IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCES (Taken from History of Mt. Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf)

 

The following Mount Pleasant pioneers came with President Canute Petersen's company: William Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Rasmus Frandsen,  George Frandsen Sr., Karen Neilson, Erick Gunderson Sr., Christian Jensen, Karen Marie Petersen, Niels Johansen, Annie Anderson, Jens C. Jensen, Marian Anderson, Peter Mogensen (Monsen), Jeppe Iverson, Caroline Christine Iverson, Annie Christensen Mortensen Scowgaard, Caroline Frandsen, Niels Christian Neilson, Mary Larsen Neilsen, Rasmus Hansen, Annie Marie Jorgensen Frandsen, and others.  Also a number who located in Ephraim.

Among those who came with the ill-fated Martin and Willie handcart companies, and later pioneered Mount Pleasant were John Oldham, Sarah Hotgkinson, Joseph Burton (Reynolds), Mrs. Eliza Cusworth Burton (Staker), Martha Burton (Reynolds), Andrew Madsen (Harbro) and his sisters, Mrs Hannah Madsen (Aldrich), Mrs. Maria Madsen (Ericksen), Mrs, Christina Madsen (Harbro), and their mother Ane Jensen Madsen, Mrs. Ellen Jackson and son John Carter, (Willie's Company)

Among those who came with the William Hodgett'd Company were: Mrs. Bodel Madsen (fifty), her son, Larsen Christian (eight), Wilhelmina Kraus (eight), Lars Jorgensen (forty one), his wife Karen Jorgensen (thirty), their daughter Karen Jorgensen (three); although the name is not listed just the same, it is claimed that Lars Jorgensen and his wife were the same people who were killed by Indians in Salt Creek Canyon, in 1858.

 

In Hunt's Company came Lars Peter Fredericksen, Adolph Fredericksen, Karen Petersen Fredericksen.

Hans Peter Iverson Family Group Sheet

 

Annie's Mother and Brother (Annie Marie Clausen)

The following information is taken from the book

"TheFamily History of William Bristol,

Ane Marie Sophie Clausen, 

Joseph Cambron

and their descendants."

Written by Pat L. Bird Sagers 

 

From Our Archives ~~~ History of William Morrison II, Written by Lula Morrison Barr

History of William Morrison II , Written by Lula Morrison Barr

History of William Morrison II

Pioneer of 1856


Written by Lula Morrison Barr

Camp Kimberly, County Sevier

[Daughter of William and Caroline Christina Iverson]


Retyped and edited by Trena Horne Dodge, 20 September 2008

Copy obtained from the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers in June 2008

Note: there are discrepancies in this history from other histories and his diary


BRIEF HISTORY OF WILLIAM MORRISON II

William Morrison II was born in Inveruery, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, September 7, 1820. He is the son of George Charles Morrison and Mary Ann Bruce Morrison. George Charles Morrison is the son of William Morrison I (Old Billie), a sea captain. His grandmother was a Forbes, a descendant of Lord Forbes. Mary Ann Bruce was of royal descent, tracing to Robert Bruce, King of Scotland.

William Morrison II had two sisters, Mary and Elsie, and four brothers, James, Charles II, George and Anthony. All of his brothers emigrated to Australia. Elsie married and went to New Zealand. Her husband was a McKenzie. Mary never married.

William Morrison II joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in August 1848 with his wife, Margrette Farguer Cruckshank [Margaret Farquhar Cruickshank] Morrison, whom he had married on December 22, 1843. He was baptized by Elder Thomas Bradshaw, at Woolwich. He presided over the Welling and Bromley branches of the church. He had the privilege of baptizing his brother, James, a member of the church. He had received a fine education, which enabled him to be of great service as a Latter-day Saint. He wrote some of the Millennial Star while in England.

William Morrison II and family left England for Utah in 1854. They were detained in St. Louis, Missouri until 1856. He was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Apostle Erastus Snow and was appointed a member of the Church High Council while in St. Louis. William and Margrette [Margaret] lost their two oldest children before leaving Scotland, and then endured the added sorrow of the death of their little girl, Mary, while on ship board. She was buried at sea. [Note this is a discrepancy. Another history said they were blessed, because of their faithfulness, that there were no deaths at sea.] While they were in St. Louis, they lost their two remaining sons in a cholera epidemic, also Margrette’s sister and her little son. During their stay in St. Louis, William earned a living as a ship carpenter, having had some training along that line.

The voyage to America required seven weeks. They sailed from Liverpool down the coast of Africa to strike the trade winds. While at sea, they had the misfortune of being grounded on a small island, one of the Bahamas. Here they found a friend from Scotland, who, in company with his wife, was serving as a Protestant missionary to the natives. The wife of the missionary had lived next door to William in Scotland. On arriving in America, they landed at New Orleans, and then proceeded up the Mississippi River to St. Louis.

William and Margrette left St. Louis in 1856 alone, none of their children having survived, and traveled by boat up the Mississippi to Alton, where they joined the Knute [Canute] Peterson Company and a group of L.D.S. immigrants, who had come from Denmark. They proceeded up the Missouri River to Florence and then continued their journey from there to Utah by ox team.

In the company there was a fourteen year old girl named Carolina Christina Iverson who assisted Margrette, during the journey.

William and his wife, Margrette, sometimes called Maggie, arrived in Salt Lake City on September 23, 1856, and settled in Sugar House. They left Sugar House for the south when the people abandoned their homes because of the Johnston’s Army panic. Maggie and her little son, William III, born at Sugar House, left with a man who took refugees south, and they were taken care of by the Madsen family in Fort Ephraim until William II arrived. He had been with the men who had organized to defend the people against Johnston’s Army. He had assisted in some very interesting and humorous strategy employed at this time. At Fort Ephraim, after joining Maggie once more, since both William and Maggie wished to obey the law of plural marriage, he took as his second wife, Carolina Christina [Iverson] Morrison, to whom reference was made above. He later also married Annie Maria [Anna Marie] Hansen, and became the father of twenty-seven children. Later, William moved to Mt. Pleasant when that town was settled.

