Take A Look At Yourself ~ from the Johanna Madsen Hafen Collection

Eutaw by Cedar Breakes Band (band version) submitted by Mike Ericksen

The McArthur Clan

 see:  Clan-MacArthur.html

Home of Peter Matson and second wife, Mary Maria Rosenlund ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Family Photos from the Alice Peel Hafen Collection

Barbara Peel 

Front Row:  Naomi Ericksen, Willa Rae Seely, Barbara Peel, Kent Seely

Back: Grandma Ericksen, H.G. Ericksen, Lois Peel, Margaret Peel 

Back:  Grandma Ericksen, Gladys Ericksen Seely,
Middle:  Kent Seely
Front:  Barbara Peel, Grandma Ericksen (again?)

Dancing on Water cover
Virginia in front ? 

Margaret Nielsen

Alberta Marie Larsen Jacobs

taken from familysearch.org

Contributed By Karen Shelley Hacking · 22 August 2014 · 0 Comments

Alberta Maria Larsen Compiled by Karen Fern Jacobs Shelley Hacking June 2012 Alberta Maria Larsen was born 18 Oct 1882, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Her parents were Bishop James Larsen, prominent sheep raiser and wool grower, and Eliza Maria Tidwell Larsen. She was the oldest child in the family. Her sisters were Edith, Ila, and Helen. She also had a brother, who was stillborn. She was the Apple of Her Father’s Eye. They had a very close relationship throughout their whole life. They were indeed kindred spirits. But she also loved her mother and her mother loved her right back! They had a farm in the Bottoms, which was by the Sanpitch River, and between Mt. Pleasant, Utah and Moroni, Utah. Her father James was the Presiding Elder of their branch. When she was two years old, she would stand between her father’s legs, as he presided in the little log school house, used as a church and recited this poem. I love my papa that I do, And mamma says she loves him too. And both of them love me I know, A thousand ways “they” love they show. Her sister Edith was also born on the farm too on 31 Mar 1885. James was happy during this time, with his two little girls and his young wife, struggling to get a start in the world. In 1887, James left on a two year mission to Georgia, Alabama and Florida. He didn’t have an easy time on his mission, but this didn’t deter his testimony of the gospel, because he loved the Lord with all his heart and always wanted to serve Him to the best of his ability. Grandpa Larsen was definitely one of those who had light coming out of him. He possessed an inner strength and spirit that never became dim, but constantly glowed within him and lifted others up in their hour of doubt or tribulation! James and Eliza moved to a house that had been abandoned, but they fixed it up very cozy and nice. It was near the center of town. That is where Ila Fern was born on 18 April1893. When Ila grew up and got married, she and her husband Andy Andersen ran the farm in the Bottoms. In 1897, the family moved into a new, red, brick home, which stands on State Street in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. The date 1897 is written on the front of the house. Her youngest sister Helen Annie was born in this house on the 20 April 1900. Alberta {Berti}, as she was known, went to Public School in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, but there was so high school there, so she then went to college at the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, Utah, when she was only 16 years old. She was up every day at four or five o’clock to study. She enjoyed her time there. She attended the A. C. for two years and then she was a certified teacher. She graduated with the Class of 1902. She went to the Brigham Young University and studied art and writing classes there. She also attended various summer schools and extension courses in Chicago, Illinois and San Francisco, California. She studied child psychology in these courses. She was very intelligent and she enjoyed studying and learning new concepts. When she was a teenager, some of her friends were wearing dresses that were low in the back and quite low in the front. Her father was a Bishop at the time and he made it clear that such styles were not for good girls. All his girls had pretty dresses that were lovely and modest. She and her friends had a zest for living and they were always planning some fun. They’d gather in the beautiful Larsen Parlor, girls and boys alike, and they’d sing with the piano, talk and laugh together. Berti had pretty blond hair with a touch of red in it. She taught Third Grade in Mt. Pleasant for two or three years. Earnest Winkler was the foreman and sheepherder for her father James. They dated and her parents thought that she might marry him. He was quite a good looking guy, but that was not the case. He was busy herding the sheep most of the time, when along came a soft spoken, polished, courteous, well dressed Drummer from Ogden, Utah named Henry Chariton Jacobs Jr.. He was handsome too. A Drummer was a salesman who took orders from the store owners. Then he took the orders for the merchandise back to Salt Lake City, so that they could be filled and delivered. Berti realized that he was quite a “Catch”! They courted whenever he was in Mt. Pleasant and they enjoyed each other’s company. They continued courting and he visited often in the parlor of her home, but he never ate a meal there until they were married. They also went to a few dances. T hey married in the Salt Lake Temple on 17 Dec 1902. They had a lovely, big reception at Berti’s home. Eliza, or Lide, as she was called, made such delicious food for the guests to enjoy. It was the social event of the season! Zeb, Chariton, or Shall’s, brother wanted the newlyweds to move up to Magrath, Alberta, Canada. The church wanted to colonize the area. There was also a canal project that was in the works being done by the church. Zeb wanted Shall to come up and farm, and so he did move up, but Berti had to stay and finish teaching until the end of the school year. In a letter to Berti from Shall dated January 8, 1903, he addressed it –My Own Dear Wife: How does that look to you? A little strange, but nevertheless true thank goodness. Zeb and Shall tried to build them a house, but it didn’t turn out very well. It was very cold and windy there and the wind would blow right through the house. The dishrags would freeze! I think that Shall farmed for a year or so, but then there was a big freeze and everyone lost everything. Then he got a job in the Raymond Merc. owned by Mr. Allen, when they moved to Raymond, Alberta, Canada. Mr. Allen was President Benson’s son in law. When he would walk to work, he’d wrap newspapers all around him, and then he’d wear a big bearskin coat, gloves, and a scarf all around his head, so only his eyes would show. It was so very cold! Berti had to make up her mind that she was going to like Canada. Dot remembers that Berti, or Nana as she was called, made her home very attractive, cozy and liveable wherever she was. At one time they stayed with Zina Card and Senator Smoot there in Canada. While they lived there Shall was a Councilor in the Bishopric and Berti was President of almost all the organizations. Aunt Dot said that at first they couldn’t have a baby, so they had a temple blessing and later Aunt Dot was born and she was named Dorothy because it meant “gift from God”. Ila went to visit them in Canada when she was 12 years old, so that she could help Berti because she was expecting and she was in poor health. Ila said, “They had a little primitive house with no plumbing and not too well built. Wind blew and whistled through the cracks. No grass anywhere. They had to go miles to another town to get water to drink, to bathe in and to wash the clothes in”. They also had to tie the outhouse down with four guy wires, so that it would stay in place. Shall was working hard every day to keep the Raymond Merc going. Ila could only stay until September because of school, but the new baby girl wasn’t born until October 17, 1905. A few years later, the family was able to see their sweet granddaughter and their small grandson James, named after his grandfather. James Larsen Jacobs was born in Canada on 20 Apr 1908. I think that they lived in Canada for about five years and then they moved back to Mt. Pleasant. Shall worked for James in the Progress Mercantile, where they had the ropes from the ceiling to take care of the money. He worked there for about nine years. They lived with her parents for about one year, when they first came back to Mt. Pleasant. Henry Chariton Jacobs 111 was born 10 Oct 1912, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. In 1916, Berti had a breast removed because of cancer. At that time Charry was only about three or four years old and he stayed with Grandma Larsen. They got quite attached to each other this time, as Berti was staying with Aunt Lutie in Salt Lake for about three months after her surgery. Lutie, or Lucy was President Heber J. Grant’s wife. She was Susie Stringham Jacobs’s sister. Briant Stringham Jacobs was born 12 Dec 1918, also in Mt. Pleasant. This was the time of the flue epidemic and much care was taken to be able to stay well. It was amazing that they all did so. Edith, Alberta’s sister died about 6 Dec 1918, of influenza. She had been married to Dr. Harold Robison and had one son named Lynn. This was a hard for Berti, as she and Deed, as she was called, were very close. Alberta was the President of the Young Women’s for about thirteen years. She also taught the Gleaners for many years, and they all loved her! She was President of the Primary too. She also taught Seminary at Wasatch Academy. Alberta sewed everything, but often she was finishing Dorothy’s dress as her date came. She made $60.00 selling Book Craft Books. She also sold Beneficial Life Insurance. One day when she was selling insurance to a farmer in the field, she went too far from the car and got lost. Charry, who wasn’t very old at the time, was in the car waiting for her and she was gone for so long, that he was worried and he prayed fervently that she’d find her way back. Berti said that she prayed too and had felt the Spirit directing her to finally find the car. She thanked Charry for his heartfelt prayer. When Shall worked in the Post Office for several years, Berti helped there too. Later they bought the Jacobs Mortuary, where Shall was the funeral Director and Charry was the Embalmer. Charry did a fine job at this. When Dorothy was ready for college, Berti moved up to Provo and rented a house, so that Dorothy could go to school. It was a boarding house and this is the way she earned money too. Berti took courses also. I think Charry was in the third grade at the time. Once she put up seven bushels of peaches at one time, with the help of a hired girl. In their home in Mt. Pleasant, Berti loved to grow flowers. She was happiest in her garden, in her big garden hat. She even had window boxes full of flowers under her windows. She’d bring many plants in the house and have them in all winter. Berti loved to have garden parties in her lovely yard. She candled eggs and made soap too. They had a big garden, brown chickens, a barn and a cow. Her children said that she was never too busy to help us. Often in the evenings the family would play and sing together. Dot would give a reading, Bri would play his violin, Charry played his saxophone, Jim would sing and Berti accompanied on the piano. Shall and Berti loved each other and there were never cross words. Shall and Berti loved to go camping and enjoy the mountains with their family in their tent. She was a member of the Library Board and helped establish the Carnegie Library in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Alberta was the Chairman of the Book Committee for years. When Berti was young she started the BRG Club and it later turned into the 20th Century Club, which was started in 1901 in Mt. Pleasant. This led to her dedicated work in The Utah State Federation of Women’s Clubs. She was a State Officer from 1924 to1940. She was first Chairman of the Fine Arts Department, then Second Vice President, First Vice President and in 1938, she was elected President. While President she traveled extensively. She visited the White House, the Congress and the Senate and she visited with The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington D. C. This was for the Board of Director’s Meeting for the General Federation held there. She also went to New York, City, San Francisco, California and other places as well. In 1938, she found that she had more cancer. I don’t know if it was stomach or ovarian. She was very sick on and off for nearly two years, loosing much weight, but always trying to do her club work, which was so important to her. Dot came up from Richfield, Utah, to help care for her and I think that Kay was there sometimes too. Kay came up on the D & R G Train. Berti was in the parlor for three months, when she was so sick. At this time, Karen was a small, sweet baby and Fern would take her up in the buggy to visit Nana or Berti almost daily. Nana surely loved the visits. Dot did a wonderful job in caring for her mother. Alberta was bright and dedicated to the church and to her family. Berta was a wonderful woman, who was talented in so many ways. She was just full of poetry and published many poems, painted landscapes, lectured, was very well read, played the piano, and was a wonderful teacher! Many have been blessed by her many talents! She died the day after her father, James, on 7 Aug 1940, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. Alberta and her father were so close in life, and it is fitting that they were close in death also. She is buried in the Cemetery there by her loving husband Shall.

THE RIDE AND TIE TRIP THAT FAILED ~ James L. Jacobs

  My grandfather loved the old pioneer way of traveling called “ride and tie.” When two travelers had but one horse, one would start hiking and the other would ride. The horseman would ride a half-mile or so at a fast clip, then tie up the horse and start out afoot. The hiker would catch up to the horse, mount him and ride a distance past his companion, tie the horse up and again start walking. They continued to ride and tie until they reached their destination. Grandpa and I had been logging timber all week on the mountain near Towhead Peak. On Saturday evening we started to ride and tie the ten miles home to Mt. Pleasant for the weekend. Grandpa told me to ride to the forks of the canyon and tie the horse there, and start walking. I decided that was too far for his first walk, so I disobeyed him by tying the horse on the roadside only half way to the forks and hurried on afoot. I thought Grandpa would find the horse and soon ride past me. He never did. I walked all the way home and worried that he did not come. Long after dark, Grandpa walked into our home and said, “Golly sakes, boy, what did you do with the horse?” I remorsefully explained that I had ridden a shorter distance than he had told me so he would not have to walk so far. Instead of walking down the road as I expected, he had followed the creek to the forks, so had bypassed the horse and walked the ten miles home. Next morning my friend took me on his pony up the mountain to the tied-up horse and I rode him home. I resolved never to disobey Grandpa again.

Source: Personal recollections of the author.

Lions Club Recreation Activity ~ Summer 1929

Recreational activity sponsored by the Lions Club summer 1929. Instructors, not pictured, were Vernal Christensen and Dee Keusseff


Picture taken by Arthur Childs on steps of Johns Gym, Wasatch Academy
First row lf to rt: Rex Matson, Buddy Christensen, Robert Christensen, Gordon Brunger, unk, Ray Freston, Phil Squires, Dale Christensen, Leon Holman, Dewey Fillis, Allen Olsen, Shirly Madsen
2nd row lf to rt: Jake Johnson, Bob Rasmussen, unk, R W Christensen, Ferd Nelson, Bry Christensen, unk, unk
3rd row lf to rt: unk, Doyle Draper, Don Anderson, Bry Jacobs (white shirt), Fred Rasmussen, Rex Syndergarrd, Arron Jones, Emil Lund, Joe Matson
4th row lf to rt: Jean Brunger, Ruth Christensen (blurred), Leone Larsen, Beth Lund, unk, Leslie Candland, unk, Beth Hansen, unk, unk
Top row lf to rt: Dr Holman, unk, unk, unk Camille Holman, Miriam Candland, unk, unk, Coach Brunger holding Tommie Brunger, LR Christensen, Joseph Matson,
(Sent to us by Lee R. Christensen)

My Father ~~~~Mouritz Charles Peterson ~ by David Peterson

David Peterson 

Mouritz Charles Peterson

Biography of Cathrine A. R. Borresen Christensen Fechser

MyHeritage Family Trees

Birth:	Oct 18 1826 - Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Death:	July 29 1902 - Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah, United States
Husband:	Johann Friedrich Fechser

Home of Mathias Jurgensen and wife (Stine) Mary Christine Thompson ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Utah's Own CALICO ROAD

"Calico Road"

 History found with the Johanna Madsen Hafen Collection.

Milan Packard, one of Springville's capitalists was closely identified with the material interest of the city of Scofield.  He worked as a freighter to the Missouri River and to Montana, and later to California.  He was interested in some of the mining projects but later became a successful merchant.  

Among other interests he sponsored and financed the building of a narrow-gauge railroad from Springville into the coal fields of Carbon County, Utah.  Mr. Packard started the road September 7, 1878.  He was his own contractor.  Starting from the tracks of the Union Pacific in Springville, it ran through Spanish Fork Canyon into the mining camp near Scofield.

The men who worked for Mr. Packard received part of their pay in merchandise from Mr. Packard's store.  Calico was the standard cotton material used for clothing at the time.  Consequently, many of the workers took calico as pay, so the road was christened "the
Calico Road". 

The engineer who laid out the road was a Mr. George Goff.  Two later engineers were Faus Smith and Abe Deremus who continued the engineering until the road was within a few miles of Scofield. When a company of eastern men bought the road C.U. Scofield was president of this company. 

This narrow-gauge road was used until 1883 when the Denver-Rio Grande bought it, changed the grade to make it easier to climb and the coal fields of Carbon County and Emery County.  One of the coal miners said "It didn't matter what time of day or night the train reached the mine for coal, the miners filled the car and sent it on its way down the canyon, so it would hurry back for more coal."

For more info on Milan Packard see:

William Zabriskie ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ August 2016

History of William Zabriskie

· 13 February 2014 ·  

William Zabriskie was born the first child of the family of Lewis Curtis and Mary Keziah Higbee Zabriskie, on 13 September 1839 at Quincy, Adams County, Illinois. The family removed to Nauvoo and a short time later to Ambrozia Branch, Lee County, Iowa Territory, although Ambrozia Branch was not organized until a few years later than this. The Zabriskie family resided there for some time whereafter they moved to Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, while on the way there to meet the Saints, as all the Saints were instructed to do so after the death of the Prophet. William’s mother died near Florence, Nebraska. William being a only a little over seven years of age. After the family arrived at Council Bluffs, William’s father, Lewis, married Sarah Ann Park. They made their home in that locality for some time after which they joined a company coming west in the year 1851 arriving in Salt Lake September 23, 1851. They settled first in Provo, later moving down the southern part of Utah, first locating in Pond Town (Salem), Moroni, North Bend (Fairview), Sanpete County, and finally locating in Springtown (Spring City) where his father, Lewis, was a farmer. In the year 1852, July 19, William was baptized along with his sisters Ellen and Hulda, and his father was re-baptized. Williams married Christine Rasmussen or Nielson. She was born 23 December 1841 in Denmark and came with a Nielson family to Utah. In many instances she has been found with the two different names, of which she did adopt the Nielson name, having lived with this family. William married Christine 20 August 1859 at Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah. William took part in the Walker and Blackhawk Wars. He moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1859. He finally located in 1864 where he opened a store and conducted it until 1870. He engaged two years in mining then entered the law office of R.H. Robertson in Salt Lake. He was admitted to the bar in Provo, 27 March 1876 and practiced in Provo and the district Court. He served as U.S. Commissioner about six years. He incorporated the Mt. Pleasant Milling Company of which he was Secretary; also the Moroni and Mt. Pleasant Irrigation Ditch Company being Secretary also a director. He procured the franchise and effected the incorporation of Mt. Pleasant Electric Light Company and was a stockholder. In the year of 1856, December 20, William consecrated the property he had to the Lord in the Provo Stake of Zion in the amount of $175. This we find was preached by President Brigham Young in a sermon on Consecration, June 3, 1855 in the Tabernacle, wherein he remarked that among the first revelations given to the Church and would probably be one of the last to be lived, was the law of Consecration. The principle of it was easy to understand, but the application of it was difficult. “How long have we got to live before we find out that we have nothing to consecrate to the Lord—that all belong to the Father in Heaven; that these mountains are His, the valleys, the timber, the water, the soil; in fine, the earth and its fullness.” It was to be distinctly understood that no person deed his property unless he feels it to be a privilege and prefers to do so of his own free will and choice. Neither do we wish any person to deed any property which is encumbered by debt or liabilities. Many deeded their property to the church in this period of time. (Heart Throbs Volume 4) “Consecration of Property to the Lord” page 316 (Oreen L. Walker). Some of the material in this history of William Zabriskie was taken from a book of Sanpete County, Utah found in the library of Brigham Young University. Also at the Geneological Library in Salt Lake (Utah S 7). Following is an account of the children and to whom they were married: (1) William Henry, born 16 July 1861. Married Emma Fredrickson. (2) Sarah Ellen, born 20 September 1863. She died as a child. (3) Isaac Newton, born 23 December 1865. Married Mary Carrie Eliza Wise, 22 March 1895. (4) Helena Christena, born 10 February 1868. Married Wood Brandon. (5) Charlotta, born 7 April 1870. Married E.L. Underhill. (6) Ida Bell, born 20 November 1871. Married E.J. Moorhouse. (7) Lewis Christian, born 21 November 1874. Married Rose Simpson. (8) Edward Albert, born 25 August 1877. (9) John, born 26 August 1880. He died as a child. William Zabriskie died 1 April 1910 and is buried at Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah. William’s wife, Christine, died 28 April 1908 and is buried in the same cemetery. This history was written by Edith P. Walker, assisted by Oreen Walker, Vida Lystrup, Marion Lund, Mada Lund, Murvel Walker, and Cal Christensen. Source: Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers Family Magazine 1958

(The following comes from GENI)

Christine Rasmussen
Birthdate: December 23, 1841
Birthplace: Quincy, Adams, Illinois, USA
Death: Died March 29, 1908 in Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah
Immediate Family:


Wife of William Zabriskie
Mother of William Henry Zabriskie; Louis Christian Zabriskie; Ida Belle Zabriskie; Helena Christina Zabriskie; Charlotte Zabriskie and 2 others

located in Spring City