DAVID SEELEY AND THE SETTLING OF SAN BERNADINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (From our archives)

David Seeley 

 

''Birth: Oct. 12, 1819
Whitby
Ontario, Canada
Death: May 24, 1892
San Bernardino

San Bernardino CountyCalifornia, USA

San Bernardino County Second District Supervisor 1869-1873 Chairman 1871-1873

Son of Jestus Azel and Mehitable(Bennet)Seeley.

He was born in Canada, farming till he became 18, making occaisional trips with his father, the owner of three sailing vessels. Leaving arrived in Iowa on the Mississippi River, he built two 100-ton barges. These were used in transfering frieght across the rapids for river steamers. He was the pilot for 3 years.
In July of 1846 he started for California and wintered at Council Bluffs. Joining a large party of Mormons he he started for Salt Lake City the next spring arriving in September.
He remained till November 1849, when he joined Pomercy's train via the southern route to the gold fields of California. On the way their company picked up nine survivors from an ill-fated Death Valley party who were bare footed and near starvation. Mr.Seely rached San Bernardino in 1850,mining for a while, he then went to San Francisco. He was appointed Captain of 50 wagons of mormon pioneers coming to San Bernardino.
After going to Los Angeles and then San Francisco he returned to Salt Lake City, after wintering there he led a train of fifty wagons to Southern California, another 50 wagons were led by Charles rich, Amasa Lyman and Andrew Lytle under the direction of Jefferson Hunt.

He and his brother James Wellington Seely established a mill in the San Bernardino mountains.He was the first Stake president of the Mormon Church in the colony. Served on a state-appointed commission with Brown to establish San Bernardino County.
He had married Mary Pettit and they had 10 children;
Abrilla Seely Satterwhite
Emma E.Seely Baker
Maria Isabelle Seely Corbet(1858-1911)
Caroline Seely Barton
David Randolph Seely
Walter Edwin Seely


(Photographs provided by the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society)

Family links:
Parents:
Justus Azel Seeley (1779 - 1859)
Mehittabil Bennett Seely (1780 - 1861)

Spouse:
Mary Pettit Seely (1822 - 1911)

Children:
Mary Abrelia Seely Satterwhite (1847 - 1923)*
David Randolph Seely (1850 - 1942)*
Emily E Seely Baker (1852 - 1902)*
Caroline Ann Seely Barton (1856 - 1956)*
Celestia Seely (1860 - 1860)*
Walter Edwin Seely (1862 - 1908)*
Joseph Rodman Seely (1864 - 1865)*

Siblings:
Mary Seeley Hemingway (____ - 1881)*
Elizabeth Jane Seeley Young (1807 - 1900)*
William Stewart Seely (1812 - 1895)*
Justus Wellington Seely (1815 - 1894)*
Sarah Ann Seeley McGahen (1817 - 1885)*
David Seely (1819 - 1892)

*Calculated relationship

Inscription:
San Bernardino Pioneer plaque

Burial:
Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
California, USA
Plot: block 2-7-2-space 6

Created by: Barbara LeClaire
Record added: Sep 16, 2007
Find A Grave Memorial# 21578218



Photos may be scaled.
C- Brenda Tyree Holder
Added: Jun. 3, 20Added by: Barbara Le Claire

Mormon San Bernardino (Wikipedia)

