Home of James Jessen and his wife Caroline Neilson ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Home of Brigham Young Lee and his wife Elsa Maria Jessen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Home of William Alma Averett and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Larter ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Home of Joseph Johansen Sr. and his wife Hannah Christensen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

"Living It Up In the Olden Days " ~ Mt. Pleasant Pyramid April 1915

ORSON PRATT LEE

Eliza Araminta Becksteadand Orson Pratt Lee 

One of the most very special features at the Relic Home is the Display of carvings done by Orson Pratt Lee.  In this display there is a prairie schooner with oxen and pioneers at the side animals and also Indians that he handcarved.  But there is also a chain of wood that he has carved out with no seams.  It is approximately 20 feet long.  He was a very talented fellow.

The Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum also holds such a carving display by Orson Pratt Lee.

We did some research on him and this is what we found.

  

After he married, he moved to Marysvale.  We certainly appreciate the carving display that was given to the Mt. Pleasant Historical Association in 1924.

His obituary follows: 

"PIONEER MEMORIES" By Swen O. Nielson, 1934

Taken from History of Mt. Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf pp 308-313 "PIONEER MEMORIES" By Swen O. Nielson,

1934 I am very happy to be with you on this occasion, for the purpose of allowing our minds to revert to the days when that noble band of pioneers had the fortitude to start this settlement I came here in September 1863; four and one-half years after the first pioneers came. There are some outstanding features in connection with this settlement that I cannot forget. It takes my memory back to the time when I was a poor immigrant boy.

My mother left Denmark with three children, I being the eldest. We left my father and elder brother to come two years later. We buried my sister on the Plains and mother gave birth to a boy a few days after we arrived here. Mother lived wherever she could I was away working for my board most of the time, as we were absolutely poverty stricken.

Mother had a hard time of it. Had it not been for the generosity of the people here she could not have pulled through-but she never suffered more than other ­people. Mads Anderson was an old friend of ours from Denmark When we came he was building a house and he promised that when it was completed we could live in it for the winter.

The way he built it was this: He staked it out. Then he put down a layer of mud. When that was dry he put on another layer of mud, until he had it up to the square. Then he laid the gables and put the ridge poles on, then small poles and birches were laid over these, and then straw and dirt was put on top of the poles and birches. There was no floor in the house. It had one door and two windows. No lumber was used except for the door and windows. It was a one-room house with a large fireplace in it. Large sagebrush was the only fuel we had. The two families lived there all winter.

I was in Ephraim most of the time. Mother took up a city lot. Our first home was just across the street, south of the Second Ward Schoolhouse, First South and Third West. No one cared for this lot as it had two hollows running through it. The generous people of Mt. Pleasant built her a house on this lot. It was on a hill, part underground. There were logs on top, covered with earth roof and the floor was also of earth, but it was a home and a sweet home at that. I had my first pair of shoes in Utah in the fall of 1865, after my father came. The leather was tanned by an old man named Larter, who lived just one block west of your meeting house. A shoemaker made my shoes. The hair was not all off the leather. I had them on during the first snow storm. The water went through the leather, and the shoes stretched so much that I kicked them off. They dried during the night and that shrunk them up so that I could not get them on until after I had soaked them up.

 My mother made a few candles by dipping wicking into warm tallow. When completed they were one-half an inch at the top and one and one-half inches at the bottom. Mother gave me one of them and it was accepted as my ticket for the theatre. When I went to the theatre, I would go out just before the play was over. They would give me a pass-out ticket. I would go home and the next play I would pass in on my ticket. This worked most of the winter until they changed door keepers and thus ended my theatre going.

 Remembering all the kindness which was showered on us, I would be an ingrate now not to have a feeling of love for those sturdy pioneers. In. discussing the early settlement of Utah, It must be borne in mind that this territory was settled under differ­ent circumstances to that of any other. We were far away from civilization, in a wild country, with many Indians to feed or to fight. Hence it was necessary to build in colonies and work together. Since that time and having had experience in pioneering. I have marveled at what was done in the three and one-half years before I came.