In the winter of 1864, William was called by Brigham Young, through Apostle Orson Hyde, to head a party of thirty men and their families who were to organize settlements in Sevier County. He had charge of that mission for some time. Maggie and her family remained in Mt. Pleasant. Carolina Christina, the mother of the writer, together with her two oldest children, James and Amanda, located in Richfield. Maria settled at Clear Creek Canyon.

William II had some knowledge of surveying and he assisted with the survey of the City of Richfield. He named the towns of Aurora and Inverury. He was appointed President of the High Priests. He was ordained as a Patriarch under the hands of Apostle Lorenzo Snow. He served two terms as a representative in the Utah Legislature and was a member of the Constitutional Convention, held in 1872. He was the first Probate Judge in Sevier County and was elected for a second term. He filled many other positions of trust such as school teacher, postmaster, telegraph operator, and stake clerk, in a manner which commanded the confidence and blessing of his brethren and fellow citizens. He performed a good work in the St. George Temple for the living and the dead and was also permitted to receive great blessings in the Manti Temple. He was a full tithe payer and donated liberally to the building of both temples. He lived and died a Patriarch in the fullest sense of the word.

A record kept by James, one of William’s sons, says he was the first man to be menaced by the Indians at the beginning of the Black Hawk War. In the summer of 1865, he was traveling north from Richfield when he reached Christian burg, or Twelve Mile, turning off the road to camp, he saw two Indians up by the bluffs among the cedars whose actions were strange. He decided therefore to go on three miles further to a place called Nine Mile. There he saw two armed Indians. He reached back in his wagon and got his own gun, stared the Indians down, and drove on to Manti, where he stopped with Harrison Edward. He told Mr. Edward of his experiences with the Indians that night and they agreed it looked bad. The next day work came that the Indians had killed Pete Ludwickson at Twelve Mile the same day William had escaped.

Later in 1866, during another trip, William passed a wagon with one ox lying down and one standing, but no one was in sight. About a mile from the wagon, he saw a pile of loose flour and again, further on, another pile of flour, and a little further on was a man’s black hat. He thought some one had been drunk and went on his way, since he had travelled a lot on business and had seen many strange things. He later found that the Indians had attacked, killed and robbed Anthony Robinson. The man was found dead and also one ox was dead. It was the wagon which William had passed and he realized he had had another narrow escape.

I remember stories my mother told me of my father’s very generous nature in regard to material things. There was a court room episode when he gave to a visiting attorney the Navajo rug from the floor because he admired it. Court was held in mother’s bed chamber because of its comfort and beauty, created by her own hands. I am sure you will enjoy my mental picture of that room as I see it from mother’s descriptions.

The walls of the room were snow white. A beautiful Navajo rug covered the white floor, the design of the rug being gray and black, worked with Indian designs. The washed white wool in the rug matched the walls and the design stood out in beautiful relief against the white wool which had been combed smooth with wool combs until it looked like angora satin. The bed had black turned posters and the blankets on it were of white wool which had been washed, corded, spun and woven with her own hands. I have watched her do this work. The curtains were white. A mellow light from the fire place shed a brightness over the room. The beauty of the room, could it be seen now, would be a fitting tribute to a wonderful, pioneer mother!

I remember another interesting story, that of the grave yard. There my father and a friend spent a night on the underground, as it was called, to hide from the officer spies who were making life miserable for the polygamists. My father and the other gentleman took their beds to spend the night in the Richfield Cemetery, hoping for a peaceful night’s rest. All went well until shortly after midnight, when they were awakened by a terrifying thumping sound coming from the confines of a newly dug grave where something white was bobbing up and down. Of course, my father and his companion left that peaceful place without investigating. Next day, father’s old white horse was missing and it proved to have been the guilty disturber of the night before. This cured father of the underground. He left for his Clear Creek ranch and sent word to the officers that they could find him there whenever they wanted him. The officers failed to go near the ranch and mother supposed they feared fortified defense. At any rate, father was never disturbed and he lived in peace until he died.

William and Maggie were happy to have the privilege of practicing the law of plural marriage, it being a religious principle to which both were converted. It was Maggie who picked my mother as second wife and told father to get her if he could, knowing her sterling qualities. Father’s diary contains the following comment: “I deplore the practice of forcing our gentle women to go to Washington to undergo the indignities forced upon them there. I pray that my dear wives will be spared. I honor my plural wives among all my honored ladies, and I number the mothers of kings among them.”

My father was very kind to children. My one personal memory of him was his taking me in his arms and keeping mother away from me when she had gone for a switch intended for some necessary chastisement.

Mother was the first woman in Richfield after the abandonment during the Black Hawk War. The city was abandoned in the first part of April, 1867. Mother had three children at that time; James, Amanda and Alex. Mother and children went with the settlers. Father had two teams, one drawn by horses and one by oxen. They camped the first night at Gravelly Ford, on the east side of the Sevier River, fourteen miles from Richfield. Father was detailed to stand guard the first night. My brother, Jim, remembers the boys of the camp forcing the animals to swim the river, and remembers that one fat hog sank and was drowned. He was six years old at the time and saw the things he remembered from his seat in the wagon. Mother has told me that she walked, carrying Alex, and helped to drive the hogs. Jim remembers that on the third day, the party separated, and he remembers seeing the men driving pigs and also remembers the men shooing at the wild geese which circled the camp.

At the resettlement, mother told me of the Indians frightening her when she was alone. Father had gone to Sanpete for food. Mother kept the children still, four of them by this time, the youngest being Annie who was born at Mt. Pleasant. She put a stick across the door, to fool the Indians, who would not go near an empty house. One day, the baby cried when the Indians were near and they stormed in demanding food. Mother was scrubbing the floor and had no food to give them. They gave her several lashes with a whip and because she made no protest, but went on scrubbing the floor, they left, calling her a “heap brave squaw.”