See also: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California
In 1847, after hostilities of the Mexican-American War had ended, the Mormon Battalion of the U.S. Army occupied San Diego and Los Angeles. A detachment of the Los Angeles troops, led by Captain Jefferson Hunt was stationed at the southern end of the Cajon Pass to protect Mexican ranchos from Indian raids. The story of the Battalion started in Council Bluffs, Iowa on July 10, 1846 and arrived in San Diego on January 29, 1847. Company C was dispatched to guard the Cajon Pass. On furloughs, Captain Hunt and others worked for Rancho Santa Ana del Chino owner Isaac Williams. After the War, the Battalion mainly went back to Utah. Many Battalion troops returned to families in Utah via San Francisco and the Sacramento area. A group led by Hunt traveled to Salt Lake City by way of the Old Spanish Trail through the Cajon Pass with which they were so familiar.
After rejoining his family in Utah, Hunt got the contract for mail delivery between Salt Lake and Los Angeles. He also organized several cattle drives, buying stock from ranchos owners to deliver to hungry Mormons in Utah. It was during this time that Hunt started preliminary negotiations with Williams with the idea of buying Rancho del Chino.
Mormon leader Brigham Young saw Southern California as a supply source for Utah, and as an immigration and mail stop between Salt Lake City and San Pedro, California. A group of almost 500 Mormons left Utah for California in 1851. They found abundant water in the valley, along with willows, sycamores, cottonwood and mustard, as well as the Yucca plant. The Mormon contingent was led by Captain David Seely (later firstStake President), Captain Jefferson Hunt and Captain Andrew Lytle, and included Apostles Amasa M. Lyman and Charles C. Rich. They first made camp at the Sycamore Grove, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast of the present Glen Helen Regional Park. They stayed until the sale of Rancho San Bernardino could be arranged.
In September 1851, Lugo sold the Rancho to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(Mormons). The Rancho included most of modern San Bernardino among other areas, though part of the northern areas of the City were part of Rancho Muscupiabe. The price for 40,000 acres (160 km2) was $77,000 with $7,000 down.
The Mormons built Fort San Bernardino at the site of the present county courthouse. Inside the fort, they had small stores, and outside, they grew wheat and other crops. They later moved outside the walls of the fort when feared-attacks did not materialize. The Mormon Council House was built in 1852. It was used as the post office, school, church, and was the county courthouse from 1854 to 1858.
April 1865 sketch of the ruins of the Mormon Elders' residence, occupied from 1848 until 1857, when theUtah War forced an exodus from the Mormon colony.
On November 7, 1852, Colonel Henry Washington, deputy surveyor (by contract with the United States Surveyor General for California) surveyed the San Bernardino Base Line and Meridian from a point just west of Mount San Bernardino, at an elevation of 10,300 feet (3,100 m), east of present-day Highland. The Base and Meridian lines serve as the initial surveying point (known as the point of beginning) for all of Southern California.
San Bernardino County was formed from Los Angeles County in 1853 based on Assemblyman Jefferson Hunt's bill. Captain Hunt was a leader of the Mormon expedition.
In 1853, the Mormons laid out the current street grid system, one mile (1.6 km) square, which is based upon the grid layout of Salt Lake City. Each block was 8 acres (32,000 m2). The plan was laid out by Henry G. Sherwood, and assisted by Fred T. Perris. The east west streets were numbered, from First Street to Ninth Street. The north-south streets were named Kirtland Street (later "A" street, then Sierra Way); Camel Street(later "B" Street, then Mountain View Avenue; Crafton Street(later "C" Street, then Arrowhead Avenue; Utah Street (later "D" Street); Salt Lake Street (later "E" Street); California Street (later "F" Street); Independence Street (later "G" Street"); Nauvoo Street (later "H" Street); and Far West Street; (later "I" Street). The Mormons also built a road in 1853 to Los Angeles The Mormons were also responsible for the school system, creating Warm Springs, a school still in use today, as well as a school at the present site of Pioneer Park.
The City of San Bernardino was first incorporated on April 1, 1854. Mormon Apostle Amasa M. Lyman (who was later excommunicated, then posthumously reinstated) was the City's first Mayor. Apostle Charles Coulson Rich became the second Mayor. At incorporation, there were approximately 1,200 residents, 900 of them Mormons. They dominated local politics and forbade drinking and gambling.
Mormons created the first timber road to the mountains, and a flour mill (on Mill Street). In 1855, they diverted water from Waterman Canyon to Town Creek by means of a flume.
The Mormons created a temple block (but never a temple) in the center of the newly-laid out town between present-day 5th, 6th, E, and F Streets. They created a "Public Square," in which they celebrated the 4th of July. Later, after the Mormons returned to Utah, part of the land went to the Catholic Church, and part went to Dr. and Mrs. Quinn. In 1873, Bishop Amat, the Bishop of the Los Angeles and Monterrey Diocese, granted the northern part of the block to the City. It was later called "City Park," then "Lugo Park" until 1915, when it was renamed Pioneer Park, which it is still called today. A Pavilion, a log cabin, and the Municipal Auditorium (erected in 1921 to honor the dead of World War I were all built in the park, though the Pavilion and log cabin burnt down, and the Auditorium was torn down in 1979. The Norman F. Feldheym Library was built on the site in 1985. The park also contains two Civil War cannons.
The Mormons named the Arrowhead, California, a natural rock formation above Arrowhead Springs, the "Ace of Spades." On a clear day, the Arrowhead can be seen from downtown San Bernardino.
A small Jewish community formed in Mormon San Bernardino, including Lewis Jacobs and Marcus Katz in 1852. Lewis Jacobs was a miner and a peddler. He co-owned a mountain sawmill, started the original Bank of San Bernardino, and helped establish the Home of Eternity Cemetery. Services began in the 1850s, but Congregation Emanuel, still active today, was not officially chartered until 1891, and its first structure was built in 1921. The Home of Eternity Cemetery was given by the Mormons to the Jews. It is the oldest Jewish cemetery in continuous use in Southern California. Marcus Katz was a merchant and civic leader and the name-sake of the four story Katz Building (built in the 1890s) at Third and "E" Streets. He died in 1899.
x

BRIGHAM YOUNG AND TWELVE APOSTLES 1870 ~~~CITY AND VALLEY OF GREAT SALT LAKE 1870

Photo by Savage and Ottinger 

 

PAST PRESIDENTS AND GENERAL AUTHORITIES OF THE LATTER DAY SAINT CHURCH

 

MOUNT PLEASANT HISTORY (pages 54 - 58)

 

SANPETE COUNTY CORRESPONDENCE DESERET NEWS ~ Manti, July 17, 1859 ~ From "History of Mt. Pleasant" Hilda Madsen Longsdorf

 

YOU BUTCH CASSIDY! ~~~Shared by Myrnah Trauntvein

 

Father Morley Tells How Sanpete County Was Established ~~~ taken from "Saga of the Sanpitch 1979 " On To Manti by Leah B. Lyman

 “I have much to tell,” said Father Morley, and they all settled down to listen.

“I will make it brief and to the point,” he said. 

“On June 14, 1849, there rode into Salt Lake City a delegation of Ute Indians led by Chief Walker. At their request they were conducted to the office of President Young. With many grunts and motions the Mormon leader was made to understand that the Indians wanted some Mormons to come to Sanpitch Valley to teach the Indians how to build homes and till the soil. In August and exploration party of four men, with Chief Walker as guide, set forth. They found a beautiful valley through ran a creek of good water. They found the soil good and the surrounding mountains gave promise of plenty of timber both for fuel and for building. Within a few day they returned reporting that everything was favorable for the building of a community.”

 For a moment the speaker hesitated. So far he had only told of things in general, but when he spoke again it was in a reminiscent mood, for he was recounting experiences in which he had played a major part.

 “A company of some fifty families,” he continued, “was organized as soon as possible, with Seth Taft, Charles Shumway, and myself as commanders. We three were set apart to govern in Church Affairs, keep law and order, and advise in the things pertaining to the building of a new town. It was late in the fall when we left Salt Lake. We had to clear roads and build bridges as we went. We reached the chosen valley November 22, 1849, too late to make much preparation for the winter that was upon us. We camped near the creek in our wagon boxes and in a few days it began to snow. Soon it was more than three feet deep and still coming down. We were forced to seek the shelter of the south side of the hill that projected out into the valley. Some of the saints made dugouts in the hillside, while others used tents and wagon boxes for shelter.” 

The recounting of these events was painful, his voice choked and tears flowed down his cheeks.

 “I hope I never see another winter such as that,” he went on. “The men and boys shoveled snow daily, piling it into win rows to provide shelter for our horses and cattle, and also to uncover the dry grass for our starving animals. We even sharpened the horns of our cattle to make it possible for them to break through the crusted snow and find feed for themselves and also to help them to protect themselves from wild animals. “We lost many of our horses and cattle that winter, but it was not a total loss. We gave them to the starving Indians camping nearby and they greedily devoured them to ward off starvation. Even they had never seen snow so deep. It was as if the almighty God was testing our faith in every possible way. 

“Spring of 1850 arrived. With the warm weather came a new terror. Myriads of rattlesnakes came from crevices in the hill. Hissing their way into the homes of the saints, they wriggled and writhed about in their boxes, beds, cupboards, or anywhere they could get. With the aid of pine knot torches, we killed nearly five hundred of the reptiles in one night and soon had the country rid of this latest menace. The remarkable thing was that not a soul was bitten. In spite of everything we had endured we all came through the winter in good health.” 

There was a sigh of relief but no one made a comment. When the narrative was resumed it was in a lighter vein as if the crisis was past.

 “In August of that year President Young visited us and christened our town Manti, in honor of one of the notable cities told of in the book of Mormon. He also named the county, changing the name of Sanpitch to Sanpete. To make sure that we did not neglect the education of our children, he furnished part of the money for the erection of a school house. Jesse W. Fox was our first teacher. Our only method of making flour was with a huge coffee grinder which was passed from home to home. So President Young helped me to make possible the erection of a small grist mill in the canyon east of town.

“On the 9th day of September 1850, by an Act of Congress, Utah Territory was organized and Brigham Young was appointed Governor. Charles Shumway and myself represented Sanpete County in the

First Legislative Assembly in Salt Lake City. On the 5th of February 1851, an Act was passed incorporating the three towns now existing outside of Salt Lake City. Brownsville on the Weber River was incorporated under the name of Ogden. The town here in Utah Valley known as Fort Utah was incorporated under the name of Provo. Third was our own town of Manti. We were proud when we returned home. Soon the city of Manti was laid off, ten miles square, and divided into city lots. The settlers soon chose their lots and moved from the hillside to start homemaking in earnest.”

 Father Morley looked about as if trying to read their thoughts. “Well, that is about all there is to tell, only that there are plenty of city lots left. 

C.N. Lund ~~~~ Autobiograpy and Journals of Christian Nielsen Lund Sr.

Jacob Christensen ~~~ Pioneer of the Month ~~~ July 2020

Jacob and Ingaborg Christensen 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JACOB CHRISTENSEN AND FAMILY Copied by Karen Shelley Hacking Great Grandfather of Norman Shelley Jacob Christensen, son of Christen Petersen and Maren Thompsen, eldest of ten children, was born in Vennsyssel, Hjoring, Denmark, September 21, 1827. His father was the son of Peter Peterson and Mette Christensen. His father, Christen Peterson was born in Lendum, Jutland, Denmark and his mother Maren Thomsen was born in Hapstyert, Jutland Denmark. His boyhood days were typical of the times in which he lived. His parents earned their scanty living by fishing. Many times later in his life he told his children of the following incident that took place when he was a mere boy. He was employed by a certain woman to herd her cows. A part of his wages was to be his lunch. The woman, was not of a very generous nature and one night Jacob said to her, "My eyes must be getting very poor.” she replied, "Oh, how’s that my boy?" "Because", he said "I could hardly see any cheese on my bread today." When a young man he spent two years in the service of his king, as was customary. He served as a sailor and one day was ordered to climb up and repair the mast and while so doing he lost his balance and plunged headlong into the ocean. He was almost drowned, having gone down for the third time when he was rescued. Many times later in life he related this experience and said that drowning would be a most peaceful death. Jacob joined the L. D. S. church in his native land on Feb. 20, 1853 and was a traveling elder for the following two years. He married Inger Kristine Thomsen Jan. 19, 1855. She became the mother of nine children, the eldest being born in Denmark before immigration.

In 1857 they immigrated to the United States. A perpetual emigration fund came into being through the desires of the Church leaders to bring to this land those too poor to provide themselves with the transportation money which was needed. The provision of this act says: "Where as there are many good and worthy people who would gladly emigrate to this state if they were provided with the means." This fund provided money for the emigrant, who paid it back just as soon as he could, after getting settled in Zion.

 Jacob’s mother accompanied them to Omaha, Nebraska, where she died a short time later. They were compelled to stay here for two years, because of lack of funds to go further. Here, although he took whatever employment he could get at sawmills and adobe yards, they lived under the most trying circumstances. One time he was obliged to trade one shirt, of his meager supply of two, for a bushel of frozen turnips, which they boiled and then warmed up in tallow.

In the meantime his wife’s parents, Thomas C. and Else M. Olsen Jensen had disposed of their property in Denmark preparatory to immigrating to Utah. They joined Jacob and his wife at Omaha and then crossed the plains together with the Nesling Company. While crossing the plains Jacob and his good wife encountered a great misfortune. `Their only child died. The company halted and buried the little one by the wayside. Jacob, overcome with grief, threw himself across the newly made grave, declaring he could not go on and leave it. Grasping hold of him, his wife said, "Jacob, you’re not a child are you? This will not do, me must go on."

They located in Mt. Pleasant, and were among the first settlers in the fall of 1859, living in a dugout until the fort was build. Jacob helped to build the south wall of the fort, furnishing team, wagon and his own work. Homes were built against the inside walls of the fort where the settlers lived. By the fall of 1859 Mt. Pleasant had a population of 800 people.

The first ward was organized at Mt. Pleasant, July 9, 1859, by Elders George A. Smith and Amasa M. Lyman. William S. Seely was ordained bishop. Jacob Christensen became his first counselor. The Bishop and his counselors were looked upon as the leaders of the group. They were the superintendents, planners, confidant tribunal, directors, ecclesiastical tribunal, the leaders of the group, in fact the responsibility of the settlement rested upon their shoulders. They were all busy people those days, building homes, a fort, clearing and plowing land, planting crops, building fences, canals, fighting and guarding against Indians, harvesting crops, and a score of other jobs.

Thereafter, he devoted much of his time to the building up of this community. He was a shareholder in Mt. Pleasant’s first cooperative institution and organizer of the United Order here. He served as Counselor to Bishop William S. Seely for seven years and as president of the High Priest’s quorum for twenty—five years. January 14, 1865, he married Ingeborg Anderson, daughter of Christian and Karen Anderson. Ingeborg was the only daughter and the youngest of a family of four, born in Seiland, Denmark, April 28, 1846. Her father was a tailor, and Ingeborg had a comfortable childhood, attending the schools of the town until her parents accepted the Latter-day Saint Church and decided to leave their homeland for Utah, where her three brothers had already settled. This was in 1862. She spent her sixteenth birthday aboard a sailing vessel, crossing the Atlantic Ocean. The trip across the ocean was so miserable, it stood out in her memory as forty—six days of misery.

After landing in New York and crossing the plains by ox team, furnished. by' the church, she landed in Salt. Lake City. Her brothers met her and her parents here. She was offered a job in Salt Lake City by a family named Deckers. This seemed a blessing from heaven to her; now she could have a job to earn some money to help get some of those things so much needed by herself and her family. After some months there, she started working for one of Brigham Young’s wives where she stayed for some time. After a year in Salt Lake, Ingeborg went to Mt. Pleasant to be with her folks. This young girl of 18 obtained work in the home of Jacob Christensen whose wife had a family of youngsters, and in that day with the lack of any comforts, a family gave the mother plenty work to do.

Plurality of wives was in flower at that time. Those who could afford two families and were worthy could get permission of the Church authorities to marry a second wife. Jacob asked Ingeborg to marry him, and after due consideration she accepted his offer of marriage. They were married January, 1865. She was 19 years of age and he was double her age, but it seems at that time, this was often the case. Jacob Christensen and Ingeborg Anderson were sealed 14 Jan 1865. He was sealed to Inger Kirstine Jensen 4 Oct 1862 and he was sealed to Anna Christena Magnussen (Marberg) on 15 Mar 1869. Ingeborg became the mother of seven children, two dying in infancy.

About this time Jacob took a very active part in the Black Hawk War, being captain of Company A, Mt. Pleasant Militia and was in several engagements with the Indians. He was also a Councilman in Mt. Pleasant’s first City Council. On March 15, 1869, he married his third wife, Anna Christena Marberg, daughter of Johannes and Christine Peterson Marberg, who was born March 2, 1850 at Leitse, Gutland, Sweden. She was the second child in a family of four daughters.

Even during Anna’s early childhood tragedy and hardship stalked through her life. Her family was desperately poor, as were most of the people in the locality in which they lived. That part of Sweden was barren and unproductive. The climate was cold and the people were entirely dependent upon the rainfall for their crops. Food and fuel were scarce, coal being unheard of and wood had to be bought.  . Ann’s father was a tailor, of the machine less age, doing all his sewing by hand and, at times, walking miles and spending days to sew at the homes of the more well—to—do. His wife assisted him in his work and a good part of her time she worked for others, sometimes in a slaughter house, taking her pay in meat to help out the family larder. Anna began her working career at the age of nine, tending children.

Johannes Marberg was a very devout man. He and his family were members of the Swedish Lutherian Church, the prevailing religion. During Anna’s early childhood her parents were converted to the L.D.S. church by a Mormon missionary named Warnick of Battle Creek, Utah, now known as Pleasant Grove, Utah. Elder Warnick not only brought the Marbergs their religion, but he gave them a beautiful friendship and instilled in their hearts the desire to immigrate to Utah. Anna was baptized and confirmed a member of the church, by her father, when she was ten years old.

In the fall of 1863, when Anna was just thirteen years old, her father contracted typhoid fever and died, leaving her mother destitute and with a family to provide for. Christine Marberg having no means of maintaining the home, was forced to sell her small house and household goods at public auction and find a home for herself and daughters. The eldest daughter, Marie Helena, 15, and Anna were taken in by families to help care for children. The third child, Augusta, age 5 was taken by a moderately wealthy L.D.S. family. The mother with her infant daughter, Hedda, secured a place to work for a family named Collgren.

During this time of misfortune Elder Warnick had proved a staunch friend of the Marberg family. In the spring of 1864, he received an honorable release from his mission and the money for his fare home. Knowing Christine Marberg’s great desire to go to Zion, Adolph Warnick stayed in Sweden and loaned Christine his fare to Utah.

On account of her limited finances Mrs. Marberg was unable to take her three eldest daughters with her when she immigrated. The child, Augusta was still with the family who had taken her at the time of her father’s death and who had become greatly attached to her. Friends rallied around Mrs. Marberg, promising to care for Anna and Marie Helena. The day came when the mother was to depart for• America and.`Utah, a day• to the end of days never to be forgotten by Anna. Her mother and baby sister, in company with the Collgrens and another family of converts had packed their belongings in white topped wagons which were to convey them to the nearest railroad center. The country was perfectly flat and level and Anna and Marie Helena watched and waved to their mother until the wagons became a mere speck in the distance. It was two sad and lonely little girls, just 14 and 16, who turned back to the mercy and charity of friends and relatives. Marie Helena went to her maternal grandparents, Peer and Helena Peterson, who were devoted to the girl, but bitter toward her mother for joining the L.D.S. faith. Anna was to stay with an aged couple and their widowed daughter.

Because of the gap between age and youth, life with the old couple became intolerable to Anna. She sought the advice and council of her sister and it was decided that Anna should leave this place and go to her father’s sister, Marie, who worked in a neighboring rural community. So Anna and Marie Helena walked the four Swedish miles, equivalent to sixteen American miles, to the place where the Aunt worked as a cook for a group of laborers. Marie Helena rested here for a couple of days and walked back alone to west Gutland.

How Anna hated to see her go, it was well the girls could not read the future for they never saw one another again. Marie Helena, never a robust child, was taken seriously ill shortly after this and was taken to a hospital in a distant city and died and was buried there. Anna knew nothing of this until she received word from the Grandmother, through the Aunt, that her sister was dead and she could call at the Grandparents and get the few possessions the girl left, if she desired. Even the mother, on her journey across the ocean, was not free from the tragedy that seemed to follow the Marbergs. The baby Hedda, now one and a half years old, contracted the measles and died during the early part of the night. The mother, dreading to have her child thrown overboard, lay with the dead baby in her arms until morning. Then she reported it’s death to the ship’s authorities and the little one was buried in the ocean.

In the meantime the family who had taken Augusta, immigrated to America, taking this child with them. While crossing the plains the entire family, including the child, died of cholera. Only the hired man, who immigrated with them, lived to carry the story of Augusta’s death to her mother.

Anna, now alone in Sweden, was again faced with the problem of finding a home. It was no longer possible for her Aunt to keep her at the place she worked. Anna was a pretty, red haired girl and the men would not keep their hands off her. Although Anna was now old enough to hire out, she lacked the required education to do so. There were no schools in the rural areas of Sweden, so Anna never attended a day of school in her life. It was the custom, however, for one to be able to read and repeat to a priest portions of the Swedish Testament and the Catechism. When they passed this test they were fairly well educated and ready to begin work. Anna studied diligently and in time mastered these books. She secured a place to do housework, with the customary understanding that she must remain six months and she was given one dollar in advance to bind the bargain.

She was about to begin her second year at this place when she received word from Elder Warnick, who was still in Sweden, that he had a letter from her mother repaying the loan he made to her and telling him she was borrowing the money to bring Anna to Utah. Elder Warnick advised Anna not to begin another six months of service, but she had no other place to stay until her money came so she was obliged to start a third six months term.

Again Adolph Warnick proved to be the rare friend he was. When Anna’s fare arrived he found a girl to take her place, brought the girl to his household and took Anna back to West Gutland, where she stayed awhile with Adolph’s sweetheart’s parents and then later in the spring he took her to Jutaborg where she began the first lap of her journey to America. From here she crossed the north sea to Liverpool, England. At Liverpool she boarded a sailboat and spent five weeks on the Atlantic Ocean. This company was to have had the first steamship to cross the ocean, but were disappointed and so made the last sailboat trip over the Atlantic.

Anna arrived in New York City in July of 1868 and came by railroad to Omaha, Nebraska. She then joined the Folkman and the C. C. A. Christensen companies and. began a four weeks trek across the plains, walking all the way. It was the middle of August when she joined her mother, who had come to Salt Lake City, from Mt. Pleasant to meet her after a four year separation. It was a happy meeting between mother and daughter. They were the only survivors of a family of six. They never again parted until the mother's death in the spring of 1907. On March 15, 1869 at the age of nineteen, Anna was married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, to Jacob Christensen of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, 23 years her senior. Her first home was the old Haage home on South State Street, now owned by Maxine Johansen Hardy. This house, built by Jacob Christensen was considered one of the finest residences of the early days. Jacob Christensen died March 9, 1915, having been an invalid for eleven years.

Anna became the mother of ten children, three dying in infancy, one in youth and two in middle life. She was the wife of a soldier and the mother of a soldier. She was a faithful church worker, being a visiting teacher for over forty years when the teacher’s beat covered miles instead of blocks and the contributions consisted of the staples, such as flour, eggs, meat, etc.

Anna died May 7, 1937 at the age of 87 years, two months and five days. She left four children, fifteen grandchildren and ten great- grandchildren. Her once red hair was grey, but her back that carried so many burdens was still unbent and her spirit still unbroken and surely, the good Lord, who holds the destinies of men in the hollow of His hand, will have a special reward for souls like these, who have kept the faith. This history was written by Olea Thompson, granddaughter of Jacob and Anna Marberg Christensen.   

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

The following is a history from our archives and published in 2012

Jacob Christensen, son of Christen Petersen and Maren Thompsen, eldest of ten children, was born in Vennsyssel, Hjoring, Denmark, September 21, 1827. His father was the son of Peter Peterson and Mette Christensen. His father, Christen Peterson was born in Lendum, Jutland, Denmark and his mother Maren Thomsen was born in Napstyert, Jutland Denmark.

His boyhood days were typical of the times in which he lived. His parents earned their scanty living by fishing. When a young man he spent two years in the service of his king, as was customary. He served as a sailor.

Jacob joined the L.D.S. church in his native land on February 20, 1853 and was a traveling elder for the following two years. He married Inger Kristine Thomsen January 19, 1855. She became the mother of nine children, the eldest being born in Denmark before immigration.

In 1857 they immigrated to the United States. a perpetual emigration fund came into being through the desires of the church leaders to bring to this land those too poor to provide themselves with the transportation money which was needed.

Jacob's mother accompanied them to Omaha, Nebraska, where she died a short time later. They were compelled to stay here for two years, because of lack of funds to go further. Here, although he took whatever employment he could get at sawmills and adobe yards, they lived under the most trying circumstances. One time he was obliged to trade one shirt, of his meager supply of two, for a bushel of frozen turnips, which they boiled and then warmed up in tallow. While crossing the plains Jacob and his good wife encountered a great misfortune. Their only child died.

They located in Mt. Pleasant, among the first settlers in the fall of 1859, living in a dugout until the fort was built. Jacob helped to build the south wall of the fort, furnishing team, wagon and his own work. Homes were built against the inside walls of the fort where the settlers lived. By the fall of 1859 Mt. Pleasant had a population of 800 people.

Jacob Christensen Grave Marker

The First Ward was organized at Mt. Pleasant, July 9, 1859, by Elders George A. Smith and Amasa M. Lyman. William S. Seely was ordained bishop. Jacob Christensen became his first counselor. The Bishop and his counselors were looked upon as the leaders of the group. They were the superintendents, planners, confidant tribunal, directors, ecclesiastical tribunal, the leaders of the group, in fact the responsibility of the settlement rested upon their shoulders.

They were all busy people those days, building homes, a fort, clearing and plowing land, planting crops, building fences, canals, fighting and guarding against Indians, harvesting crops and a score of other jobs.

Thereafter, Jacob devoted much of his time to building up of this community. He was a shareholder in Mt. Pleasant's first cooperative institution and organizer of the United Order here. He served as Counselor to Bishop William S. Seely for seven years and as president of the High Priest's quorum for twenty five years.

January 14, 1865, he married Ingeborg Anderson, daughter of Christian and Karen Anderson. Ingeborg was the only daughter and the youngest of a family of four, born in Seiland, Denmark, April 28, 1846. Her father was a tailor, and Ingeborg had a comfortable childhood attending the schools of the town until her parents accepted the Latter-day Saint Church and decided to leave their homeland for Utah, where her three brothers had already settled. This was in 1862.

Plurality of wives was in flower at that time. Those who could afford two families and were worthy could get permission of the Church authorities to marry a second wife. Jacob asked Ingeborg to marry him, and after due consideration she accepted his offer of marriage. The were married, January 1865. She was 19 years of age and he was double her age, but it seems at that time, this was often the case. Ingeborg became the mother of seven children, two dying in infancy.

About this time Jacob took a very active part in the Black Hawk War, being captain of Company A, Mt. Pleasant Militia and was in several engagements with the Indians. He was also a Councilman in Mt. Pleasant's first city council.

On March 15, 1869, he married his third wife, Anna Christena Marberg, daughter of Johannes and Christine Peterson Marberg, who was born March 2, 1850 at Leitse, Gutland, Sweden. She was the second child in a family of four daughters.

They were married in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. Their first home was the Haage home about 411 South State Street, Mt. Pleasant (now vacant). This house, built by Jacob Christensen was considered one of the finest residences of the early days.

Anna became the mother of ten children, three dying in infancy, one in youth and two in middle life.

Jacob died March 9, 1915, having been an invalid for eleven years.

Home of Harry Clitheroe and wife Elsie Louise Johnson ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Some Latter Day Saint Authorities 1850 - 1900

 

Biographical Sketch of the Life of Jacob Christensen ~ from History of Mountainville ~ Compiled by Melba Hill

photos courtesy of Mt. Pleasant Relic Home

House Research  and photos by Tudy Standlee

DESCRIPTION OF THE MT. PLEASANT FORT

July 1859


The following statement is made in Andrew Madsen's Journal:


"During the month of June, we were kept very busy in attending to our crops and the building of the large fort wall." July 10th, Apostle George A. Smith and Amasa Lyman visited the settlement, after giving much good instruction and advice to the people, proceeded to organize the Saints on Pleasant Creek into an ecclesiastical ward. William Stuart Seeley was chosen and ordained Bishop with Harvey Tidwell as first counselor and Peter Yorgen Jensen as second counselor. The office of president was thereby vacated, and Brother James R. Ivie felt very much pleased when released from the responsibility that had been placed upon him, in the establishment of the colony for which he had worked so hard. As it was a very pleasant place in which to live, the name Mount Pleasant Branch was adopted for the colony, giving credit to its pleasant location, beautiful mountains, fields and surroundings.






Work continued on the fort wall until July 18th, when it was completed, and had the distinction of being the finest fort in Sanpete County. Following is the summary of descriptions of the fort, given by Andrew Madsen, Peter Monsen, R. N. Bennett, and Peter Gottfredson. "It enclosed the block later known as the Tithing Yard. 26 rods by 26 rods, enclosing about five and one-half acres of ground, between Main Street and First North, and State Street and First East." "It was made according to instructions and was built of native rock, taken from the surface or dug out of the ground." "It was laid with mud mortar." "The wall was 12 feet high, four feet wide at the bottom, tapering to about two feet at the top.






This wall, in order that the maneuvers of the Indians could be watched from the inside, was built with port holes every 16 feet. about seven feet from the ground. The holes were about two feet wide on the inside, and about four inches on the outside, and about 18 inches high." "Later the inside of the wall was utilized for one wall in the erection of houses, 16 feet square, with one port hole in the middle of the one wall of each house." "There was a flat roofed house in the northwest corner of the fort upon which guards could stand and view the country."






"There were two large gates, one in the center of the north wall, and one in the center of the south wall, with a small gate adjoining it, giving a thoroughfare in passing. These openings had heavy wooden gates. Small entrances were in the east and in the west walls, which made it convenient, as they were not always obliged to use the same entrance." "The water supply was obtained from Pleasant Creek, which passed almost parallel east and west through the center of the fort. A large bridge was erected over the stream." "All corrals for the cattle were built to the north, just outside the fort, leaving a road-way between." At this time Mount Pleasant was a thriving community of about eight hundred inhabitants, with about 1200 acres of ground under cultivation.