Peter Bengtsson Harrison & Kerstina Mattsson Neilson
I would like to dedicate this history to three of the people who have helped to make my life possible. That of my great-grandparents, Paul and Elna Olson, also for the love and support that Kerstina Neilson Harrison Olson gave my great-grandfather in raising my dear grandmother, Leana Olson Anglesey.
Without their sacrifice to make better lives for themselves our lives of luxury would not be possible.
Without their love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we would not have the testimonies that we do have.
I express my appreciation to all those who have helped me in any way, with their memories, pictures of the family, and the histories that have been previously compiled. I thank you all!
Ruth H. Anglesey Swenson
April 1982
A Father's Fame
By Evelyn Wilde Heath
In loving memory of a Father's fame,
I see a face so gentle, kind and true.
It matters not—I shall not give his name,
He was my father—that alone should do.
For Father did not rank as over strong,
And he was never called the President,
Nor did they cheer him as he passed along;
But he was quite the best as fathers went.
He did not have a wealth of power or gold,
Nor did men sing the glory of his fame;
But he was true and honest, brave and bold,
And I was right-well proud to bear his name.
When night was black he eased my childish fears,
And taught me how to smile at darkened space;
A little awkward as he dried my tears,
His hand a little rough that brushed my face.
For Father's hands were strong hands like his soul;
Strong, capable—a little over tan.
His face bore signs where time had taken toll,
But honor, mellowed there, had made a man.
And as he smiled, his face with radiance beamed,
A twinkle in his eyes that spoke of mirth.
He went through life unnoticed, so it seemed,
But the Maker and the Master knew his worth.
Perhaps you may have seen an old violin
In some shop window on the edge of town;
The master knew its worth and took it in,
But they who searched for beauty turned it down.
The many mars the more would prove its worth
To him who loved the tarnished surface there;
And mellowed tones, like seeds deep in the earth,
Could move strong men to tears and whispered prayer.
Where thoughtless hands had severed it apart
It may have had a worn or broken string;
And if you searched the depths of Father's heart,
Perhaps you may have found just such a thing.
For fathers must grow weary of the load,
And while we sing the praises mothers win
How seldom is the debt to fathers showed;
And hearts must grow a little sad within.
And so I bow in sacred reverence,
My love a monument to his great name
Whose heart was filled with honor's recompense;
And just to be a Father was his fame.
Pal Larsson or Paull Lauritz Olson
In the parish of Burlof, Malmohus lan (county), Sweden, we find an interesting entry of birth:
Page 217: Pal, son of Lars Olsson and Anna Palsdotter born 26 August 1848 at Akarp #9; christened 3 September 1848. Father's age 40, mother’s age 35.
Ten years previous to this can also be found an entry of birth for Matta, daughter of Lars and Anna born 30 July 1838, christened 3 September 1838, page 171.
These records are found on G.S. film #144,894, Burlof, Malmohus, Sweden Lutheran church records.
Nothing is known of Pal's childhood and younger days. But he worked as a shoe maker and cabinet maker in Sweden.
He met a lovely young lady from the parish of Lyngby, Elna Persdotter, and they were married in her parish on 30 November 1873 in Genarp parish, Malmohus, Sweden. G.S. film #145,446.
To this couple were born three children. Records of their births can be found on G.S. film #144,894 and entries from Pal's journal.
"to Fabriksarbitare (factory worker) (fabrik meaning factory, mill, or shop) Pal Larsson and Hustru (wife) Elna Persdotter, a son Per Edvard born 22 February 1874 at Burlofs, Malmohus, Sweden; parents married 1 year, father's age 26, mother's age 25; civilly married. First child."
"to Pal Larsson and Hustru Elna Persdotter, a dotter Anna Catharina born 23 August 1876 at Burlofs, Malmohus, Sweden from #8-10 Arlofs, father's age 28, mother's age 27. Second child."
"to Ab. Pal Larsson and Hustru Elna Persdotter, a dotter, Carolina Helena born 20 September 1878 from #10 Tagarp, father's age 29, mother's age 29. Married 5 years."
In addition to the church records we now find in Pal's journal this information.
"Anna Chatrine Larsson born 23 August 1876, three in the evening in the year 1876, baptized 3 September 1876 (page 3)" This baptism was into the Swedish Lutheran Church.
"Caroline Helen Larsson born 20 September Friday two in the evening 1878. Baptized 13 October 1878 at Arlof, Burlof socken, (parish) Genarp Lutheran church, Malmolan (county)"
It is not known why he does not mention his son in his journal.
From Pal's journal page 4, he tells about joining the church of Latter-day Saints. "On 14 April 1879, joined the Latter-day Saints, accepted the Holy Ghost. Became baptized 15 April 1879 by Elder Lafgren. Confirmed by Elder A. Hanson of West Jordan, Utah. The wife was baptized and confirmed by Elder A. Lafgren from Malmo." These baptisms were performed on the same date.
