Life Sketch of Frederraka Jensen Brotherson

 

Frederekka Jensen Brotherson A short narrative of her life One of the principle fishing centers of Northern Denmark is the city of Logstor, overlooking the bay of the same name. Its inhabitants live their lives in quiet contentment, pursuing their daily tasks in the ways of peace, a peace that comes from right living and honest toil. among these sturdy industrious people dwelt the family of Nels and Marie Jensen and their two daughters, Sena and Frederekka. Life was young and full of hope and promise to this loving and devoted couple, who worked and planned in mutual trust and confidence for still better and happier days in the future all unconscious of the impending disaster so near at hand. Frederekka's father was an official pilot, whose duty was to supervise the landing and anchoring of vessels as they came into the ports adjacent to his native city. One day while performing his customary task of anchoring a large vessel he failed to return to the surface of the water having met his death in some unknown way. Five months later his body was found seven miles from the scene of the accident. The impending blow had suddenly fallen crushing the loving heart of the good woman and hushing the music of the children's laughter and play. The kiss of welcome that always awaited the father on his evening return had been given for the last time. The dream of the coming years had vanished. Then followed days of doubt and uncertainty, but the sorrowing little group found relief in each other's tears and tender caresses. Oh how wonderful is the power of tears and how clear is out spiritual vision after it has been purified by their truth. Slowly but effectively this bereaved mother gathered up the broken threads and took her place at the head of this mourning household. How well she understood the irretrievable loss of a father and husband to any family, but she bravely prepared for the problem of her coming motherhood, five months hence when her home was gladdened by the birth of a son, whom she honored with his father's name. Marie Jensen was exceptionally fortunate in having a profession, by which she could earn a livelihood. She was an expert tailor and the good people of Logstor aided not only with their sympathy and encouraging words, but in a material way by giving her employment in the line of her vocation. Frederekka had lost a father, but their loss was made less keen by the rare judgment and wise counsel of her mother and the bond of affection and companionship between them grew stronger with each passing year as long as her mother lived. Time flew by with healing in its wings. The lovely daughters were growing and baby Nels was learning his first step to the delight of his indulgent sisters when word reach Logstor that Mormon Missionaries had arrived and were to hold a meeting on a certain date. Marie Jensen immediately decided to attend this meeting, all unaware that this hour would be the beginning of a new life for her and her children in a far off land beyond the surging sea that had robber her of the one she loved and needed most. She was introduced at once to the elders, who were Christian Madisen of Gunnison, Utah and Anthony H. Lund a local missionary called to assist President Madsen in that vicinity. How attentively she listened to these humble missionaries, as they unfolded the truths of the restored gospel. It all seemed so plain and beautiful. Her heart was filled with endurable joy and tranquility. Again and again she found herself at their meetings and her children by her side. They too seemed anxious to imbibe that same sweet spirit that always comes to the pure in heart when listening to the word of the lord. A few months later she was baptized by Elder Andrew Petersen, she was their first convert in Logstor. It is a singular thing that as soon as a member of a family joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints they at once become, the object of scorn and persecution at the hands of their families and friends, and often driven from their comfortable happy homes. They were considered unfit to associate with longer. How once so loved and cherished could be the act of obeying the dictates of their own conscience be thus treated is hard to understand and yet it is a fact. Thousands have been cut off by the two edged sword of satanic fury. This is the fate that befell Sister Jensen, but their cruel abuse could not shake her faith. Patiently she bore the cross; sustained by the convictions of the true Christian and comforted by the words of the master wherein He says, "Blessed as ye when men shall revile you and persecute your for my name sake". Her soul had been touched by the burning fires of celestial light which could not be extinguished by the scorching tongue of malice. Sister Jensen remained in Logstor about three years after accepting Mormonism. Little Nels was now five years old, the joy and pride of his mother's heart and the hope of the future when he would be grown to manhood and be a help in her declining years, but this ardent wish was not granted. He became suddenly ill and died in January 1862 and was laid beside his father in the quiet breast of Logstor. A company of saints in charge of Elder Christian Madsen now released was ready to leave for America and Sister Jensen made preparations to join them. Her loved ones had departed, the icy hand of disdain had thrust her from those she longed to embrace, but the unkindest cut of all was when her mother refused to speak to her. For three long years not a word had she spoken to her noble daughter, and that silence was never broken not even a word of acknowledgement or farewell, but the land of Zion was beckoning her to its arms and she was eager to go where she could find peace to live her religion for which she had suffered and endured so much. On April 6, 1862 the company embarked on the ship "Benjamin Franklin", the only recognition of this event was the pathetic scene as the ship sailed out of port. Sister Jensen's father sailed in from his fishing trip. He recognized her at once and waved his