Letter to the Editor of the Pyramid ~ by Lee R. Christensen

El Monte. 

 The Oak is about where we stood to watch the climb

The Pyramid
90 W. Main
Mt. Pleasant, UT

January 20, 1993

Dear Editor:

February 24 is the 47th anniversary of the El Monte Oak Park Rocky Mountain climb. As
mountain climbs go, it was certainly not comparable to the Everest climb, nor even Mt.
Timpanogas. But for the climbers and the spectators from Mt. Pleasant’s Battery A, 204
Field Artillery, it was an afternoon’s respite from the tedious Army life at isolated El Monte
Oak Park in eastern San Diego County.

I don’t recall who issued the challenge. It was probably Sgt. Wilbur Rasmussen wondering
out loud how long it would take someone to climb Rocky Mountain. And then, Cpl. Shirley
Madsen responding that he would climb it in under two hours. Others joined in with yeas
and nays. After a week or two of contention, sides chosen, bets made, Shirley and his partner
Pfc. Jay Larson scheduled their climb.

With the men of the Battery at their chosen viewing stations, all binoculars and B.C.
scopes uncased, Shirley and Jay took off. They had about a quarter of a mile to go before
they started the serious climb. This they covered at a fast walk - a warm up. Then, up the
mountain they climbed, rock by rock, steep slope by steep slope. They moved too slow for
the “can dos” and too fast for the “can’t dos.” Three quarters up the mountain they disappeared
onto the back side. The tension built. Just as some of the can’t dos were asking
for their money, they reappeared. First it was Jay, and then Shirley on the summit. Total
elapsed time was one hour and 17 minutes .

Now, 47 years after the event, I’ve heard some of the observers state the climbing time as
35-40 minutes. But my notes, recorded 15 minutes after the event, clearly read: one hour
17 minutes. Still well under two hours.

This climb confirmed an old Utah truism - it is foolhardy to doubt the climbing ability of a
North Sanpete sheepherder.

Lee Christensen

        

S SG Jay R. Larsen

ID: 20925444                                                              Branch of Service: U.S. Army                                                               Hometown: Sanpete County, UT                                                              Status: KIA

http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/wardept/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=1152048&po

                                                     

Hilda

BETSY ROSS GIRLS

THE B.R.G.s
Dorothy Jacobs Buchanan
 Saga of the Sanpitch  ~ 1985
Professional Division
Honorable Mention Anecdote


Shortly after the turn of the century, a number of Mt. Pleasant young women organized a club called
the Betsy Ross Girls, better know as the B.R.G.s. Their objective was to do needlework, as the name implied,,  But I am sure that a great deal of sprightly conversation accompanied their stitching, for those young ladies were attractive, personable, and well informed.

They had a custom that each one presented a silver demi-tasse spoon to a member when she became
engaged to be married. The name of the donor was engraved in the bowl of the spoon. As my mother was one of the first to be married, she received several of those precious spoons. I loved to polish them and read each name Often, mother would relate information about those friends and some of their activities in the B.R.G.s.

Subsequently, I married and had a home and family in Richfield. Many years later, I met a charming
lady from Marysvale named Mrs. Etta Bertelsen. In the course of our discussion, she told me that her mother, Marie Syndergaard Long, was raised in Mt. Pleasant. I recognized her name as a good friend of my mother's and one of the B.R.G. girls. This discovery pleased us both.

I then told Mrs. Bertelsen that I had a silver spoon with her mother's name, "Marie," engraved in
the bowl. I could hardly wait to witness her happiness when I took it to her.

The next time we met, Mrs. Bertelsen opened the conversation by saying, "And NOW, I have a silver
spoon for YOU!" She handed me a spoon engraved with my mother's name, "Bertie." We were two delighted people — grateful that we were able, after those many years, to make that rewarding silver spoon exchange.

Let's Play "Name That Photo" ~ Photo sent in by Tonga Seely Titcomb

This photo looks to me like it was taken at the Mount Pleasant South Ward Church.  I recognize a few faces, but would like you to fill in your guesses or knowledge as well.  Thank You Tonga for sharing !!!

THE BIG PIONEER STORE

THE BIG PIONEER STORE
Pearle M. Olsen
Salt Lake City, Utah
Second Place Essay ~ Saga of the Sanpitch
Professional Division


Some people in Mt. Pleasant or in Sanpete County, Utah, may be unaware of the fact that for a period of
over twenty years there was a Z.C.M.I. branch store in Mt. Pleasant, and that it occupied three different
locations during those years.

I sometimes heard my father speak of the old store known by that name, and I became interested in its
history as I learned that the large red brick building I knew to be the Union Store had once housed the early
Z.C.M.I. in the years of my father‘s youth.18

The Union Store in Mt. Pleasant stood on the present site of the Doughboy monument and the Armory
Hall on Main and State streets. It faced south, and I found out that it was the first building erected in town that required a break in the old pioneer fort wall. Some rocks had to be removed from the southwest corner of the big wall in preparation for it.

I had also heard reference to a small store in early days that was called Z.C.M.I. and was on south State
street. Still I heard of another location where a store was known by the same name. That building I
remembered, but I knew it as a blacksmith shop on the corner of Main and state streets (southwest corner).
My interest was challenged by the various locations known as the early day sites of the store, and
research led me to several references recorded by Andrew Madsen, a grand uncle of mine. His daughter
compiled his information on early day Mt. Pleasant, and a book was sponsored by the Pioneer Historical
Association of that town.

The book was sold for many years by the Association, but has been out of print for years as it was a
limited edition. With this in mind I pass information along to share with many who have not had the privilege
of reading and knowing about that old branch Z.C.M.I.

The Mt. Pleasant store was organized in 1870 after the pattern of the store that had been established the
previous year in Salt Lake City, and named the Zion‘s Co-operative Mercantile Institution. The local company was begun with seven hundred dollars worth of stock subscribed by various individuals, among who were: W.S. Seely, P.M. Peel, Andrew Madsen, N.P. Madsen, Jacob Christensen, Niels Widergren Anderson, Peter Monsen, Hans Poulsen, J.W. Seely, Hans Y. Simpson, Mortin Rasmussen, and W.S. Seely was chosen as the first manager and superintendent. Andrew Madsen and C.N. Lund served later as superintendents. I was intrigued by the fact that my grandfather, Niels Peter Madsen, had been one of the first and principal investors.

Business began in one small room of a log building on the east side of State Street at Third South.
Anthon H. Lund was a clerk there for a short time. Then the company built a larger, new log building on the
southwest corner of the Main and State Street intersection where the drug store now stands. The logs of that
new store were chinked with mud and the room was plastered with mud. Outside, above the door a large sign read: ―Z.C.M.I.

Charles Hampshire and Olaf Sorensen were the clerks. One spoke English and the other Danish, so
customers were understood and helped no matter which language they spoke. The store carried a variety of
merchandise and developed a fine trade.

All trading was done at that time by written order or printed due bills for which people traded their
produce. The produce was then freighted to Pioche, Nevada, and other mining towns where cash was received for it. Long trips were made with mule or horse teams, and the shorter trips with ox teams. It was seldom that a silver dollar was seen in Mt. Pleasant in those days, and the produce was as valuable as money would have been.

By 1878, it was found that even the mud-plastered building was very inadequate for the volume of
business being done. So a two-story red brick building was planned and built on the corner opposite from the one chinked with mud. It later became the Wilson blacksmith ship that I recall.
The brick used in the new store was made at a brick yard west of town, and was mixed with horse
power. After the adobes were formed they were covered with burlap and sand until thoroughly dry, then packed and burned for a week or two. Cedar wood from the Cedar Hills was used for burning.
A ladder was placed and men formed a bucket brigade that carried water up the ladder where it was
poured over the kiln until the bricks were saturated. Any brick with lime in it would burst and be discarded.
The good bricks were tested again by laying them in running water for several days.

Nothing but the first class bricks and other materials were used in building the new store. The huge
timbers were hewn with a broad axe, and smoothed with drawing knives. A large basement furnished ample
room for the storing of commodities on hand, and at its peak the store carried a twelve thousand dollar stock.19

An outside stairway along the east side of the store led to a theatre and dance hall in the second story
that served as an up-to-date amusement center accommodating larger crowds than the previously used Social Hall on the church square.

When the term of incorporation of Mt. Pleasant Z.C.M.I. expired, the stockholders decided to
incorporate under the name of Equitable Co-op, and sometimes it was referred to as the Co-op Store. Later the name was changed to Union Store and was managed by Andrew Madsen for many years. The building was finally razed to provide a site for the Armory Hall and Doughboy monument.

References:
Personal knowledge of the author.
Gleanings from the book, Mt. Pleasant, compiled by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf in 1939.

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

Festival Given In Honor of Old Folks

ANDREW MADSEN'S JOURNAL PART III

The following is an account written by Andrew Madsen concerning  Chief Justice of Utah, Judge W.W. Drummond's resignation and his allegations to Washington of Governor Brigham Young and the Mormons destroying the records of the Supreme Court, Legislative Records, etc.  Also accusing the Mormons of detaining people from leaving the valley.   Drummond asked for the United States troops to be sent to Utah. Andrew records the events that brought about the (Big Move), when many saints were urged to move south before the U.S. Army invaded the area.

Andrew Madsen Sr.

David R. Gunderson  reproduced the original journal printed for private distribution several years ago and is currently working on a new edition to be published sometime in the future.

March, 1857, my brother Mads, the only one of the family who remained in Denmark completing some work and collecting the last payment due on the sale of our farm, started to emigrate to Utah in company with many others and landed here early in the fall.  His journey was not such as that of my father and mother as he came through during the summer months suffering no cold.  He was in company with Capt. Cowley.  He arrived at Philadelphia May 1st, 1857 and traveled by rail to Iowa City, arriving there June 9th, where they were fitted out with ox teams, arriving in Salt Lake City, Sept. 13th, 1857, with a wagon and yoke of oxen, bringing with him Owen Lillingquist and family.

In the spring of 1857, I, in company with Mr. Swensen assisted him in taking a load of flour to Green River with my oxen.  Arriving there I hitched to my father's wagon which had been left there the previous winter by my mother and brother.  I also brought with me some of my mother's clothing which she had left.  The trip was not the most pleasant one, but by so doing I came in possession of the wagon.

I returned to Brigham City and became the owner of a lot and after my brother Mads arrived, we worked together and in the Fall he married Miss Ellen Hansen, who had crossed the Pains with the same company.  We built a dug out which we lived in during the winter.

That winter Lorenzo Snow made arrangements to build himself a home and we presented him with a keg of nails which had been hauled by us from St. Louis, Monday March 30th.  Judge W.W. Drummond tendered his resignation as Chief Justice of Utah and in framing said resignation to be sent to the Executive at Washington, D.C., he included and wrote some of the most abominable falsehoods against the Governor, Brigham Young, and the Mormons, charging them with destroying the records of the Supreme Court, the Legislative Records, etc.  and detaining people from leaving the valley and many other falsehoods to send troops to Utah.

On July 24th, while the Saints were celebrating the 10th anniversary of the arrival of the Pioneers to Utah at Big Cottonwood Canyon, Abraham O. Smoot and Judson Stoddard arrived from Independence, Mo. without the mail, the postmaster there having refused to forward the same.  They reported that General Harney with two thousand infantry and a proportionate number of artillery and cavalry were ordered to Utah.  After receiving this information, the Utah Militia was ordered to be kept in readiness for an expedition to the mountains to prevent the approaching army, if necessary, until some agreements and understandings as to conditions had been affected.  This was in compliance with the request of Governor B. Young.

Tuesday, September 15th, Governor Brigham Young declared the territory of Utah under Martial Law and forbade the troops to enter Salt Lake Valley.  Large numbers of armed militia were ordered to Echo Canyon and other points to intercept the soldiers and prevent access to the valley.

Tuesday, September 29th, General Daniel H. Wells, left Great Salt Lake City for Echo Canyon, where he established headquarters.  About 1250 men from several military districts were ordered to Echo Canyon, where they engaged in digging trenches across the canyon, throwing up breastwork, loosening rocks on the heights, etc., preparing to resist the progress of the army.  About the same time, myself and about one hundred militia men under the command of Captain James Bywater marched to Soda Springs  and we pitched camp near Fort Hall.  Remaining there a short time, we returned to Brigham City and on October 10th, the officers of the Utah Expedition held a council of war at Hame Fork and decided that the army should march to Great Salty Lake Valley by way of Soda Springs.  The following day the march was commenced, but after several days of slow and exhaustive travelling, the expedition was forced to return.  October 12th, the militia was called out from Ogden and northern settlements and myself and about five hundred responded.  We went under command of Colonel West towards Soda Springs.  The object was to meet the Utah Army, but we were called back by an express sent by them.

About the first of November we were called out again under the command of Captain Bywater's Company to Echo Canyon, and at this time the United States Soldiers were cammped at Hame Fork and Black Fork, two miles from Fort Bridger and 115 miles from Salt Lake City.  During the first part of December, when deep snow fell, we were released and went home for the winter.

On Monday, December 21st, 1857, the Utah Legislature unanimously concurred in the message, policy and actions of Governor Brigham Young in stopping the Army.

On Monday, April 5th, 1858, Governor Alfred Cummings and Colonel Thos. L. Kane, with a servant left the Army at Fort Scott for Salt Lake City, arriving there on the 12th.  The new Governor was kindly received by President Brigham Young and other leading citizens and treated everywhere with respectful attention.

On Monday, April 19th, Governor Cummings and Colonel Kane examined the Utah Library where James W. Cummings showed them the Records and Seals of the United District Court, alleged to have been destroyed by the Mormons and many other investigations were made.  This accusation was one of the reasons why the Army was ordered to Utah.  A few days later the Governor sent a truthful report to the Government at Washington in relation to the affairs and denouncing the statements made by Judge Drummond.

Sunday, March 21st, 1858 the citizens of Salt Lake City and the settlements north of it, agreed to abandon their homes and go south.  All the information derived from eastern papers being to the effect that the approaching Army was sent to destroy them.  I, at that time, was living at Brigham City and myself, brothers and sisters, together with a great many others or practically all, began making preparations to move south as soon as Spring opened up and the weather would permit.  (This is known in Utah History as the "Big Move")
I was detailed to make boxes for flour, others to repair wagons and various other things in way of preparation.  Provisions were secured giving all of us a year's supply, which was furnished gratis.  About the middle of April many began to move south and my brother, Neils drove my team, accompanying my other brothers, mother and sisters, while I remained as a guard, being Capt. of ten, to see that our homes and property was burned and destroyed should they be disturbed by the soldiers.

We remained there for some time and during this time a band of husky Indians, about two hundred in all, came and camped upon the creek with us.  They were friendly and apparently sympathized with the people and it appeared that they had been out with the soldiers and understood there was trouble.  Many of them were clad with soldier blankets and flannel shirts.  I traded with a squaw some wheat I had scraped up from the mill for a buckskin and new red flannel shirt.  There was a tailor among us and he made the buckskin I had into a pair of trousers and this, with the red flannel shirt I had, was the first suit I ever obtained in Utah.

Thursday, May 13th, Governor Cummings left Salt Lake City for Camp Scott for the purpose of removing his wife to the City.  When he returned June 8th he found the city almost deserted by its inhabitants.

Friday, June 11th, the Peace Commission met with President Brigham Young and others in the Council House at Salt Lake City and the difficulties between the United States and Utah were peaceably adjusted, after which we were released, those having homes, principally returning to Salt Lake City.l  I took my gun and blanket and walked from Brigham City to Fort Ephraim, a distance of about two hundred miles, where I found our family.

Just a few days before I passed up Salt Creek Canyon on my way, Jens Jorgensen and wife, Jens Terkelsen and Christian and Kjerulf were murdered by Indians, while they were traveling through unarmed on their way to Sanpete Valley.

A few weeks after arriving at Ephraim, a Company of about ten went into the canyons for timber.  While we were getting out timber, a shot was fired and we all started for our wagons and one of our party came down the hill, having received a wound from the shot, which was fired by an Indian in ambush the underbrush being so dense we decided to retreat to the Fort.  However, the wounded man recovered.  That Fall we went to work supplying ourselves with hay, building houses and preparing for the winter; and on December 26th, 1858 I was married to Miss Johanna E. Wedergreen Anderson.

To us were born the following children:   (copied from Neils Madsen book)

Hannah L.             (died when 10 months old)
Louisa B.              (died  at 25 years old)
Andreas                (died at 15 days old)
Annie                    (died at 43 years old)
Emma                  (died after a few hours)
Andrew C.            (died at 67 years old)
Lauritz L.              (died at 2 years old)
Anthon W.            (died at 52 years old)
Neil M.                 (died at 54 years old)
Hilda E.                (died at 69 ?)

To be continued.........

Mt. Pleasant Public School ~ Hamilton ~ taken from History of Sanpete and Emery Counties

This is the Mt. Pleasant (Hamilton) Public School.  

The picture was taken aiming the camera towards the south west.

Manti Temple

The above information is taken from "History of Sanpete and Emery Counties", published in 1898 and published by W. H. Lever.

In 1879, a saw mill was operated in Twin Creek Canyon; later it was moved to Canal Canyon. As all of the work done at this mill was for the Manti Temple, it was called the Temple saw mill; people working there received credit at the temple, some tithing-script was also paid. This mill was operated through the winter; the lumber then was hauled in bobsleds. Women were employed to do the cooking.

The above is taken from "History of Mount Pleasant" written by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf  page 157.

Christian and Ida Marie Larsen Hansen Home ~ Researched by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Elesa Ericksen Waldemar ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ March 2013

John Waldemar ~ Pioneer of the Month March 2013

John Waldemar Family

COMING TOMORROW:
HISTORY OF ELIZA WALDERMAR
(ALESA)


Related Story:

This story is one of my favorites . 

 

James Hansen, my grandfather, a Danish convert to Mormonism, emigrated from Denmark to Utah.  Following church authorities decisions, he and his family were sent to help colonize Sanpete County.  They arrived in Mt. Pleasant in 1859.  James Hansen was a well-educated musician.  He played all the instruments including the organ.  The violin was his favorite. He taught music and dancing, but according to Brigham Young, he and his sons must till the soil.

It was the year 1880, Mt. Pleasant saints were having the greatest 24th of July celebrathion they had ever had.  It was to be held in the bowery with songs, recitation and orations.  But the crowning glory and most exciting part of the program was a contest between Mt. Pleasant's two musicians playing violins.  John Waldemar and James Hansen were the contestants.  John was also a well-trained and outstanding violinist.

John lived with his family on his farm several miles north of Mt. Pleasant city limits. James lived with his family in the large home on Main Street.  He was a very serious man, but he could be jolly.  This mood came to him only when he did the thing he loved best and which he could do best--his music, more especially his violin.  John made his brags to James.  He had new music that he was perfecting for the contest.  This was depressing to James.  New music for this frontier country was unheard of.  He had used all the music and melodies that he had brought with him from the old country.

Then an idea struck this Danish musician.  It was a long way to the Waldemar farm, but that would not stop him.  On the evening when James felt that John's farm work was finished and he would be practicing, he rode his horse to the Waldemar farm.  He crawled close to the open window where he could hear the beautiful violin music filling the air.  Intently he listened until he heard John close his violin case.

Upon returning to his own home, his remarkable ear and memory let him play John's beautiful new tune.

To make himself sure, he returned several nights.  Soon he knew he could play the melody better than John could.  He then went to work on John's music.  He used his Danish training until his piece was presentable.

With much excitement the great day arrived. Everyone in the hamlet attended.  Everyone was excited about the contest.  The audience's applause would declare the winner.  The violinist's drew cuts who should be first.  It was John.  Before the tense crowd, standing erect, John Waldemar began to play.  His beautiful new music filled the bowery.  Women used their handkerchiefs as the melody flowed on.  How could any music excel John's!

James Hansen stepped to the platform.  Silence filled the bowery.  He lifted the instrument to his shoulder.  With his right arm outstretched, he clutched the bow with his beautiful white hand.  deftly he let it slide over the strings while the long fingers of his left hand precisely pressed them.  What music! It was John's melody only in a haunting minor key enhanced by the vibrato of James' left hand.  Then the mood changed.  It was John's melody in a vivacious Danish polka, so rhythmical it was hard for the saints to keep their feet from stamping.  After retruning to John's theme, James turned the music into a scherzo, a waltz with a brilliant pizzicato, finishing with a Danish mazurka.

The bowery rang with applause. There were whoops and hollers, with hats flying in the air, to the very hills.  James had won the day!  His innate ability, coupled with the training acquired in Denmark, won for him the coveted prize- - - - the esteem of his fellow saints.

The friendship of the two musicians was not changed, but never again did John Waldemar make brags before James Hansen.
Sent in by Evelyn Ireland