"PIONEER MEMORIES" By Swen O. Nielson, 1934

Taken from History of Mt. Pleasant by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf pp 308-313 "PIONEER MEMORIES" By Swen O. Nielson,

1934 I am very happy to be with you on this occasion, for the purpose of allowing our minds to revert to the days when that noble band of pioneers had the fortitude to start this settlement I came here in September 1863; four and one-half years after the first pioneers came. There are some outstanding features in connection with this settlement that I cannot forget. It takes my memory back to the time when I was a poor immigrant boy.

My mother left Denmark with three children, I being the eldest. We left my father and elder brother to come two years later. We buried my sister on the Plains and mother gave birth to a boy a few days after we arrived here. Mother lived wherever she could I was away working for my board most of the time, as we were absolutely poverty stricken.

Mother had a hard time of it. Had it not been for the generosity of the people here she could not have pulled through-but she never suffered more than other ­people. Mads Anderson was an old friend of ours from Denmark When we came he was building a house and he promised that when it was completed we could live in it for the winter.

The way he built it was this: He staked it out. Then he put down a layer of mud. When that was dry he put on another layer of mud, until he had it up to the square. Then he laid the gables and put the ridge poles on, then small poles and birches were laid over these, and then straw and dirt was put on top of the poles and birches. There was no floor in the house. It had one door and two windows. No lumber was used except for the door and windows. It was a one-room house with a large fireplace in it. Large sagebrush was the only fuel we had. The two families lived there all winter.

I was in Ephraim most of the time. Mother took up a city lot. Our first home was just across the street, south of the Second Ward Schoolhouse, First South and Third West. No one cared for this lot as it had two hollows running through it. The generous people of Mt. Pleasant built her a house on this lot. It was on a hill, part underground. There were logs on top, covered with earth roof and the floor was also of earth, but it was a home and a sweet home at that. I had my first pair of shoes in Utah in the fall of 1865, after my father came. The leather was tanned by an old man named Larter, who lived just one block west of your meeting house. A shoemaker made my shoes. The hair was not all off the leather. I had them on during the first snow storm. The water went through the leather, and the shoes stretched so much that I kicked them off. They dried during the night and that shrunk them up so that I could not get them on until after I had soaked them up.

 My mother made a few candles by dipping wicking into warm tallow. When completed they were one-half an inch at the top and one and one-half inches at the bottom. Mother gave me one of them and it was accepted as my ticket for the theatre. When I went to the theatre, I would go out just before the play was over. They would give me a pass-out ticket. I would go home and the next play I would pass in on my ticket. This worked most of the winter until they changed door keepers and thus ended my theatre going.

 Remembering all the kindness which was showered on us, I would be an ingrate now not to have a feeling of love for those sturdy pioneers. In. discussing the early settlement of Utah, It must be borne in mind that this territory was settled under differ­ent circumstances to that of any other. We were far away from civilization, in a wild country, with many Indians to feed or to fight. Hence it was necessary to build in colonies and work together. Since that time and having had experience in pioneering. I have marveled at what was done in the three and one-half years before I came.

I can imagine a caravan in the spring of 1859) pulling in on Pleasant Creek. Let me here describe the home-seekers of that day. Usually the wagon was drawn with two yoke of oxen. The wife and children sat in front with their bonnets on. There would be the rifle and powder horn hanging in the bows of the inside, and a plow and harrow on the outside, with two boxes tied to the rear of the wagon, containing two or three pigs and a dozen chickens; the cat being held by the children. The older children drove the loose stock. This will about describe or give you a picture of the first settlers of Mt. Pleasant.

 I imagine about the first thing they did was to wander through the brush and select a site for the future city. They had a splendid man and pioneer at their head, and whatever he decided was accepted. I assume that the first thing that was done was to make a survey of lots, numbering them, and then they drew lots for the lots. Next would be to grub their lots and get some cottonwoods to build a pig pen and chicken coop. Then the building of the roads into the canyons to get out poles and house logs and timber. Next they would be making ditches and fencing and surveying the field land and clearing the lands.

 Women in many instances drove oxen. Sarah Scoville drove her own ox team from the Missouri River, thereby getting the name of Captain Mac. Women and children raked the wheat into bundles and bound them. Women always did their full share. The usual thing was for all to be out of flower by harvest. The first wheat to ripen would be cut and put in the sun to dry, then trodden out with oxen and horses. We had no threshing machines then. Our grain would be threshed out by oxen and horses, then put through a fanning mill run by hand. Our houses were generally dirt floor and dirt roof.

When I moved to Fairview in 1867, there were only. three houses with shingle roofs. Many lived in dugouts. We had no machinery; all hay and grain was cut by hand. I have seen blacksmiths stand and make nails by hand. It would seem nowadays a slow process. But when you think of it. it had to be done, as a few nails had to be used. Hales and pins could not be used in all places. In 1867, when our meeting house was built at Fairview, we paid a big price in Salt Lake for nails. Many no doubt will wonder how we obtained them. This probably was not so bad during the gold rush to California and the rush to Arizona. The Indians set fire to the grass on the plains and burned many trains, leaving nothing but the track, which was free to all. Plows were made from the tires.

