Andrew Johansen, the fifth son and seventh child of Niels and Ane Andersen Johansen, was born on 26 November 1870 at "The Bottoms," an area located a little west of Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah. His father lived the then-prevailing church law of polygamy and had two sisters, Ane and Andersina Andersen for his wives. Ane, Andrew's mother, lived on a farm at the Bottoms while Andersine (or Sena) and her children lived in Mt. Pleasant.
Andrew did not receive too much early schooling perhaps because of the distance to school or perhaps because he was needed to help on the farm. Although he was the fifth son, two boys had died while very young, and the oldest (Joseph) had married when Andrew was only seven years old; this left just Andrew and John to help on the farm and assume responsibilities when their father was not at home.
When Andrew was fifteen his mother died. She left her husband and a family of six living children..
Living just a few miles north of Niels Johansen's farm was another Danish convert and his family. Mons and Maren Katherine Pallesen (Jensen) Monsen had come from Denmark in 1879. Their oldest child, Annie, along with one brother had been born in Denmark. (The Monsens later had five additional children.) Andrew began "courting" Annie Monsen--taking her horseback riding, to the local dances and to church parties. Two days before Andrew's twenty-first birthday they went to the Manti Temple to be married.
After their marriage, Andrew and Annie purchased a farm on the Bottoms, but later acquired a home in Mt. Pleasant. In addition to farming, Andrew spent some time during their early married life herding sheep in Scipio. They lived in Mt. Pleasant for seventeen years and during this time Annie gave birth to six children: Fredrick Leo 10 February 1893; Andrew Orange 2 April 1896; Vienna 4 November 1899; Arda May 5 April 1901; Mons Neldon 1 April 1904; Ada Arvinna 2 January 1907. Two of the girls, Vienna and Arda May, passed away during this period and are buried in Mt. Pleasant. Vienna was just a little over four months old when she died of whooping cough and Arda May had heart trouble and passed away at the age of three.
In 1908 they heard of some land in the Uintah Basin that could be obtained if a person made the proper filing and then homesteaded it, continuing the necessary improvements. Andrew and his brother-in-law, Will Oman, (married to Andrew's younger sister, Annie) decided to investigate and they later filed on some land in Boneta, a community fifteen miles north of Duchesne, the county seat of Duchesne County. The two men left in the late winter or early spring for Boneta and built homes for their families. In April they returned to Mt. Pleasant for their families and traveled to Colton and thence to the "Basin." Their first home in Boneta was a one-room log cabin with a sod roof, dirt floor, and no windows. (It was located under the hill from their later large family home.) Conditions were very similar to those of the early pioneers of Salt Lake Valley. Sagebrush had to be burned and land cleared before any planting could be done. Some other settlers from Sanpete also joined them at about the same time.
There was no water so they had to haul it in. In the winter they melted snow. Then the men all went up to the Lake Fork River and made a canal. Even with the canal and new ditches, many areas were quite a distance from water and still had to haul it to their homes. Because of Indian treaties, Indians had priority on water rights and the settlers worked hard with their crops and meager water privileges. However, the Lord was sure with them and while Andrew didn't become a rich man of gold or silver, he did raise a posterity to honor his name. During this hard period of homesteading, there were few, if any, serious illnesses in his family. (Among his posterity three descendants are named after him: Andrew Orange Johansen, a son; Donald Andrew Johansen, a grandson; and Donald Andrew Johansen, Jr., a great-grandson.)
In 1911, Annie returned to Mt. Pleasant for the winter to await the birth of their seventh child. Leo had stayed in Boneta with his father and the other children accompanied their mother. On 25 February 1911 their last child, Mary Catherine, was born.
They first had a school in Boneta which also served as the church meeting place; later a chapel was built. At this time Andrew built a "townhouse" near the church and school for winter living and in the spring and summer, they moved to their farmhouse under the hill. Finally about eight or ten years after they had arrived in Boneta, they built a lovely four-room ranch house on a flat overlooking the surrounding area, and it was here Andrew spent the remaining years of his life.
Annie's brother, Orson Monsen's wife died in 1925 after giving birth to a baby boy. Andrew and Annie took the baby, Frank Monsen, into their home and loved and raised him as their own.
Andrew and Annie sent one son, Andrew Orange, on a mission and helped their other children in establishing their own homes. Andrew was generous with what he had although he was very quiet.
The following obituary was published at the time of his death: "Andrew Johansen, 68, one of Bonet'a earliest settlers, died suddenly at his home Sunday, July 23, 1939, at 4:15 P.M. ...Mr. Johansen had been suffering for several months from a serious heart ailment, but though he and his family had been warned his condition was serious, it was not expected that the end would come so soon. Sunday morning his son, Andrew Orange Johansen, of Logan, had arrived at the home and had suggested that his father and mother accompany him to Logan for a visit. Mr. Johansen seemed in good spirits and health as he prepared for the journey and all the members of his family were present to bid him goodbye as he left the house and entered his son's car. The car, with orange and his mother in the front seat and Mr. Johansen in the rear, had hardly traveled 100 yards when Mr. Johansen made some strange sounds that attracted his son's attention, and before the car could be brought to a halt he toppled over in the seat. Death apparently came almost instantly and the goodbyes Mr. Johansen had just given his family served as a goodbye for all time...
