KERRY VERGE DEUEL ~~~ PASSES AWAY ~~~ (from our archves

 

LIFE SKETCH OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERSON AND HIS FAMILY ~~~ (From our archives)

 

The Life Sketch of Christian Brotherson  and  His Family

The life sketch of Christen Brothersen (Brodersen) is presented in two parts. The first part focuses on the family’s early life in Denmark and their emigration to America. The second part focuses on their life in their new homeland. 

Part 1: Focuses on Life in Denmark and the Family’s Emigration

Christian Brothersen was born, 14 June 1811 at Idrstrup, Maribo, Denmark. a son of Bohne Brothersen and Anne Margrette Rasmussen. At the age of thirty-five years, he married, Anne Mortensen on 13 February 1846. Anne was born 3 February 1824, a daughter of Martin Jensen Menboe and Dorthea Knudsen. Three children were born to Christian and Anne in Denmark: Dorthea was born 19 Dec. 1847; Hans on 15 Feb 1849; Bohne on 4 April 1851.   

A sorrowful event occurred in this family when Bone was an infant of only a few weeks of age. The mother, Anne Mortensen Brothersen. passed away on 26 May 1851. Mainly out of symphony for her sister’s children; Elsie Mortensen went into the Brothersen home, married Christian and cared for the children. It seems that Christian was a wealthy man. When missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints visited his home and brought the message of the restored gospel, the father embraced it with all his heart, as did Elsie.  Quick preparations were made and this family planned on going to Zion. Two children were born to Christian and Elsie; Martin, who was born 30 May 1853, at (Faister?) and Ane who born on 8 Jan. 1856.

Map showing the location of Idestrup, Denmark, the home ofChristian Brotherson

The following year, 1857, this family joined a company of emigrants and sailed to America. Hans was Seven and Martin was only three years of age at the time. (Reference -pp 401- 403  Vol. 6. "Heart Throbs of the West" a History of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.) The company journeyed westward immediately. At Iowa City, Iowa, they became a part of an Overland Emigration Company and were outfitted there and were bound for Utah, beyond the plains.

There were 330 people, 3 wagons, and 68 handcarts with which to make the journey. The journey was hazardous and eventful. The leader also walked and tried to keep up the spirits of his people. On13 September 1857, the company arrived in Utah, with a division of the United States Army hot on its heels.  They with many others, moved southward from the Salt Lake Valley into Sanpete

           Brothersens on the Passenger List of the Westmoreland (1857)

                        (Family Members are Indicated by Arrows)

Christian Brothersen settled his family at Fort Ephraim where the settlers from Springtown, or the Allred Settlement, had fled for protection from the Indians. They remained there until early in 1859, when

Christian went to Mount Pleasant to assist in the building of the fort. This was completed in July of 1859. Like many others, the family lived in dugouts, until log or adobe houses could be built.

After moving to Mt.  Pleasant, the Brotherson family went through a period when they had only a small bit of wheat for food which they kept in one corner of the room.  Each day, Christian would prey that they could make the food last until they could get more.  The Lord did bless them and the food did last so that the family did have something to eat.

Martin moved to Indianola to plant and cultivate crops. They also had cattle and sheep. Those were the days that tried their soul, Hans, Martin, and Christian Brotherson and other members of the family stood guard against Indians led by Chief Black Hawk from April 1865 until a treaty of peace was signed in Mt.  Pleasant at Bishop Seeley’s home in 1872.

A close up map of the location of Idestrup, Denmark

Part 2: Focuses on their Life in Utah

BIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERSEN (BRODERSEN)
by Ila Brotherson Tidwell

My great grandfather, Christian Brotherson, was one of the noble pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1857. He it was, who gave to our family our pioneer heritage, a gift for which should be forever grateful and thankful. It is a great challenge to us as his posterity to achieve through our own efforts. We must improve and build upon the faith, standards and ideals he so valiantly preserved for us. It was he who looked beyond his own time; he had the foresight and vision. He saw the necessity of freedom. He accepted the restored gospel of Jesus Christ when missionaries came to his door. It was his soul who first accepted the principles and truths that has been a guiding star for us to follow. It was he who had the faith and courage to want to establish a new home and new way of life for his family and posterity.

Christian Brotherson was not only a pioneer, he also helped to conquer this western land and make it a frontier civilization. In doing this, he gave us a land of freedom in which to live. He gave us the opportunity to live under the protection of the Stars and Stripes of America. It is a glorious privilege and blessing to live in a land, where by our own choice, selection and work, determine our progress and status in life. He also represented the vision, faith, culture and strength of our ancestors in the Old Country of Idestrup, Maribo, Denmark.

He was born 14 June 1811. One record says Idestrup the other says Veggerlose, Maribo, Denmark. His father's name was Bohne Broderson Magnesson. He came from Germany as a German Soldier to Denmark. He married Ann Margrethe Rasmussen. They had a family of ten children. The first four were boys and the last six were girls. Christian was the second son. This is all we know of his childhood.

Grandfather married Ann Mortensen in Denmark on 13 February 1846, he, being thirty-five years old and Ann only twenty-two. There were three children born to this couple. Dorthes Brotherson, born 18 December 1846; Hans Brotherson, born 15 February 1849; Bohne Brotherson, born 3 April 1851. From what we can get from memories handed down---the young mother had complications from the last childbirth. When the little son, Bohne, was only six weeks old, his mother, Ann, died. This was 26 May 1851. She left three small children under four years of age to the care of her husband, Christian. The family was very fortunate in having Ann's younger sister, Elsie. She came into their home and cared for this new baby, a little girl four, and a small boy of two. This was a handful for Elsie, but she loved and wanted to care for her sister's children.

This presents a sad beginning in the life of Christian Brotherson. He did not loose the desire to care for his babies even though his heart was broken at the loss of his sweetheart in the beautiful years of their youth. Those who know grandfather, lived with him, those who lived near him and those who remember him now, tell us he was a devoted and kind father from the very beginning. He was now forty years old and had always had responsibilities on his shoulders. It hadn't been too easy living in a family of twelve children. Each one must take his share of the load. Great grandfather, being old when he was married, had accumulated much. He was prepared to stand on his own two feet. We have a tithing receipt given him in Denmark in 1857 for 349.00. That was a big tithing to be paid in the Old Country at one time. This tithing receipt is really very valuable. There aren't many in keeping. It was issued before they counted money in Krones. Money was then rigs dollars. I took this tithing receipt to Johanna Madsen, who is from Denmark.

She said we should have it put in a museum so people could see it. It was among the first tithing receipts given in Denmark.

Maybe it was the feeling of loyalty and responsibility for the children of her sister; we hope it was love for both the children and their father that prompted Elsie to become a mother to Christian’s three small children. They were married on March 19, 1852 in Denmark.

These children were very fortunate in having a second mother come into their home to help care for them. But as the story unfolds, Great Grandfather Christian had more dark clouds on the horizon as well as sunshine.

During the time, or shortly after he married Elsie, while they were still on their honeymoon, missionaries from America, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, (Mormons as they were called) knocked at their door. Christian said in his own words, "I know from the first, their message was true." Erastus Snow brought the gospel to these Scandinavian people. Maybe it was he who knocked at Great Grandfather's door. However, he and his wife, Elsie, soon become loyal converts to the Mormon faith. There were two children born to this union.

Their first, a baby boy, was born 14 May 1853. They named him Martin after his Maternal Grandfather. On January 8, 1856, a little girl came to bless their home. They named her Ann. (Her home was where the Pioneer Relic Hall now stands in Mt. Pleasant, Utah).

After the Restored Gospel had come into their lives, their ideals and ambitions were to come to America. When their little boy, Martin, was only five; their baby girl only eighteen months old, they decided to come to America.

This was a big sacrifice in those days, as well as a blessing. They had to part with friends and relatives, home and it's comforts, worldly possessions, all for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the desire to worship God in a new world. Their ideals as parents were high education, culture, patriotism, and freedom was the pattern of their lives, the desire for their children.

They were patriotic and loyal to the Church they loved so much. Great Grandfather was a well to do man in Denmark. He had servants who helped care for household and did much of his work. When he was almost ready to come to America, he hired a man by the name of Hyrum Arnoldsen to help him and his family to America. He paid his way to this new land.

They sailed on the Westmoreland, from Liverpool, 25 April 1857. The leader of their company was Matrthias Cowley. There were some 544 souls who come to America on this ship.

They landed in Philadelphia. It was only two months since they had left their home in the Old Country. On 15 June 1857 they were prepared to begin their trek across the plains to the Great Salt Lake Valley.

They joined the 7^th Handcart Company under the leadership of Christian Christiansen. (Interesting to me was this notation. He was the first Elder ordained in Scandinavia. This was done by Erastis Snow in 1851.)

There was much to be done in preparation for the journey to Zion. The conditions they had left in their homeland were heart rendering---friendly relationships and family ties were often broken. Fathers, Mothers, sisters and brothers became almost strangers. Many showed enmity towards their loved ones, who had embraced Mormonism. With sad and broken hearts, but with the testimony burning in their soul, they faced another new experience different than crossing the water. Now they must pull a handcart across the plains. These activities were carried out with joy and anticipation.

There were 330 souls in this company, three wagons, and 68 handcarts. Rightly, it was named the "Christian Christiansen Handcart Company". In one these handcarts were all their possessions. Christian had a family of five children, his wife, himself and a hired man. He had a baby of two who had to ride or be carried and a little boy almost five. I have heard him (Martin) tell many times how he walked all the way, or most of the way, barefoot. His feet were so callused that he could step on prickly pares and not even flinch. He told how happy he was when his mother would pull the handcart and his daddy would carry him a little way. He also told of how his father would hold him at night until he went to sleep. He also told how he liked to see the campfire at night, hear them sing, climb on his daddy's lap and go to sleep.

They built fires only once in a while because the Indians were beginning to attack the Saints. In fact the first attack they had by Indians was in 1857.

The weary travelers moved slowly every day, stopping only long enough to eat and sleep. Behind them was the Johnson Army. They preferred to keep out of their way. But one afternoon some supply wagons that were ahead of the army caught up with the handcart company. They moved slowly pulling the handcarts and so many walking. The army had a lame oxen. They told the pioneers they could have half if they would dress it by the next evening. During the night a heavy rainstorm made the roads so muddy the army wagons mired deep in the mud and moved very slowly. The Saints pulled their light carts out of the ruts and moved on, soon leaving the army wagons far behind. The Saints had all the oxen. That night they camped near a large stream of water. The Indians helped the women and children across the stream. The Saints didn't ever see Johnson's Army again.

They had many hardships but I feel my Great Grandfather was really blessed. He and all his family reached their destination.

Here is one experience Grandpa told that happened while coming across the plains. A little girl that was the same age as baby Ann died. They had nothing to bury her in, so they wrapped her little body in a blanket, put her head in a brass kettle to keep the dirt from her face and placed her in a lonely grave. These were the heart-rending experiences that tested their faith. Sometimes they felt they couldn't carry on.

One of the abilities that God gave us when he created us was the ability to see ahead, the vision to do today what will be best for us tomorrow. Great Grandfather's faith was really tested.

Besides the hardships they endured crossing the plains, he could see every day he was loosing his wife's love. For reasons we do not know, she became the object of another man's desire to covet a lovely woman. Great Grandfather was very kind and understanding with her. He loved her very much. He needed her to help rear their children. His oldest girl was only nine years old. He had a baby only two and three other children. They all needed a mother's love and tender care. Christian told her this, "If you are dissatisfied, I will not prevent your leaving." He must have been a good man with an understanding heart. The man who took his wife was none other than the man whom Great Grandfather had hired to help him while crossing the plains. He had paid his way and in return Mr. Arnoldsen took his wife. We can't find if Great Grandfather took his wife with him into the settlement at Ephraim or if when they reached the Great Salt Lake Valley she went with this other man.

They reached the valley on Sunday, 13 September 1857. They lacked two days of being three months crossing the plains. When they had finished their journey over, in fear of Johnson's Army, most of the company was sent by the church leaders to Ephraim. The tired souls struggled on to Fort Ephraim. There Christian housed his family in a cellar or dug-out until the spring of 1859.