We had to live on what we produced. The women and girls carding and spinning the yarn; others doing the weaving. Color did not cut much figure; warmth and wear then were the essentials. If we broke a wagon wheel, we would go to the mountains and get maple and make spokes. The people were a group of self-supporting people in nearly all respects. We had no such thing as a butcher's shop. We could not kill the cattle, as the steer calves were needed for oxen and the heifers for cows. We did have some pigs to kill in the fall.

 Besides our own burdens, we had other troubles. We had to feed or fight the Indians. We sent eight or ten young men with as many wagons, with four yoke of oxen to the wagon, after immi­grants. About six hundred immigrants were brought in and had to be cared for. As we had no hay, we had to haul it from Chester with our ox teams. This was a very slow process.

 But with all our hardships, we were happy. We had no social classes. We were all on a level. All rejoiced together and all shared each other's sorrows. The success of the colony can be summed up in this way: The unity of the community-their faith in God and men; their willingness to do their share of all public work; their generosity to the needy; in fact, they lived as one family, never complaining, but all willing to put their shoulders to the wheel and push. There was never any bickering or fault finding with the leadership; they all pulled together. In unity there is strength. I have a few observations which I made here in early days.

 There was an old Englishman by the name of Lee, who lived here. He was the father of Brig Lee; he was working at a shingle mill. In some way he got his arm in the machinery, and it was crushed. He was taken to his home. I happened along about that time. I stood on the outside, so I could hear all that went on. As we had no doctors or anesthetics, the crudest method had to be resorted to. Mr. Lee was placed on a table. Four men held him. Old man Tidwell performed the operation of amputating the arm. After it was over Mr. Tidwell described in detail the operation. It took forty minutes. It was terrible to hear the screams of this old man. It still lingers in my memory. All the tools they had were a knife and a meat saw. The old man recovered and lived many years after.

 There was no real post office in Mt. Pleasant when I came here. Moroni was the nearest real post office. From there it would be hauled by anyone who happened to be coming here and be distributed in some way to the people. At that time letters could be sent from foreign countries and the amount collected at its destination. When my mother received word that a letter was there for her, she would skirmish around and raise the money. then walk to Moroni and get her letter. As I recollect, it was Mrs. David Candland who was the first postmaster.

 I attended the organization of the first Sunday School. A man by the name of Stansforth, who was managing a little store for Jennings and Sons, was the organizer. It was held in the old Bowery. Our seats were all made from heavy slabs with five two. inch holes with oak stakes driven in for legs. Four of these benches were set in a square. The teacher would sit in the middle of one of these. I belonged to the Bible class with Anthon H. Lund as the teacher. This same bowery was used as a dancing pavilion. Many danced barefooted and enjoyed themselves.

 I desire to mention one incident which I saw. You have all heard about smoking the pipe of peace. This, with the Indians, was like the white men putting his seal on a public document. Our Indian War closed by the Treaty of Peace in the fall of 1867. In the spring of 1868. Sowiette, the chief of all the branches of the Utes, came and camped one-half mile west of Fairview. He sent word to Bishop Tucker to call on him. At that time I was living with Bishop Tucker. We took some lunch to him and an interpreter with us. After lunch, the chief ordered his pipe, filled and lit. He took a puff, then handed it to the Bishop, who took a puff. This was con­tinued until it was all smoked. During all this time a continued discussion was going on regarding the Black Hawk War. The chief expressed himself as being very much opposed to the war. He promised he would do all in his power to prevent further hostilities. I think Sowiette was the oldest living man I ever have seen. His hair was absolutely white; he was blind; and he was rather slender, about six feet tall.

Henrik Erickson, Sr. Family Group Sheet

To our "Kissing Cousins" who visited the Relic Home in July, here is our link to one another.  Henrick Sr.'s son was Henry Jr. and was Wilhelmina's husband and operated the Ericksen Meat and Grocery with his brother Alif. 