handkerchief. Sister Jensen and her little daughters, Sena and Frederekka, returned the good-bye, the last in this earthly existence. A faith like this knows no retreat and can never be destroyed by the evils of this world and when as a last resort, the threat of taking her children from her came unless she would renounce this unpopular faith. She never faltered but boldly met the issue, like Martin Luther at the diet of worms and won her case. And now the mighty ocean was bearing her away from it all and a peace that passeth understanding filled her being, while unbounded gratitude for her deliverance found expression in silent prayer. The sea voyage of nine weeks was made sorrowful by sickness and death, which wrung the hearts of those brave Christians as nothing else could do. After sailing for several weeks the measles broke out on board, nearly every child contracted that dreadful, malady and 50 of them died and were consigned to a grave in the angry deep. Oh the agony of a thing like that and yet it must be done and they must sail on and on. The company landed in New York in June 1862 and proceeded direct to Florence, Nebraska. Here they lived in tents for six weeks, anxiously waiting for teamsters and supplies from Utah. As soon as they arrived preparations were made for the exodus across the plains. Sister Jensen was assigned to the company in charge of Captain Horne; this remarkable journey was made by ox teams. The wagons were loaded to capacity with provisions, with barely room for the children. Sister Jensen walked every foot of the way. One day she remarked to her little girls in the wagon beside her, "I am celebrating my birthday by walking to Zion and this is the happiest day of my life." That was September 17, 1862 her 42 birthday. To the mind of this generation, that journey without parallel in all history seems an impossibility. How human beings could live on the scanty rations and perform the strenuous tasks incident to such an undertaking is beyond comprehension. There can be no other solution than this. It was God leading his chosen people up through the barren wilderness to the promised land by the hand of his servants as he lead ancient Israel to the land of Cannan. On October first they arrived in Salt Lake Valley. Sister Jensen remained there two weeks. During this time, President Brigham Young asked the saints to see that their needs were supplied. He was kind to Sister Jensen especially during the illness of Frederekka who was suffering with Mountain Fever. President Brigham Young had issued orders for larger numbers of saints to move south and colonize the vast arid wastes, waiting for the plowman and the builder. This move was now in progress. Sister Jensen secured transportation by ox teach with a Mr. Parker, who took her as far as Payson where she remained three weeks. During her stay, she visited a Brother Hansen and family, late arrivals from her native land. During the conversation she learned they were going to Fountain Green, Sanpete County, and would take her along is she wished to go. She gladly accepted the invitation. She remained at Fountain Green a month, but she was not satisfied here. She was seeking the friends who had crossed the ocean wit her and preceded her to Utah. These friends were Soren Jacobsen, Lauritz Larsen and Peter Syndergaard Families. Word had reached her that they were located in Mt. Pleasant. Leaving her daughters in the care of friends she went to Mt. Pleasant to investigate the rumor and found it to be true. She immediately returned for her children and cast her lot with them, grateful that she had found her place, in the land of Zion. A home was provided for her by Bishop William Seely and his good wife. Not only did they give her a house to live in but they saw that she had the necessities of life as well. Their kindness and generosity during their first winter here were never forgotten by this lonely widow and her daughters. Frederekka was born December 30, 1852. Her birthdays in far-off Logstor had been occasions of merry-making with her little companions and now ten years later she was celebrating the event in very humble circumstances, on the desert wilderness of a new world, and yet happiness and love were there which after all is the one essential element of all real enjoyment. The following spring, Sister Jensen made the acquaintance of a Brother Hemmert, who had lost his wife a few years before and whom she married some months later. He proved to be an excellent provider and a kind indulgent foster father. Sena and Frederekka rejoiced exceedingly in the many added comforts that came to them during their young womanhood and they expressed their appreciation by their willing service in the labors of the new household. Just a few short happy years and again the family was called upon to part with the husband and father, Brother Hemmert died, loved and revered by the little family he had adopted and befriended in the time of their distresses, leaving all his possessions to his widow for which she was very thankful. Again she turned to her professional work, by which she was able to secure the physical need of the house and give her daughters the educational training afforded at that time. Fredderekka attended the public school at Mt. Pleasant, and was one if its foremost students. Her quick alert mind secured for her a liberal fund of knowledge not only in the school room but in all the affairs of life as well. This accomplishment, together with that of being an interesting conversationalist and a delightful entertainer made her a favor among her friends and associates. Very early in life Frederekka exhibited an unusual degree of optimism and cheerfulness. Her views of the current life as it flows through the mill of mortality were always full of hope. The clouds of regret and despair, the mist of worry and needless anxiety were never permitted to gather on the horizon of her mind. This rare gift was enabled he to pass by the hard thorny places along the way with ease and good humor. Time passed and Frederekka Jensen the attractive little immigrant of a few years ago was blooming