decided to go. They left Mt. Pleasant, 4 Jan. 1898. His brother, Arthur was the foreman of the big LaQuim Ranch so he started work there. He stayed in Canada almost two years with out this wife and three children. Now he felt like he could afford to send for us. We left Mt. Pleasant right away and landed there 23 Oct. 1900. He met us at the train in Vancouver.
A very happy reunion. I was now six years old and knew my Daddy. Today that is one of my
most cherished moments. Our life there for six months was happy but not an easy one as Canada was
still in the Pioneer Stage. Father worked on the Horrage Ranch as well as the LaQuim. They worked in the timber cutting down trees and floating them down the stream to the mills. The LaQuim Ranch home was a very large one. One large room was for dancing. Father always helped out with the dance music, singing and playing his accordion.

They did a lot of ice-skating that winter. Large bon fires were built on the banks of the
Okanogan Lake. Couples would skate together as well as a lot of single skating. They would bring their children and they would play around the campfires and the older children learned to skate. Another sport they enjoyed was fishing. Large holes were cut into the ice; seines were set with bait to catch hundreds of fish. They also fished with hook and line. My brothers often did this through the holes. I still can remember what a lot of fun it was. Trapping for game was a real industry at that time.

There were so many men working on the ranch. They had a large place where they ate and had a
Chinese cook. His name was Gong. He did all the cooking for the men. He and my Father George were very friendly and he spent a lot of his time playing with us children. He ask us Utah kids about Mormons and was surprised to learn they didn’t have horns and that we were Mormons. He thought
they were terrible people and wicked He could talk some English and some times he would talk to us in his language. He also told us stories of China.

In the summer of 1900 my Father was binding a big load of hay, the binding pole broke and
threw him off the load. He lit on his feet and at the time he did not think he was hurt much, but his
lungs were sore and he developed a bad cough, which never did stop. Later he caught a bad cold which
seemed to get worse. he had such a good job he hated to quit and take care of himself like he should
and it developed into pneumonia. The doctor said he had been working with a temperature of 102. It
had developed to the stage he could not do much for him and it soon developed into typhoid
pneumonia. He suffered so terrible before he died. A very young man with to much ambition at an early age of thirty-five, 14 April 1901. His burial was in the Kelowna Cemetery. He should have been laid away in endowment L.D.S. clothing, but no Mormons there and mother knew nothing about sewing, so he was buried in a white suit, and after most of the people had left the cemetery his wife Ellis dedicated the grave along with her three children, Nathan, Irvine and Olea kneeling beside her. I’m sure it took a lot of courage to go through what she did at that time.

Mother wanted to bring her children up in a Mormon community as she was a true L.D.S. Saint
and it also was her husbands wish before he passed away that she finish her life in Utah with her three children. In three weeks she was back in her little home in Mt. Pleasant Utah.
While in Canada, George’s brother Arthur and wife, and many friends and neighbors were very
good to Mother. When we got on the boat to cross the Okanogan Lake, many tears were shed and a
dear friend handed Mother a large envelope. When it was opened later, it contained one hundred and
twenty dollar, and names of those who had given it with their sympathy and wished for a safe trip back to Utah.

After fifty four years, my husband Newel and I had the pleasure of going back to Canada with
our son-in-law, Rex Hansen and wife Lorraine, to see Uncle Arthur who was Ninety two at the time.
He told us many things of their early life in Canada. How rough it was and that my Father , George,
was never cut out for that type of life. He said he was to kind and good to everyone
We visited Father’s grave. It had a nice head stone and also a beautiful lilac bush all in bloom
on the lot. I took a start back home, which grew. It is beautiful every spring, and a different verity from any around here.
Uncle Arthur was very feeble at the time and when we left he gave me a one hundred dollar
check. He died that fall, Sept 1954. Avery rich man in dollars but never did anything in a religions way.

Was last child of Abraham Days.

Family Group Sheet can be found here:
http://karlsplace.org/familygroup.php?familyID=F1327&tree=weiler

Census Record found here: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSK-1S1

Need a Photo !

Friday, January 16, 2015

Our Life-Long Friend "Fanny"


Francis “Fanny” William Carlson

January 14th, 2015


2/24/1920 ~ 1/11/2015

Francis “Fanny” William Carlson, 94 of Mount Pleasant, UT passed away January 11, 2015 at his home from natural causes. Born February 24, 1920 to John Lawrence & Asenteth Ann Swensen Carlson in Mount Pleasant, UT. Married Ada Jensen Carlson December 5, 1938 and raised three sons. He enjoyed the outdoors, was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved riding his ATV. He took great pleasure in family and friends and really enjoyed his grandkids. Francis is survived by his sons Francis Jay (Corliss) Carlson, John V. Carlson and Gary L. (Sandy) Carlson; siblings Bud & Sophie Carlson; JoAnn & Elmo Winward; 9 grandkids; 20 great-grandkids; 1 great great-grandkid. Preceded in death by his parents, wife Ada, daughter-in-law Micky Carlson; grandchildren, Kenny Carlson, Celeste Carlson, Cody Carlson; siblings, John, Betty, LaRae, Barbara. Funeral services will be held Saturday January 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mount Pleasant 4th Ward Chapel (55 S State). Friends may call Saturday at 10:00 a.m. one hour prior to services at the church. Interment in the Mount Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

Home of Carl Gustav Trygg Bjelke and wife Britha Maria (Mary) Wall ~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Love This Photo

Can Someone Give Us More Information Please !!!


Notice Anything Strange?


 

KATHY:    . I think the bicycle photo you have posted is backward.  It has the big wheel in the back and it has always been in front..   
My photo of an old bicycle!
Lee R Christensen

Lee R. Christensen's  Photos and Stories From Mt. Pleasant








I think the bicycle in the blog is of a different make than the usual “Big Wheel” bicycles we see.

I think it is an eagle bike.

I can’t imagine riding either a regular “big wheel” or an eagle bike.

I remember that my grandfather Gunderson said that he used to ride one.

One early Sunday morning while we were on a walk before Church, we passed a bicycle shop that had a “big wheel” in its window and Grandpa explained to me how to mount and “hopefully” ride one. But I never felt like trying to do it.  

David R. Gunderson