Darlene Larsen Olsen

Rudolphus N, Bennett

Obituary 

Birth:	Oct. 7, 1843 Nashville Jackson County Iowa, USA
Death:	Dec. 29, 1927 Manti Sanpete County Utah, USA
Rodolphus N. Bennett, Indian war veteran, pioneer settler and colonizer, and the oldest man in Mt. Pleasant, died at the family home Thursday after a long illness due to the infirmities of old age. Mr. Bennett was born October 27, 1843 in Nashville, Iowa. His parents, David and Johannah, Lovelith Bennett and their ten children were among the earliest converts to the L. D. S. faith, coming to Utah in 1850 in the company of which David Bennett was captain. Mr. Bennett came to Mt. Pleasant among the earliest settlers in 1852, and had resided here ever since, with the exception of some years spent in colonizing settlements and on missionary labors. His first wife died May 2, 1900, and two years later he married Mrs. Matilda A. Burns, widow of Sheriff Milton Burns, who survives him. Three sons and three daughters by his first marriage also survive. Family links:  Parents:   David Alma Bennett (1801 - 1853)   Joanna Lowell Bennett (1803 - 1856)  Spouses:   Hannah E Allred Bennett (1848 - 1900)*   Matilda Josephine Anderson Burns Bennett (1853 - 1936)*  Children:   William Rudolphus Bennett (1864 - 1930)*   Ann Laura Bennett Madsen (1885 - 1976)*   Isaac Rowlin Bennett (1887 - 1964)*  Siblings:   Laura Elizabeth Bennett Young (1826 - 1880)*   Alma Harrison Bennett (1831 - 1905)*   Mahetable Mahala Maria Bennett Beers (1834 - 1888)*   Rudolphus Nathaniel Bennett (1843 - 1927)   Emma Euphrasia Bennett Porter (1848 - 1928)* *Calculated relationship
Burial: Mount Pleasant City Cemetery Mount Pleasant Sanpete County Utah, USA Plot: A_36_3_8

 What was the Kolob Guard? 

More Wives Than One: Transformation of the Mormon Marriage System, 1840-1910By Kathryn M. Daynes

The following are snippets from Mt. Pleasant History by Hilda Madsen Longsdorf  

p 63: We quote Rudolph N. Bennett, in a talk given by him at a pioneer meeting, March 24, 1924, "There was at that time three months at school and nine months out at work, not vacation; no wonder some of us have not the book learning we would like, but we did not have the opportunity to get it. The school seats were then made of slabs and the desks were of rough boards. The schools now have all that is necessary, including music." Concerning the use of the building, we again quote Mr. Bennett, "This building was also used for a dance hall, 'Nigger Shows,' theatre and school doings. The lights were furnished by a sage brush or cedar fire; on special occasions tallow candles were used. The house was always packed because the people were glad for any kind of entertainment that could be given."

Among other prominent pioneer musicians, who also contributed necessary pioneer music were Levi B. Reynolds, violinist; George Nielsen, tambourine; Orin Clark, the Jaw Bones of an Ox on a stick; Alma Staker, Bone Clapper; Rudolph Bennett, Triangle; Bent Hansen, Bass Fiddle; Soren Hansen, Clarinet; Andrew Bram­sted, Violin; and August Mynear, Violin.

p 64: During the late summer and during the fall and winter months, P. M. Peel and James Porter Sr., built a chopping mill on Peel's lot on Pleasant Creek, (northeast corner, intersection, Main Street and First West) where the stream had previously been taken out and used for irrigation purposes. Here the stream furnished the water power with which to run the mill. Owing to the distance to the nearest flour mill, this mill was a great assistance, and the people were glad to take their wheat there to be chopped. It was ground between two stones and came out quite black, but coarse as it was, it served the purpose and was used for bread. At about this time, a small Burr mill was built east on Pleasant Creek, a little south of where the Mount Pleasant flour mill is now, by John

Fredrick Fechser and John Ellertsen, (Spring City). A whip saw was installed in the fort, on the banks of Pleasant Creek, by Wellington Seeley and Rudolph N. Bennett, and was operated by Tho­mas Dutton.

p68: 

Realizing the need of recreation and entertainment, in 1860, a dramatic company, which always played to packed houses, was organized by a number of people, among whom were W. W. Bran­don Sr., John Ivie and wife, Katherine Ivie, Rudolph Bennett, George Porter and Joseph Smith Day. As time went on, the per­sonnel of the company would change, but W. W. Brandon and Katherine Ivie played with them for years. During the winter months, their plays were put on in the log meeting house in the center of the fort, using wagon covers and other such material as they could provide for scenery. Among other plays, they pre­sented the Merchant of Venice, and Good For Nothing Nan.

p 72: Independence Day, July the 4th, 1861, was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies. A new flag pole was erected on the Church Square. It was one straight, long pole brought from the mountains by Svend Larsen, Abraham Day, William Morrison Sr., and others, and prepared with a plane and' draw knife brought from Norway by Erick Gunderson Sr., was set up by Erick Gunderson Sr., Gunder E. Gunderson, Jacob Rolfson¹, William Morrison Sr., and others. There was much rejoicing; an ox had been killed for the occasion and a public dinner was given in the bowery, on the south side in the square. A pitch pine torch in each corner of the bowery furnished the light for the dance held in the evening, for which music was furnished by John Waldermar, James Hansen, Lars Nielsen (Fiddler), and others. All enjoyed them selves to the utmost. R. N. Bennett states, "I recall the dances held often in the old bowery, dancing on the dirt floor, some of us barefoot, but we would make the dust fly. Bishop Seeley was great on big eats. A saying was, 'We'll cut a squash, kill a chicken and have a treat.' The only fruit I remember we ever had were bull berries, service berries, and choke cherries, these were dried and used in the winter, too."

 p. 90: 

As Rowe drove up, the Indian took Conderset's hat and put it on his own head and stood astraddle of the fire. We did not under­stand why. Rowe looked at the Indian and said, 'Boys, he is here for no good.' Conderset told his father what the Indian said about the Indians killing eight men in Provo Canyon. Rowe be­gan asking the Indian questions about it. The Indian said that it was eight sleep

ya-tes, eight days since, holding up eight fingers. Rowe said, 'You are mistaken, for if it were so, the papers would talk about it.' The Indian became uneasy and wanted to go to his saddle. Rowe said, 'I will go with you.' The Indian seemed willing that he should do so, till he got his horse, when he said his horse's back was sore, which was very common with Indian horses. Rowe told the Indian that he would walk for he was anxious to keep the Indian with us all night. He also told the Indian that there would be ten men there by morning, and ten more later, word having reached Mount Pleasant that the Indians intended making a raid on Thistle Valley. Upon hearing this, the Indian became more eager to go than ever, he jumped on his horse and was gone, and we saw no more of him. Mr. Rowe remarked that trouble was brewing and that we would have to shift for ourselves as best we could. About midnight, after we had conversed about what we would do in case we were attacked, we heard a yell down in the valley in the direction of the road. Rowe said: 'there comes the boys.' We boys fearing that it might be Indians, planned what to do if such should be the case. It proved to be four boys from Mount Pleasant, namely, R. N. Bennett, Don C. Seely, Peter Miller and James Hansen. They told us that as they were coming up from the road, they saw a small fire up Indian Hollow, and started towards it, when they got into a ridge and saw our fire, and came to it. We got supper for them. We looked for more men in the morning, but they did not come. We gathered the stock and sheep and drove to Mount Pleasant. At Fairview we got supper at Gammet's. There was no further trouble with Indians that fall, but we always believed that if we had not received timely help, we might have been murdered."

p 91: In April, another call was made for men with oxen and wagons to go east to bring immigrants. Anthon H. Lund¹, C. W. Anderson, James Gundersen, J. D. Page, and Lars Frandsen, with R. N. Bennett as night guard responded. They, with their oxen and wa­gons, went to Salt Lake City where a company of 277 men, 177 wagons and 1717 oxen were fitted out with provisions for the im­migrants whom they met at Wyoming, a village seven miles north of Nebraska City, Nebraska, as that place instead of Florence, Nebraska had then been selected as an out-fitting place.

 

p 95: A call was made for Mount Pleasant to send twenty-three men to the defense of the inhabitants of Sevier Valley. A few days later, a group of well-armed men responded to the call, according to Andrew Madsen's Journal, "A party of about twenty men, John Ivie, Dolph Bennett (R. N.), Orange Seeley, George Frandsen, Christian Jensen, Alma Zabriskie, Peter Fredricksen, N. Peter Madsen. Mortin Rasmussen, myself and others, with three baggage wagons driven by Rasmus Frandsen, Jacob Christensen and Peter Y. Jensen, started out at daybreak. At our arrival at Manti, we were told what had transpired at Salina Canyon and of the killing of Ward and Anderson. We were ordered to hurry on at once. We arrived in Salina early in the evening where we were joined by a number of men from other settlements. Preparations were made during the night, and early the following morning, Colonel Reddick Allred with eighty-four armed men started up Salina Canyon in pursuit of the Indians. About ten miles east of Salina,

p 100: On the other side of the river we could see fresh wichiups made of green trees. The river was too high to ford. Dolph Bennett, of Mount Pleasant, John Sanders, of Fairview, and Jens Larsen of Ephraim, were chosen as advance guards to swim across to investi­gate. John Sanders very nearly drowned, but was rescued by Bennett. The advance men, upon reaching the other shore found a great many fresh tracks of the Indians, and called back to tell of their find. After scouting about a short time, they returned across the river to the balance of the company. Most of the com­pany wanted to follow the tracks, but upon taking inventory of their supplies, which now consisted of cracker crumbs only, the officers decided on account of the jaded condition of the horses and the lack of supplies, to give up the chase and return home. 

pp 106,107: Concerning the expedition, R. N. Bennett stated: "Not all Indians were bad. There were many good ones living near Nephi and in Utah County, but on account of so many renegades, as they were called, it was hard to tell the good from the bad. So naturally, we were suspicious of all. In the spring of 1866 old Chief Kanosh sent word to the effect that a lot of Indians, who had stolen cattle, etc., were camped in Nephi Hills. This was told to officers Snow and Allred. Jake, a son of Kanosh, had been raised among the white people and Kanosh said if the Mormons wanted him to, he would send him to pick out the renegades or bad Indians. The outcome was they secured a bunch of those who had killed, and started with them to Manti to be tried and put in jail. However, on the way we had some trouble. At daybreak we heard the dogs barking. We were camped in a flat. Jake called to the other Indians in a tone that made the mountains echo and told them to keep still or be killed. The Indians were unruly and in the skirmish one was killed. They held court at Manti. Jake gave evidence against the Indians; four were condemned to be killed and the rest put in jail. A bunch of white men were detailed or drafted to get rid of the four."

March 20th, orders were again received at Mount Pleasant for men, this time for ten to go to an Indian camp in Salt Creek Canyon, near Nephi. They at once responded and they, with others from other settlements, captured four Indians who had been with Chief Black Hawk at Ephraim the year previous, when so many depredations were committed. According to orders, the captives were shot and killed in a ditch below Nephi. The men were away from Mount Pleasant on this expedition three days. April 15th, a call was made by the church for men to go east for immigrants. The following men, Hans Brotherson, Charlie Hampshire, George Tuft, Christian Petersen (Peel), Neils Jensen,

107




Hans Scholft, Fredrick Petersen, Neils L. Lund, August Mynear,

Oscar Barton, Don Carlos Seeley, and Jorgen Hansen, with Lyman Peters as night guard, were fitted out by the colonists and left Mount Pleasant April 19th with eleven wagons and 44 oxen for Salt Lake City, where they joined with others. The entire company leaving Salt Lake City consisted of 456 teamsters, 49 mounted guard, 89 horses, 134 mules, 304 oxen, and 397 wagons.

On Oc­tober 20th they returned with a company of immigrants who were chiefly from Scandinavia. This company consisted of a part of Abner Lowry's company. On the journey crossing the plains, 'George Farnsworth had rendered efficient service in waiting on the cholera patients as he was the only man with the company who was acquainted with the disease. Fifty-six persons died on the plains, leaving Farnsworth in charge of fifty-three orphans, whom he brought to Utah. They were distributed among the saints who applied for them.

On April 18th, Indian Chief Sanpitch and other Indians, broke jail at Manti. A posse was at once in close pursuit and three Indians were killed within the city limits. R. N. Bennett, Peter Miller, Niels Madsen, Peter Christopherson and others, started in pursuit of the remainder of the party. 

They were joined by a group of men from Moroni and other places. Concerning this, we quote R. N. Bennett: "George Tucker was my captain in the fore part of 1866. In the spring we captured nine Black Hawk Indians in the mountains east of Nephi, and put them in the county jail at Manti. About April 14th they broke jail, three of them being killed while trying to escape, and others went so far north as Fountain Green, then called Uinta, going into the mountains on the west. 

p 110: Quoting R. N. Bennett: "David Candland was sent with the epistle for the people of Fairview to move to Mount Pleasant, the people of Fountain Green to Moroni, and the people of Spring City to move to Ephraim. John L. Ivie and myself were sent as Candland's body guards. After these families had moved, the minute men of Mount Pleasant and other settlements had to go as guards for the men while they did their work."

 p 112: A cavalry consisting of about eighteen or twenty men, includ­ing Colonel Ivie, George Tucker, Orange Seely, R. N. Bennett (Dolph), Martin Aldrich, Aaron Oman, Niels Madsen, and Peter Fredricksen started with great speed for Dewey's camp, at Fair­view, others joined them.

p 113: During the skirmish in Thistle Valley, Orange Seely and Dolph Bennett, seeing an Indian leave his horse and sneak into the wash towards camp, captured the horse, saddle, bridle, a buckskin jacket and a long lasso rope. Seely kept the horse for some time as a trophy of war. All horses, excepting five or six head of saddle horses were missing. These were hitched by the rescuing party to the wagons and the camp was moved to a more protected loca­tion, where Indianola now stands. The body of Charles Brown was taken to Mount Pleasant for burial.

R. N. Bennett made the following statement concerning the attack: "June 24, 1866, Black Hawk warriors attacked Captain Peter Dewey's company at Thistle Valley, killing one man, Charles Brown, of Draper, and wounding Thomas Snaar, and driving off twenty or more head of horses. John L. Ivie, Orange Seely, George Tucker, myself and others went to recover the horses. We followed Black Hawk and his band nearly to the head of Spanish Fork River, going a distance of about forty or fifty miles, then follow­ing down the Spanish Fork River, to about where Thistle Junction now is. During this engagement three or four Indians were killed, and a number wounded."

p117: It was originally intended to build a wall twelve feet high, but as the trouble with the Indians grew less serious, the wall was never completed.

Andrew Rolph states that to build this wall, people were or­ganized in companies with captains. Mortin Rasmussen, he remembers, was captain over one group. The wall was constructed on a straight line, for about three blocks on the east side of Fourth East. Orin Clark's house, about southeast of the corner of the interdiction of Main and Fourth East was east or outside of the wall. North of Main, the wall ran about a block north, then northwest one block, and ended there. Svend Larsen's and Jim Walker's houses, about southeast of the corner of intersection of Fourth East and Main, and the house on the northeast corner of interdiction of First North and Third East was west, or inside of the wall. The rocks from this wall were later used to wall up cellars all about the city. R. N. Bennett stated that a bastille was started In this wall but not completed.''

p 130: with R. N. (Dolph) Bennett acting as head freighter. Long trips were made with mule or horse teams, shorter ones with ox teams. The store receiving cash for their produce, many people were thereby benefited. 

p 138: August 26th, 1868, Dan Miller, of Nephi, and his son, returning with a load of lumber from Snow and Douglas Mill in Oak Creek Canyon, east of Spring City, were attacked by Indians. Dolph Bennett, who was on his way to the mill, discovered Mr. Miller lying in a bed of cactus. After lifting him out he went to the mill to give the alarm. 

p 139: Quot­ing R. N. Bennett: "Records show that during the war 72 white people and about 122 Indians were killed in Utah."

An act to pension the survivors of certain Indian Wars from

January 1, 1859, to 1891 was approved March 4, 1917. Coming at this late date the majority of those who had served in the early days had passed away. The following named are those who at that time proved up in Mt. Pleasant: Martin Aldrich, Claus An­derson, C. W. Anderson, Rasmus Anderson, Oscar Barton, Rudolph Bennett, Andrew Beckstrom, Martin Bohne, Martin Brother­son, Joseph Burton, John Carlson, James Christensen, Robert Eiertson, Rasmus Frandsen, James Hendricksen, Neils Johansen, Andrew Jensen, Sophus Johnson, John Knudsen, Brigham Lee, Peter Monsen, Bennett Monk, James Olson, Ole Arlson, Olof Rosenlof, Conderset Rowe, Hyrum Seely, John H. Seely, William Seely, Olof Sorensen, John Waldermar, August Wall, Thomas Wrest, Hazzard Wilcox, Alma White, Joseph Wise, Oscar Ander­son, Wesley Bills, Joseph Coates, Henry Ericksen, Peter N. Jensen, Peter Rasmussen, Joseph N. Seely, Andrew Rolph, S. A. Barton, Edmond C. Johnson, William Olson. The last four named are living in Mt. Pleasant, in 1939, as are the widows of Martin Aldrich, Joseph Burton, Sophus Johnson, Oscar Barton, Hazzard Wilcox, John Carlson, Peter M. Jensen, Oscar Anderson and A. G. Omen.

 p 203: Rudolph N. Bennett, a Black Hawk War Veteran, and the last survivor of the pioneers whose names are engraved on the Mt. Pleasant monument, died December 29, 1927, at the age of eighty­four years.

Mahetable Bennett Seeley

Mehitable (Bennett) Seeley

· 25 October 2015 ·

Mehitable (Bennett) Seeley

by Belle H. Wilson

Mehitable was the youngest child of a family of twelve children born to Amos and Anna (Duncan) Bennett. From various sources came the conflicting dates of Mehitable’s birth as: 17 Nov 1779 or 17 Oct. 1780. The Bennett family was listed in the 1790s in Orange County, N. Y. However, they must have moved back and forth from Orange County to the northeast part of Pennsylvania several times because of Indian attacks and destruction of property.

October 1985

In the History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, Vol. 1, p. 182, 183, we found this brief account of the Bennetts:

“Amos Bennett and his family were living in Wyoming, PA, at the time of the Indian attack (July 3, 1778) occupying a log house. During the progress of the battle, a party of Indians came near and were discovered. One of Mr. Bennett’s daughters, out of curiosity, opened the door, but was instantly pulled back into the house and door reclosed. Scarcely had the inquisitive girl been dragged into the house when a bullet struck into the door-post where she had stood a moment before . . . About the year 1785, Mr. Bennett removed with his family from Orange County, N. Y. to Wyalusing, Pa, where he lived until 1791, then purchased property and settled permanently in Asylum Bradford County, Pa. He built a little tub-mill at the falls just below the road on Bennett’s creek . . . His house stood on the flats. Mr. Bennett died in 1813. His wife Anna died 1814.”

Amos Bennett left a Will, which is included in this collection, in which he named his twelve children. However, here is listed the children with their spouses as found in the printed history quoted above: Amos, Jr. married Amy Wilcox and lived in North Towanda. Thomas went to Genesee County, N.Y., married, and later lost his wife (name unknown). John married Hannah Vargason and lived in Albany Township, Bradford County, N.Y. Gideon - nothing more known - but was named in his father’s Will of 1812. Daniel married in the Genesee County, N.Y. and died there. Nathan went to Genesee County, married Polly Ellsworth and joined the Mormons. Benjamin married Betsy Abbatt of Wyalusing. He was drafted in the War of 1812 and was discharged after reaching Danville, Pa. Susanna married Joshua Bailey, lived in North Tawanda.

Justus Azel had lived with his parents, Justus and Sarah (Stuart) Seeley in Canada, so after a few years in Pennsylvania he returned to Pickering Home District in Upper Canada in 1811 with his parents, his wife, Mehitable, and their five children who had been born in Pennsylvania. The children were: Rachel, born 2 Sept. 1801; Rebecca, born 4 July 1803; John born 8 June, 1805; Elizabeth, born 29 July 1807; and Mary born 24 Jan., 1810.

Hetty (Mehitable) married Justus (Azel) Seeley and removed with her husband to Canada. Prudence married Jacob Strickland of Wysox, Pa. and went West with her husband about 1811. Martha married Richard Benjamin, lived in Asylum, Pa. Hanna married Benjamin Acla, lived in Asylum. After years of research it has been established that Amos Bennett Sr. was born 20 Mar. 1739 at Locke, Cayuga Co., N.Y. near the Finger Lakes, the son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Smeallie) Bennett. Ebenezer was the son of Thomas and Ann Bennett. Extensive research has not yet established the Duncan ancestry beyond Anna - wife of Amos Bennett. Mehitable was about twenty years of age when she met and married Justus Azel Seeley on 9 April 1800 in Luzerne Co., Pa.

John Taylor, a minister in nearby Toronto, Canada, had a congregation of devout Christians who were studying Christ’s Church. The Seeleys were member of this group. When Parley P. Pratt and his companion came from Kirtland, Ohio, preaching the restored Gospel, John Taylor and many of his congregation became baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In January 1812, a war broke out again with the United States. Justus Azel was drafted by the English into the military service and was assigned to barracks at Toronto Canada where he stayed until mid-May 1812. When illness of his wife, Mehitable, necessitated his return home on furlough, his father Justus substituted for his son. On 18 May 1812, Mehitable gave birth to a son, William Stuart. That same day, Justus Seeley died at the barracks as the newest grandson was born. While living at Pickering, Home District, Upper Canada, three more children were born to them: Justus Wellington, born 20 Jan. 1815; Sarah Ann, born 27 Aug. 1817; and David Seeley, born 12 Oct 1819. Mehitable, her husband and children, resided in Upper Canada until 1838. The Seeleys, following conversion, made the decision to gather to their Zion, then in Far West, Missouri. William, his wife and family, along with his parents, Justus Azel and Mehitable, went by way of the Great Lakes in steamers, while David and Justus Wellington traveled in wagons.

When the mobs drove the Saints from Nauvoo, the aging Justus Azel and Mehitable traveled with their sons and families to Winter Quarters, Nebraska, arriving in October 1846. Here they remained in humble circumstances until 6 June 1847, when they crossed the Missouri River and started Westward with a Pioneer Wagon Train on 13 June 1847. [Note: During that terrible winter at winter quarters, their daughter Elizabeth lost 3 of her 4 youngest children, leaving 6 remaining, the oldest, James being only 17. They also emigrated with Elizabeth’s parents in 1847.]

They expected to meet in Missouri, but because the mobs had driven the Saints back toward the Mississippi River, it was not until November 1838 that the family was re-united in Calhoun Co., Illinois. In the Spring of 1839, they moved to the vicinity of Burlington, Iowa, where they stayed until the Spring of 1841 when Justus Azel, Mehitable and three married sons, William, Justus Wellington, and David located at Nashville, Lee County, Iowa. [Note: Their daughter Elizabeth and her husband James Young and children were also with them.] Here, during a few peaceful years, they welcomed the arrival of several grandchildren. On 3 Feb 1846 this faithful couple, Justus Azel and Mehitable (Bennett) Seeley, were endowed in the Nauvoo Temple, but mobs drove the participants out before the eternal marriage ceremony was finished. After a long, strenuous trip, the Seeleys arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on the 29 Sept 1847. Here they lived a short time in Old South Fort. The Seeleys were witnesses of the miracle of the Gulls the following summer. In May 1849, Mehitable and Justus Azel Seeley had Patriarchal Blessings from John Smith. (copies enclosed)

The aging parents moved to Pleasant Grove, along with their son William and family. They were living there in March 1858 when Justus Wellington and his family returned from seven years pioneering in San Bernadino, California. Justus Azel Seeley died in Pleasant Grove, Utah, 1 April 1859 and he is buried there. Rather than remain alone, Mehitable moved to Mt. Pleasant, Utah to spend the few remaining years of her life with her children who had been called to settle in Sanpete County. Mehitable died 2 Aug 1861 and lies buried in Mt. Pleasant. Her posterity is numerous. They revere her name and her faithfulness in living a Christlike life. She lived the principles of the restored gospel and her testimony brought her through the many sacrifices and trials she was called to endure. NOTE: This couple was sealed by proxy in the Manti Temple 27 June 1868 after Justus Azel Seeley appeared in a dream to one of his sons, reminding him of the unfinished ordinance at the Nauvoo Temple in 1846.