I have read from history that trail of the Saints, who went to Ephraim, could be followed by blood on the snow. The first winter they almost starved. Grandfather Martin tells of the winter of 1858 when they only had a little mound of wheat, in a corner to last until the next harvest. His father would raise his hands, close his eyes and pray to the Father in Heaven to bless this little bit of food that it would last them. Martin, only a boy, testified that it seemed to not diminish very fast and it lasted so that these faithful pioneers could subsist until the weeds began to grow in the spring and they could dig roots to eat.

My heart aches for Great Grandfather Christian with the sadness that he must carry in his heart alone. He had five children under ten years of age whom he must love, instruct, feed and care for. He must be a mother and father to them. What his faith and courage must have been. We owe him so much.

In the spring of 1859 he came among the first settlers to what they called Hamilton Settlement. He helped to build the stone fort. His name appears on the Pioneer Monument erected in honor of the first settlers. He took up land and built his first home in America. It was on the corner just south of where Alton Brotherson now lives. He lived in a cellar or dug-out until he and his boys finished their first home in Hamilton Settlement which later became Mt. Pleasant.

They lived here until the children all married. Then Christian moved to the north part of town. This was in his declining years. They say even then Great Grandfather's home was the play ground for all the neighborhood children. He always had lump sugar, raisins, or candy to give to them. Sometimes when he didn't have these, he would give them an egg and let them take it to the store and get what they would like. Many people of Mt. Pleasant have told me Christian always wore a long beard, and it was white as long as they could remember. If the children loved to play around his door, I think the story of his life and what he was has been pictured.

After his wife, Elsie, had gone with the hired man, they settled in Ft. Green. Later, they moved to Moroni where they made their home. Great Grandmother Elsie regretted what she had done before very long. She wanted her children but her new husband did not. She would come and get the children and have them one or two days. She still loved them and realized she had made a mistake. When they were with her, her new husband was mean to them.

One time, when Martin, my grandfather, was only seven, he was going from Mt. Pleasant with Arnoldsen to see his mother. They got to what we all know as Fiddler's Green. Later it was known as Riverside  Park. (It was a dance hall, race track, and swimming pool). A nice place at one time but it was rather wild and was disbanded. They said they called it "A place between Heaven and Hell".

Arnoldsen stopped the wagon and told Martin to get out. He said he was going to stop and water and rest the horses. So the little fellow climbed down from the wagon. The man hurriedly whipped the horses to a run and drove away. The child was astounded when he realized he was left alone and it was getting dark. He was all alone, the Indians were real ferocious. He might get lost or even perish in the darkness of the night. He sadly thought, "What shall I do, go home to Dad or go on to see Mother?" He quickly made up his mind and began to run after the wagon. He thought, "If I can just stay far enough behind so he doesn't see me but I can see the dust of the wagon, I wont' be afraid."

After separating from his step-father, he fairly flew. He began to tire after he had followed a trail out through the fields and over the hill for a long way. It was a shorter way. He said, "I prayed in my heart as I ran faster and faster that the Lord would help me get to my mother first. I did get to Mother before he did and told her what he had done." Grandfather tells of how his mother took him in her arms and cried like her heart would break. "You must go back and live always with your father. He is a good man and will always be good to you." When Arnoldsen arrived, he was surprised to see the boy and also angry. He made Martin go to bed without any super. Great Grandmother sent him home the next day with a friend as I remember. I do remember what his father said to him when he returned, "My little Mart, I felt I should never have let you go after you had gone."

On another occasion when Martin was helping Arnoldsen haul hay, he was pitching the hay on the wagon and I felt impressed to move. He looked up just in time to dodge a pitch fork. The man had aimed it at his head.

Martin tells this story about his boyhood also. "I went for a walk up in the hills. I was sitting on a big rock, I felt the presence of someone, I knew not whom. I knew I was being watched, likely by Indians. What should I do? Suddenly, I began singing loudly, so I could be heard by anyone nearby. The fear left me; I was not molested or harmed, for which I was thankful."

Great Grandfather Christian probably loved or had a great deal of respect for Elsie. He always knew how she was and when she needed help. Grandfather said, "My father often took her flour, meat, fruit and other foods and clothing for her and her children." She had a real hard life and many times didn't know which way to turn. Her husband lived in polygamy. He had four wives. It was hard for him to care for all in those days.