Although a staunch L.D.S., Mr. Johansen never made any effort to push into the limelight in church work or otherwise. he was known by all his neighbors and friends as a quiet man with little to say, but one who was always a good neighbor, ready and willing to take the share of all responsibilities and cares. he was loved and respected by the entire community."
Andrew's appearance was one of premature aging almost certainly coming from the hard pioneering work on his farm in Boneta. he carried the same appearance for years and never seemed to age any further than the first time you met him. He was a quiet hard-working man who never complained or spoke ill of anyone. His visits were always a treat to the grandchildren, and on one such visit, they brought a beautiful Christmas baby doll to their granddaughter, which she still treasures and holds dear. Andrew today (1968) has a posterity of 83; these and many other people will remember and hold dear the memory of Andrew Johansen.
Story submitted by Beverly Johansen Edvalson. (Beverly originally began compiling the Niels Johansen Family Record, then asked if I would take over. She deserves our thanks for her foresight.)
HISTORY OF ANNIE MONSEN JOHANSEN by Beverly Edvalson
Annie Monsen Johansen was born Feb. 10, 1873 in Denmark. Her parents Mons Monsen and Maren Catherine Pallesen. They joined the Mormon Church in Denmark and the persecution was so great, even from their own family members for joining the church, that they went to the extent of not allowing Mons in their home. Mons and his wife and two children joined a group of Mormons who were coming to Utah. Mons earned enough money to bring his family to Utah by fishing and selling the fish and also by selling rags. They sold their home in Denmark to some people who exposed them to the measles, and while crossing the North Sea, Annie was so sick with the measles she didn't see any of the sea. (She was then five and a half years old.) Her mother and brother were, also, sick with measles while they were crossing the Atlantic.
When they arrived in New York they boarded a train that would take them to Zion. Of this train trip Annie recalls that she had a big head of curly blond hair and on this trip, her father cut all of her curls off. One day the train stopped right in the middle of a desert. Everyone got off the train and there they were in "Zion." The train had run to the end of the track and now was starting back on the return run. The Monsen family was in York, Juab County, Utah. The family was left at this desolate desert station with no houses in sight.
There were freighters hauling provisions to Pioche, Nevada, and brought back ore from the mines to this little station to be loaded on the train. They took immigrants to Sanpete County. So they loaded the Monsen family with their baggage into the wagons and took them to Moroni, Sanpete County, Utah. They arrived in Moroni on July 23, 1879. The family was taken to the home of Bishop John Irons. A group of men was sitting on the porch. Among them was a rich farmer by the name of Christian Jensen, who had just taken up a homestead three miles from Moroni. He took a fancy to Mons Monsen and hired him immediately to live on his land.
Not too long after this, her father bought twenty acres of land for himself. On these 20 acres when they first went to live, there was only a one-room dirt roof log cabin. There was a fireplace and a back skillet, but no furniture. The mother had never cooked on a fireplace and she didn't know how to begin. She had practically nothing to work with, and she could speak no English. It was hard to begin this new life in a strange country in this way. The children would sit around the homemade chest which they had brought from Denmark to pack their belongings in. This chest served not only as a table but also in other capacities, as it was their only article of furniture.
Someone gave the Monsens a cow that was nearly dry. They stripped her so persistently, that she came back to her milk, and they not only had a little milk but could also make a pat of butter once in a while. Some ladies gave Mrs. Monsen a few hens and when they laid eggs a few were kept for sale. Finally, there was enough "egg money" to buy two plain chairs. The parents walked three miles to town, each happily carrying home a chair.
On Feb. 6, 1879, a new little boy was born into their family. They named him Mons after his father, but he lived only three years when he died of pneumonia. When he died, Annie's mother grieved greatly and then her health went bad. However, she had four more children, Orson who was born April 12, 1883, Boone Dec. 24, 1884, Gibbs Aug. 5, 1886, and Elvira Dec. 12, 1889.
When the family had landed at York, the Black Hawk Indian War was just over and when they arrived at Moroni they all lived in horror of the Indians. One day Annie heard the dog barking, and she went to the door to see why and there was an Indian beating the dog with a quilt. When the Indian saw her, he came to the house and wanted biscuits and other food. Annie's mother gave the Indians some food, but Annie and Rasmus wanted their mother to give the old Indian everything they had in the house, so he wouldn't hurt them. The Indian told them his name was "Green Blanket."
Her family lived too far for Annie to walk back and forth to school, so she stayed in Moroni with the Ebbisons and went to school. Later she went to school in Centerville, a small place between Mt. Pleasant and Moroni. It was here that she met Andrew Johansen, the man that she later married. The couple would often go horseback riding, which was the main sport of young people in those days. Andrew would sit on the front of the horse, with Annie riding sideways behind him.
Andrew and Annie were married in the Manti Temple on Nov. 25, 1891. They went in a wagon the day before and camped on the temple grounds the night before they were married. Other couples were also there that night, and the girls slept in the wagons, while their husbands slept the night on the ground. After their marriage, the couple bought a farm between Moroni and Mt. Pleasant. Here their two oldest sons were born. Leo Frederick was born on Feb. 10, 1893, and Andrew Orange on April 2, 1896. They then moved into Mt. Pleasant and four other children were born while they lived there. Arda May was born on April 5, 1901, in Vienna Nov. 4, 1900, these two girls died in childhood, Mons Neldon on April 1, 1904, and Ada Arvina, on Jan. 2, 1907.
Shortly after the birth of Ada, the family heard they could get all the water they wanted for their land and they could get a farm merely by homesteading it in the Uintah Basin. As the water was scarce for farming in Mt. Pleasant, this family, along with others, decided to move to this land of what they thought would be a good opportunity. Boneta was a word meaning "Beautiful" so they thought, here indeed would be a good place to raise their family.
Andrew Johansen went to Heber City and filed on some land at Boneta as did his brother-in-law, Will Oman. The men went and built a house, and in April the women got on a train to Colton and here their husbands were to meet them with wagons to take them to their new homes. They had been cautioned by their husbands not to bring too many things, but the women found it hard to discard things that they felt they would really need. When the husbands began to load the things into the wagons from the train, they knew they were in trouble. Their loads were far too heavy. It was a hard trip for both horses and humans. Coming up Willow Creek the company had a hard time. Everyone had to walk. The women carried the young children and at times helped push the wagons. The men and bigger children pushed the wagons to help the tired horses. There was snow still on the ground in places. It was a cold miserable trip for all. When they reached the head of Indian Canyon, the sun came out. They then moved along rapidly and easily. The women and children got on the wagons. Annie recalls they all sat on the back of the wagon on a flour bin and took their wet shoes and stockings off and warmed their feet in the sunshine as they road along.
When they reached the swollen Strawberry River, they had more trouble. They had to ford the river. Andrew had a team and an extra horse called "Molly". He thought it best to let Molly loose and let her follow the wagon across. The swift stream carried old Molly downstream a long way. The children cried and just knew Molly would drown. No one really thought she would be saved as she had the harnesses on. However, she was washed against a clump of bushes and managed to climb up the slippery bank safe and sound.
Going up the Big Hollow from Duchesne to Boneta, they had a dreadful time. The roads were mere Indian trails and they were wet and slippery. They had another hard time with it but finally made it. The men had provided dirt-roofed log cabins, but building materials were scarce and they lived in this original log house for seven months without any windows, and nine months without a floor or doors.
The dream of having plenty of water for irrigation purposes did not come true. The water rights had been given to the Indians for their farms, times were hard and people left Boneta in discouragement. The Johansens stayed on, and after many hardships did achieve some success in this wilderness. In the winter of 1911, Annie took the children and returned to their home in Mt. Pleasant where the children could go to school. Here their last child, Mary Catherine, was born on Feb. 25, 1911.
In the spring the family returned to Boneta and stayed until the death of Andrew in 1939. At this time, Annie sold the farm to their son, Mons Neldon Johansen, and bought her a small house in Duchesne. Here she lived with Frank Monsen, her brother's son, whom she and her husband adopted when his mother died in 1925.
Annie died July 17, 1950, in her home in Duchesne. She was buried next to her husband in the Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah cemetery. She had many friends and enjoyed visiting very much. She was a gentlewoman and during the time I knew her, seldom saw her angered. She enjoyed crocheting pretty things for her home and for others. She was a good seamstress and quick with a needle. Her home was always immaculate and she liked fancy things to decorate it with. Annie was a good cook and I will always remember her "Frickadillies, Danish Dumplings, and Lumpy Dick."
She was happiest when she was doing for others. And I remember on her visits to our home after Andrew died, she would always like to help mother with the darning of stockings or making aprons. Annie was very neat and immaculate in her personal appearance, and as I remember, always kept her beautiful grey hair neat and pretty. She would always "dress up" even if it was just to the corner grocery store she was going. She liked pretty jewelry and these complimenting her nice clothes made her a lovely picture.
[Memories of Moon Lake, Boneta, Mountain Home, and Talmage Wards (1975), p. 154-156—Scanned to Family Search: https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/40286/?offset=0#page=161&viewer=picture&o=download&n=0&q= (p. 161)]