I can imagine a caravan in the spring of 1859) pulling in on Pleasant Creek. Let me here describe the home-seekers of that day. Usually the wagon was drawn with two yoke of oxen. The wife and children sat in front with their bonnets on. There would be the rifle and powder horn hanging in the bows of the inside, and a plow and harrow on the outside, with two boxes tied to the rear of the wagon, containing two or three pigs and a dozen chickens; the cat being held by the children. The older children drove the loose stock. This will about describe or give you a picture of the first settlers of Mt. Pleasant.

 I imagine about the first thing they did was to wander through the brush and select a site for the future city. They had a splendid man and pioneer at their head, and whatever he decided was accepted. I assume that the first thing that was done was to make a survey of lots, numbering them, and then they drew lots for the lots. Next would be to grub their lots and get some cottonwoods to build a pig pen and chicken coop. Then the building of the roads into the canyons to get out poles and house logs and timber. Next they would be making ditches and fencing and surveying the field land and clearing the lands.

 Women in many instances drove oxen. Sarah Scoville drove her own ox team from the Missouri River, thereby getting the name of Captain Mac. Women and children raked the wheat into bundles and bound them. Women always did their full share. The usual thing was for all to be out of flower by harvest. The first wheat to ripen would be cut and put in the sun to dry, then trodden out with oxen and horses. We had no threshing machines then. Our grain would be threshed out by oxen and horses, then put through a fanning mill run by hand. Our houses were generally dirt floor and dirt roof.

When I moved to Fairview in 1867, there were only. three houses with shingle roofs. Many lived in dugouts. We had no machinery; all hay and grain was cut by hand. I have seen blacksmiths stand and make nails by hand. It would seem nowadays a slow process. But when you think of it. it had to be done, as a few nails had to be used. Hales and pins could not be used in all places. In 1867, when our meeting house was built at Fairview, we paid a big price in Salt Lake for nails. Many no doubt will wonder how we obtained them. This probably was not so bad during the gold rush to California and the rush to Arizona. The Indians set fire to the grass on the plains and burned many trains, leaving nothing but the track, which was free to all. Plows were made from the tires.

We had to live on what we produced. The women and girls carding and spinning the yarn; others doing the weaving. Color did not cut much figure; warmth and wear then were the essentials. If we broke a wagon wheel, we would go to the mountains and get maple and make spokes. The people were a group of self-supporting people in nearly all respects. We had no such thing as a butcher's shop. We could not kill the cattle, as the steer calves were needed for oxen and the heifers for cows. We did have some pigs to kill in the fall.

 Besides our own burdens, we had other troubles. We had to feed or fight the Indians. We sent eight or ten young men with as many wagons, with four yoke of oxen to the wagon, after immi­grants. About six hundred immigrants were brought in and had to be cared for. As we had no hay, we had to haul it from Chester with our ox teams. This was a very slow process.

 But with all our hardships, we were happy. We had no social classes. We were all on a level. All rejoiced together and all shared each other's sorrows. The success of the colony can be summed up in this way: The unity of the community-their faith in God and men; their willingness to do their share of all public work; their generosity to the needy; in fact, they lived as one family, never complaining, but all willing to put their shoulders to the wheel and push. There was never any bickering or fault finding with the leadership; they all pulled together. In unity there is strength. I have a few observations which I made here in early days.

 There was an old Englishman by the name of Lee, who lived here. He was the father of Brig Lee; he was working at a shingle mill. In some way he got his arm in the machinery, and it was crushed. He was taken to his home. I happened along about that time. I stood on the outside, so I could hear all that went on. As we had no doctors or anesthetics, the crudest method had to be resorted to. Mr. Lee was placed on a table. Four men held him. Old man Tidwell performed the operation of amputating the arm. After it was over Mr. Tidwell described in detail the operation. It took forty minutes. It was terrible to hear the screams of this old man. It still lingers in my memory. All the tools they had were a knife and a meat saw. The old man recovered and lived many years after.

 There was no real post office in Mt. Pleasant when I came here. Moroni was the nearest real post office. From there it would be hauled by anyone who happened to be coming here and be distributed in some way to the people. At that time letters could be sent from foreign countries and the amount collected at its destination. When my mother received word that a letter was there for her, she would skirmish around and raise the money. then walk to Moroni and get her letter. As I recollect, it was Mrs. David Candland who was the first postmaster.

 I attended the organization of the first Sunday School. A man by the name of Stansforth, who was managing a little store for Jennings and Sons, was the organizer. It was held in the old Bowery. Our seats were all made from heavy slabs with five two. inch holes with oak stakes driven in for legs. Four of these benches were set in a square. The teacher would sit in the middle of one of these. I belonged to the Bible class with Anthon H. Lund as the teacher. This same bowery was used as a dancing pavilion. Many danced barefooted and enjoyed themselves.

 I desire to mention one incident which I saw. You have all heard about smoking the pipe of peace. This, with the Indians, was like the white men putting his seal on a public document. Our Indian War closed by the Treaty of Peace in the fall of 1867. In the spring of 1868. Sowiette, the chief of all the branches of the Utes, came and camped one-half mile west of Fairview. He sent word to Bishop Tucker to call on him. At that time I was living with Bishop Tucker. We took some lunch to him and an interpreter with us. After lunch, the chief ordered his pipe, filled and lit. He took a puff, then handed it to the Bishop, who took a puff. This was con­tinued until it was all smoked. During all this time a continued discussion was going on regarding the Black Hawk War. The chief expressed himself as being very much opposed to the war. He promised he would do all in his power to prevent further hostilities. I think Sowiette was the oldest living man I ever have seen. His hair was absolutely white; he was blind; and he was rather slender, about six feet tall.

John and Jane Tidwell ~ A history written by Lettie Phipps Peterson, granddaughter

also see: 

John Harvey Tidwell - by Lettie Phipps Peterson, his grandaughter

also see: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=823365018368490611#editor/target=post;postID=7031944315332392674;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=43;src=postname

Contributed By erlenddeanpeterson1 · Jun 1, 2013, 10:07 PM ·0 Comments

John Harvey Tidwell [John Tidwell] was born January 14, 1807 in Shelby, Kentucky. Jane Smith was born June 5, 1812 in Clark County, Indiana. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and came to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois where the Saints were at that time. After the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith they came to Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City June 18, 1852. There a baby girl, Emma Jane, was born and died. After about four or five months they moved to Pleasant Grove, staying there until 1859. While there their 12th child was born, Emeline Mariah on June 29, 1855. Emma did not die, she is my fourth great grandmother. (Kathy Hafen) June 9, 1859 they moved to Mt. Pleasant, Utah, Sanpete County when Emeline was 4 years old. They lived in the old Fort during the Indian trouble. After peace was established the people moved out of the Fort. Each family was allotted a quarter of a city block to have as their home. John built a two room adobe house on his place, which is on the corner of 2nd South and State Street, where John K. Madsen lived for many years, and where Grant Johansen now lives (1962). It was here they lived the rest of their lives. He later added two more rooms built of lumber with a large fireplace in the living room. This was the only way they had of heating their home except with a small cook stove in the kitchen. Grandmother did most of her cooking in the fireplace--baking bread on the red-hot coals in a large iron Dutch oven, boiling water and making soup in a large iron pot hung on heavy iron brackets over the fire. I was just a small child but I can remember the blue checkered tablecloth on the table, and how good the hot bread would smell and how good it would taste spread with butter and honey! Grandmother would churn butter and sell it for 10 cents a pound and also sell eggs for 10 cents a dozen. Grandfather engaged in farming and cattle raising--owning land west and south of Mt. Pleasant. He had several beautiful horses which were sometimes used in the parade on the fourth of July by his son, John (or Jack as he was called). They planted most of their lot in fruit trees and how well I remember the good times we children had sliding down the straw stacks and eating apples, sleeping in the large front room and waking up in the morning to the bright fire in the big fireplace B and Uncle Jack sitting by the fire! The Tidwell boys were called "Minute Men" for when there was trouble with the Indians they had to be ready to go at a "minute's" notice. Jefferson Tidwell beat the drums to call the men together when there was trouble with the Indians. John (Jack) Tidwell, Jr. was the Pony Express Man, carrying the mail and other news to the surrounding towns. Jack had a pony that could scent the Indians when close by. His pony saved his life one time when he was carrying the mail to Spring City. The horse would not go across the big Cedar Creek at the regular crossing, so Jack let him go down-stream and crossed at another place. After crossing, Jack could see Indians at the other crossing. Had he crossed there, the Indians would have killed him. John Harvey Tidwell was Captain over a group of Saints who crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. He was the first Sunday School Superintendent in Mt. Pleasant. He had a lot of faith in the gospel and had the gift of healing and through his faith and administrations, many people were helped and made well. Mrs. Willie Winkler's mother told me that she had been healed under his administration and my father was also. The book, "Mt. Pleasant" stated, An elderly Englishman by the name of Lee (father of Brig Lee) was working at a shingle mill. In some way he got his arm in the machinery and it was crushed. He was taken to his home and John Tidwell was called. There were no doctors in Mt. Pleasant at that time. Mr. Lee was placed on a table and four men held him while John Tidwell performed the operation of amputating the arm, which took 40 minutes. The only operating tools available were a knife and a meat saw. Brother Lee recovered and lived many years after that incident occurred. John Tidwell was good at making tubs and churns and pails out of wood, bound with wooden hoops which were used by the Pioneers. Jane Smith Tidwell was in the first dramatic company organized in Mt. Pleasant. They played for some years both in the Fort and after the new meeting house was built outside of the Fort--wheat was accepted as cash for tickets. John and Jane Smith Tidwell had their endowment in the Nauvoo Temple, but hey had to have it done over again in the Salt Lake City Endowment House. John Harvey died on January 14, 1887. John Harvey left all of his property, land, cattle and horses to his youngest son, John (Jack) if he would take care of his mother the rest of her life. This he did and never married. He was considered quite well to do at that time (This is John Harvey) as he owned land west of town and east of father's home. (the Jerome Zebriskle and Arthur Averett place). I know nothing about Jane Smith Tidwell's early life. I can just barely remember her, and I remember that once she walked out to my father and mother's place on the farm. She was at her husband's side in all he did. She died on May 20, 1893 and buried in Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. I have a hat of hers and some dishes that she brought with her across the plains.

Unpublished Portraits of Civil War Celebrities

From Our Obituary Files ~ Lee and Lund

ASENTETH SWENSEN CARLSON

HISTORY OF ANNA ASENTETH SWENSEN CARLSON

I was born to Hansena Pauline Poulsen, and Peter
William Swensen, May 26,1897, at Mount Pleasant; Sanpete
county in the state of Utah. My mother was of Danish
descent, and my father was of Norweign descent. I was
born at home, which is the house located at 3rd West
and 4th South. The home is presently owned by Eva
Cordgy.
Sometimes when I wake up early and hear the birds
singing in the trees, I think of when I was a young child
helping my mother before I would leave to work for other
people.

On wash day I would get up early to pump water
from the well out in the yard. With buckets I would
fill all the wash tubs. Then I would take a rope and
go to the wood pile, where I would pile sage brush
on the rope to bundle it so I could drag it to where
we heated the water. We would set the tubs on a three
legged metal stand about 18- high and build a fire
under it. This stand was called the three leg. I
remember well how mother would pin up her long dresses
to go to the corral to milk the cows. The dresses then
were real long and this was necessary to keep them
from dragging in the manure. My grandmother lived just
across the road east of us at the time. Sometimes when
mother was upset and scolded us, grandmother would
come over and tell us poor drain·in. In Danish, this
meant (poor children).

Some of the other Danish words I remember her
useing were as follows. Smurr-butter, Ust-cheese,
Kaclue-dish cloth, Catuffla-pototes, Hesst-hors~ Godoutgood
day, Vodoun feeledee Ie dout-how do you feel todaY
Draina-children, Go dee to saints-go to bed,Tem legotfairly
good.

I remember well my first days in school. These
were spent in the old Hamilton Elementary,which was
located at 1st East and Main Street. My teacher's name
was, Miss Clawson. One thing that stays in my mind, was
that we all wore our hair long, and one girl by the name
of Ella Freston, was forever pulling mine it seemed. I
attended this school to and including the 7th grade.
After the 7th grade, I had to quit school and go to work
to help the family.

This work consisted of general household duties
such as house cleaning, baby care, chopping wood for the
many stoves, and bringing in buckets laden with coal.
Coal and wood were used at this time to provide heat for
the home and also heat water. The water was also brought
into the homes in buckets. Most homes had their wells
out near the barn and yards where the stock was kept.
Usually on Saturdays, the job of packing water was a
much bigger job,:because it was customary to bath the
family Saturaay afternoon and evening. This was accomplished
by heating water in a #3 wash tub on top of the
cook stove, plus what could be heated in the reservoir
on the side of most cook stoves of this era. When the
time come to bath the children, the #3 tub was usually
set on two chairs for a more convenient height. The
children were then placed in the tub one at a time,
and washed with homemade bar soap.

Along about this same time I did attend 1 year
at the Wastach Academy. This would be the 8th grade.

 At age 16 years, I went to Price, in Carbon
county, to work for the E.C. Lee family. This was
on a ranch 34 miles East of Price, Utah. This ranch
was used by the overland stage coach company, as a
way station, to change teams and for layovers. Stages
coming from the East thru Green River, would stop
before continuing on to Price, and the East bound
stages stopped for fresh teams before starting across
the desert to Green River, and points on East.

After working here about 3 months, I went to 3rd Avenue in
Salt Lake City. Here I worked for the family of a
manager for J.C. Penny Co, I worked there about 2 months
after which I returned home to work for O. M. Aldrich
a local merchant. He owned and operated the O. M. Aldrich
Mercantile, which is still operated by a son at about
150 West Main in Mount Pleasant. I later went to work
for the James Monson family. James Monson's wife was a
sister to my mother. After this my next job was with
Ervin and Elvine Draper. This family was operating a
livery stable at 2nd West and about 50 North. Some of
the barns were later used to house a company that made
sheep camps under the direction of W.E. Madsen and Sons.

It was during the time I was working for the Drapers
that I met the man that later became my husband. His name
was, John Lawrence Carlson. I was now 17 years old. This
was in February. We went together until October of the
same year. On October 27,1915, we were married in the
Manti Court House. Lawrence continued to work for the
Draper's Livery Stable. Some of his duties were to meet
the trains at the station and bring passengers and
freight from the depot to town. He also spent a lot of
time taking salesman around to the neighboring towns by
horse team and buggy.

In May 1916, Lawrence left with.the town militia to help quill a Mexican upraising on
the border of Old and New Mexico. In June of this year
my first baby was born, a baby girl. We named her Betty.
She was born in the home at 2nd South and 4th West.
Lawrence came home in September of this year, and got a
job with the Sanpete Coop. It was located at 150 West
Main, in Mt. Pleasant. He continued to work here in the
grocery and dry goods department, until about 1930, when
they closed their doors forever due to the depression.

On June 27,1917, we borrowed a model T Ford from
Ervin and Elvine Draper, and traveled to Manti Temple
to be married for time and all eternity. My Aunt Ida
Poulsen went with us.

On May 27,1918, my second baby, a boy was born.
We named him after his dad, John Lawrence. He was born
at home at 2nd West and 5th South. At the time or his
birth I developed partial paralysis. This affected to
a great degree the use of my right leg and to a lesser
degree my right arm. The paralysis left my face disfigured
and I was unable to close my one eye  for at least a year.
I got my first glasses at this time. In October 1918,
both my new baby and I contacted the flu that was terrible
this year. On February 24,1920, I gave birth to another
son, Francis William. He was born at a home owned by
my parents.lt was located at 5th West and 3rd South.
My parents were living in Magna at the time.

In the fall of 1920, we moved to our present home an the southwest
cornwr of 2nd West and 2nd North. We bought this
home from Lawrence's Mother and her brother. It had
been owned by Lawrence's grandmother Beckstrom.

By this time, through many visits to doctors Olsen,
Jackson, and Monk, who were Chiropractors, my paralysis
had almost disappeared.

On March 5,1922, I gave birth to another daughter,
Maxine. On March 18,1924, she died of an ear infection.
The same month we lost our precious little girl, My
half brother, Cleon Poulsen, asked if we would take
his infant son into our home for a while. He had lost his
wife to the flu when her baby was seven months old.
We went to Magna at this time to get the little boy. His
name was Shirley Don. He lived with us until he was
14 years old. At this time he went to his dad who had
remarried and was living in Salt Lake City on Yale Ave.

In 1925, or there about, Francis came down with
diphtheria and was one of the first in Mt. Pleasant to
receive the new serum that had been developed for this
disease. During this period of sickness, Betty and John
went to stay with Grandma Carlson. Grandpa Carlson
moved into our home to help us and set up with us through
the nights to keep watch on Francis' condition. By this
arrangement the others were able to get their sleep and
keep up their work. Our family doctor, Dr. Holman, removed
the quarantine sign on Christmas Eve of this year.
Lawrence and the other two children were then able to come
home and celebrate Christmas with us.

Lawrence continued to work for the Coop until 1930,
when he went to work for the Consolidated Wagon and Machine
Co. It was located at about 25 West Main. He traveled all
over the County with this company. One of his jobs with
them was that of bill collector. We had many enjoyable
times traveling with him from farm to farm and town to
town. He had the use of a little model T ford pickup.
Many times we would pack a lunch and go with him to
make his rounds.

On November 14,1925 I gave birth to another
daughter, Barbara. She was just weeks old when
Francis had diphtheria, but we were very lucky that she
never contacted the disease.

On August 20,1928, I gave birth to another daughter
LaRae. After about 2 months we found it necessary for me
to go back to work outside the home. I did more of the
same work I had done earlier in life. Besides doing
housework in their homes, I would take their laundries
home to do on many occasions. Things progressed along
these lines until November 29,1935  when I gave birth
to another son. We named him, Carrol Bud. At age one
this baby developed pluricy pneumonia and was real sick
nearly all winter.

On August 2,1938 I gave birth to a daughter Sena
Joan. After she was born I continued to take in washings
and ironings to help with the finances.
About 1940, Lawrence went to work for Harry
Erickson, at the Red and White Meat & Grocery, at about
50 West Main. Here he worked as a clerk and butcher.
He and Mason Burnside, did most of the slaughtering
for the meat shop along with some custom slaughtering
for indiviuals. Harry always raised and fattened from
50 to 100 head of steers for this purpose. This was
near the same year that  I begin having so much
trouble with my legs. From that time on I have had
open ulcers on at least one of my legs. As the years
passed by the ulcers have grown bigger because of the
diabetes.

On December 7,1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl
Harbor and threw us into the Second World War. In
February 1942, my son John joined the navy and left
for training in California. My son Francis soon followed
his brother John into the service, He enlisted in the Sea
Bees, a branch of the Navy. John served in the Atlantic and
Mediterranean areas and Francis served in the Pacific
areas of the war. Francis was married and had a boys
Jay and Johnny at this time. John was married in November
1942, while home on a leave.

In July 1946, my youngest son, Bud was shot
while hunting with 2 friends in the foothills East of
town. On the 24th of the same month, our home suffered
tragedy in.the form of a massive flood. We were not at
home when~the flood hit town. We were having a picnic
at Milburn. We returned just after the crest of the flood
had passed. The mud and water reached up to the front
door of the house but did not enter the main floor. It
did however fill our cellar under the house. It completely
covered our yards with about 2 feet of mud and debris.
Most of the fences were knocked down, but we didn't
suffer any loss of human life. Within a few days they
had set up health clinics and everyone had to go get
shots against possible disease. The Church asked for
volunteers from the towns around  us, and many men come
to help us dig out from the flood. Those that come to help us
 with our yards were from Milburn for the most
part. All they asked for pay was their meals while they
were there.

 In the years that followed Lawrence had a number of
different jobs that I don't remember the dates of.
He went to work for Jay Winkelman for a while around
1946 to about 1949. Here he set up some of the first
bottle gas units in this part of the country. He also
did some logging for Jay, along with some farming. After
this he went to work for Mt. Pleasant City Corp. This
was mostly in the water works department. Along with
this job we took care of the North Ward Church and the
Seminary building. We did this until the he retired.

On September 16,1965, Lawrence died in his sleep.
We were to celebrate our golden wedding anniverary the
following month.

On New Years night  following the death of my husband,
I fell off my back porch and broke my one hip and my left
arm. I nearly died of exposure before  a neighbor heard
my calls for help and came to my aid. From that day to
this I have been unable to walk with out the use of
crutches. This was a big turning point in my life. I
had always been self sufficient until now. My children
have all been a big help to me in adjusting to this new
way of life, and I have always enjoyed them very very
much. I might add that this is true also of my grand
and great grand children.

Over the years all of my remaining children were
married, and moved from home. Two of my daughters
still live in Mt. Pleasant, one in Moroni, and one
in Lehi. My sons live in Magna, Kearns, and Midvale.
At the time this is being written I am still able
to live alone and take care of myself for the most
part. My children come and help me with the things that
I am unable to do for my self. I have the loveliest
children in the world and they are simply wonderful
to me.
This about concludes the story of my life up
to the present, but I hope to have many years to come yet.
I HAVE ENJOYED LIFE VERY VERY MUCH!

1973
Asenteth died two years after this was written. August 26th, 1975.
In those two years she had surgery for cancer, suffered from a
stroke, leaving her in a wheelchair until her death.  She also lost
her eyesight about two weeks before she died.

Wasatch Academy Eighth Grade - - - 1927

Theatre and Dance Hall Above the ZCMI Store

When the Mt. Pleasant ZCMI was discontinued in 1898, Madsen and Anderson continued to operate the theatre and dance hall on the second floor of the brick building, and here the public witnessed Shakespearean plays by John S. Lindsay and Company, also other high class companies, home dramatics, etc., as well as the C. C. A. Christensen's panoramas, minstrel shows, sleight of hand performances, hypnotism, etc., and many heated political rallies, setting forth free trade, tariff on wool, etc.
The scenery for the hall was painted by C. C. A. Christensen, a very popular artist. Music for the dances was mostly furnished by the Peter Almertz orchestra, consisting of John Waldermar, Rebecca Beckstrom, Bent Hansen, and others. Brigham Lee was floor manager and prompter. The east room of the building was used as the city council headquarters. On top of the building had been arranged seats, and at daybreak on holidays the Brass Band assembled; their music could be clearly heard in the distance, as the stars and stripes were unfurled. It had been common for the band, in their band wagon, to serenade the city, and they were usually treated with plenty of home-made beer and refreshments. taken from History of Mt. Pleasant by HML p. 173

PENSION FOR SURVIVORS OF INDIAN WARS

An act to pension the survivors of certain Indian Wars from
January 1, 1859, to 1891 was approved March 4, 1917. Coming at this late date the majority of those who had served in the early days had passed away. The following named are those who at that time proved up in Mt. Pleasant: Martin Aldrich, Claus An­derson, C. W. Anderson, Rasmus Anderson, Oscar Barton, Rudolph Bennett, Andrew Beckstrom, Martin Bohne, Martin Brother­son, Joseph Burton, John Carlson, James Christensen, Robert Elertson, Rasmus Frandsen, James Hendricksen, Neils Johansen, Andrew Jensen, Sophus Johnson, John Knudsen, Brigham Lee, Peter Monsen, Bennett Monk, James Olson, Ole Arlson, Olof Rosenlof, Conderset Rowe, Hyrum Seely, John H. Seely, William Seely, Olof Sorensen, John Waldermar, August Wall, Thomas Wrest, Hazzard Wilcox, Alma White, Joseph Wise, Oscar Ander­son, Wesley Bills, Joseph Coates, Henry Ericksen, Peter N. Jensen, Peter Rasmussen, Joseph N. Seely, Andrew Rolph, S. A. Barton, Edmond C. Johnson, William Olson. The last four named are living in Mt. Pleasant, in 1939, as are the widows of Martin Aldrich, Joseph Burton, Sophus Johnson, Oscar Barton, Hazzard Wilcox, John Carlson, Peter M. Jensen, Oscar Anderson and A. G. Omen. Taken from History of Mt. Pleasant p 139 by HML