Great Grandmother was a beautiful woman. She had light brown hair with beautiful dark blue eyes. She was slender and average height; had a pleasing disposition but was quiet. Sometime in her life she hurt her shoulder. Some say it was from her helping pull the handcart across the plains. We don't know. But we do know her one shoulder drooped and hurt all her life.

She was sealed to Arnoldsen in the old endowment house in Salt Lake City on 16 August 1862. She told Christian many times she wished she could break that sealing.

She didn't want Arnoldsen. Christian[1] evidently wanted his first wife because he went and had her sealed to him 19 September 1889. His children were married at this time and so they made the choice of who they would be sealed to. My Grandfather, Martin Brotherson said, "I want my father." He was sealed to his father and his mother's sister, Ann, Christian's first wife. Christian died on 9 August 1893. He was buried in Mt. Pleasant City  Cemetery. Christian was 82 years old when he died. Elsie was 67 years old when she died. He lived a year and four months after she passed away.

A picture of the Hans Brotherson family circa 1901

Soon after the Death of Hans Brotherson
Background:  Hans Brotherson .(In Picture Frame)

Back Row (Left to right)t: Parley [Parley Pratt], Tina [Clementine], Francis [Francis], Boone [Bohney], Lora [Lorenza Christine], Hans [Hans}, Chris [Christian],

Middle Row (Left to right): Orsen [Orson Hyde], Rakkie, [Fredrickka], Rhea [Maria], Maggie [Annie Margaret], Grandma Frederikka [Frederickka Andrea], Nels [Nels Douglas]

Front Row: Floyd [Ferdnand Floyd] on the left, Vernon [Vernon Hamlet] and Heneretta [Heneritta] on the right.

A Portrait Picture of Hans Brotherson 

---

[1] Christian Brothersen (Brodersen) was endowed in the Salt Lake Endowment House on 8 July 1865.

FOURTH OF JULY ROYALTY FROM THE PAST

1959 Top Photo: Sue Ann Seely, Marilyn Porter, Roberta Nelson, Joan Stevens

1976 Bottom Photo:  Ervin Brotherson (Team), Johanna M. Hafen, Helen Jolley, Florence Maxwell

 

Home of Albert Remund and wife Anna Mina Madsen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

FIRST AND SECOND GRADE 1959-60 ~~~ HAMILTON ELEMENTARY

 

Ken Palmer

 

Kenneth Darell Palmer

9/21/1946 ~ 9/21/2022

Kenneth Darell Palmer died peacefully on September 21, 2022 at home surrounded by his family after valiantly enduring 35 years of health challenges. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, J.Duffy Palmer and Jocelyn Jensen Palmer.

Ken was born on September 21, 1946, in Winslow Arizona. He was born happy and would wake up with a big smile no matter the hour. Ken started his ranch work early, at five years old, he roped six of the neighbor’s dogs and tied them to the fence in his yard. Thankfully, his mother intervened before he could brand them. Ken has been known for his eternal optimism; as a small boy he was sure he could fly off the shed roof with a sheet for his wings.

Ken had a tremendous love for all sports but particularly football. He loved to play, and his grit and passion always made up for his lack of size. Football pads and helmet made him feel invincible and he would get pummeled and get back up, pummeled, and jump back up, hit again and again by players twice his size but would always get back up all the more determined.

Ken served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Sydney, Australia. When getting ready to leave, his Dad asked if he was scared and Ken replied “I’m just very excited.” He served his mission with the same joyful passion and enthusiasm he displayed any time he was faced with a challenge. When he returned home he walked-on to the Weber State football team and became their starting corner.

Ken met his beautiful blue-eyed bride at a dance and with his signature enthusiasm asked her why the most beautiful girl in the room wasn’t dancing. She took his offered hand and he found her to be the woman of his dreams. Ken married Charlene Brothersen May 29th 1969 in the Salt Lake Temple. The two of them dreamed of having a big family. Ken wanted 11 kids, to make an entire football team, but they had 10, and he joked they were all boys, but eight. Nothing was too big for him to tackle and so he followed another dream to Mt. Pleasant Utah and bought a ranch, with very little understanding of how to make it work. Most people expected him to fail, but they didn’t know of his eternal optimism, shear grit and the power of his faith. He created a home and environment perfect for raising his best crop – children.

Ken lived a life of service. He served in church callings, in the community and spontaneously , often inviting family or even perfect strangers to the ranch to share his life, family and goodness. Once on the ranch, people became life-long friends – not being able to resist the clarion call of Ken’s love, enthusiasm or song. Ken would bring out the guitar and sing with gusto, but his songs were never designed to show-off, he would draw everyone in and teach them the harmonies and somehow with his help, all voices and personalities blended smoothly.

Although he suffered for 35 years with intense health challenges, he never cursed God, he never complained. He took whatever God gave him and bore it with faith. Physical pain was his cross to bear and he did so with trust, resilience, and an eternal optimism. Ken was cowboy to the core, he handled pain quietly, he rescued anyone and anything in danger, that saw what needed to be done and just did it. His cowboy sense of integrity and love of land was felt by all he knew. He loved his wife, his ranch and his horses with the same passion as everything else. He looked forward with perfect faith to the day he could run and ride again.

Ken is survived by his wife, Charlene Palmer and his children: Nathan (Katrina) Palmer, Heidi (Paul) Bouck, Matthew (Stacy) Palmer, Charity (Brian) Johns, Abigail (Spencer) Cox, Maggon (Travis) Osmond, Annalisa (Joe) Bailey, Hayley (Milo) Andrus, Lisle (Chad) Dewey, Brittany (Rustin) Walker, and 53 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday September 26th at 12:00 p.m.., viewing from 10:30 am. to 11:30 am. An additional viewing on Sunday September 25th from 6-8. All in Mt Pleasant Stake Center (295 S. State St.) Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

LOIS FERN LUND BROTHERSEN

We will only give the histories of those who have already passed away. 

 

Obituary: Lois Fern Lund Brothersen

 

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1915 ~ 2004

Lois Fern Lund Brothersen returned to her Heavenly Father on October 2, 2004, at the Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah; following a long struggle with injuries and illness, and then finally a short struggle with cancer.

There are a lot of pages created in 89 years of life; she was born to Lewis and Melissa Bailey Lund of Moroni, Utah, on January 24, 1915. She married her lifelong love, companion, and soul mate, Alten R. Brothersen of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, January 11, 1933; was later sealed in the Manti Temple July 27, 1950. He died March 6, 1987. Her education came from the school of life having grown up in the experiences of the great depression which shaped their lives by hard work and dedication to taking care of the needs of their family, working side-by-side in the sheep, cattle, and farming operations. She began her lifelong avocation and career as a seamstress working at the parachute factory (making parachutes for the U.S. Government in the Second World War). She was extremely gifted and talented as a seamstress, working for such companies as Osborn Apparel and Pacific Trails, just to mention a few. She crocheted and knitted with love, making beautiful show quality sweaters and afghan, as well as designing and making clothes for her own children and family. She loved to beautify her home, raising lovely gardens, was an excellent homemaker, and cook, sharing talents with many. She had many friends and appreciated their kindness. She loved playing cards and socializing. Lois loved to travel and did so whenever she had the opportunity, traveling to places like the Cayman Islands, Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon, The Hill Cumorah Pageant in New York, San Diego, CA. and spent one winter in Arizona. Lois was very active in the LDS Church, holding many positions in the church. Her strong testimony of the church was reflected by her exemplary life. She was very active in Community affairs with her husband "Alt" and an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, she loved her rich heritage.

She is survived by her daughters Shirlene Jensen of Orem; Maxine Harward (Kimball) of Fountain Green; Mor Rae Brothersen of Mt. Pleasant; and son Boyd A Brothersen (Avrin) of Mt. Pleasant; 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; her brother Cliff Lund, Moroni; and sister Florence Cook, Rome, New York. She was preceded in death by her husband "Alt",

Mt. Pleasant Utah 4th Ward Census 1870

 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REATH INA BROTHERSEN DRAPER

Four Generations
Inger Christensen (Mother of Johanna)
Johanna Johansen ( Mother of Amasena)
Amasena Johansen (daughter of Johanna)
Reith ( daughter of Amasena who  married
Francis Brotherson 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REATH INA BROTHERSFN DRAPER


I was born on the 4th of July 1905 to Francis and Amsena Johansen Brothersen in

Mount Pleasant. Being born on a national holiday was not appreciated by me as a child

since I could never have a birthday party on my birthday. I was the eldest of eleven

children. Four brothers followed me and I began to wonder if I was going to have a sister.

