Pioneer

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Annual Military Ball ~ Battery "D" ~ 222nd Field Artillery ~ Armory Hall ~ Mt. Pleasant, Utah ~ Februar 21, 1941

double click to enlarge

Mayor of the Month ~ June, 2010 ~~~ Ferdinand Ericksen

Ferdinand Ericksen, son of Lars and Stena, was born in Mt. Pleasant, September 30, 1863. He attended the district schools and took a two year course at B.Y. Academy at Provo.

He taught school for four years in Mt. Pleasant and then entered the Ann Arbor Law College, studying one year. He was admitted to the bar of Michigan, June 5, 1890 and opened an office in Mt. Pleasant.

He was elected County Prosecuting Attorney in August, 1890 and County Collector in 1892. In 1897 he was elected mayorl. He was cashier of the Mt. Pleasant Bank from January 1893 to July 1895, and was a member of the board of directors. He also had an interest in the Ericksen Meat and Grocery Company.

In 1894, he was elected Major of the National Guard of Utah, and in 1896 was appointed Judge Advocate, with the rank of Major, on Brigadier-General Willard Young's staff. He was appointed a school trustee in 1896, to fill a vacancy, and in 1897 was elected to that position.

Addendum

He was one of the influential persons to bring about the construction of the Pioneer Monument that stands in front of the Carnegie Library today.

His Speech
"Judge Ferdinand Ericksen, in his presentation speech, gave a brief history of all that had been done by the committees and the source of obtaining the necessary funds for the erection of the monument on the beautiful spot on which it stands, and thanked the ecclesiastical authorities for the privilege of locating it there without cost or consideration for an indefinite period of time. He explained in brief, the inscriptions upon the Monument, the names of the persons inscribed, he said, being representative of many nationalities, and among them were names of noted scholars.. musicians, artists, teachers, etc. Men who would, because of their skill and ability, have achieved distinction in any community. He stated in brief that this determined band of fearless and God-fear¬ing men, together with their wives, who shared their labors and who had come here under most adverse conditions; he said that the now vast rich fields with growing crops, were then covered with sage brush, and that the roads, bridges and canals were yet to be constructed, the churches and temples of learning had not then even been planned. The Opera Houses and Amusement houses were unknown. In fact, there were none of the attractions, or features of civilization to induce those pioneers to come, but on the contrary, the existing conditions at that time were such as to discourage."

"Not only were the elements to be subdued and the arid soil made to produce a livelihood, but the roving and uncivilized Indians had to be met and conquered. In conclusion he stated that it was indeed fitting that we perpetuate the names and deeds d such worthy ancestors, and that this was the underlying and controlling thought and desire in erecting the Memorial. He said that he took great pleasure in performing the duties his commission imposed, and presented the Monument to the community in behalf of all those who had in any manner aided in its construction, to honor of all the pioneers, both men and women, who settled in Mt. Pleasant, as a memorial of the esteem in which the pioneers who had made the present Mt. Pleasant possible, were held."

from Mt. Pleasant History pp 188-189; Hilda Madsen Longsdorf

He died on April 20, 1927 in Salt Lake City.

He married Clementina Marion Morrison in December of 1885, a daughter of William and Mary Margaret Farquhar Morrison. New Family Search shows them to be the parents of three children, Clementina Beatrice, William, and Clementina Marian. His wife, Clementina died while giving birth to Clementina Marian.

He was also a partner to Henry Ericksen in the Ericksen Meat and Grocery for short time. Henry was a brother-in-law. Ferdinand had a law office on the second floor of the grocery business.

"In 1898, during the time Ferdinand Ericksen was mayor of the city, the city purchased the north brick schoolhouse, (the now mortuary) corner First North and First West, and in due time, after remodeling it, placing in a heating plant, vaults and cells, suitable furniture, etc.,it became an up-to-date and creditable city hall, and was the first real home the Mt. Pleasant city council had ever known.

The north Public Square was cleared of the brush and burrs, and trees and grass were planted for a city park". from Mt. Pleasant History pp 179-180 by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf

Picture taken at the dedication of the Mt. Pleasant Pioneer Monument

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Female Relief Society, August 23, 1875

Meeting Held August 23, 1875. Singing "Come Let Us Anew, Our Journey Pursue". Prayer by Sister Peel. Singing, "Oh Saints, Can You See the Dawn's Early Light." The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted. Sister Morrison addressed the meeting and expressed her joy at meeting again with the sisters, although not many were present for the reason she supposed of the busy times in getting in the harvest. She then read a letter written to Miss E.R.Snow portraying the condition and labors of the Relief Society in Mt. Pleasant. She said she felt to take an interest in everything connected with the Society. Thought that the main cause of the ill feelings which seemed to exist some places was that people thought more about themselves than about others and if they would only remember the golden rule:, "Do unto others as you would be done by", the difficulties would be removed. Sisters Peel and Madsen explained to the danish sisters the remarks by Sister Morrison.
Sister Peterson said that during the many years she had belonged to church, she had never for a moment entertained a doubt of its truth and she could bear a faithful testimony.
Sister Frantzen (Frandsen), Josephson and Scovil and others bore their testimony . Meeting closed with singing "Think Not When You Gather to Zion". Prayer by Sister Morrison
MFC Morrison, President
Hilda Dehlin, Secretary.

Female Relief Society August 9, 1875

Meeting held August 9th, 1975. Meeting opened with singing "Come All That Love the Lord". Prayer by Sister Morrison. Singing, "Come Ye Saints, No Toil Nor Labor Fear". Sister Morrison tendered Sisters her thanks for their efforts and assistance in artificial flower making. She then read from the"Woman's Exponent a letter from Orson Spencer to his children which was very interesting. Requested the Sisters as many as could to subscribe to the Exponent . Sister Madsen explained the the Danish Sisters what had been said. Sister Simpson was glad for the privelege of hearing the Sisters feelings and was thankful for the willingness of the Sisters to assist them.
Sister Jensen spoke of the importance of making artificial flowers. Thought that if the older sisters did not care for them, the young girls did and it was right that they should have beautiful homes when they could make them with their own hands. Sister Tidwell, Strom, Beckstead and several others bore their testimony. The meeting closed with singing, "O, My Father, Thou That Dwellest". Prayer by Sister Madsen

Monday, June 14, 2010

Victorian Rose

William Rudolph Bennett died 23 April 1930

He died 23 April 1930

Sunday, June 13, 2010

"THE BARN" by Sue Ann Seely Croshaw

North of the residence of Ray and Mildred Seely (1981) at 430 West Main Street in Mt. Pleasant, Utah stands a large barn, the first built in that pioneer community. It's construction is unique to the present day and stands as a reminder of the hard work and physical labor of those early settlers.

From information obtained through Ray Seely, and his sister, Elva Guyman, it was built in approximately 1862, 3 years after Mt. Pleasant was colonized. Huge timbers were brought down from the east mountains with teams of horses and the inner structure was built by craftsman who didn't use a single nail! All the beams were hewn and pegged so that they fit together perfectly to make a sound sturdy building.

When the men were lifting the timbers, one man, who they called "Joe Heave", would call out "heave" so that they could lift together the heavy beams into place. It's original construction site was on 5th west, halfway between Main Street and 1st North. It was later moved to Main Street on the creek just east of Aunt Miranda's home, so that the animals could have water more readily. From there it was moved to its present

location.

Orange Seely, brother of Joseph Seely and Uncle of Ray, was the first owner and Henry Wilcox, brother of Clarissa Jane who was a Grandmother to Ray, was the builder with much help from other members of the family and the settlement. One can picture in his mind these men all working together with the horses and the tremendous amount of toil and labor it would have taken to move the heavy beams and hew the rough

boards into the work of art that they are.

In that day, there was always the danger of Indian aggression. Chief Black Hawk and his painted warriors terrorized the women and children. So horses were kept saddled and ready in the barn 24 hours a day so that the minute men could ride quickly to Manti or Thistle for help. Also Indian squaws were kept as prisoners there during times of battle. It was also used as aplace for dancing where good times were shared by many.

When Dad (Ray Seely) move to Mt. Pleasant, from Moroni, he purchased the lot where the home now stands and the barn went with the property. Uncle Orange had moved to Castle Dale so Dad became the rightful owner of the barn. And no prouder owner could there have ever been! It was his most prized possession, and he loved to tell of its history to all who would listen. He had great respect and love for the hands who built it, and always did all he could to preserve it and maintain it. The reverence and love that Dad had for the barn has been passed onto his family and posterity- - -a memory we all cherish.

(written in 1981)

Photograpy by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

SANPETE BARNS ~ Daughters of Utah Pioneers ~ Pioneers of Sanpete County

Perhaps no other structure has played such an important role in the lifestyle of Sanpete County folks as barns.....The generation that built the first barns here is gone and the generations that used them are fading, but life in the days when barns were used is not entirely forgotten.

Barns used to be the central place of farming where old dobbin was cared to, prize heifers and rams were kept. Where boys learned to harness teams, fork manure, and discovered that Sunday's chicken could do without its head.

Barns were the domain of men and boys, where moments of pleasure were secretly drunk or smoked out among the smell of hay and livestock; where men gathered to talk of potatoes and presidents and sometimes non essential things. The barn, before the automobile, was the parking place for the family surrey and for milking old Bossie; where boys gathered to fight dragons and formed bonds with blood from a finger.

During the heyday of barns, a family's standing in the community was sometimes measured in relation to the quality and size of their barns. A large one easily could make up for those with a questionable or shady background and likewise a small barn could mean a family lacked discipline, was inclined to laziness, and perhaps even slept too much. In short, barns wre a status symbol much as the automobile and the house later became.

Girls and women were allowed to come into barns occasionally, and mostly to gather eggs, carry milk to the house, or see a new calf or lamb. It was understood, however, the barn was the domain of men and boys.

Barns in Sanpete County were yesterday's status symboland would sometimes depict the nationality of the owner. Early non-Scandinavian builders built by nailing planks horizontally while settlers with a Scandinavian background attached planks vertically.

The day of the noble barn has given way to progress, efficiency with food outlets, packaged meats, and gallon plastic containers.