Andrew Madsen and C. W. Anderson, of Mt. Pleasant, Purchased a Herd of Sheep in Idaho in 1886 - By David R. Gunderson

  In October 1886, Andrew Madsen and his brother-in-law, C. W. Anderson, both of Mt. Pleasant, purchased a large herd of sheep in Idaho. Andrew Madsen and two of his sons, Andrew C. (age 19) and Neil M. (age 13) went to Idaho to receive the new herd at Glens Ferry, near Mountain Home. Andrew Madsen then entrusted the new herd of sheep to his two sons and they trailed them back to Sanpete by way of Kelton, Corrine and over the desert west of the Great Salt Lake.
The sheep were wintered in Skull Valley, then, in the spring of 1887, they trailed them to the Madsen-Anderson ranch at Indianola. The ranch provided sufficient range to support the new sheep herd without interfering with the cattle which were already there and their successful venture in raising sheep had begun.


Map showing the roughly 250 mile trail route used in 1886 &1887 to
trail the sheep between Glens Ferry, Idaho and Indianola, Utah.

TWO CLASSICS

DEER HUNT ~ David L. Peterson

OLD JEFF

Seventh Grade Play (circa 1955)~ Submitted by Judith Daniels Jackson

Home of John Henry Seely and wife Margaret Folkman Peel ~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

Ferdinand Ericksen ~ Pioneer of the Month ~ April 2017

Ferdinand Ericksen 

Ferdinand Ericksen and his first wife, Clementina Marion Morrison
The child is Beatrice.

Tina died soon after giving birth to their third Child Tina 

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

Ferdinand Ericksen and second wife Carrie Lofgren 

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

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

Birth:	Sep. 30, 1863 Mount Pleasant Sanpete County Utah, USA
Death:	Apr. 20, 1927 Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA 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
Obituary:  Judge Ferdinand Ericksen, for many years prominent in legal business and political life of Utah, died Wednesday at St. Marks, hospital in Salt Lake City, after an illness of several months.He suffered a heart attack about six month ago and was ordered to a lower altitude by his physician. At that time he went to Dallas, Texas, to visit his sister, Mrs. O. C. Anderson. When his condition became worse he returned to Salt Lake and had been in the hospital since. Judge Ericksen was active in the Democratic party for many years and was a factor in the development of Sanpete county in a business and political way. He was the son of Utah pioneers, Lars and Christina Hansen Ericksen, born in Mt. Pleasant September 30, 1863. He received his early education in the Sanpete county schools and later attended the Brigham Young academy at Provo. For a time he taught school in Mt. Pleasant and then attended the law school at the University of Michigan where he graduated in 1890. He was admitted to the bar of Michigan and Utah in the same year and returned to Utah to take up his profession. His political life was long and varied. He first entered politics in 1890 when he was elected Sanpete county attorney Later he served as county treasurer and was a candidate for state senator in 1894, but was defeated. In 1897 he was elected mayor of Mt. Pleasant, in which capacity he served for several terms. In 1904 he was elected judge of the Seventh judicial district and served a four year term. The same year he was a delegate in the national Democratic convention at St. Louis, MO. he was also a candidate for Representative in the House of Representatives of the United State. After serving as judge he returned to private practice in Mr. Pleasant. In 1912 Judge Ericksen moved to Salt Lake and became the law partner of the later Marks P. Braffet. This firm handled the legal business for the Utah Fuel company. In 1915 the partnership was dissolved and Judge Ericksen became general counsel for the Fuel company. He is survived by the following children; Clarence E. Ericksen, Hollywood, Cal.; Mrs,. A. W. Proctor of Sterling, Alberta Canada; Mrs. Obed Nielson, Mt. Pleasant; Mrs E. W. Lambert, William M., F. Harlan, D. Alleen and Elroy L. Ericksen all of Salt Lake. The following brothers and sisters also survive; Mrs. Anderson, Dallas , Texas; Mrs Camilla Noland, Mount Pleasant; Mrs. John Pritchett, Huntington; Mrs. Lena Sorenson Provo, Louis, Orem and Amasa Ericksen, Mt. Pleasant.

Below is the Family group sheet of Ferdinand's Father,  Lars Ericksen.  

Great Dance Routine by James Cagney and Bob Hope ~ Shared by Larry Staker

First Schools In Mt. Pleasant ~ Research done by Mary Louise Madsen Seamons ~ pictures added by Kathy Hafen

Soon after the settlers of Mt. Pleasant had built homes and churches and their crops planted, the colonists made certain that  education was available for their children, as they believed that "the glory of God is Intelligence" and that "no man can be saved in ignorance."

On January 13, 1860 a single teacher opened the first school, sponsored by the LDS Church, in a rough log cabin inside the fort.  Children attended school when they were not needed at hone.  Soon other schools constructed of log and adobe were opened; one in each of the for wards of the town, and the number of teachers was increased.  Eventually a Territorial Superintendent of Public Instruction was named.  He was assisted by a County Superintendent and; locally, by a Board of Trustees consisting of three elected men.  Few textbooks were available, so the children were taught from all types of printed matter including religious books and pamphlets, on blackboards and slates, and through such oral recitation as spelling bees.

In 1875 the ecclesiastical leaders in the East, fearing for the souls of the "misled" mormons, established   mission school in small Utah communities in an attempt to "save the children."  One of these, Wasatch Academy sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, survives in Mt. Pleasant.  For a short time there was also a school supported by the Methodist Church.

Other, more permanent structures, were soon built.  One of the first was a red brick building constructed on the corner of First West and First North, near one of the early schools had been.  This was later remodeled and used as the City Hall.  It now serves as a mortuary.

Hamilton Elementary  

Hamilton Elementary School was completed in 1896 at First East and Main.  The three-story, red brick building consisted of twelve classrooms; four on each floor, and the necessary offices for administrators.  Separate entries were maintained for boys; for girls, and for teachers and staff.  Indoor plumbing was added in the 1920's.

The building had a large brass gong which was usually rung by sixth graders who served as hall monitors.  These monitors watched the round faced clock on the wall above one of the rooms and rang the bell for changing classes or for other assignments during the day.  Students were eager to be monitors so they could spend the day reading and catching up on assignments or just enjoying a day of ease.  The school building was capped with a large school bell which was rung by pulling down vigorously on the attached rope.  If the monitor were strong enough; he or she was also allowed to ring this bell at the appropriate time in the morning.  The bell is now in front of the Mt. Pleasant Historical Society Museum on State Street about a block and a half south of Main Street.

A spiral fire escape was later installed on the outside of the building as a safety precaution.  Although students were forbidden to play on the fire escape, it helped provide them many hours of entertainment in the evenings, on weekends, and during the summer months as they played "Hide-and-Seek" or "Run, Sheep, Run" or used it as a slide.

Hamilton Elementary (Slide Fire Escape View)

Instruction was provided for students in grades one through six, sometimes with the addition of kindergarten, until the school was replaced in 1962.  It originally housed all classes through grade eight until the seventh and eighth grades were moved to the high school.

JOURNEY OF FAITH

With permission of David R. Gunderson, we include the following book to our blog.   I will do a few increments at a time, as I have done with the Andrew Madsen and James Monsen histories.  I will also paste the pages over to David's own blog page: http://davidrgunderson.blogspot.com/
This book will be of interest to not only the Gunderson Family but also to the Brotherson, Ericksen, Peel,   Madsen, Larsen and more.
 
Erick and Caroline Gunderson



                               to be continued…….

Seeley Family In Pickering Township and the Mormon Mission of Pickering Township

Justus Azel and family in the Pickering Township Historical Society Pathmaster, Newsletter, published by the Township of Pickering Historical Society, 16 pages, winter edition, volume 8 numbers 1 & 2

What’s Inside this issue of Pathmaster is devoted almost entirely to the Mormon mission to Pickering Township in the 1830’s. While the Mormon presence was limited for the most part to a mere three years (1835-1838), the impact it had on the township was far greater than that short span would suggest, and the consequences for the history of the Mormon Church also far outweigh the brief association. 

Highlighted here are the families of Edward Lawrence, John Lovell, and Justus Azel Seelye. The Mormon Mission to Pickering Township in the 1830s By John Sabean The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (more informally known as the Mormon Church) was organized on 6 April 1830 in Fayette, New York. Its founder was Joseph Smith, Jr., to whom is ascribed the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon, which is the basis of the Mormon faith and treated as Scripture. 

In June 1832 the first church elders were sent to Upper Canada for the purpose of doing missionary work.1 See the accompanying item regarding the plaque erected near Bath (formerly Ernestown), Ontario, to commemorate this event. By 1836, the Mormon expansion had reached Pickering Township in the person of John Taylor, then a recent convert to Mormonism, but destined to be one of its leaders.   Taylor had been introduced to the church by Parley P. Pratt, a church elder from the United States. 

As Pratt himself described it in his Autobiography, in April 1836 he received a visit to his home in Kirtland, Ohio, from Elder Heber C. Kimball. Kimball prophesied: “Thou shalt go to Upper Canada, even to the city of Toronto, the capital, and there thou shalt find a people prepared for the fullness of the gospel, and they shall receive thee, and thou shalt organize the Church among them, and it shall spread thence into the regions round about, and many shall be brought to the knowledge of the truth and shall be filled with joy.   Pratt soon set out on a mission to Canada and having arrived in Hamilton, was given a letter of introduction to John Taylor in Toronto. Although Taylor was not satisfied with the current teachings of his Methodist faith as he understood it, he was at first resistant to the new teachings he heard from Pratt. Taylor’s wife Leonora, however, was immediately receptive and persuaded her husband to continue to study. In time he, too, was convinced and John and Leonora Taylor were baptized on 9 May 1836. 

Shortly after his baptism Taylor was ordained an elder in the Mormon Church.4 That same spring Taylor came to Pickering Township to preach. (Names associated with this item. Anderson, Ane; Anderson, Jens; Babbit, Almon; Bennett, Mahitable; Brown, Stephen; Butterfield, Josiah; Calkin, Unknown; Clark, D; Clark, John; Combs, Betsy; Conant, Thomas; Crockett, David; Croft, Jacob; Curtis, Enos; D'Angela, Henry; Dunbar, John; Dunbar, William; Eanon, John; Excean, John; Excein, John; Eynon, Thomas; Field, Thomas; Gordon, Christiana; Gordon, William; Gowdry, Oliver; Harris, Joseph; Hart, B; Hayes, William; Hilts, James; Hinckley, Gordon; Hinckley, Ira; Holbrook, Delene; Homes, Joseph; Hubbard, Thomas; Johnson, Leo; Johnston, Ross; Kimball, Heber; Landon, Joseph; Landon, Mark; Law, William; Lawrence, Edward; Lawrence, Henry; Lawrence, John; Lawrence, Lettice; Lawrence, Maria; Lawrence, Nelson; Lawrence, Sarah; Leavens, John; Logan, James; Lount, Samuel; Lovell, George; Lovell, Grace; Lovell, John; Lovell, Joseph; Major, Hannah; Major, John; Major, Margaret; Marquis, W;, George; Norman, Mary; Page, John; Parsons, Anne; Parsons, Seelye, Justus; Seelye, Mahitable; Seelye, Sarah; Skeane, Andrew; Smith, Elizabeth; Smith, Hyrum; Smith, Joseph; Smith, Rachel; Strong, Elial; Taylor, John; Taylor, Leonora; Taylor, (and others)

for more info click Here:

MT. PLEASANT PIONEER DAY, MARCH 25, 2017

Crowd at the Celebration



Theme:  The Sheep Industry 

Approximately 275 people attended this year's celebration.  Everyone enjoyed the festivities.  The weather was a little damp, but the atmosphere inside was warm and welcoming.  Fried chicken strips with rolls, jelly, potato salad, chips, oreos and ice cream were served.  Our president, Dale Peel had been pushing for fried mutton, but our beloved Diane Lund, who has prepared the lunch for many years, won the debate.  

Wanda Stewart

Wanda Stewart took the honors for being the oldest woman in attendance.  I arrived late and did not hear how old she is.  

Mac Wilkey (oldest man) with President Dale Peel

We were honored to have Mac sit at our table and as he stood when asked if there were anyone over 86, Mac said "Surely I am not the oldest man here".  Sure enough, he did get the prize.  We think there were other men older than Mac who wouldn't stand up.  Then when he sat down, he said "Boy am I gonna get teased by my kids."  Peter said, "Yes, now we can call you Methusalah".  

Kevin Anderson, Gary Arnoldsen and Larry Seely furnished the musical program with songs about Sanpete, Fairview Canyon, and Sheep Herding.  Some were written by themselves.  They did a wonderful job.  (I took a poor picture)

Judith Daniels Jackson has headed up the quilt committee for several years and tickets were sold for this quilt.  It turned out beautiful.  The winning ticket was someone from Fairview.

The photos on the quilt all had to do with the sheep industry.  Sheep, sheep dogs, and sheep camps. A real treasure.  

Dale took around the microphone and encouraged everyone who had special memories to share them.  There were several fun stories told.

Gloria Daniels read a poem written by one of her relatives.

Paul Sorensen told of his great grandfather Millar the Sheep Dog trainer from Scotland.  His story has been posted here a few weeks ago.

Minutes were read.

Then Dale had asked Deann Peterson Lubbers, Steve Monsen and Charlie McKay to each share some of their memories on stage.  

The festivities ran long and many were ready to go home. 

Both the south wall and west wall of the recreation hall were lined up with artifacts, albums, pictures and more for everyone to see.  

The Relic Home and Blackshop were open for visitors as well.  

There were a few sheep camps on display in the parking lot.

SUCCESSFUL DAY

One to Remember for many years to come. 

5 Reminders That Will Make Today Better