I had a cousin, Etta, hardly a year younger than me and she was envious of me when my

First sister was born. she never did have a sister; however she is the mother of five lovely

daughters.




My first recollection is of living in the red brick home between Amasa Ericksen's and

Claus Anderson's. My parents planned to build on to that house and made a foundation of

cement at the back of the house. However, it was never completed as they bought an

adobe home a half block north and later built a new

bungalow home on the southeast corner of that lot. It is a very choice location and the

house still stands, three blocks south of Main Street and three blocks west of the South

Ward Church which is on State Street.




I remember very distinctly when the new home was built and even helped haul some of

the rocks to put in the foundation and also in the east porch. We lived in the adobe home

until the new home was partly finished; since the new home was being lined with the

adobes of the adobe house we moved into the basement of the new home so the rest of

the adobe house could be torn down. It was a bit rugged for a time until the second layer

of flooring was on for dirt would sift down through; so we nailed a quilt on the ceiling over

the table to keep it clean. How wonderful it was to move upstairs and have everything new

and beautiful. There were cabinets in the kitchen, a buffet cupboard and a fireplace in the

living room. Also there was a bathroom and this was the first time for that as there were

very few homes in those days that had bathrooms. Eva was the baby then and she took

her first steps an the new kitchen floor and if I remember correctly our first meal was

Thanksgiving dinner.




My paternal grandfather died five years before I was born but Grandmother Brothersen

lived to be 80 years old. I remember she took her first airplane ride when she was 75

years old. She also made an ocean voyage back to her native land of Denmark and brought

each grandchild back a gift; mine was a small red purse.




One of my happiest childhood memories is of the" vacations I would spend with

Grandfather and Grandmother Johansen at their farm "The Bottoms" south and west of Mt.

Pleasant and just 3/4 mile east of the old Moroni Mill. Often my cousin Etta and I would

go together with them. We traveled in a buggy with a horse called Queen to pull it. I would

sit on the floor in front, which was anything but comfortable, but I never minded that. We

helped Grandmother tend the chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and sometimes lambs and

calves. We were afraid of the ganders for they would chase us. Later when the sugar

factory was built at Moroni grandfather and some of his neighbors raised sugar beets. Etta

and I thinned beets as Grandmother blocked them ahead of us. Sometimes she would

have a headache and would take Bromo Seltzer when she came to the end of the row. Etta

and I told her once that we would like to have parasols. She remembered that two of her

girls had parasols and told us to ask them to sell them to us, which they did. The first

time we used them was on the 4th of July and we were so proud of them as we went to the

celebration in the Pavilion" as it was called.




While visiting at the "Bottoms" Grandma took me to the home of John Johansen. John

was Grandpa's brother and the home had a dirt floor, the only home I ever saw that had

no floor.




On the farm bullberries grew along the ditch bank and we would pick the berries for

Grandma. It was quite a trick to pick them without being pricked by the sharp needles

growing on them but the delicious dumplings Grandma made from them were worth the

effort. We would pour milk (flavored with sugar and nutmeg) over them, or a cooked

sauce. I wonder where they originated from? I have never seen any anywhere else and now

since the new underground pipeline was installed those bushes have died.




Etta and I picked many wild flowers. There have never been as many since, probably

because with us picking so many there was no chance for survival. The old school house

our parents had attended was on top of the hill, less than a block east of the farm house.

We liked to go in and read the names on the wall, to see if perchance our parents' names

might be there. The school teacher boarded and lived at the farmhouses, so naturally the

children of the family she was staying with were naturally on their best behavior in the

class room. Their teacher was Fannie Miles.




We carried many buckets of water up the hill to the house from the spring for

Grandma, the coldest and best water in the world.




I attended school the first half year in the old "Simpson School House" as it was called,

but they transferred us to what is now North Sanpete High School, which was 8 1/2 blocks

to walk. I attended Mt. Pleasant Elementary School and two of my Teachers were Flossie

Staker and Ida Larsen. When the bell rang we would form lines three abreast and march

to music to our classroom. I went through high school and Seminary and then Brigham

Young University. I worked at many different jobs such as taking the sensus, telephone

operator, clerk in the Progress Mercantile and Sanpete Co-op stores. While going to school

I thinned beets in the spring when school let out and topped and loaded them in the fall

during fall vacation. My Church positions were Sunday School and Primary teacher,

Primary secretary. Our church was the South Ward Chapel with two flights of stairs to

climb to the main part. The building burned down years later; however, the memories

linger.




My girlfriend, Arla Simpson, and I were married on the same day in the Manti Temple.

We flipped a coin to see who was to have their reception that night; she had hers and mine

was the following evening. It was the custom then to have wedding suppers; our wedding

day was June 19, 1929.




We moved to Garfield after we were married. There we rented a home and planted a

lawn and flowers. Our first child, Ruth Carol, was born August 31, 1930 in Salt Lake City.

The Relief Society asked me to be the Social Science class leader shortly after and that

began my career in Relief Society. When they shut down the smelter less then three years

later we moved to Moroni and have lived here since. At that time Orlando's Dad was

getting up in years and needed someone to take over the farm. There was electricity but

no running water, just a hand-operated pump. Joyce Arlene was born about three years

after Carol, on June 7, 1933, and Darlene Lillian was barn July 15, 1936. We didn't have

any more children until 8 years later, October 24, 1944, we were blessed with a beautiful

baby with dark hair and blue eyes (of course). We were all so happy to get her; we named

her Voneal.




Carol was married October 23, 1953, the day before Voneal's ninth birthday. We had a

reception that evening In the Moroni church, with Joseph Revill as master of ceremonies

for the program. Darlene made Carol's wedding dress of white satin. She had a beautiful

veil of illusion with a crown of pearls. Ray was in his Navy uniform.

Joyce, Darlene and Voneal each received scholarships to Snow College and all graduated,

Voneal with honers.




Joyce started teaching school in Preston, Idaho after she graduated from Snow. In

Preston she met William D. Pond of Lewiston, Utah; they were married June 7, 1954 in the

Manti Temple. We had a reception that evening in our new Moroni Chapel.

Darlene put herself through the University of Utah, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree

in Education. She taught school in Mink Creek, Idaho one year, also a year in Dugway,

Utah before she went to California to teach. There she met her future husband, Bud E.

Welker. Darlene was married in the Manti Temple July 23, 1963 and her reception was held

after they returned from their honeymoon in Idaho.




Voneal graduated from BYU with honors in August, 1968. She fulfilled an honorable

mission to the Indiana-Michigan Mission In the years 1969-1971. After returning she

obtained a position with Utah State Department of Social Services as an eligibility examiner

and is presently employed in Blanding, Utah.




We now have 15 grandchildren: 6 granddaughters and 9 grandsons, also 3 greatgrandchildren.

In two years we hope to celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary.

You can find Reath's Obituary on the following link: 
https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/41469831?cid=mem_copy

From Our Obituary Files, Cliff, Lofgren, Anderson, Tanner, Hendricksen, Seely, Johansen, Sorensen, Brothersen, Meyrick,

Home of Hans Brotherson Sr. and wife Frederikka Andrea Jensen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Christian Brothersen Family Group Sheet ~~~~Considered an Original Resource Document

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY 2ND GRADE 1959-60

Christian Brothersen Family Group Sheet

Copied from the long legal size sheets, cut in half for larger characters.

These family group sheets are considered a first resource because they were

compiled by the pioneers themselves or their first generation. 

Hamilton Elementary First and Second Grade 1959-1960

Home of Christian N. Ericksen and wife Annie Christianna Jensen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Home of Hans Brotherson Sr. and wife Frederikka Andrea Jensen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

58 Men Leave Sanpete Co. On July 30th. ~~~~ Mt. Pleasant Pyramid, 1918-08-16

Christian Jessen and wife Diantha Brothersen Jessen

Diantha Brodersen


Born in Idestrup, Maribo, Denmark on 18 Dec 1847 to  Christian Brothersen and Ane Mortensen. Diantha married Christian Jessen. She passed away on 3 Feb 1928 in Squirrel, Fremont, Idaho, USA.

John Frederick (a son)  below: