JOHN WILLIAM PRITCHETT

 

JOHN WILLIAM PRITCHETT

Born 8 Aug 1860 in Linn County, Mo. --Died 6 Jan 1943 at Fairview, Utah. Came to Utah in 1865, settled in Fairview--farmer and stock raiser: small dairy herd 20 cows witch Maggie Ann and Martha Ellen milked each morning before going to school and again in the evening. Owned 480 acres of mostly dry land, raised wheat and hay. Ran a grist mill, was constable, stock holder in the Co-op store. He was a carpenter and builder, had a good head for business and a working knowledge of law.

 He was honest, also shrewd in his business dealings. Not a person to be easily taken advantage of. He owned horses and sheep. In his youth, an horse he was riding stumbled and fell with him landing on top of him. One of his lungs was crushed leaving him incapacitated for hard work, so he had to make his living by his witts [sic]. It is said of him that he was a good thinker and people came to him for advice. He was respected for his sound judgment and wisdom. He was a good mathematician and was good at figureing [sic] out puzzles and problems. He was a man of his word and expected others to be the same. He was from the old school when a man’s word was his bond and could be relied upon. He taught his family these same principles so they also possessed [sic] many of these sterling characteristics. He liked to figure and his third wife (Aunt Mandy) as she was lovingly called, often said to him, John, you are going to figure yourself right out of your dinner.” They were hospitable and charitable. It is said of him that he would share right down to his last crust with someone in need. I sincerely believe this to be true as my mother was the same way. He didn’t want any fifth calves, as he expressed it, looking on while the rest ate. 

John William Pritchett and
Martha Ann Tidwell Pritchett
Martha Ann was a daughter of 
James Harvey Tidwell 
and granddaughter of
John Tidwell 

 

Grandpa liked to play checkers and whittle. He didn’t leave worldly wealth, but he did leave a noble family. They worked hard for what they got: pitched hay, rode horses, cooked for thrashers, made wedding cakes for people, and did all farm chores. Money was scarce in those days.

His wife, Martha Ann Tidwell died of typhoid pneumonia when she was 29 years old leaving him with five little girls to be father and mother to. He did a good job in this capacity as they were all astute, honest, good business heads with leadership ability, thrifty, great cooks, compassionate to others, good at sewing and quite versatile. I don’t know of anything they couldn’t do if they set their minds to it.

 The word “no” was not in their vocabulary. Grandpa always said, “I can’t is a sluggard too lazy to try.” They were taught not to say, “IQ” but “I will” and that anything was possible if enough effort were expended. It really worked in their case. They were athletic, artistic, industrious, and all of high moral character. To say nothing of being fun-loving, witty, and possessing a fine sense of humor into the bargain. They were not easily out-ran, out-spelled or outsmarted. They -- whatever they were, were real and genuine. This is not fantasy, heresay, or bragging. I knew them and it is the truth. I forgot to say that they plain spoken [sic]. They said it like it was.

      Some of his favorite sayings are as follows: “Some people want the whole world and a calf pasture on the outside.” “It is the wait that breaks the wagon down.” “You can’t put an old head on young shoulders.” “Take care of today, and tomorrow will take care of itself” “Keep your feet hot and your heads cool.” “Never go into debt for food or what you wear, or you are always paying for a dead horse.”

“A dollar saved is a dollar earned.”

John William Pritchett

Sarah Emily Rawson Pritchett  (2nd wife)

1922 FOURTH GRADE ~~~MINA HASLER TEACHER

 

(the following is just as it is written on the back of the photograph)

Front Row L to R: 1. Afton Zabriskie 2.????3. Madsen, 4. Anderson, 5. Lovell, 6. Tidwell, 7. Jensen, 8. Seely, 9. Maiben, 10. Christensen, 11. Myberg, 12. Christensen, 13. Myberg, 14. Anderson, 15. Seely, 16. Boyden, 17. Gunderson, 18. Haylee Ivie, 19. Abraham Burton, 20. Douglas Gunderson, 21. Hugh Barton, 22. Rhoda Jorgensen, 23. Vivian Pritchett, 24. Katie Erickson, 25. Anna Olsen, 26. Romero, 27. Montell Winkler, 28. Margaret Thompson, 29. Vera Poulsen, 30. Traunturine, 31. Hazel Poulsen, 32. Draper, 33. Alpha Madsen, 34. Leora Draper, 35. Eula Seely, 36. MelbaAldrich, 37. Christal Rosenlof, 38. Joseph Larsen, 39. Raymond Naef, 40. Cyril Fowles, 41. Merril Zabriski, 42. Mina Hasler, 43. Anderson, 44. Lawrence Johansen, 45. Hicks, 46. Virgil Bramstead.

HISTORY OF MT. PLEASANT ~~~ WRITTEN BY HILDA MADSEN LONGSDORF 1939

 

FLOUR MILL, TAR KILN, DRAMATIC COMPANY AND A SQUAW BURIED ALIVE

 

1924

and through Spanish Fork Canyon.  The road would shorten the distance to Salt Lake City, and the freighters and others would not necessarily have to go by way of Nephi.  

 

TIDWELL FAMILY

We have many Tidwells amongst us.  I found this article on Family Search dating back to 1635. 

 Westmoreland, Colony of Virginia

     The first known Tidwell in America was Richard Tidwell, the son of Robert and Marie Marsh Tidwell, born about 1635, from Staffordshire, England. The name of Tidwell is found in County Devon, England and is spelled Tidswell, Tidwell, Todwell, Tydswell, and Tyddeswell.  Richard came to Westmoreland County, Virginia as an indentured servant in 1657, between the ages of 14-21. He was indentured to a man by the name of Richard Nelms or Helms. Richard Nelms patented his land 25 November 25 1662, and renewed it 29 January 1663. In 18 March 1663, he granted Richard Tidwell and a Robert Jeffries, 350 acres of prime land on the Yeocomico River.  In about 1670, Robert sold his share of the land to Richard. The town of Kinsale now stands on the land once owned by Richard and his family. Also nearby, is the small town of Tidwells. 

     Land Records for Richard Tidwell and Robert Jefferies March 18, 1663: “Northumblerland Co. Records, 1652-1658, page 75: These are to certify that according to sufficient proofs made befoe this court there is due to Richard Nelmes 200 acres of land for Transportation of 4 persons into this colony (viz.t) Richard Langdell, Jno Philpott, Richard Tidewell, Alice Meredith - 21 November 1657. Richard Nelms patented the land which the town stands on November 25th, 1662. He sold to Riochard Tidwell and Robert Jefferies March 18th 1683. By an act of the Assembly in Oct. 1705 the town was founded (See Henning) on the land of Richard Tidwell, Tidwell and Jefferies had previously divided the land, Jefferies taking the part south of the road about as it now runs.”

     While living in Westmoreland, Richard met and married Ann Barnett, daughter of Peter and Maria Marsh Barnett, who was born 1 January 1650, in Westmoreland. The couple was married 9 May 1674, in Cople Parish, Westmoreland and had six known children born there: the 1st child, a daughter Martha 1 January 1675; the 2nd child, a son Richard 1 January 1679; the 3rd child, a daughter Ann 1 January 1683; the 4th child, a son John 1685; the 5th child, a son Peter 1688; and the 6th child, a son John 1 January 1690. Early Virginia records show that their sons were men of honor and trust, holding high office in social and religious affairs of the Colony, but no record exist for any family member holding a public office in the Colony.

Yeocomico Episcopal Church

     There’s a historic church with a churchyard cemetery in the original Cople parish and town of Kinsale, Westmoreland, Virginia called Yeocomico Episcopal Church, originally built in 1655. It was rebuilt in 1706, with locally fired bricks. As to the religion, this family adhered for many generations to the Church of England and the old Virginia records show that they were of the Episcopal Church. It’s likely that this building is the where the family attended church services. 

     In a Virginia Historical Magazine Mrs. McCall writes:“all three brothers all settled on the Potomac River in Westmoreland County, Virginia in about 1683, and the town of Yeocomico was establish on the lands of Richard Tidwell in 1705. She also writes that Richard’s son John Tidwell, “lived his life as a quiet planter, owning many acres of land, and was a wealthy and influential man. He resided on the Potomac River and belonged to the Church of England. His name and the names of his two sons, Robert and John, were on the Parish Register of the Yeocomico Church. The records also show that they were strong adherents of the King of England.”

     With a land ownership of over 350 acres, Richard Tidwell was a wealthy, Virginia plantation owner.  His children were raised learning the tobacco industry and married local families. The early Virginian’s grew Orinoco tobacco and the entire economy was based on it. Debts and taxes were charged in pounds of tobacco.  In the winter his farm would have grown wheat and rye as a secondary cash crop. The wheat and rye was sown in September, after most of the other crops are harvested. 

     The family’s diet was supplemented with cured pork and fish from the nearby Yeocomico River and vegetables from the kitchen garden. Corn was a primary food staple, planted in the spring, with squash and melons planted around the basse of the stalks. The kitchen garden was tended to by the women and daughters where beans, cabbages, onions, parsnips, peas, radishes, beets, carrots, cucumbers, okra and potatoes were grown. The family also had an herb garden for growing thyme, chives, sage and rosemary along with herbs like comfrey, elecampane, garlic, pennyroyal grown for family’s “medicine cabinet.”  Apple trees were grown for cider to drink year round and to make cider vinegar for pickling. The family would also eat fried apples, dumplings and fritters. 

     Richard Tidewell was mentioned for the last time, about 12 years before his death, in a Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 7, page 308, 17 October 1780. Richard and Ann lived their entire lives in Westmoreland, Virginia where they both died in Cople Parish: first Richard 25 May 1692 and four years later Ann in January 1696.  It’s probable that they were buried on their plantation in a Tidwell Family Cemetery or in the church yard cemetery of the local Yeocomico Episcopal Church. 

     By 1790, the name of Tidwell was extinct in Virginia and the name does not appear in the 1782 or 1783 Census. After the Revolutionary War, the continental government was economically destitute and in debt. At first money was printed, but as the economy depreciated the states were pressured to force people to accept an exchange for goods and services in payment for debts. Many original, wealthy land owners lost or sold what was left of their property. The Tidwell family drifted apart and established separate families in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Mississippi Territory.  

History of Westmoreland County, Virginia Land Deed Records, Eaton's Historical Atlas of Westmoreland County, page 73 for map of Richard Nelms, Founders of Early American Families-Emigrants from Europe 1607-1657, copyright 1985; McCall-Tidwell, 1931; Effie’s book-Virginia Genealogist, 17-3; Historical Accounts of 1700’s Plantations; Wikipedia for Kinsale City and  Yeocomico Episcopal Church; Ancestry and Family Search 

Compiled by Diane Buck Dalton-April 2017, 7th great granddaughter

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY 4th Grade ~~~ Mina Hasler Teacher,

 

(the following is just as it is written on the back of the photograph)

Front Row L to R: 1. Afton Zabriskie 2.????3. Madsen, 4. Anderson, 5. Lovell, 6. Tidwell, 7. Jensen, 8. Seely, 9. Maiben, 10. Christensen, 11. Myberg, 12. Christensen, 13. Myberg, 14. Anderson, 15. Seely, 16. Boyden, 17. Gunderson, 18. Haylee Ivie, 19. Abraham Burton, 20. Douglas Gunderson, 21. Hugh Barton, 22. Rhoda Jorgensen, 23. Vivian Pritchett, 24. Katie Erickson, 25. Anna Olsen, 26. Romero, 27. Montell Winkler, 28. Margaret Thompson, 29. Vera Poulsen, 30. Trauntvine, 31. Hazel Poulsen, 32. Draper, 33. Alpha Madsen, 34. Leora Draper, 35. Eula Seely, 36. MelbaAldrich, 37. Christal Rosenlof, 38. Joseph Larsen, 39. Raymond Naef, 40. Cyril Fowles, 41. Merril Zabriski, 42. Mina Hasler, 43. Anderson, 44. Lawrence Johansen, 45. Hicks, 46. Virgil Bramstead.

CHARLOTTE STAUNTON QUINDLAN JOHNSON HYDE ~~~OBITUARY and History

 

One of the most popular pioneers of Mt. Pleasant is Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde. 

We found this obituary recently and posted it here yesterday, which has given us some additional facts about "Aunty Hyde".

Aunty Hyde died at the home of Mrs. M.M.F.G. Morrison. 

(Mary Margaret Folkwar Cruickshank Morrison) 

was the Relief Society President at that time.

Aunty Hyde taught for 21 years.

Aunty Hyde taught the following students:

Emaline Seely Barton, Oscar Anderson, William Morrison Jr., Sylvester Barton, Joseph Nephi Seeley, Annie Porter Nelson, Melvina Clemensen Crane, Peter Johansen, Chastie Neilsen, Benta Neilsen, Peter Jensen, Allen Rowe, Henry Ericksen, Miranda Seeley Oman, Wilhemina Morrison Ericksen, Hans Neilsen, William D. Candland, Charlotte Reynolds Seeley, Sarah Wilcox Bills, Celestial McArthur Barton, William A. Averett, Amasa Aldrich, James B. Staker, Maria Tidwell Larsen, Libby Barton Averett, Morgan A. Winters, Eli A. Day, W.W. Brandon, Sarah Davidsen Wilcox, Maggie Peel Seely, Samuel H. Allen, Harry Candland, Albert Candland, Charles Averett, Hazard Wilcox and Hans Neilsen.

 

Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde
You would think that a wife of Orson Hyde would be buried in Spring City next to him. You would think that she would have a very distinctive, monolithic marker of granite and stand very tall. Not so for Charlotte Staunton Quindlan Johnson Hyde. Of those many names by which she was called, we can only verify that her name was Charlotte Quindlan Hyde. She lived in Mt. Pleasant, taught school in Mt. Pleasant and died in Mt. Pleasant. Her grave marker is about 18 inches tall made of marble. You literally have to kneel down to read her epitaph there.

Charlotte Quindlen was born 22 of August 1802 at Lower Pensnock, Salem, New Jersey. Charlotte Quindlan was the name used at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City when she was sealed to Orson Hyde in 1852. The marble marker lists her as Charlotte Staunton Hyde as does the Mt. Pleasant History Book. Perhaps the name Staunton came from another marriage. From the dates we find that she was fifty years old when she married Orson Hyde.
The following is taken from the book “Orson Hyde Olive Branch of Israel”
“Orson Hyde was chosen as an original member of the Council of the Twelve in 1835, when the Mormon Church first organized this governing body. Orson's most well-known accomplishment was as a Mormon missionary to Jerusalem (1840-1842) to dedicate the land for the return of the Jews. Because his words have proven prophetic in the many decades since his entreaty, a peaceful garden on the Mount now honors him and his supplication. In 1979 civil authorities in Jerusalem invited the development of a five-acre hillside garden in honor of Orson Hyde.
“Orson Hyde was a remarkable individual. He received esteem in many roles, among them apostle, teacher, missionary, orator, scriptorian, journalist, editor, lawyer, judge, statesman, colonizer, and administrator; also as the husband of eight wives, the father of thirty-three children, a friend of mankind, and a servant of God.” MYRTLE STEVENS HYDE,
During the years 1850-1852 Charlotte Quindlin Johnson lived in Kanesville, Iowa at the home of Orson Hyde as a domestic assistant to his first wife Marinda. She was already a member of the L.D.S. Faith. She had been divorced from a man named Johnson. She was described as a seamstress who also liked children. She helped Marinda with her children Alonzo, Frank and baby Delila. She was with the Hyde Family at Winter Quarters and as they traveled across the plains to Salt Lake, arriving in 1852. Marinda and Charlotte got along very well.

Orson and Marinda discussed the possibility of inviting Charlotte to become a wife rather than a domestic. Orson had also married Mary Ann Price who for a time was a domestic in his household. Orson and Mary Ann were married in Nauvoo in 1843. Orson talked with Brigham Young about taking Charlotte as another wife and Brigham Young approved. Orson proposed to Charlotte, she accepted and they were sealed as husband and wife in the Endowment House 22nd of November, 1852. She was the fourth wife of Orson. Besides Marinda and Mary Ann, Orson had married Martha Rebecca Browett, who he later divorced in 1850. Martha went on to become the wife of Thomas McKenzie who also divorced her.

In the spring of 1853 we find Marinda, Mary Ann and Charlotte all living together under one roof in Salt Lake. Charlotte, however, was having a hard time adjusting to being a plural wife and departed the family, a mutual decision between she and Orson. They were separated, but never divorced. Brigham Young granted official separation for Charlotte and Orson Hyde in 1859.

Charlotte came to the Sanpete Valley long before Orson shows his influence here. It was during the “big move” with the earliest Saints first to Fort Ephraim, then north to resettle Mt. Pleasant. The first pioneers had been driven out of Camp Hambleton, located one mile west of the current city of Mt. Pleasant. She first made her living as a seamstress then as a school teacher while the settlers still lived inside the fort. A schoolhouse was then built outside the fort. She was fondly called "Aunty Hyde" by her students. She inspired many of her students to become teachers themselves.

In Mt. Pleasant History by Hilda Longsdorf the following description of Aunty Hyde school: “In a little log house about 12x15 feet, on the south side of the street on First North, about midway between State and First West, (in the area where Mary Ursenbach now lives-2008) Charlotte Staunton Hyde taught school. The building was also known and later used for Lesser Priesthood meetings and similar Church gatherings. Mrs. Hyde was a woman who no doubt had earlier in life received quite a liberal education, and although described as “a little old woman who smoked a pipe and was quite deaf,” she was affectionately called "Aunty Hyde". Many amusing stories were told of her school, but with all her students there remained pleasant memories. There being no handbell, as in later years, the children were always called from their play to the schoolroom with her familiar call, “To Books. To Books. To Books.””

“Mrs. Hyde lived in a little log house west of the school. She often brought her bread to the schoolhouse to bake. She had a skillet with a tight-fitting lid and in this, by heaping on it coals from the fireplace, which was in one end of the building, she baked the bread during school hours. She was paid for her services as a teacher with any produce or garden stuff available.
Mrs. Hyde taught for some time in the log meeting house in the fort. Many attended school. A number of the pioneers were polygamist families and usually were large families. In some cases the entire family had attended her school as was the case in Abraham Day’s family, Joseph, Abraham Jr., Eli A., Ezra, and Ephraim, children of the second wife, all attended; among others who also in later days became prominent citizens were her students Emaline Seely Barton, Oscar Anderson, William Morrison Jr., Sylvester Barton, Joseph Nephi Seeley, Annie Porter Nelson, Melvina Clemensen Crane, Peter Johansen, Chastie Neilsen, Benta Neilsen, Peter Jensen, Allen Rowe, Henry Ericksen, Miranda Seeley Oman, Wilhemina Morrison Ericksen, Hans Neilsen, William D. Candland, Charlotte Reynolds Seeley, Sarah Wilcox Bills, Celestial McArthur Barton, William A. Averett, Amasa Aldrich, James B. Staker, Maria Tidwell Larsen, Libby Barton Averett, Morgan A. Winters, Eli A. Day, W.W. Brandon, Sarah Davidsen Wilcox, Maggie Peel Seely, Samuel H. Allen, Harry Candland, Albert Candland, Charles Averett, Hazard Wilcox, and Hans Neilsen.

Although records show that Mrs. Hyde was not the first teacher in the community, in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery on the south side of the center driveway, is a little marble slab now yellowing with age, upon which is engraved: “Charlotte Staunton Hyde, wife of Apostle Orson Hyde, born in Penn., Died in Mount Pleasant, December 3, 1881, age 78. At rest now---Through the kindness of pupils of early days, this stone is erected to her memory, she is the first school teacher in Mt. Pleasant.” M.M.F.C.M.”

Many, many children benefited from her talents, from her love, and from her example.

 

Lois Jennie Christensen Jessen

August 4, 1934 — October 22, 2025

Mt. Pleasant

Listen to Obituary

Lois Jennie Christensen was born August 4th 1934 in Moroni Utah, to Darwin Christensen and Verbena Sudweeks. She loved her childhood in the little town of Moroni. She had two older sisters, Joyce and Wanda.

She felt a very close connection to her Grandpa Christensen who lived just across the street. She would walk across Main Street once or twice a day to just sit and be with him. He would tell her about the beautiful place Denmark, where he had come from. This became one of her deepest wishes to go see this land. Many years later this dream came true.

Lois attended kindergarten where she made a very special friend, LaRue Tidwell, who lived a short distance from her home. She hadn’t met her until school. They became best friends and were inseparable for the next six years. About a week before Junior High School was to begin, her friend LaRue got sick. In a short few days things turned worse and she died from the dreaded polio disease. Lois attended the funeral on the first day they were to go back to school. She said this was the saddest day of her life.

Lois met Edward Clarence Jessen in January of 1952 at a dance at the Old Bungalow. He danced with her, then asked if he could give her a ride home. From that night on they were always together. They married March 6, 1953 in the Manti Temple. This fulfilled a goal that she set for herself when she and her Primary class had attended the temple to do baptisms for the dead. She got to see this beautiful place and wanted to return there to be married, and she did. They were married for 72 years.

They became the proud parents of Vickie ( Cory), Craig (Susan), Randy (Sue), Julie ( Clark), Jim ( Vikki), Patti ( Scott) Brad (Jennifer).

They raised their family in Hunter Utah and then in Spanish Fork Utah.

Later in life, they moved back to the family farm in Mt. Pleasant. With much hard work it became their beautiful home. They loved when they were called to serve as ordinance workers at the Manti Temple and enjoyed serving there.

She loved her garden and her flowers. She would eat the produce from the garden and always enjoyed her tomato sandwiches.

She spent endless hours doing Temple and Family History work. She learned to love her ancestors and do their temple work for them.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Joyce and Wanda, a son in law, Clark Taylor and three great grandchildren.

Lois Jennie Christensen Jessen lived with love and gratitude each and every day to the very end. She loved her Heavenly Father, and her Savior Jesus Christ. She loved The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And she loved each and every member of her family with all her heart.

Funeral services were held October 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center (461 N. 300 W.) with a viewing from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

To Watch Recorded Funeral Service Click Here.

To Watch Recorded Graveside Service Click Here.

HERE COMES A NEPHITE

 

This story first appeared in a pamphlet entitled, "Fate", published in 1980.

Legendary stories have grown up around Christianity and also the Mormon Religion.  One such story centers on the Nephites.  Mormons believe that the Nephites were a super race that once lived in America.  Three Nephites were set apart by Christ to "never taste death", but to work at saving souls.  These three Nephites were reported to be especially active during the pioneering days of the Mormons.  Usually, they work alone, often wearing white robes and impressive beards.  Their faces have a kind of glow.  A Nephite may ask for food and eat but the food miraculously remains unconsumed.  He appears most often in isolated areas, offering help.

Nearly 100 years after it happened, Ray J. Hutchenson of Salt Lake City, Utah told Louise Putcomp Jr. of the Associated Press, A Nephite aided his Grandmother, Emma Sanders Tidwell. 

Her husband had gone to bring a load of coal, and she was alone on the farm with her children, one being ill.  An old man with flowing hair and a long beard appeared at her door.

"Someone is sick here in this house", he announced.  "I have been sent to minister to that child."  He touched the child's forehead with a finger dipped in consecrated oil and recited a special blessing.  Mrs. Tidwell invited him to sleep with the boys in the loft, but in the morning, the stranger was gone.  Mrs. Tidwell was convinced that he was a Nephite, sent to her home in time of need.

.


To the right, you will see the "Peel Homestead" which is located a  short distance from where the "Tidwell Homestead" was once located.  Notice Horseshoe in the distance. The Tidwells, Nelsons, Peels, Brintons, Brothersons, Nielsens, Johansen, and many others lived in "the Bottoms" near the banks of the Sanpitch River between Moroni and Mt. Pleasant. They, at one time had their own school in that vicinity.  Anyone having any stories about "the bottoms", please let us know.

HOME OF JOHN K. MADSEN AND WIFE MARY VIRGINIA WHITLOCK ~~~ Researched and compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

This home may have new residents now.

WILLIAM SKREVEKUS and SARAH JANE TIDWELL OLSON

 

William and

William Skrevekus Olson's life history

Contributed By

This history was found posted on Mt. Pleasant pioneer blog spot on March 29, 2011.

This was the heading: "My first taste of genealogy came when I found this history in my grandparents' attic. Why it was there, I have no idea. The auto biography is of William Olson. Even though I have Olsen (Olson) ancestors, this is not one of them. However, for me it was exciting to find this history. I must have been only about 13 at the time and the bug for genealogy has never left me. Hopefully, someone out there will appreciate reading it. I remember sharing it with Maxi Olson Christiansen several years before she died. Whether anyone else has it, I do not know."

My father, John Olson, and my mother, Sophia Maria Skrevelus, were both born in Jamjo Soken Bleking Lan, Sweden. Father was born October 27, 1818, and mother was born December 24, 1819.

In 1848 my father sold his farm in Sweden and moved over to Bornholm, a little island 16 by 20 miles square, in the Baltic Sea. He bought a farm there, consisting of thirty acres. He stayed there until 1866. My mother having joined the Mormon faith, was baptized in 1852, being one of the first to be baptized in Scandinavia. In 1866, my father sold his farm, horses, and cattle, and turned his money over to the Church to emigrate the people that were not able to help themselves. He kept enough to emigrate his own family which consisted of Kathryn, myself, and Andrew and Hannah Maria and James. I was born on Bornholm, the third day of June, 1853, and was baptized the tenth of April 1866. We sailed from Bornholm the twelfth of April as far as Kjobenhagen where we stayed ten days then we took a boat for Keil, Germany and from there by train for Hamburg, Germany. The next day, May 25, we went on board the sailing vessel "Kennelworth". Captain Brown. We were nine weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Our food consisted of sailor hardtac, fat bacon, cabbage, and black coffee. The bugle would wake us up in the morning at seven o'clock. We had to be on deck for exercises for one hour then we had breakfast. When the weather was so that the ship didn't roll too much we would dance for a couple of hours. On Sundays we had religious services. Two returned missionaries, Samuel Sprague and Martin Lund from Ft. Green had charge of the company, 686. Thirty-six of the emigrants died and were buried at sea. They would sew them up in heavy canvas bags with about fifty pounds of rocks at the feet to sink them. They would place the corpse on a plank and at a signal from the Captain, they would tilt the plank up and the corpse would slide into the ocean.

The Captain and sailors treated us fine except the cook. He was the meanest man I ever saw. In the morning he would yell, "Come to breakfast, you Mormon S of Bs". Our ship caught fire from the kitchen but after a few hours of fire fighting it was put out after burning part of the kitchen. On the 17th of July we landed at Castlegarden, New York. That night we took a steam boat for New Haven. We were a moltley crowd traveling on foot carrying our luggage and carrying babies and some leading one or two. The road or street was not paved and the mud and slush came up to our shoetops, and a howling mob followed us and called us all the dirty names they could think of and pelted us with mud clods. From New Haven we took a train for Detroit, Chicago, Quincy, Ill., and Saint Joseph, Missouri, the terminal of the railroad. From there we sailed up the Missouri River on a river steamer as far as where Omaha stands now. There was but seven houses there then, and they were just small lumber houses. There they were moving the biggest house up the hill with three yolk of oxen. We started our journey across the plains the second of August. We traveled with sixty five wagons, five yolk of oxen on each wagon. Three hundred and twenty five oxen. Joseph L. Rawlings was captain of the real large train. He had one helper or vice captain, one teamster for each wagon and five night herders that took that herd of oxen out to feed and drove them into camp in the morning.

We had the bugler we had on the ship so that the bugle would call us at six o'clock in the morning. We had one hour to get breakfast and then the oxen would be driven in so we would be ready to start by eight o'clock.

In the evening the music would start up, the young and old would dance for an hour. All the young folks had to walk, the old would ride most of the time. At nine o'clock in the evening the bugle would sound for prayer before going to bed. My father bought a cow in Iowa. He intended to lead that cow not only to Salt Lake but to Mt. Pleasant, a distance of twelve hundred miles. He would turn her with the oxen at night to feed. A good many oxen got alkalied and died, and I wished many times that our cow would get a drink of alkalie water but she came in every morning. But she got tender footed. There was plenty of shoes of the oxen but they were too large for the cow; so we had to tie pieces of gunnisac or anything we could find along the road around her feet so that she could travel. And I was in the same condition. We had been on journey so long that my shoes and clothes were worn out but I could pick up old clothes that other companies had thrown away. Sometimes I would have on two rights and sometimes two lefts.

Our food was sourdough bread, fat bacon, buffalo meat, coffee and sugar. We were not allowed to kill anymore buffalo than we could eat. We were not allowed to waste any of the meat.

The Indians were friendly whenever they came to our camp. Captain Rawlins would give them sugar and beads and small mirrors. It was orders from Brigham Young to always treat the Indians kindly. That is the reason we never had a train destroyed or a man killed during the twenty-three years we carried emigrants across the plains. We sent an average of twelve trains each year. There were many other trains destroyed and teamsters killed. We came to one train that had been burned and all hands killed. There was nothing left but the wagon tires. We stopped and buried the dead. The Indians had gone - there was nothing left but the smoking embers of the wagons. When we got up in the Rocky Mountains, we had several snowstorms and suffered for the want of shoes and clothes. We reached the Salt Lake Valley October 4th on a Sunday afternoon. People from Salt Lake met us about ten miles from Salt Lake with cake and sandwiches and apples. That was the happiest day of the whole journey. It was the first cake and apples I had tasted since we left our home in Sweden. Everybody in the country that had oxen and wagons in the train would come and get them in the spring. Brigham Young would call for a train from each county and then each bishop in each town would make a call for so many oxen and wagons. If a man had two yoke of oxen he would let one yoke go. If a man had two wagons he would let one go and the teamsters were called by the bishop and the captain by Brigham Young and all of them served without pay. All the provisions were furnished for the train by the tithing department. After staying in Salt Lake a week, we got a chance to go with a man to Mt. Pleasant so I took up the march with the cow again. We reached Mt. Pleasant October 18th. In the spring of 1867, I was drafted into the Utah State Militia and acted as homeguard and guarded travelers from one settlement to another as the Indians were on the warpath and killed a good many of our people and in the fall of 1867, I was called to go out to Sevier County and help the people to get away from them. I drove a yolk of oxen and wagon belonging to Peter Miller and I had two small families, nine persons all toll, and brought them to Mt. Pleasant. In the fall of 1869, I went out to Weber Canyon to work on the railroad, the first to come into the valley. I worked during the winter for Thomas Stewart from Logan and the next summer I worked for Bishop West from Ogden and in November, when his contract was done I walked home carrying my bedding on my back. I had just one hundred dollars that was the most money I had ever made and I was very proud of the fact that I could bring home that much money. That is the reason I walked home the one hundred and forty miles as my father and mother had no cow at this time. I bought a cow with fifty dollars and I bought five acres of land with the brush on for the other fifty dollars.

In the fall of 1970, I hired out to the Miller Cattle Company in the southern part of Utah as cowboy and worked for them two years for thirty dollars a month. In October 1873, I was called to go to St. George to work on the St. George Temple with twenty other boys. We left Mt. Pleasant on the 8th of November with four teams to haul our bedding and provisions for the winter. We had had bad weather most all the way. It snowed every day for sixteen days so that when we got to Beaver City we had three feet of snow. From there to Belvia the road was almost impassable. We had to break the road all the way for a hundred miles. All the low places in the road were drifted full so that when our teams got into a low place they would go in clear up to their sides, then we would tie a long rope to the end of the wagon tongue and all us boys would pull them out that way. And that would happen every mile or two. Then we fastened the rope to the end of the wagons and then we would take hold of the rope two and two and break the road for the teams and help to pull the load. When we camped we would dig four and sometimes five feet of snow away to get to the ground so we could make a fire to cook our food---baking our bread and frying our bacon and making some coffee. Wood was hard to get because it was covered with snow. At night we would crowd six of us into each wagon to keep warm. We had that way of traveling for five days. We reached Belvia that night at twelve o'clock. We had not stopped for dinner because we could find no wood to make a fire and it was cold and the wind blew so hard that we couldn't make a fire. It would blow away as fast as we could make it so we crawled into a man's barn and burrowed down in the hay without any dinner or supper and we had to divide our blankets with our horses to keep them from freezing to death. The next morning the wind was still blowing hard so that we were unable to make a fire; so we packed up and drove down five miles into Dixie where it was warm. We stopped at Grapevine Spring, had breakfast which we needed and enjoyed as we hadn't tasted food for more than twenty-four hours.

I worked all winter blasting and quarrying rock for the temple. The foundation was made of black lava rock and the other part is red sandstone. In the spring of 1874, we were all released and returned home. In November, of that year I went out to Pioche, Nevada and worked in the mines one year and left for home the first of January 1975,

The 10th of April in 1876, I married Sarah Jane Tidwell in the Endowment House at Salt Lake City by Daniel H Wells. My wife was the daughter of James Harvey Tidwell and Elizabeth Harvey, native of West Virginia. Her Great-grandfather, John Tidwell, was one of George Wahington's old soldiers who fought all through the Revolutionary War. The Tidwells were natives of Indiana. Both the Tidwells and Harveys were pioneers of Utah and the Tidwells were Pioneers of Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

As a result of that marriage we had six children born. William Aurthur, born first of April 1877, Jonathan Harvey, born July 30, 1879, Berkley, born July 31, 1881. Guy Randolph, born 9th of October 1883. Theodore, born the 3rd of November 1885. Mary Estella, born the 8th of November 1892.

When I married, I had a yoke of oxen and a wagon and fifteen acres of land and a lot with a little one room log house with a dirt roof and a lumber floor, one door and a little window. I had one door and window opening in the north side and the south opening dobied up. Our furniture, all homemade, consisted of one bedstead, one table and two chairs and a little cookstove made of cast iron, that I paid thirty dollars for in Salt Lake, and I also had one cow. That was a small beginning but it was our own. We didn't owe anybody a cent and we didn't have to pay house rent. We lived in that house two years and it was the two happiest years of our lives. We think of it as our "lovenest". In 1878 I bought sixteen acres of land. I had then 31 acres --- considered in those times to be a nice little farm. My wife was a very saving woman so that we managed to save up a few hundred dollars every year. In 1884, I bought two thousand head of Jonas Ericksen's sheep. I paid two dollars and fifty cents a head. I mortgaged my farm to the Nephi bank to pay for them and I was ten years paying that mortgage. Grover Cleveland was elected President and the democrats were in power so that they removed the tarrif on wool so that for years I had to sell my wool for five cents a pound. In 1896, I was elected councilman for two years; and in 1898, I was called to go on a mission to Sweden. I left home on the fourth of November and went by rail to New York and on the 13th of November sailed on the steamship Penland, Captain Neilson from Philadelphia. We landed at Liverpool on the 25th of November. From there we continued by rail the next day for Grimsby. The next day we went on board the steamship Northenden, Captain Marsden and set sail for Hamburg 400 miles away. From there to Kil by railroad and from Kil to Kopenhagen by steamer. We landed there December fourth, 1899. I was set apart to go to Sweden, the birthplace of my ancestors. I traveled over the country from east to west and from north to south. I found many of my relatives, both on my father's side and my mother's side; and they were all fine, intelligent people. They were farmers, builders, contractors, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, and a good many of them were pilolts. Some were pilots over in England.

Sweden is a most beautiful country in the summertime, especially Stockholm built on five islands. I enjoyed my work among the people there very much because they were very kind and hospitable. I had good health all the time I was there. I traveled all over Denmark and Germany. I stayed in the mission field just two years and a half. Then I was released the 6th of April 1902. I left Sweden the 8th by way of Kopenhagen, Esberg, Denmark; and by steamer from there to Liverpool, England. I left Liverpool on the 13th and went on board the beautiful steamer, Commonwealth for Boston. We had five days of stormy weather, but it was fine as I nor any of the Olson family get seasick. I got home on the 28th of April and found my family all well. My wife had done well at home. I had sold my sheep and the boys had tended the farm. Before I left home I had sold my sheep as my boys were too young to take care of them; however, when I reached home, I borrowed some more money and bought 1500 head of fine ewes. My son, Guy, took care of them until I sold them in 1927. I gave two dollars and fifty cents per head and I sold them for $26.00 in 1927.

NORTH SANPETE HIGH SCHOOL 1956 REUNION ~~~ HELD 2016

 

HOME OF DANIEL IVO CHRISTENSEN AND HIS WIFE MARY DELLA TIDWELL ~~~(from our archives)

 

BORN IN 1897~~~~Sharon B. Stauffer Honorable Mention Non Professional Personal Recollection ~~~~Saga of the Sanpitch

 
 It's hard to believe all of the changes that took place in a person’s life when they were born in 1897 and lived 90 years. Before my mother, Nora Velma Tidwell Brotherson (Velma), died shortly after her 90th birthday, she could vividly recall the changes she had experienced in her life.