Justus Azel Seeley 

PIONEER JUBILEE

https://archives.utah.gov/research/exhibits/jubilee

URL: http://wp.me/piN7f-Kb

Pioneer Jubilee

Book of the
Pioneers
1897

“The Utah Pioneers...created an epoch unparalleled in history.”Book of the Pioneers

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Pioneer Jubilee


July 1897




“The Utah Pioneer Jubilee ranks among the notable events of its kind in American history.”Book of the Pioneers

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In July of 1897 Utahns gathered to celebrate the Pioneer Jubilee. This was not the first time people had celebrated the anniversary of the Mormon Pioneers entering the Great Salt Lake Valley. Anniversary events reportedly had been happening for years. Yet, it was the first time that Utahns began to look at the event as a celebration of history rather than an anniversary.

For the first time, the organizers worked to put on an event that would not only celebrate pioneers, but would tell the story of what was finally being recognized as history. The original pioneers were declining rapidly in numbers and taking their stories with them. Events that had seemed contemporary in the previous decades, were becoming hazy memories to older generations, or just hearsay to newer generations. If the original pioneers were to have an official place in the halls of history, the generation of 1897 was going to provide it. The Jubilee was an opportunity to celebrate pioneer heritage while capturing evidence of the events that had formed society throughout the inter-mountain region.

Organizers intended the Pioneer Jubilee to celebrate, memorialize, and preserve history. Parades, concerts, and baseball games celebrated the anniversary. Unveiling of the Pioneer Monument memorialized the pioneers. Photographing the surviving pioneers, gathering and displaying artifacts, and creating the Book of the Pioneers captured evidence of the pioneer story.

For the first time Utahns began to look at and document their own history and, today, we still see the effects of that Pioneer Jubilee celebration held 120 years ago. The current State Historical Society and the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization both were a result of increasing historical awareness that was so evident at the Pioneer Jubilee. Many Utahns are familiar with the annual Days of '47 parade that takes over Salt Lake City and many other towns throughout the state on July 24th. That celebration and others can trace their roots to the Pioneer Jubilee. This was just our first steps along the path of understanding our larger history. This step led to exploration into the fields of mining history, Native American history, military history, and so many more.

Come celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Pioneer Jubilee with us. Visit our short digital exhibit which examines the documents of Utah's Pioneer Jubilee Celebration, the Book of the Pioneers, and the founding of the State Historical Society. Understanding that first celebration can help us understand the evolution of the way we view the pioneers and our state's founders and even our larger history.

Rae Gifford | July 20, 2017 at 4:59 pm | Categories: News | 

Home of Abram and Carole Burton ~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

History Of Caroline Miller Olsen and her emigration to Zion ~ by Sybyl Hansen

Birth:	Jan. 22, 1841, Denmark
Death:	Apr. 2, 1921 Mount Pleasant Sanpete County Utah, USA
Family records show her full name is Margaret Christine Caroline "Selena" Miller. Cemetery records (which can be of dubious accuracy) show her name as Carlena M. Olsen. I have changed it here to the family record name. If anyone has other information that would be great. Born in Vester Marie, Bornholm, Denmark. Family links:  Parents:   Jorgen Hansen Miller (1807 - 1891)   Margarethe Catherine Jensdatter Miller (1817 - 1883)  Spouse:   Jens (James) Peter Olsen (1839 - 1921)  Children:   Margaret Sophia Olsen Pearson (1864 - 1940)*   James David Olsen (1868 - 1913)*   George Martin Olsen (1871 - 1950)*   John William Olsen (1871 - 1950)*   Henry Peter Olsen (1876 - 1943)*   Hannah Kolstrom (1880 - 1910)*  Siblings:   Margaret Christina Caroline Miller Olsen (1841 - 1921)   Martin Michael Miller (1843 - 1912)*   Peter James Miller (1846 - 1879)* *Calculated relationship
Burial: Mount Pleasant City Cemetery Mount Pleasant Sanpete County Utah, USA Plot: A_214_1_5

From the Alice Hafen Collection ~ Beautification Plea 1963

In this 1963 picture you can see the old service station that stood east of old Dry Cleaners at 107 west main.  You can also see in the distance the Ursenbach Funeral Home and   Eldon Beck's Appliance Repair to the west. 

Neil Hafen Graduates from North Sanpete High School ~ 1930

Alice Peel Graduates From North Sanpete High School ~ 1931

History of the Liberty Pole of Mt. Pleasant, Taken from "Journey of Faith" by David R. Gunderson

Branch Store "Christensen Store" ~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee