Ole Munks Slægtsdatabase

1844 nr. 27:
Født den 4 december
Lars Christian Christensen
Døbt i kirken den 26de december
Smed og husmand Christen Laursen og hustru Johanne Marie Christendatter i Holdensgaard
Faddere:
Gårdmandskone Maren Rasmusdatter af Hvol,
Pige Trine Christiansdatter i Holdensgaard,
Karl Hans Christiansen i Holdensgaard,
husfæster Niels Jensen af Foldrled,
gårdmand Ole Mikkelsen, Fourholt,
karl Christen Jaobsen af Fæbroen
Konen introduceret samme dag

Hi Ole,
I thought I'd see if I could find anything about Maren online, but found just the usual falsehoods (the same info. about where she had died). There was a site made by a man from Moosejaw, Saskachewan(spelling?) Canada who also had Maren in his database. I e-mailed him (the busybody that I am) and said that the location of her death (skanderborg) was probably incorrect, [as I had learned from my Danish contact :-)]. He couldn't seem to locate her in his database. I tried.
On to something more constructive...
Lars C. Larsen (by Heber with additions by Zina)
Lars C. Larsen, son of Christian S. Larsen and Johannah M. Christensen born in Albeck, Allberg, Denmark, December 4, 1844. His father's occupation in Demark was a farmer and blacksmith, which occupation he followed again in Utah. He was converted to Mormonism and emigrated to America in 1855, age eleven. He crossed the ocean in the sailing vessel "John Boyd", together with his parents and brothers and sisters, namely, Mary, C. Peter, Margret, Mads Peter, John and Michael. The two latter died and were buried in the ocean. Mads Peter was buried near Burlington Iowa.
The voyage lasted three months and three days and the company of emiigrants were in the charge of Canute Peterson. On reaching Burlington, Iowa, he began working in a bowling alley and at other kindred jobs till 1859, when he started across the plains in Jim Brown's independent ox team company. At this time, emigrants to Utah were advised and directed where to settle by the church authorities at Salt Lake City. Those from Scandanavia were mostly settling in Sanpete County, hence Christian S. with his family located at Ephraim, then called Fort Ephraim. Here the general work of clearing land of sage brush and digging canals together with getting out timber from the mountains was the only forms of labor followed.
On the 15th of March, 1864, Lars started on the expedition under the direction of August Canfield, for the Wyoming landing on the Missouri River for emigrants. These expeditions were called out by the church leaders and fitted out by the saints, the teamsters thus filling a sort of mission. Eight yoke of cattle made a team going, but on the return four were attached to a new outfit. The most difficult part of the trip was the crossing of the South Platte which was flooded. Two rafts of beds were made water tight by patching. The captain would permit no one to cross on the rafts as raftsmen unless he could swim, or said he could, from mid stream to shore. The cattle swam across. This with an occaasional indian scare or stampede of the cattle was all that broke the "Gee Haw" monotony of oxology. The middle of October found the company safely returned to the "valleys".
November of this year, 1864, witnessed the effort of a party called to settle in Circle Valley. Jens Andersen of Ephraim made one of this company, and his wife Lana had two sisters, Sena and Lena. The older of these sisters, Sena, became father's wife December 22, 1865, and the other June 5, 1871. Early in the spring of 1865, the Black Hawk war broke out. The settlers in Circle Valley, being short on guns and ammunition, sent father to Salt Lake after some on October 5th. It was on this trip that he was riding from Manti to Ephraim with Andrew Whitlock and Dr. Mariah Snow, when they were given a wild race by 13 indians, they must be peaceable, and would laugh at them if they ran, besides they might be cut off in the race, so they drove along as unconcerned till the indians crossed the road in head of them and formed a half circle about fifty yards on the west side, then as the carriage came up, they began firing. When Whitlock saw that they were bringing their guns into action, he gave the team the rein and the 13 indians were left behind in a most thrilling race. Whitlock always drove a fast team, but one of the pursuers carrying a revolver was able to ride up to the side, and at close range, empty the gun at the occupants of the carriage. Father (Lars) took his hat to frighten the indian's horse back, but as he swung the hat at the horse, the indian brought his revolver in line to fire. Father dodged, lost his hold, and fell between the horses ending the ride on the buggy tongue. Whitlock was shot in the shoulder with an arrow and one of the horses was wounded fatally, dying a few minutes after the close of the race. He returned to Circle Valley November 24th and on the 25th the indians made an attack killing five settlers. They began trying to drive off the cattle and a fight took place in which a horse was killed under father while they were trying to rescue Peter Thormander who was coming in with a load of wood.
He moved back to Ephraim December 25, 1865, and returned to Circle Valley the next spring to help move the poor settlers out, the indians having made it too dangerous to remain longer.
The war closed in the summer of 1858. During the three and a half years of its progress, father was continually on duty and took part in a great number of fights and skirmishes. Up to 1909, nothing was done by the government in recognition of these services, but in July of this year some commissioners came to Ephraim taking testimony regarding it, the result being unknown at this time (August 1909). [note from Charissa - I believe he was given a medal, as he is shown in a picture wearing one]
I hope you can understand this. Some even I couldn't follow very well in paragraph four. More later....
-Charissa

Hi Ole,
I have been busy here, too, so apologize for not getting the last of Lars C.'s story done.
I agree that the Danish pioneers (and others) did have some hard times, but I think if you'd ask them, they would say it was worth it to have freedom to worship the way they chose. Also, through their trials, I believe they became better acquainted with God.
But - on to Lars C. Larsen's life story...
"He moved to Mayfield with his second wife in the winter of 1873 and built a log house. Later his first wife came to Mayfield and they lived together until the fall of 1887, when a small adobe house was built for Lena up on the "west". In 1891, the old log house was supplanted by a new adobe house.
He was for a long time "underground", a part of which time he spent on the muddy creek taking out a new canal and in June 1888 was arrested for "unlawful cohabitation" by Deputy U.S. Marshal Raemus Clawson, and October 13, 1888 was sentenced to 120 days by Judge J. W. Blackburn, the sentence was shortened for good behavior until Janury 20, 1889.
At Mayfield he followed the occupation of farmer and stock raiser and held eccelesiastical positions as follows: Counselor to Officer O.C. Olson from 1876 to 1877, Assistant superintendent of Sunday Schools for two years, President of Seventies from 1890 to 1906.
Father's two wives Hansena and Meta Polena Peterson have no history except such as is interwoven with his own since the Circle Valley days. They were the two youngest children of James (note - somebody wrote "Jens" over James) Peterson and Meta Kistens Olsen. Their father was a rather well-to-do farmer in Aals Allborgles, Denmark. The parents and older children were converted to Mormonism and emigrated to Utah in 1853, crossing the plains with an ox team. Jens Anderson, also an emigrant teamster, became the husband of Helena. The family at the beginning of the journey were as follows: the parents, Annie Maria, Margret Helena, Ole Peter, Hansena and Meta Polena. They reached the Mississippi Valley during the cholera times and the father and Ole Peter both died of it and were buried in Kansas. The mother and her four daughters went to Ephriam where the oldest, Annie Maria, soon died and a few years later, the mother died of some disease of the throat. After the marriage of Helena to Jens Andersen, a few years previous to mother's death, his home was the home of the remainder of the family, until marriage took them to other homes of their own. It was with him that they went to Circle Valley. They passed through the "grasshopper" famine in Ephriam. In polygamous marriage, they occupied the same home from 1871 to 1887, after which they occupied separate homes until 1903 when Lena, the younger, became afflicted with rhematism. She was then brought back to the old home but continued to grow worse, until she became entirely helpless. At present, August 1909, she is waited on by her sister and daughters, Mable and Linda. She can eat with one hand, her legs are still and half flexed. She is cheerful and sits in her chair all day reading or talking with any who may be in the room. The children know no difference as to mothership, nor mothers to children. In all their polygamous married state, one never spoke harshly to or envied the other. Sena has been treasurer of the Relief Society for 31 years and previous to 1878 she had been counselor in the same organization, and was also counselor in the primary for several years.
GOLDEN WEDDING
On December 22, 1916, father and mother celebrated their golden wedding. All living family members of the family being present except Heber and Orvil who were living in Arizon, Alma in Alaska and Stena who was not able to come from Emery on account of bad roads. Aunt Lena and Jim, Aunt Kisty, Lucinda and Charley and Stena Jensen and aunt Mary Ahlstrom were present besides 26 grandchildren and about 45 friends.
FATHER'S DEATH
During the fall of 1915, father began to show signs of weariness, sometimes complained of being tired, but no one seemed to notice any signs of failing health. An epidemic of La Grippe touched nearly everybody during the early winter and the folks thought father was coming down with it, but the tired feeling continued and the Grippe stayed off. Friday morning, February 4, 1916, he went out to do chores as usual, later mother went out and he said that he was very tired. Elmer was sent to finish the chores. He grew worse rapidly, being unable to lie down or rest night or day. Sunday, February 6, he completed the signing of all papers necessary to dispose of all property matters and about 2 PM Monday February 7, he passed away. He remained conscious to the last minute.
Dr. Hagen said his heart leaked and this his liver was out of order and that had he recovered, that attack would return again fatally accompanied by all of the pain and suffering of the first attack.
The funeral was held Saturday February 12, 1916. The speakers, except Bishop Hyrum Christensen, being old friends in his early days. Parley Christiansen, Austin Kearns, Louis Kyar and C. P. Nielsen. Floral tributes and sentiments of sympathy were many.
Aunt Lena still sits through the day in in her invalid chair reading, thinking and talking to those who find the time to "run in" with a word of sympathy or a tribute of flowers. Mother, Linda and Mable are still taking care of her while the long days wear away. She is cheerful and all that can be, is cheerfully done for her. Father, Mother and Aunt Lena had hoped that the voice of eternity would call Aunt Lena first and mother last, but God willed it otherwise and his firm decree we accept as good.
Some men and women have achieved greatness through their ability as preachers, but not so in the life of our parents. They made use of the talents God gave them and gave them freely to others. Father was often called on to set a broken arm which nowadays would be considered as first aid and when a doctor was called would make a charge of $15 for the examination. He was also good with animals of all kinds. He did most of his reading in veterinary booklets and magazines and his years of experience gave him an understanding of animals and their diseases as thorough as is possessed by many of our veterinary doctors. But they differ in one very important particular, his work was free and the doctors work for a salary. He was called to prescribe for all diseases and ailments of the animals in the town, and his success along this line became so well known, he often received letters addressed to "Dr. Larsen".
Our mothers gave of their talents just as freely, mother being handy with the sick, esecially children and the mother who bore them, and during her younger days was called out most of the time as doctors and nurses were hard to get in those days and people had little to pay them with. Telephones and automobiles were unheard of so the only way of getting to the midwife from Gunnison was in a lumber wagon and father was generally called on to make this drive as he always drove a fast team. One amusing incident happened when he made one of these midnight drives. On his way home, about four miles from town, one of the horses took sick while the occupant of the wagon sat in the spring seat enjoying the slow ride and sympathizing with her teamster. At daybreak, they reached their destination. The stork had made its visit with mother in charge and all concerned were none the worse for the night's experience. [note from Charissa - people used to tell children that babies got here by storks bringing them]
Aunt Lena, always handy with a needle, was ever there whenever there was a death in town and she was always called on to help make burial clothes and helped others whenever it was needed. They were not thinking about pay, but service to others and they gave this out of the fullness of their soul. In after years when the shadows gathered closer around and the hearts of the old friends were there, the work they had given was unrequitted.
This commandment at least they fulfilled: "Pure religion and undefiled before God is this: To visit the widows and the fatherless in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world".
Mother is still living and has passed her 83rd milestone. At present, July 1930, she is in the best of health and enjoys attending meetings and amusements, and at her advanced age, visits as a Relief Society teacher when at home.
Since being left alone she has spent much of her time with her children visiting in Arizona, Nevada, Duchesne and Emery Counties, besides making a trip through Yellowstone Park with Heber's and Hyrum Olsen's families.
Father left a posterity of 13 living children, 63 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
End of Lars C. Larsen's history
My mom sent a picture of Christian S. to my brother, so I'm sure you will get a copy of it e-mailed to you soon.
-Charissa