Father was very fair and generous with all new settlers who came to the Sevier Valley. All of the Richfield city property was deeded to my father from the government as judge of the district and he always permitted newcomers to take their pick, when he could easily have kept the best for himself. Mother, being a thrifty Dane, remonstrated, saying they could be rich if he would only use a little wisdom, but my father replied, “We did not come here to get rich, but to serve the Lord.” This he did faithfully until the day of his dearth which occurred August 26, 1889, at Clear Creek Canyon ranch. He was buried in the Richfield Cemetery on August 28th at eleven o’clock A.M. Suitable funeral services were held. Eight high priests acted as pall bearers. The speakers were President Seegmiller, Counselors Bean and Clark, and Elders Outzen, Westman and Peterson. All spoke of the many virtues of the deceased and of his unfeigned fidelity to the cause of truth and of his having given up everything for the gospel’s sake. Elder Keeler offered the benediction.

In closing, I shall give two sentiments from William Morrison’s own hand book, written November 14, 1868, as follows - “The counties of Sanpete and Sevier, their development, may they ever excel, like their streams, let their course be onward forever,” and on November 18, 1868, as follows - “The counties of Sanpete and Sevier, like their streams, may their course be onward forever, with peace aplenty.”

Lula Morrison Barr,

Richfield, Utah

TRIBUTE AND SKETCHES OF ANE MARIE SOPHIE CLAUSEN ~~~ HER MOTHER AND FATHER

This History is taken from the book "The Family History of William Bristol, Ane Marie Sophie Clausen, Joseph Cambron, and their Descendants ...... Written by Pat L. Sagers. 

TRIBUTE AND SKETCHES  OF ANNIE'S MOTHER AND FATHER

ANE MARIE SHOPHIE CLAWSON

Family Group Sheet of Hans C. H. Beck

Because these family group sheets were recorded while the Mt Pleasant original pioneers were still alive or their first generation recorded them, they are considered to be "Origial Source Documents".   

Niels Christian Nielsen and Maren Larsen Nielsen ~~~ Pioneers of the Month May 2018

My husband, Peter Hafen has deep roots in Mt. Pleasant soil.  We can find six generations on the Nielsen side of the family all buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.  We didn't have much information on the eldest, Niels Christian and his wife Maren Nielsen until just recently, we often wondered about them as no family records could be found. We know where their graves are located, but no history, no photographs have been found.  I recently found a few tips on familysearch.org and share them with those of you who might also be his descendents. If anyone out there can add more information, please let us know.

Niels Christian Nielsen was born 29 January 1805 in Brovst Hjerring Denmark to Niels Larsen and Ane Marie Hansdotter (or Nielsdotter)

Maren Larsen  was born 20 July 1803 in Hjerring Denmark to Lars Anderson and Ingeborg Poulsen

  We discovered that they actually came over at the same time that Andrew Madsen Sr. did on the John J. Boyd in 1855 which left Liverpool on December 5th. There were 508 persons aboard and 483 of them were from Scandinavia. Just prior to their leaving Liverpool Apostle Franklin D. Richards  came aboard the John J. Boyd and made some very encouraging remarks and bade them farewell.  Elder Knud (Canute) Peterson became the church leader of The John J. Boyd after filling a mission to Norway and Denmark.  He was later called as President of the Sanpete Stake. He was a very kind, fatherly man and very watchful over his flock and ever ready and willing to give kind and good advice to those under his care.

The John J. Boyd 

It was a treacherous journey with bad storms.   Many became seasick. The ship was not equipped to hold as many passengers as there were. On December 19th a terrible storm came up and rocked the boat, tossing everyone from side to side and continued through Christmas Day, December 25th. Then on January 1st the storm was so terrific that one of the masts was split and had to be wrapped with chains. All the sails were taken down.

  "The winds blew so hard the crew could not control the ship, so the sails were lowered and the ship found its own way through the water. Winter weather upon the Atlantic was so severe that the ship lost all forward progress made in the first weeks of the voyage. We had headwinds most of the way. When we were about one-third of the way over we were driven all the way back to the coast of Ireland.

The  shipmaster was Captain Thomas Austin. He ran a well-ordered company. Rules of conduct were established. A trumpet called the immigrants to prayer morning and evening, and religious services were held in English, Danish, and Italian.   

 The average voyage from England to New York aboard a steamer was 13 days, while the average trek across the Atlantic via sailing ship was 37 days. But the voyage on the John J. Boyd lasted 65 days, nearly one month longer than the average sailing ship crossing.

During the voyage, sixty-two people lost their lives. That’s the highest death toll of Mormon immigrants upon any vessel crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Even the six-month voyage of the Brooklyn from New York to San Francisco in 1846 claimed only 10 lives.

The captain became so discouraged over the unsatisfactory conditions that he forbade any to sing or pray onboard the ship. But this did not prevent them from fasting and praying in secret which was ordered by President Peterson, after which better weather prevailed.

At one time the captain said to President Peterson, “If I hadn’t damned Mormons on board I would have been in New York six weeks ago.” President Peterson said to him, “If you hadn’t Mormons on board, you would have been in hell six weeks ago.”

At one point during the   voyage a fire broke out, starting in the captain’s quarters and quickly spreading through the entire ship. The fire burned through the floor and filled the ship with smoke. The clouds of hot smoke nearly suffocated those who were resting in their quarters. It was only after much work that the fire was successfully put out. Some of the passengers and crew, fearing for their lives jumped overboard, and it was only after Knud Peterson assured the saints that they would put out the fire that panic ceased. It was later revealed that Captain Austin had been drinking and kicked over a small stove in his quarters. Precious personal cargo and provisions were lost in the accident all due to the Captain’s terrible addiction. (taken from "Voyage to America", by Hans Lorentz Dastrup.

http://www.familydastrup.org/2010/10/voyage-to-america/)

Their ship the John J. Boyd came to  New York via Castle Garden.   The surname spelled "Neilson" on roster. The family came on the John J. Boyd in 1855. The family was: Niels age 50, Maren age 52, Anne Catherine age 18 and Karen age 16. The family was listed as Nilsen on board. They emigrated from Vensyssel District.  (notice no Niels Peter Nielsen was listed)

Canute Peterson Company (1856)

Canute Peterson

We also discovered that the Nielsens were with the Canute Petersen Company in 1856. The wife, Maren, daughter Anna Catherine and another daughter, Karen are listed on the ship manifest.  However, Peter's 5th great grandfather Niels Peter Nielsen, who was also a son was not listed.  Then when they reached Winter Quarters they were joined by another group of Saints coming from England and Scotland.  And with that group were Peter's third great grandparents, William and Mary Margaret Morrison from Scotland.   Now we find the lost son, Niels Peter Nielsen  listed with the Canute Petersen Company. They all arrived in Salt Lake City in September of 1856.

About 320 individuals and about 60 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha).

Company members arrived in the Salt Lake Valley from 16-23 September 1856. This makes Niels Christian 51 years of age and Maren 53 years of age. 

The following comes from Mary Margaret Morrison's remembrances:

It would take too much time to enter into every detail that transpired during those intervals on our sad journey. Nevertheless in the spring of 1856 our faces still turning Zionward, we again commenced our journey from St. Louis, by way of Omaha, and from there crossing the plains by ox team. For six weeks we remained in camp at Omaha living in tents, waiting for the company to get ready. On the 26th of June, 1856 we commenced our journey across the plains. We were sixty wagons in all with Canute Petersen as Captain of our company. He was a wise and most efficient leader. During our journey our cattle stampeded five times. A young man from Denmark was run over and instantly killed, but otherwise there were no other accidents on the journey. On the 14th of July a herd of buffalo passed right through our camp. This surely was a great sight and as no accident occurred we were indeed very thankful for the preserving care which had been around us.

On the 23rd of September we arrived in Salt Lake City in good health and glad to meet many dear friends with whom we were acquainted .

 Following is from the Andrew Madsen account: 

 
CANUTE PETERSON'S [Petersen] COMPANY ARRIVED IN SALT LAKE CITY SEPTEMBER 16-21th, 1856, (Church Almanac 1997-98, page 172)] 

While we were getting fitted out a number of us secured labor erecting a wall around a farm, and in about three weeks were fitted out.Our outfit consisted of sixty wagons and two yoke of oxen, with six to ten persons to each wagon.
President Peterson was our Captain and appointed as assistant captain for each ten wagons. We started on our journey for Salt Lake City, June 19, 1856. The first day's journey was a hard one.Some of our oxen were wild and we did not know how to handle them and consequently did not make much headway the first day. The following day we made good headway. It was very hot and our oxen became very tired, traveling with their tongues out, some of them getting overheated and dying. 
We were compelled to leave some of our supplies, owing to our heavy loads and this was taken off and left.After a few  weeks journey we reached the unsettled wild west, where the buffaloes were grazining great herds.

One day there was a stampede and our oxen became frightened, rushing together, one outfit crashing into the other. The women and children became frightened, some of the wagons were broken and a few of our number were hurt and one man killed, which caused a gloom to pass over us. He was buried in a coffin such as we could prepare. We then repaired our outfits and journeyed on. A few of the buffalo were killed, dressed for beef and divided among our company.

Now and again the Indians were seen roaming from one side of the valley to the other and on occasions they would come to visit us. In order to maintain a friendly feeling, we would oft times give them some of our supplies and provisions such as we could spare. We were compelled to guard our oxen at all times when we were not traveling to prevent them from being driven away or stolen by the Indians. We were called together morning and night by the sound of a bugle to receive our instructions. Sundays, we had meetings and regular services were conducted, adding much comfort and pleasure to our journey.

 Sometimes we had dances on the green grass and enjoyed ourselves as best we could. During the days while journeying along, nearly all of us walked except those who were sick and the smaller children. We went along laughing and singing the songs and hymns of Zion. We arrived at Salt Lake City, September 20, 1856 and on the entire journey of three months not more than a half dozen persons were seen outside of our own company. . . .
Madsen, Andrew. Autobiography, pp.1-3. (CHL) 

 
The above journal entries and others can be found at:    https://history.lds.org/overlandtravel/companies/234/canute-peterson-company-1856

We now find Niels Christian in the Mt. Pleasant History by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf:   "The following Mount Pleasant pioneers came with President Canute Petersen's company: William Morrison, Margaret Morri­son, Rasmus Frandsen, George Frandsen Sr., Karen Neilson, Erick Gunderson Sr., Christian Jensen, Karen Marie Petersen, Niels Jo­hansen, Annie Anderson, Jens C. Jensen, Marian Anderson, Peter Mogensen (Monsen), Dorothy M. C. Mogensen (Monsen), Jeppe Iverson, Caroline Christine Iverson, Annie Christensen Mortensen Scowgaard, Caroline Frandsen, Neils Christian Neilson, Mary Larsen Nielsen, Rasmus Hansen, Annie Marie Jorgensen randsen, and others. Also a number who located at Ephraim." p 43.

We also find that Niels Christian Nielsen  helped build the fort:
Second ten, West Line           Time spent        Teams                Wagons
Jorger F. Jorgensen, Captain… ……18
Niels C. Nielsen …….                      13                 6                       6
 p. 135

Niels Christian Nielsen is sometimes spelled Neilson  (with the e before the i) 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
According to Family Search these are the children: 

However, Niels Peter, Karen and Ane Catherine are the only ones we can verify.

 Family Search has Ane Catherine's death date as 1855. (Someone needs to fill in the blanks there.) Karen married Jorgen Frandsen 19 December 1856.
Karen's death date is March 4, 1915 in Price, Carbon County, Utah.

Niels Peter Nielsen married Bertha Marie Jensen Aagaard. Family Search has their wedding date as April 27, 1890. However their first child was born in 1863. Niels Peter passed away September 2, 1911.


More information on Niels Peter and Bertha Marie can be found at: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MB3K-BXC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nothing more is known about Niels Christian and Maren other than they died in Mt. Pleasant.  

Niels Christian (23 March 1877) 

Maren (25 July 1882)

 

---

---

Sources

• Genealogy and Family Pioneer History.  Mount Pleasant Historical Association
• Ship Passenger and Manifest Lists/Mormon Migration

 

Morrison Genealogy (Recorded by Wilhelmina Morrison Ericksen) from the Alice Hafen Collection

also see: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwAWVYV1_oXrnkDSUyR1z9NB7HRKkJonR1PZeNzOXOjkewiYtGcH0t8b77IBD8c1Wtq8vwbxLjzR-ufqUQQ57n5aPHqGZKgG-GqWOnREjDJg9r0oKmVYC8KgDIRr2LgDkdKCcVlFJbTU/s1200/Fort+Sketch.jpg

The Morrison Family located in the south west corner of the Fort. 

Wiilliam and Margaret Morrison (additional information)

 

Also see:  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2217707143168230507#editor/target=post;postID=1720239362603982929;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=7;src=link

The following comes from Family Search.  More information on William and Margaret Morrison:

William and his wife Margaret, sometimes called Maggie, arrived in Salt Lake City on September 23, 1856, and settled in Sugar House. They left Sugar House for the south when the people abandened their homes because of the Johnson Army panic. Maggie and her little son, William III, born at Sugar House, left with a man who took refugees south, and they were taken care of by the Madsen family in Ft. Ephraim until William II arrived. He had been with the men who had organized to defend the people against Johnson's Army. He had assissted in some very interesting and humorous strategy employed at this time. At Fort Ephraim after joining Maggie once more, since both William and Maggie wished to obey the law of plural marriage, he took as his second wife Carolina Christina Morrison, to whom reference was made above. He later also married Anna Marie Hansen, and became the father of twenty seven children. Later William moved to Mt. Pleasant when that town was settled. In the winter of 1864, William was called by Brigham Young, through the Apostle Orson Hyde, to head a party of thirty men and their families who were to organize settlements in Sevier County. He had charge of that mission for some time. Maggie and her family remained in Mt.Pleasant. Caroline Christine the mother of the writer, together with her two oldest children, James and Amanda located in Richfield. Maria settled at Clear Creek Canyon. William had some knowledge of surveying and he assisted with the survey of the city of Richfield . He named the towns of Aurora and Inverury. He was appointed President of the High Priests. He was ordained a Patriarch under the hands of Apostle Lorenzo Snow. He served two terms as a representative in the Utah Legislature and was a member of The Constitutional Convention held in 1872. He was the first probate judge in Sevier County and was elected for a second term. He filled many other positions of trust such as school teacher, postmaster,telegraph operator, and stake clerk, in a manner which commanded the confidenceand blessings of his brethern and fellow citizens. He peformed a good work in the St.George Temple for the living and the dead and was also permitted to receive great blessings in the Manti Temple. He was a full tithe payer and donated liberally to the building of both temples. He lived and died a Patriarch in the fullest sense of the word. A record kept by James, one of William's sons, says he was the first man to be menaced by the Indians at the beginning of the Black Hawk War. In the Summer of 1865 he was traveling north from Richfield when he reached Christian Burg or Twelve Mile, turning off the road to camp, he saw two indians up by the bluffs among the cedars , whose actions were strange. He decided therefore to go three miles farther to a place called Nine Mile. There he saw two indians who were armed. He reached back in his wagon and got his own gun, stared the indians down and drove on to Manti, where he stopped with Harrison Edward. He told Mr. Edward of his experiences with the indians that night and they agreed it looked bad. The next day word came that the indians had killed Pete Ludwickson at Twelve Mile the same day William had escaped. Later in 1866, during another trip, William passed a wagon with one ox lying down and one standing, but no one was in sight. About a mile from the wagon, he saw a pile of loose flour and again, further on, another pile of flour, and a little further on was a man's black hat. He thought sone one had been drunk and went on his way, since he had traveled a lot on business and had seen many strange things. He later found that the indians had attacked, killed and robbed Anthony Robinson. The man was found dead and also one ox was dead. It was the wagon which William had passed and he realized he had had another narrow escape. I remember stories my mother told me of my father's very generous nature in regard to material things. There was a court room episode when he gave to a visiting attorney the Navajo Rug from the floor because he admired it. Court was held in mother's bed chamber because of its comfort and beauty, created by her own hands. I am sure you will enjoy my mental picture of that room as I see it from mother's descriptions. The walls of the room were snow white. A beautiful Navajo rug covered the white floor, the design of the rug being gray and black, worked with indian designs. The washed white wool in the rug matched the walls and the design stood out in beautiful relief against the white wool which had been combed smooth with wool combs until it looked like angor satin. The bed had black turned posters and the blankets on it it were of white wool which had been washed,corded, spun and woven with her own hands. I have watched her do this work. The curtains were white. A mellow light from the fireplace shed a brightness over the room. The beauty of the room could it be seen now, would be a fitting tribute to a wonderful, pioneer mother. I remember another interesting story, that of the graveyard. There my father and a friend spent a night on the underground, as it was called, to hide from the officer spies who were making life miserable for the polygamists. My father and the other gentleman took their beds with them to spend the night in Richfield Cemetary, hoping for a peaceful nights rest. All went well until shortly after midnight, when they were awakened by a terrifying thumping sound coming from the confines of a newly dug grave where something white was bobbing and down. Of course, my father and his companions left that peaceful place without investigation. Next day, father's old white horse was missing and it proved to have been the guilty disturber of the night before. This cured father of the underground. He left for his Clear Creek ranch and sent word to the officers that they could find him there whenever they wanted him. The officers failed to go near the ranch and mother supposed they feared fortified defense. At any rate, father was never disturbed and he lived in peace until he died. William and Maggie were happy o have he privilege of practicing the law of plural marriage, it being a religios principle to which both were converted. It was Maggie who picked my mother as a second wife and told father to get her if he could, knowing her sterling qualities. Father's diary contains the following comment: " I deplore the practice of forcing our gentlewoman to go to Washington to undergo the indignities forced upon them there. I pray that my dear wives will be spared. I honor my plural wives among all my honored ladies, and I number the mothers of kings among them." My father was very kind to children. My one personal memory of him was his taking me in his arms and keeping mother away from me when she had gone for a switch intended for some necessary chastisement. Mother was the first woman in Richfield after the abondoment during the Black Hawk War. The city was abandoned in the first part of April, 1867. Mother had three children at that time, James, Amanda, and Alex. Mother and children went with the settlers. Father had two teams, one drawn by horses and one by oxen. They camped the first night at Gravelly Ford, on the east side of the Sevier River, Fourteen miles from Richfield, Father was detailed to stand guard the first night. My brother Jim, remembers the boys of the camp forcing the animals to swim the river, and he remembers that one fat hog sank and was drowned. He was six years old at the time and saw the things he remembered from his seat in the wagon. Mother had told me that she walked, carrying Alex, and helped to drive the hogs. Jim remembers that on the third day, the party separated, and he remembers seeing the men driving pigs and also remembers the men shooting at the wild geese which circled the camp. At the resettlement, mother told me of the Indians frightening her when she was alone. Father had gone to Sanpete for good. Mother kept the children still, four this time, the youngest being Annie who was born at Mt. Pleasant. She put a stick across the door, to fool the Indians, who would not go near an empty house. One day, the baby cried when the Indians were near and they stormed in demanding food. Mother was scrubbing the floor and had no food to give them. They gave her several lashes with a whip and because she made no protest, but went on scrubbing the floor, they left, calling her a "heap brave squaw." Father was very fair and generous with all new settlers who came to Sevier Valley. All of the Richfield city property was deeded to my father from the government as judge of the district and he always permitted new comers to take their pick, when he could easily have kept the best for himself. Mother being a thrifty Dane, remonstrated, saying they could be rich if he would only use a little wisdom, but Father replied, "we did not come her to get rich, but to serve the Lord." This he did faithfully until the day of his death which occurred August 26, 1889, at Clear Creek Canyon Ranch. He was buried in the Richfield Cemetery on August 28, 1889 at eleven o'clock a.m. Suitable funeral services were held. Eight high priests acted as pall bearers. The speakers were President Seegmiller, Counselors Bean and Clark, and Elder Outzen, Westman and Peterson. All spoke of his having given up everything for the gospel's sake. Elder Keeler offered he benediction. In closing, I shall give two sentiments from William Morrison's own hand book, written November 14, 1868 as follows- "The Counties of Sanpete and Sevier, their development, may they ever excel, like their streams,may their course be onward forever, with peace a plenty." Lula Morrison Barr 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY and JOURNALS of CHRISTIAN NIELSEN LUND SR. 1898

Caroline Christiana Iversen Morrison ~~~ A Typewritten Copy Found In The Alice Hafen Collection (may be incomplete)

Caroline Christina Iverson Morrison

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The following was posted on our blog in 2013:

Compiled from oral narratives to her children and grandchildren and from memory by her son Walter William Morrison

More than thirty eight years have passed since mother died.  It is pleasant to recall and to think of recording the changes, the achievements - even the hardships and adversities of a life so consecrated to the well-being of her companions and her posterity.  Her first-born, James Bruce, who came before her nineteenth year, would have done it much better.  But her youngest daughter, Lula, has confirmed and added to my memory of the stories that have become a heritage of her family.

She had inherited qualities of patience, industry, integrity, and self reliance from her sturdy Danish father and mother who, among the "pure in heart", accepted the message of the early missionaries in Denmark.  Being thrifty, with a trace of Jewish blood in the father, they were soon ready for immigration to Utah - a family of seven - two sons and three daughters.  Hans Peter remained to complete a mission.

They set sail from Denmark late in 1855, across the North Sea to England, then by rail to Liverpool.  They sailed from Liverpool on the John J. Boyd 12 Dec. under Canute Peterson.  They had a very stormy passage, being driven back to the Irish coast after about a third of the way across the Atlantic.  After eleven weeks and five days they reached New York and were warmly greeted by Apostle John Taylor.  President Petersen took his company by rail to points in Illinois and Missouri until ready for the journey across the plains.  Jeppe Iversen and family waited at Alton, Illinois a short distance north of St. Louis, where most of the saints waited.

The Canute Petersen company left St. Louis on the S.S.Arabia up the Missouri River on 2 June 1856 for Florence Nebraska where they made preparations for the journey by ox team to Uta.  William and Margaret Morrison and other saints were with the company from St. Louis.  They left Florence on 26 June, and reached Salt Lake City on 20 September.

Caroline Christine Iversen was bornb 15 December 1842 at Westbjerg, Song, Aarhus Amt. Jutland, Denmark.  She was not yet 14 years old when they reached Utah.  Jeppe Iversen went to live with a Danish Settlement at Ephraim.  William Morrison lived about two years in Salt Lake City.  He was called and served for six weeks in March and April, 1858 in the Utah Militia, sent out to intercept the U.S. Troops under General Albert Sidney Johnston.  When released he found that his wife had moved to Ephraim and followed them there.

In the interval since arriving at Salt Lake City, Jeppe had persuaded Christina to accept the proposal of a brother Gubler to become his plural wife.  The event proved to be a definite indication of her mental integrity and her self reliance.  Brigham Young, about to perform the ceremony, asked her if she wanted to marry this man.  She very decisively replied "No" and President Young said to Bro. Gubler, "Take this child to her parents".  Later events proved that our name was to be Morrison.  Christiana had been employed in the family of William Morrison, and in "eight or ten months she became with consent of Margaret, his wife - sealed to him by Apostle Amos M. Lymon, in the presence of Warren Snow, George Peacock, and Caleb  Edwards, 11 July, 1859.  This ceremony was probably performed in Ephraim because father's journal stated "I take two wives with me from Ephraim".

Mother began her life very young.  Infant William G.C. Morrison was only a year old when she was employed in the family, and Williamina was only four months old when mother was married.

William Morrison was called with others to settle at what later became Mt. Pleasant.  Jepper Iversen and family moved to Mt. Pleasant.  The next five years life followeed and even tenor; she learned to love Margaret, and all of her children have imbibed that sentiment.  James M. was born 7 November 1860; and Amanda Pusilla 10 September 1864.

A letter dated 15 November 1864, from Apostle Orson Hyde to Bishop Seely, directed a call for William Morrison to lead 29 other brethren of Mt. Pleasant to settle on the Sevier River, as soon as they could prepare for the move.  On January 29, 1865, Father drove up to the meeting house at Richfield while Sunday meeting was in session, and by request of Bishop Higgins, bore his testimony.  It seems that Christiana and her two children mus have been with him, because he records that he purchased a  house which he could occupy in three weeks.

Under date of 2 September 1865 he writes: "Here at Mt. Pleasant all is well" and stated that he is in receipt of law books for Sevier County - Probate Judg.  Arriving so early in the year at Richfield, no doubt father and mother planted a garden; but there is no other means of support mentioned except in appointment as Probate Judge.  Father had taken another wife in Mt. Pleasant - Anne Marie Hansen, who had  lived next door in Mt. Pleasant for more than a year.  Hementions going to the grave of her  second  daughter, Hannah, while on this visit.

Mother's third child wss born at Richfield 25 November 1866, a son  named Alexander.  They were  not to enjoy peace for long.  The  Indians under Chief Black Hawk were driving their livestock away and killing the settlers when too few to oppose them.  Three were killed while on their way to Glenwood to do some shopping.  On 20 April 1867, Richfield was abandoned.  All of the settlers in Sevier returned to their other homes in larger settlements.

During this time Annie Christiana was born at Mt. Pleasant, 4 May, 1869.  She was named for grandmother Iversen.  Evacuation due to Indian depredatios lasted four years.  Father with mother and four children were among the first to return.  It was necessary for father to return to Mt. Pleasant, so for a few weeks mother and children and Jamse Petersen, age 21, tending livestock, were the only white inhabitants in the settlement. Baby Annie subsisted largely on milk the young man brought daily.  Soon there were eight families and two single men in the village.

(The foloowing incident is referred to the time of this first settlement as Juanita had heard it from her father.  My impression has always been that was when Annie was the baby.)  The Indians were uigly.  One young buck came to the home and demanded bread.  Mother was on her knees scrubbing the floor.  When she told him she  had no bread he lashed her with his riding whip.  She ignored him and he went out saying "heep brave squaw".

After the settlement was re-established, mother's home became a civic center.  Father mad application for a post office and became the first postmaster, as he had been in Mt. Pleasant.  The office was in her home, and the room was always thereafter called the office.  Later, when the Deseret Telegraph Co. extended their service to Richfield, the office was installed in the former postoffice room.

Hannah Jane Spencer came from Salina as Telegraph Operator.  She taught Amanda telegraphy, and when Mrs. Spencer left Richfield, Amanda became operator at age thirteen.  Mother and Amanda purchased the first reed organ in the village.  Choir rehearsals were held at our house.  This was at the time of the United Order - 1874 (19 April) to 24 November 1877 - when Elder Orson Hyde recommended "Prompt and decisive winding up of the Order."  The ward chorister requested  pssession of the organ, but mother vetoed the request.  This narrative already indicates that Christiana had little inclination for public service.  Pioneering, homemaking, child care, nursing, and the virtues essential to such activity made life worth living for her.

George Charles was born 8 September 1871 - one day after father's fifty first anniverseary.  Walter William was born 3 February, 1874, while father was representing Sevier County in the legislature.  William was born about 1877, and died in his second year, of scarlet fever.  Walter was in bed from a relapse of the same disease when Willie was buried.  This was the first death in the family, of the only child mother did not live to see married and with children, Lafayette was born 10 October 1880, and marriages began the next year.

Amanda P. Morrison married John August Hellstrom in the St. George Temple , 28 September 1881.  I remember the delicious grapes (pickled) they brought home with them.  James  B.  followed his fiance, who had moved to Tuba, Arizona.  He remained for some time to work for  John W. Young as coachamn driving four horse team between St. John and Flagstaff.  He married Caroline Amanda Foutz in the St. George Temple 30 January 1882, on the way home.

Father was plagued with stomach trouble; but to evade the U.S. officers harassing the L.D.S. elders who had plural wives.  He purchased a ranch in Millcreek Canyon,  a tributary  of Clearcreek.  Mother pioneered with him this first summer (1883), really enjoying it when there was no Indian Trouble.  At the end of the harvest she returned with daughter Amanda.  Juanita, born 12 July 1883 came to care for mother and Lula and I tended Juanita.  I could never thereafter sit near a cradle without keeping it in motion.

Lula was the ninth child, and the end of that function proved very hard for mama.  She became so ill that all the family gathered about her in tears.  Annie took me aside and asked me to go by myseld and pray for mama.  Young as I was,  about 10, I went where a clump of wild currant bushes grew and offered such a prayer as a child would, and returned to find the family still weeping.  Unnoticed, the climax had passed.  Days before mama  "Cad" had been amused at a soap figure of a man nursing his toe.  Mother said, "Cad", look at that sap man".  That set them all laughing.  In a few days she was active both indoors and out, as she had always been.

Amanda's second child was born and died 3 July 1885, named Celeste.  Zitelle was born 21 August 1886.  John August Jr. was born 27 January 1889 and Amanda died of puerperal fever.  This was a year of great trial for mother.  Grandmaother Ivesen died 14 February; thirteen days after Amanda.  She had lived for years with Aunt Elizabeth Salisbury. She had been almost a daily visitor with Christiana.  She walked four blocks morning and evening, but at this time was growing weaker.  Five year old Lula would meet her and go part way home with her almost until her death.  Father died 26 August 1889, at his ranch, and was buried 28 August at Richfield - the same day as little Johnny, who had been cared for bhy cousin Hannah Salisbury.

John A Hellstrom was soon called to the Swedish mission and Juanita and Zitelle lived as part of our family.  Soon after he returned he married a convert who had preceded him to Utah.  They lived in Richfield fo some time and then moved with his family to Salt Lake City, where he found employment at Z.C.M.I  He was an expert accountant and penman.  Juanita returned later and grew up  with Lula.

During the eighties, Martin Andersen, a cousin of Christiana, came as a convert to Utah, from Minnesota.  He lived as one of our family several years.  Being  a skilled mason, built of stone two rooms replacing the "office" and one bedroom, with bedrooms in the half-story overhead.  His sister who lived in Arizona sent a teen-age son for Martin to care for during the summer.

Another summer in the eighties mother had a respite from unusual cares.  She paid a visit to her older sister living with her daughter Ardena Leslie in Salt  Lake City.  Aunt Maria was working in the Temple.  Another family living nearby was caring for an orphan boy from British India, heir to a small fortune.  The  child seemed to be neglected, and now entertained him with storiesof farm life.   Bert learned when mother would return home.  After she was on the  train and well on her way he came into the car where she  was.  She brought him home with her, and kept him until his guardians came and got a court order for his custody.  Mother told her story to Judge Nephi J. Bates.  Bert was remanded  to the care of his relatives, who were admonished by the court as to his care.

Uncle Peter Iversen, eluding the federal officers who were making it very distressing for those who had plural wives, came to our house very sick with pneumonia.  Mother made him as comfortable as possible.  She prepared a bran poultice to cover him completely except his head.  This home remedy proved very effective.  In a few days he was able to go on his way.

Mother and Annie financed my course in the Normal School of the Deseret University, now the Utah University, from November 1888 to June 1891.  Bishop Joseph Pollard, of the fifteenth ward and father were converts and close friends in England and in St. Louis.  I boarded at the Pollard home.

Annie married John W. Orrock 23 December 1892, in Manti temple.  She had been teaching beginners' grades in Richfield School.  When viva was just old enough to stray away one block down to Main Street, (Annie was teaching again) and mother was tending Viva)  this happened a second time.  Her mama said to her "Didn't I tell you I'd spank you if you ran away again?"  Viva replied "I didn't run mama, I dis alk, I dis alk."  She didn't get a spanking.  A few years later while John was on a mission Annie was teaching again and mother was with her children either at their home or ours.

Annielived only a few days after the birth of her fifth child, which was named for its mother.  Christiana now cared for the children of her second daughter during their tender years.  There wer four - Viva, Cyril, Beatrice, and Annie.  Leal had died in infancy.  Artificial feeding was not so common then as now, but Annie faired well.

Lulu married Lorenzo Barr, and when  they had four children, moved to Illinois.  Her husband  contracted tuberculosis and they moved to Arkansas.  Here they became destitute, and mother sent fare for  them to come  and live with her.  The father went to his own people.

Mother had me build two houses on the old homestead; one a five room place for rent, the other one  a small home for herself, with a cellar for milk, butter, etcl, and shelving for cured meats, fruit, and vegetables.  She was well known for her excellence of  these things; and a cellar was essential  for her kind of living  comfort.

Later she sold the new homes to Alex and returned to the old one.

This is where Lula and her four children shared the home with her; Lula worked for the White Sewing Machine Co. and mother cared for the children of her youngest child.

On the 27th of January 1916, after the children were all in bed, mother and Lula went to a cottage meeting in ghe home of Samuel G. Clark, on the corner west from our own home.  A blizzard came on which would have made it disagreeable if they had to go far.  Lula slept in the bedroom down stairs and mother upstairs.  To make the picture realistic, I let grand-daughter Roma tell the final story quoting just as it was received from her 5 April 1955.

"I remember the family story, and it is hard to sort out my own memories from that.  I do know that grandmother came to the big room over the kitchen on her way to bed.  She did arrrange the covers over me, and I think Enid.  I remember the way she took the top cover by one corner and shook it over us so that it settled down to cover us.  I also remember waking the next morning when the school bell rang.  I think it was 8:30.  I think I went into her room and realized something was wrong, and that I went downstairs for mother.  I'm sure I had very little realization of what it meant, because it was my first experience with death."

No sweeter tribute could be told than this recital of mother's solicitation for her grandchildren before lying down for her final sleep.  When Dr. Neill came to see her he  said; "She never tasted death".

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"WHY DOES MOTHER TEACH US TO SERVE THE LORD?"

This lesson assignment may be suitable for a final tribute to mother.

To analyze this question is to answer it.  "God's work and His Glory" is to lead man to eternal life; and eternal life means growth, progress, and increase without end.  Whatever is true service of God.

And who is mother?  She who faces death to give  us life or birth; who, when racked wit so great that the death would be sweet relief, yet clings to life to shield and nurture us; who counts no task too great, no do too long.  If we be made happier or better; who shares every sorrow, shields from every danger, sympathizes with us in defeat, glows with pride at every triumph - the guardian angel always with us.  This is Mother !

"Behold the handmaid of the Lord."

This is why she teacxhes us to serve Him.  

At the death of Amanda P. Morrison Hellstrom, the verses below were written by Maria Miller, then telegraph operator at Beaver, Utah, as attribute to her friend of childhood and this at the time of mother's death.  She also shided me for saying in the account I gave the "Reaper" that she was experience left little to be desired.

MOTHER

Sweet friend of the needy kind helper of youth, 

Firm guardian of virtue, bright lover of truth,

Thy sleep shall be peaceful, unbroken they rest;

Thy spirit disburdened, shall sleep on God's breast.

In songs with the angels thou takest thy part,

The Glory of heaven now filleth thine heart.

Earth's woes now may languish - no more for thy brow

Their thorns shall they weave, Thou art slumbering now.

The river of heaven now laveth thy feet;

Fair angels shall twine the a bridal wreath sweet,

And am'ranth immortal shall crown thy fair head -

In heaven they deem the not, loved one, as dead.

Sweet,  sweet be thy welcome to life with the blest,

Where loved ones rejoice and warm peace is thy rest.

God grant we may meet thee on heaven's bright shore,

To part with thee, dear one, in grief never more.

(First two lines of last verse revised by W.W.M.O.)

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