 These were hard for me to believe. To mention a few: airline jets, spaceships, radio, television, and computers. As a young girl growing up in Mt. Pleasant in the early 1900’s, did she even dream of such wonders?

 Velma was born on March 31, 1897. She was the fifth of nine children born to Jonathan Harvey Tidwell (Harv) and Antomina Oman Tidwell (Mina). Her first home was a log cabin at “The Bottoms” (a settlement along the Sanpitch River between Mt. Pleasant and Moroni).

 Her father farmed forty acres of land there. Her memories of the Bottoms were the meadowlarks, the spring where they got their water, and the good bull berries that her mother used to make jam and dumplings. 

After the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, she liked to go with her father to the Bottoms to haul hay and take care of the land. 

Her first home in Mt. Pleasant was a two-room log house one block west of the highway and a block north of the ballpark. As a child, she would herd cows outside the park and loved to run the fences around the park. 

At home, her job was picking potatoes, tromping hay, and carrying water. Velma would go with her father to the old Zabriskie farm all day and tromp hay.     forty acres of land there. Her memories of the Bottoms were the meadowlarks, the spring where they got their water, and the good bull berries that her mother used to make jam and dumplings. After the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, she liked to go with her father to the Bottoms to haul hay and take care of the land. Her first home in Mt. Pleasant was a two-room log house one block west of the highway and a block north of the ballpark. As a child, she would herd cows outside the park and loved to run the fences around the park. At home, her job was picking potatoes, tromp hay, and carrying water. Velma would go with her father to the old Zabriskie farm all day and tromp hay.  When we got back, you couldn't tell who we were.

 

Life is not easy, and Velma had her share of struggles and hardships, but she had developed many character qualities that made her a survivor. She attributed some of these to her parents and her pioneer heritage. She always spoke of her parents and grandparents with honor and respect. Her father, Jonathan Harvey Tidwell, was a farmer. He had to sacrifice and work very hard for his family. Her mother, Antomina Oman Tidwell, sold eggs for $.15 a dozen, butter for $.15 a pound and chickens for $.30 a piece to the Old Oman Hotel in Mt. Pleasant.

 Antonina was a very good seamstress. She sewed all her children's clothes, sewed for other people, and made beautiful quilts.  

Her grandfather, James Harvey Tidwell, eldest son of John and James Smith Tidwell, was a very young man who crossed the plains, driving a team of oxen for a widow and her family. He also assisted other pioneers to reach the Salt Lake Valley. He came to Utah in 1851. He came to Mt. Pleasant in June of 1859 and helped settle that community.

Her grandfather, Aaron Gustave Oman, came from Sweden and arrived in Mt. Pleasant in October 1861. He was a drummer in the first big brass band in Mt. Pleasant, the John Hasler Band. He was also a sawyer in charge of the phases of construction of the Manti Temple, and he devoted much time and effort to this position.

Velma's children and grandchildren always enjoyed her stories of growing up in Mt. Pleasant.

Velma Tidwell Brotherson died in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July18, 1987, and is buried in

 Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

~Taken from the personal history of Velma Tidwell Brotherson

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Family History of Gordon and Sharon Stauffer" - Written by Sharon 1978

 

Sharon Brotherson Stauffer

 

I was born in Mt. Pleasant, Utah February 9, 1928. My parents were Nora Velma Tidwell Brotherson and Vernon Hamlet Brotherson. My childhood was spent in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Here I attended the Hamilton Grade School and North Sanpete Junior High. My mother, my two sisters, and I moved to Salt Lake the summer of 1942. We lived in an apartment on Second East between Second and Third South. I attended Horace Mann Junior High and worked at Holy Cross Hospital. We later moved to a duplex at 758 Browning Avenue and I attended South High School. We then moved to 1453 South Seventh East in 1945 and after graduation from South High School I went to work at the Telephone Company in the accounting department.

On May 17, 1957  I was married to Gordon Ray Stauffer in the Salt Lake Temple. Our first home was at 13th South Ninth East. We moved into our home at 3611 Carolyn Street in October of 1957 and have lived here for twenty years.

Gordon has worked as a plasterer for over thirty years and has worked on many commercial buildings, schools, and temples in Utah and surrounding states. He recently worked eight months on the remodeling of the St. George Temple. He personally did a lot of the ornamental plastering and finish plastering on the inside and outside stucco on this temple. He is now working on the remodeling of the Logan Temple. He is doing the ornamental and finish work in the sealing rooms, celestial room, and other areas throughout the temple.

Our family has been blessed with five children.

We have lived in the Grant 12th Ward, Grant Stake for twenty years and enjoyed the many activities and positions we have held in this ward. Gordon has served as Elders Quorum President, 1st and 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric, Adult Aaronic Leader, and Scout Master.

I have served many years as teacher, coordinator, and chorister in Sunday School and Primary. I have sung in the ward choir for many years.

The activities I remember the most are the camping and vacation trips we have shared together. The fall season is eagerly awaited as the boys are all enthusiastic duck hunters, especially Kyle. Other sports they participate in are wrestling, tennis, and church baseball and basketball. Russell's favorite sport is skiing. Nora and Kathleen each are studying dancing and gymnastics.

A choice blessing came to our family on July 9, 1977. Our son, Clinton, left to serve as a missionary in the Texas Dallas Mission and is now serving in Eastland, Texas which is in the Fort Worth area.

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