forth in all the glory of life's spring time. The creams of youth tinted by the rosy glow of anticipation of love and romance were now at hand. Gaily she moved among the wide circle of friends and admirers held by sheer force of her endless stock of good cheer. One among this group was Mr. Hans Brotherson, the son of early pioneers of Mt. Pleasant. These young people had grown up together and were always congenial. There were admirable suited for companionship together. Two lives with but a single hope, two hearts that beat as one, and so after a reasonable courtship they were married in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City, 18 October 1869. Frederekka's sister, Sena, had previously married and settled in a home of her own and Sister Hemmert insisted on the young couple living with her, which they did for many years. This new relationship was a very happy one. Mother and daughter continuing in that rare and beautiful atmosphere of comradeship which was never broken. Hans Brotherson was ambitious and possessed the qualities of making money. He chose as his profession that of cattle and sheep raising as a supplement to farming. In the latter he was unusually successful. His care and attention to the soil all came back to him in sweeping lines of fertility and abundant harvests. In the latter part of 1870 he built a splendid house for his family and Sister Hemmert remained one of the new firm, where she was indispensable to the needs of the future family. Her skill as a tailor was turned to good account as it had been heretofore. Practically all the sewing for the entire family was done by her which was a tremendous task in those days. As the years passed the family circle widened, embracing within its fold nine sons and six daughters. The assistance rendered by this good mother during their childhood and youth cannot be over estimated and Frederekka busy with the wonderful motherhood that came to her appreciated her faithfulness beyond measure. Frederekka's love for her mother was deep and true and enhanced by the long years of service when she needed help, and when her thin worn fingers had taken their last stitches in the fabric of time and the needle which had wrested the bread of life from the shores of daily combat for those she loved best, was laid aside, she fell asleep, on 28 October 1909, just tired. Her passing left many aching hearts and a vacancy that can never be filled by another. The memory of this noble heroic woman can not be erased from the hearts and soul of Frederekka Brotherson and her children. Frederekka's married life had been most happy. The necessities and comforts that every home needs came to her as she desired, seasoned with spices of her cherry smile. It seemed as if bands of sunshine and belts of sunlight wove themselves like magic through the loom into the carpet of her existence as it passed over the spindle in daily rotation. But alas the golden threads were snapped asunder, on December 30, 1900, her birthday was saddened by the passing of her husband, whom she loved dearly. Both her helpers gone and now she was alone with her grandchildren. These are moments that clutch the heart, and open the flood gates of the emotions. Emotions of sorrow that can only find relief in the flow of tears. Here again that indestructible gift of looking on the bright side of every situation game to her rescue, useless brooding over things that could not be changed never found a resting place with her, she quickly ferried them in the forgotten sands of memory and turned a smiling face to the future. One of the outstanding events of her whole career was the trip she made to her childhood home in Logstor in May 1911 in the company of her sister and lifelong friend Annie Mena Jacobsen. This was a unique undertaking for women past 70 years of age. 49 years had passed since these women as children, sailed out of the harbor on a sailing vessel driven by the wind and tossed. Now they return as first-class passengers on a mighty liner. The voyage was completed in six days as compared with nine weeks. Then they were little girls in homespun, now they walk the old familiar places as well-dressed women bearing the stamp of prosperity and culture. Many of their relations had passed away but those who remained received them with open arms. Sister Brotherson's dream of of half a century was now realized and the promise she made to her aunt 49 years before, when she said, "I told you I would come back some day and here I am", was now fulfilled. After a delightful visit of four months the party returned home, happy that they had been permitted to enjoy this rare pleasure but glad to get back to the land they loved most. Sister Brotherson had never been engaged very extensively in public work. Her only office was that of a Relief Society Teacher. This labor she performed very successfully for many years. Her accomplishments have been confined to her home and her children which have required all her time and energies. She considers the home the cornerstone and capstone as well of society and the business of being a mother and homemaker the greatest professions in the world and worthily of her best efforts. She has enjoyed and obeyed fully the great commandment given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to multiply and replenish the earth. She has reared to man and womanhood, fifteen children, eleven of whom are still living. She has spent her life for them, not only for their physical welfare but for their spiritual and educational advancement also. She still keeps the home fires burning brightly in the old home as a welcome to them and their children who now number 49 and they all love to come and bask in its cheery glow Little wonder she is full of peace. The peace that accompanies a well spent life. She has kept her faith and filled the measure of her creation to the brim. She is still hale and hearty and spends her time in useful work for her family and friends. She has lived for the good things of the earth and has earned a glorious reward, and untold blessing in her Father's Kingdom awaits her. Written May1930.