G.S. film #02942, Skane conference records finds the same information, entries #244 for Pal and #245 for Elna Larsson.
Pal was ordained a teacher on 8 September 1879 at Arlof.
"Caroline Helena was blessed into the Latter-day Saints Church 31 December 1879 by J.A. Halvorson from Salt Lake City, Utah. Anne Chatrin was blessed by M. Nelson. The surrounding Elders were both from Utah."
President Martin Jacobson from St. Charles, Idaho, and Anders Larson from Washington, Utah, who were both serving missions in the Malmo branch, and ordained Pal as a priest 8 March 1882.
Again quoting from Pal's journal, "Left my wife for the reason of trespass of the 7th commandment."
So taking his two little girls he left Sweden to come to Zion. They left on 16 June 1882. Two of his wife's brothers, Jons and Nils Persson, came with him, also some friends, Mrs. Kjerstina Christophersson and her two children. Her husband had come to America prior to this.
Following is an account of their journey as told by one of those children, Johanna Christophersson Nielson.
“On 12 June 1882, I left my native land to go to Zion with my mother and my brother, Nils. Quite a number of people belonging to the church of the Latter-day Saints were aboard the ship and as we sailed out from the harbor of Malmo we stood on deck and waved our handkerchiefs and sang a farewell song to our dear friends standing on the shore waving farewell to us and we were singing a farewell song.
“It took about two hours to go from Malmo to Copenhagen, Denmark, so we reached there about noon. We stayed there about two or three hours, then got on another ship to cross the North Sea. We reached Hull in England five days later. We stayed there for a couple of days. Then took the train to Liverpool, England. We stayed there for a few hours, then went on board a large steamship (this ship was called the SS NEVADA.) We had quite a hard time coming across both the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and the sea biscuits did not taste good to us. We had no other food except what was given us on the ship as third-class passengers.”
The port of embarkation from the Scandinavian Mission was Copenhagen, Denmark. To this place the immigrants gathered and formed one company or more. They were conveyed from Copenhagen to Liverpool, England. The route was across the Baltic to Altona, from thence across the North Sea to Hull, England and then via railway to Liverpool.
From Liverpool they boarded a large steam ship, the SS NEVADA. The following record is found from the ship’s passenger lists, "Caroline Larsson boarded ship with her uncles Jons Persson, age 51 and Nils Persson, age 40. Her boarding # was 34. Pal is listed as a laborer #99 and Anna K. as #100. This was the information given on the fare. Caroline (Kr. (Krona) 50.00) Anna K. (Krona 50.00) Paul (Krona 432. 05 ore. Cash refunded: Kr. 81 ore 25. Total: 300 Kr. 80 ore).
Finding other information that clarifies this for us gives the cost as: From Liverpool to Salt Lake City, $70.00 for adults, children under 12 for 1/2 fare. On the ocean infants rated at $5. On the railroad all children under five could travel free.
They boarded as third-class passengers and this only allowed them passage in the bottom of the ship.
They were 12 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They arrived in New York on July 2, 1882.
It is told that an uncle of Pal’s living in Salt Lake City sent him money to immigrate.
Following is an account of the trip as was in the New York Sun and parts copied into the Salt Lake Tribune, dated July 19, 1882.
The SS Nevada Immigrants
On the arrival at New York of the company of "Mormon" immigrants that left Liverpool by the SS Nevada, a representative of the "Sun" went on board to see what the Saints were like. He gave an account which was published in the Gotham Luminary, which shines for all, and we take the following from that paper.
It was the largest shipload of "Mormons" that has landed in this country in many years. So far this year, a shipload has come every month for the rest of the year, but none so large as this one. The converts are gathered together from all over Europe and at stated times are shipped in charge of a missionary. The missionary in charge yesterday was Mr. R.R. Irvine and he was accompanied by 33 other missionaries, whose 2-year term of duty abroad had expired and are going home. Those missionaries were well-dressed, intelligent-looking men and might have been taken for a group of orthodox ministers.
The immigrants themselves seemed to be better off than the usual run of immigrants. They were comfortably dressed and looked like sober working people. The number was mostly made up of entire families and there were few single persons. 629 of the 927 were Swedes and Norwegians and 191 were English, Scotch and Welsh and others were of various nationalities. The Scandinavians were mostly farmers and fishermen while the British were generally mechanics. There were 100 children and among the adults the number of men and women were about the same. The majority were under middle age and there were no paupers. They will start this morning on the Erie road for Salt Lake City and will then be distributed over the Mormon territory. Many of the immigrants are well supplied with money. One child 3 years old died on the voyage.
In the list of passengers on the SS Nevada on Wednesday, June 21, 1882 sailing from Liverpool with Elder R.R. Irvine in charge will be found Scandinavians Paul and Anna K. Larsson, Jens and Nils Pehrsson, and Carolina Larsson.
Strength of the Company consisted of:
Hollanders 2
Visitors 3
Total 933
It took them 8 days to come from New York to Salt Lake, arriving 10 July 1882. As was mentioned in the newspaper article they left New York on the Erie Railroad.
Pal never brought his son with him, the reason not being known. Recent records indicate that he may have been crippled & in noting other histories it seems that the crippled were not allowed to come.
Pal was again baptized in West Jordan, Utah on 5 August 1882 by A. Olson and confirmed by E1der Malstrom. He changed his name to Paull Lauritz Olson on the same day.
Paull obtained work at the Mingo Smelter (a smelter is a place where they melt or fuse ore, etc. so as to separate impurities from pure metal.) There were many mines in the Salt Lake area.
Evidently he was unable to care for his two little daughters as his journal indicates, "Anna Chatrin Lauritson left as a foster daughter, 3 June 1883 to Harold Wenerstrom. Carolin Helen Lauritson left as a foster daughter 12 June 1883 to E. Erickson (Anderson)"
"My mother died in Sweden 10 January 1884." His father had died before he left Sweden on 3 July 1868. His sister Matta was married to S.P. Holmberg and had 8 children.
"My daughter Anna Chatrin died 10 March 1884 at 6:30 in the morning in Cottonwood. Buried 13 March in West Jordan. Grieved by a generous sister, father, foster parents Harold Wenerstrom & wife Christin. Songs 118-93-80."
In talking to Aunt Ethel Olson Lindberg and Aunt Helen Olson, he must have talked about this little daughter. From Aunt Ethel, "She probably died of pneumonia. She was buried in a corner of the cemetery and later either a smelter or railroad was built across that part of the cemetery. Father was unable to have her remains moved but he said afterwards, he guessed it didn't make any difference where she was buried, she'd be alright on the other side." From Aunt Helen, "He used to talk about her and how terribly sick she was."
Paull met a lonely widow lady who was struggling to support and raise three small sons by herself. This lady’s name was Kerstina Nielson Harrison. Her husband had passed away on 5 November 1883. His name was Peter Bengtsson Harrison.
Inasmuch as Kerstina had received her endowments and been sealed to Mr. Harrison, Paull went to the Logan Temple and received his on 26 November 1884.
From his journal, "Kiersti Harrison, married with 27 November 1884, Salt Lake City… Kjersti Mattson Nielson was born 27 May 1858. Went into covenant at Venneberga with Peter B. Harrison. She and Peter were married in the Endowment House. He died 5 November 1883. Foster daughter Anna Nilson born 14 December 1877. Otto Alfred Harrison born 5 January 1880, Peter William Harrison born 8 October 1881, Joseph Richard Harrison born 25 June 1883." (Page 9-10)
Paull moved into Kerstina's home.
"Carolin Helen Lauritson came to me from her foster parents 3 February 1885."
He continued working at the Mingo Smelter making a living for his increasing family.
"George Ludwig Olson was born 21 August on a Friday morning at 3:25 o'clock, 1885."
"Albert Lewis L. Olson born 15 May, 8:35 o'clock on a Sunday night, 1887."
"Ellen Julejla Lauritz Olson born 27 February 1889 at 11:30." (Pages 10-12)
Kerstina's brother Andrew and his family had moved to the Star Valley, Wyoming area in 1889. In 1890 the Olson family was called by President Wilford Woodruff to also settle in that part of the country. The home was sold and a wagon, team, and supplies were bought to make the journey. Before they left Kerstina was set apart by Apostle Joseph P. Smith to take care of the sick in the Star Valley area.
"I, Paull Lauritz Olson, and family left Sandy 22 May 1890."
The story is told that as they were crossing the Jordan River, Paull got the reins tangled and the horses got upset and with Paull yelling at them in Swedish they only got worse. Little Ellen was just past a year old and Kerstina was afraid that she would be drowned so she tossed her to one of the boys on the bank and wading and swimming with Joseph in her arms she made it to the bank. Kerstina was again pregnant at this time.
Otto, the eldest son, was only ten years old but from then on he took over driving and caring for the team and wagon.
They traveled through Ogden and Blacksmith Pork Canyons, Round Valley, and on into Star Valley. While fording one creek all their food supplies were lost.
"Arrived in Afton 8 June 1890, Star Valley, Uinta County, Wyoming. Homesteaded 160 acres 10 June 1890. Paid to someone to leave the land to."
Paul and Kerstina made a dugout into the hillside at Afton.
Prom Johanna Nielson's history (sister-in-law), "In the spring of 1890 some of the people of Sandy, Utah also came and located in Star Valley. My husband's sister and husband Paul Olson and their family also came to the valley and got a quarter section close to ours. We made them all welcome. Olsons lived in the cabin with us for 2 months while Olson built a cabin for them. Charles was born the following winter in a cabin of ours in Afton."
From Paull's journal, "Charles Afton L. Olson born 7 December, 3:30 in evening on Sunday, 1890."
4 January 1891 became members in Afton Ward."
In 1889 Afton only had about 60 families. They had built a one-room log cabin with a dirt roof and floor in 1887 in Afton that was used as the first school house.
When spring came Olsons moved out to Dry Creek, about 3 miles south of Afton. This is known as Osmond now, but the first people who settled there called it Dry Creek because every year in July or August the creek dried up in the valley. Later it was called Mt. Pleasant and later Osmond, named after George Osmond, President of the Star Valley Stake.
At first the settlers all belonged to the Afton ward. Later a Sunday School and Primary were organized.
Paull worked for Archibald Gardner in the mouth of Swift Creek Canyon building his flour, lumber, and grist mill.
One special Christmas that son Charles could recall to memory was entirely made by a special visit from Mr. Gardner. This may have been a partial payment for one who had helped him when he needed help.
Following is that story as told by Charles A. Olson.
December 24, 1964
The Christmas I Remember Best
1899 had been and was a hard winter in Star Valley, Wyoming. Andrew Neilson and Paul Olson had recently moved to a small community called Osmond. This little town had formerly been called Dry Creek, but now it had a new name, having been named after George Osmond, the stake president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Andrew Neilson and Paul L. Olson formerly had lived in Sandy, Utah. They were immigrants to Utah from Malmo, Sweden. Both had families.
Paul had two children by a former marriage, and his wife Christina had three children by a former marriage. Five other children belonged to Paul and Christina, totaling 10 children, (remember one of his first children had died so there were really only 9) to feed and there was not much food and very little clothing.
Paul and Andrew had each built a log cabin consisting of log walls, dirt floor, and board windows that could be dropped when the weather was nice. They had come to Star Valley with high hopes for the future as each was having distress from the smoke from the smelters. Then there was land to be homesteaded - one hundred and sixty acres per family. Every winter they would return to Sandy to work in the smelter to earn money for supplies to keep their families from starving until they could harvest a crop. This winter was a hard one for both Andrew and Paul. They went to work in Sandy and on their way home they passed through Montpelier, Idaho and bought supplies to take home to their needy families. They spent every cent of their hard-earned money for flour and a sack of precious sugar and a few clothes for the children. On the way home the roads were terrible - big chuckholes, mud, and snow. The streams that they forded were swollen and clogged with driftwood. The horses floundered in the swollen stream. It was then that the wagon tipped over and the precious flour and other supplies were lost. It was lucky they were able to save the team of horses and wagon. It was with heavy hearts and empty pockets and wagon that Andrew and Paul went home to their wives and families. Christina said, "Paul, it surely will be a hard winter for us. What will we do for Christmas?"
The children wouldn't even have bread, but Paul and Christina went to work with a prayer in their hearts that some way they could feed their hungry children until they could return to Sandy and earn more money for provisions to fill their empty larder.
Paul went to the canyon and got a tree and carried it home on his back. He also got some sagebrush to sweep the dirt floor in their log cabin. It was about 3 miles to the canyon but Paul did not mind. The children were delighted to see the tree but there weren't any shiny icicles or pretty shiny ornaments to trim it with.
Christina had filled a straw tick with oat straw and she cut a tiny hole in the tick and took out some of the precious straw. Then she opened her trunk that she had brought all the way from her home in Sweden and she found some pretty colored paper. The children were delighted with the pretty tree. But the hearts of the parents were indeed sad with no money to buy flour. What would become of them?
They lit a fire in the wood stove and the cheery sparks blew up the chimney, making the house seem more cheerful. Then Christina found a tallow candle she had been saving. Paul had caught some trout and shot two jack rabbits that she could cook in deer fat that she had saved ever since early fall when Paul had shot a deer. But without any bread or cookies it would be a sad Christmas indeed.
But Hark, what was that? It sounded like a sleigh. It was a cold, bitter night and the sleigh runners creaked and made a sound of sleigh bells. We children opened the board windows a crack. Sure enough, there was a one-horse sleigh. A man was tying his horse to the gate, then with a pack on his back he was making his way around to the back of the house. The snow was piled high against the windows and the children ran to open the door, but the man with the pack was gone. There was a seamless sack half full of flour.
What a wonderful Christmas we children had. Christina made some biscuits and some cookies with real flour, deer fat, saleratus for leavening, and salt that Paul had secured from the salt flats in the canyon.
Our tree looked so pretty with the golden straw and colored paper. We sang Christmas carols and our prayer of thanksgiving was from our hearts - father, mother, and children. We learned later that Santa Claus was Archibald Gardner that year and for many years thereafter.
Paull's journal reads, "22 October 1892, water rights were recorded in Montpelier, Idaho by William Huntan, paid $3.
He walked most of the way to Evanston, Uinta Co., Wyoming to get the papers for his place. It cost them so much to register, then they proved up on the water right. 160 acres of water rights with 160 acres of ground.
The home he built was of round logs with clay and mud between the logs which had to be replaced often. At first it was only two rooms, then he added another. He joined it together so one could go from one room to another without going outside. For the roof they laid logs covered with dirt and straw. Paull was very particular and didn't make the roof flat, with enough slant so the snow could not lay so deep. For a while they only had a dirt floor. Grass and skins made the beds. Later he made the beds from logs and lumber when available. Being a carpenter he made things strong and neat. They used logs for doors and the windows were constructed so they could put them up in the daytime and down at night. Later they had slab doors with leather hinges.
"Laura Ethel was born 13 January 1893 at 11 p.m." (page 14)
"Jim L. Olson was born and died 27 April 1896, buried in Afton." (page 16) This was the 2nd child that Kirstina had lost.
They tried to raise a garden as they had in Utah but it was too cold.
For lights they used tallow candles when they could get them. Usually a tallow dip, a rag burning in grease.
Paull and Kerstina saw to it that their children attended school when possible. There were no fences at the time and often one or the other would walk to school with the children.
The first schoolhouse in Dry Creek was a small one-room log cabin. Each student furnished his own desk and stool. Slates were used to write on and there were very few books. At first, school was only held for 3 or 4 months during the summer.
Paull made Kirstina a special toboggan called a one-horse shay to perform her duties as a nurse. Sometimes she would have to be away from her family for several days at a time. In the summer she used a cart.
On the 8th of September 1896 at Evanston, Uinta County, Wyoming, Paull L. Olson was declared a citizen of the United States of America.
Paull did not farm too much of his ground, but he did raise some wheat, barley, and grain. Had a few chickens and sometimes a pig that he would kill to eat. In the early days, animals were at a premium and people just did not kill them unless it was necessary.
He built a churn for Kerstina and she made lots of butter and sold it.
On the 26th of September 1896 his eldest daughter, Carolina Helena (Leannie as she was known to everyone) was married to Robert Anglesey of Afton. She may have moved away from home but she never forgot her father. Many times she would go through the fields taking her children with her to visit.
Paull did beautiful cabinet work and woodworking. He had a little shop where he had his tools to do these things. He also did a lot of shoe repair work. Also made gloves from the tops of high topped shoes,
His daughter Ethel said, "He was a shoe maker in the old country. He made good shoes for his own. He had one of them lasts and he fixed all our shoes. He kept us in shoes all the time. Even when my shoes was so ragged, he'd fasten the whole thing clear around and sew it and make a shoe out of it."
And quoting from his daughter Violet, "He made beautiful furniture, a settee as they were called in them days, for a sofa, but made with tiny rounds of wood in the back of it and side, then the older girls made the cushions to put on it. He made a beautiful medium-size round table, all rubbed and polished and a cabinet with 3 drawers and top was made in sections to put books in and what-nots. He finished the lumber off with hand plane and buffer and then would paint it with something that would bring the grain oUtah It was beautiful. Lil got that cabinet. I got the cabinet that was in the bedroom. It was a cabinet with 3 drawers in the bottom part and one on top and in between these drawers he had a writing desk of compartments of small drawers all around, so decorative in the making for his special papers. The wood all grained outside, painted inside. He had a workshop in our old home where he'd plane those boards. If he'd have had the lumber they have today he could have done wonders, but the lumber he had was from the sawmill in the rough stage, and he'd work many hours to plane the boards down. He had loads of equipment to do it with, though they were all hand ones. He'd put his choice boards in the closet there and once in a while I'd like to build or make a doll's bed so I would get one of his nice choice boards out and saw it. He came in one time and said in his broken Swedish and English mixed, "Va Ya Hell, do glutin now," meaning what the hell you doing now? He really didn't mean it the way it sounded, but that was work to plane those boards and then me to saw them up. That's the only time he ever said a cross word to me.
Dad also made our long table for the kitchen that was used for the large family, and two benches, one for each long side of the table. Then chairs were on the end. The boys bought an armchair for dad, that was the head of the table.
From his journal, "Lillie Alberta L. Olson was born 22 March 1898, Tuesday, 3:10 in the morning. (This is Lillian.) In the year 1900 Gertrude L. Olson was born April 8, at 2:00 in the night. Lived 15 minutes and died. Buried 9 April 1900 in Afton."
"Violet Fannie L. Olson born 4:30 Thursday morning 4 December 1902."
This completes the Paul Olson/Kerstina Neilson Harrison Olson family. At this time Paul was 54 years old and Kerstina was 44 years old.
After the Harrison sons were old enough to go to the canyon and help, they got out and hauled logs to Afton to the sawmill where they were sawed into lumber. With the help of Paul's brother-in-law, Andrew Neilson, they built them a new home. It was painted white.
Paul liked to fish but he didn't care to farm. Very little farming was done in those early days. Most farmers only tilled from 3 to 12 acres of ground. He would go fishing sometimes and leave the farming up to the children. They were all taught at an early age to work. Girls as well as the boys did the farm work.
It might be well here to state that his Harrison/Olson children were all raised as one big happy family. He said there were no half brothers or sisters, they were whole or none at all.
When he would go fishing he would many times go on Crow Creek, taking his cart and his horse Teddy.
(Read the interesting story as published by Edwin Cazier about one of his possible fishing trips, it may not all be true but does make for interesting reading.)
Carolina Helena (Leannie) Olson married Robert Anglesey on 26 September 1896. They were married at Afton, Wyoming. He was the son of William Anglesey and Georgeania Knighton. They were the parents of 11 children: Robert William born 3 October 1897, married to Luella Viola Hokanson on 21 September 1921, he died 3 April 1975; George Knighton born 6 November 1898, died 26 December 1918; Annie Elizabeth born 7 February 1901, married to Ira Deloss Izatt on 23 July 1917; James Henry born 11 October 1902, died 11 October 1902; Rose Mary born 12 November 1903, married to (1) Elmer Weaver on 21 September 1921, to (2) Joseph Allen on 10 July 1929, she died 18 June 1974; Lenord LeRoy born 2 May 1906, married to Avilda Mae Bassett on 3 August 1927, died 22 January 1979; Charles Raymond born 28 October 1907, married to Grace Annie Laker (Hokanson) on 20 August 1930, he died 21 December 1976; Carrie Leana born 14 October 1911, married to (1) William Edward Merritt on 12 October 1927; married to (2) Martin H. Schwab on 14 October 1958; Mabel Lillian born 21 October 1911, married to Stephen James Meikle on 17 September 1930; LeVere Bert born 20 December 1914, married to Gertrude Idonna Wheeler on 6 January 1934; Ruth Kate born 28 September 1917 and died 9 October 1917.
Carolina Helena passed away on 13 February 1947 at her home in Afton, Wyoming. Robert Anglesey died on 17 October 1921 at home. Both are buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery. LeVere died March 1983.
Otto Alfred Harrison married Fannie Chivers Henderson on 29 August 1903 in Afton, Wyoming. She was the daughter of Samuel Henderson and Mary Jane Chivers. They were the parents of 9 children: Almon Leroy born 7 October 1904, married to Mary Bell Chadwick; Leslie Alfred born 2 May 1906, married to Alice Maurine Tippetts; Albon Otto born 30 September 1907, married to Dora Leavitt on 4 June 1931; Merettie Irene born 10 July 1909, married to Thede Leavitt on 3 August 1932 (divorced); Alt a Fannie born 5 August 1911, married to David Hillstead on 4 November 1936; Dona Lucile born 1 October 1916, married to Vearl Hoopes on 10 January 1935; Doral B. (stillborn) on 2 October 1919; Ernest Edwin born 1 August 1923, not married; Thede Max born 30 December 1925, married to Helen Fisher on 11 August 1943.
Otto Alfred passed away on 22 July 1948 at his home in Osmond, Wyoming. Fannie Chivers Henderson died on 25 January 1965 at Afton, Wyoming. Both are buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
Peter William Harrison married Ruby Leavitt on 4 December 1907. Paul took them to Montpelier, Idaho. They went to Salt Lake City to be married. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Then Paul returned to Montpelier to get them upon their return. Ruby is the daughter of Charles Colson Leavitt and Sarah Ella Cazier. They were the parents of 3 children: Kenneth William born 15 July 1909, married to Fontella May Call on 25 June 1935; Louise Ruby born 15 January 1911, married to Hyrum Cranney on 1April 1931; De Verl Charles born 19 October 1912, married to Lila Grace Taysom on 5 June 1933.
Peter William was killed in a snow slide in Dry Creek Canyon while getting wood on 1 January 1917. He is buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
After his death his widow married George Edward Chadwick and later William M. Tolman.
Joseph Richard Harrison married Nora May Allred on 6 September 1909 at Paris, Idaho. She was the daughter of Seymour Le-Grande Allred and Claudia Allen. They were the parents of 6 children: Thelma Nora born 30 October 1910, married to John LaVon Allen on 21 July 1928; Dora Mae born 30 August 1912, married to John Gray Hillstead on 16 May 1931, Gerald A. born 14 May 1916, died 27 June 1916; Elaine Claudia born 13 September 1918, married to Klossner Delos Miles on 1 April 1936; LaDell Joseph born 28 March 1920, married to Lola Johnson on 27 November 1942; Verna A. born 6 February 1925, married to Darwin Peterson on 24 September 1942.
Joseph Richard died on 9 February 1941 at Afton, Wyoming. Nora May Allred passed away on 13 March 1952 at Afton, Wyoming. Both are buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
George Ludwig Olson married Fannie Tippetts on 21 August 1912. They were married in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple, She was the daughter of Joseph William Tippetts and Ellen (Nellie) Rosenbaum. They were the parents of 8 children: Wanda Fannie born 24 May 1913, married to Carl William Nebeker on 6 June 1934; George DeRell born 2 October 1914, married to Grace Marie Bagley on 30 June 1937; Audrey Lillian born 17 November 1916, married to (1) Eldon Portella on 8 May 1936 (divorced) married to (2) Claude L. Melaney on 1 August 1952; Rondo Wallace born 21 October 1918, married to Betty Kennedy on 17 June 1952; Darwin Lavar born 23 July 1920, married to Margie Marie Haskell on 21 November 1945; Everett L. born 25 March 1922, married to (1) Rita Dabel on 26 February 19^2 (divorced), married to (2) Marion Lois Daniels on 6 June 1952; Erva Evagne born 17 July 1925, married to Lloyd Dee Miller on 25 June 1949; Ross Varnon born 31 December 1927, died 12 December 1928.
George passed away on 18 October 1939 at the Star Valley Hospital in Afton, Wyoming. Fannie Tippetts died on 22 April 1928. Both are buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
Albert Louis Olson married Helen Mae Crook on 16 March 1915 at Paris, Idaho. She is the daughter of Orson Samuel Crook and Mary Elizabeth Winterbottom. They were the parents of 9 children: Evelyn born 22 September I915, married to John McCammon on 17 March 1933; Blanche Mary born 8 July 1917, married to Corwin James Bowles on 1 July 1936; Albert Ralph born 24 July 1919, married to Verla Bell Nield on 13 March 1942; Rex Louis born 21 May 1921, died 28 April 1941; Lynn C. born 15 April 1923, married to June Rose Williamson on 12 May 1942; Paul Delos born 27 November 1924, married to Anna Beth Gardner on 31 October 1946; Virgil Orson born 10 May 1926, married to Mary Virginia Clark on 26 May 1948; Eva Mae born 23 May 1929, married to Glen Fluckiger on 12 December 1944; and Dallas C. born 18 March 1934, married to Shirley Mae Bartlett on 31 July 1954.
Albert Louis Olson passed away on 16 March 1957 at Salmon, Idaho and is buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery. Helen May died 22 January 1983 at Soda Springs, Idaho.
Ella Ulela (Ellen) Olson married Heber Augustus Peterson on 14 October 1908 at the Logan, Utah Temple. He was the son of Ola Peterson and Johanna Transtrum. They were the parents of 12 children: Ezra Augustus born 16 September 1909, married to (1) Emily Cheney on 6 November 1949, married to (2) Maria Ring; Leslie Heber born 16 September 1909 (twins), married to Emily May Beal on 3 November 1934; Dwendle Louis born 23 September 1911, married to Ardell Thornock on 28 August 1940, died on 16 June 1950; E1mer Larell born 20 September 1913, married to Jessie Munk on 9 July 1940; Irene Ellen born 4 March 1916, married to Jesse Luther Reed on 3 February 1937, died 10 April 1982; Otto Rondol born 10 February 1918, died 14 September 1934; Erma Christina born 29 May 1920, married to Dan Stamis on 12 August 1944; Keith born 20 June 1923, married to Harriet Porter on 8 October 1946; Lucy Lavern born 27 October 1924, married to Milton Frederick Teuscher on 24 December 1945, died 24 April 1978; Violet Goldie born 26 October 1926, married to (1) Byron Eton Cheney on 1 March 1947, married to (2) Don Gerhardt; Lynn McKay born 15 August 1928, married to Connie Bunn on 24 March 1953; Maythel born 30 November 1929, married to (1) Cyrel Reed Cheney on 27 November 1948, married to (2) Melvin C. Zesiger on 27 March 1959.
Ellen Olson passed away on 13 August 1954 at Montpelier, Idaho. Heber Augustus Peterson died on 25 April 1972 at Nampa, Idaho. They are both buried in the St. Charles, Idaho cemetery.
Charles Afton Olson married Eula Cecil Cline on 7 October 1915 in the Salt Lake City, Utah temple. She is the daughter of Ulysses Simpson Cline and Lovina Angelia Barrus. They were the parents of 8 children: Melvin Charles born 20 August 1916, married to Wilda Mary Johns on 13 December 1937; Carol Cecil born 15 February 1918, married to William David Helm on 20 July 1937; Wilda Fern born 14 November 1919, married to Elmer Reed Perry on 2 June 1942; Donald Lavere born 31 March 1921, married to Adelia Lindsay on 6 May 1946, (divorced); Arline Joyce born 11 March 1923, married to Earl Roscoe Ashment on 16 January 1942, died 12 January 1945; Dean Afton born 21 January 1925, married to Arla Martha Turner on 24 August 1944; Clyde Cline born 28 December 1927, married to Roma Shumway on 30 August 1948; Paul C. born 10 February 1932, married to Alice Joy Robison on 28 July 1956.
Charles Afton Olson passed away on 28 August 1970 at Smithfield, Utah and is buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
Ethel Laura Olson married Axel Justus Lindberg on 25 September 1914 at Paris, Idaho. He was the son of Andrew John Lindberg and Hanna Pehrson. They were the parents of 8 children: Justus Axel born 21 November 1914, died 24 November 1922; Naomi Laura born 20 December 1915, married to Lloyd Carlos Kennington on 25 March 1946; Carl Anton born 29 January 1917, married to Maude Kennington on 5 March 1941; Nelda Alberta born 21 August 1918, married to Hyrum Shwab on 5 December 1947; Norma Ethel born 18 October 1920, married to Lynn Hincks on 28 September 1936; Wilton J. born 15 November 1921, married to (1) Vona Vee Kent on 3 September 1942; married to (2) Norma Robinson on 26 March 1957, Shirley LaRue born 17 October 1925, married to Daniel Leon Maughn Von Almen on 14 November 1945; Vernal Merrill born 9 November 1930, married to (1) Vonda Crook on 30 August 1948 (divorced) and(2) Donna Lue Hoopes on 19 July 1966.
Axel Justus Lindberg died on 31 March 1969 at Logan, Utah. He is buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
James L. Olson was born and died on 27 April 1896 at Osmond, Wyoming. His is buried in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
Lillian Albertha Olson married Ellis O'dell Williamson on 29 September 1920 in the Logan, Utah Temple. He was the son of Ellis Arthur Wilhelmson and Orissa Angelia Allred. They were the parents of 3 children: June Lillian born 7 June 1921, married to Frank E1dridge Weston on 22 June 1939; Arva Edith born 7 April 1923, married to Robert Werner Wuthrich on 30 November 1942; Violet Udell born 28 February 1938, married to De Von Keetch Hirschi on 28 December I960.
Gertrude Olson was born and died on 8 April 1900 at Osmond, Wyoming. She is buried in Afton, Wyoming city cemetery.
Violet Fannie Olson married William Dow Williamson on 13 June 1928 in the Logan, Utah Temple. He was the son of Ellis Arthur Wilhelmson or Williamson and Adelia Edith Young. They were the parents of 2 children: Jerry Dow born 12 October 1932, married to Hannah Adams on 16 September 1956; Peggy Lanine born 29 July 1938, married to (1) Gustavas Anton Macias on 24 March 1954, married to (2) Bill De Rosia.
Violet and William Dow were divorced and Violet married (2) Clarence Gunard Kelstrom on 17 October 1952.
Violet Fannie Olson Williamson Kelstrom passed away on 1 May 1980 at Claarfield, Utah. She is buried in Ogden, Utah city cemetery.
On 22 October 1914 Paul's beloved companion passed away at their home in Osmond. She was preparing breakfast one morning and had a stroke (a blood-clot in her head), and fell over into her son Albert's arms. She was buried on 6 November 1914 in the Afton city cemetery. The reason for the delay in her burial was because her son Otto was being released from his mission and because it was so cold they were able to hold her body until his return home.
This was a great loss to Paul. His daughter Ethel told that he insisted on having Kerstina's dress and robe that she wore on his feet when he would lay down. The girls would try to remove it and he would say, "just leave that there, that's for me."
By this time all the children were married but Lillian (Lily) and Violet. But he continued to care for them. Charles and his bride moved in with him and lived there for 3 years. Aunt Cecil says that she never heard him utter a cross word, that he was just the most even-tempered man. He called his two girls pets, “My pet, Violet” or “Lily, my pet.”
Aunt Ethel said, “Mother raised Eva Chadwick until I believe she was about nine, then she was with Lily and Violet for about a year. Then after dad died Mr. Chadwick come and got her. That was really hard on the girls. They thought the world of her. Dad never called Violet, Violet, he called her Wila. He took care of Lily and Violet after mother died. He said, ‘I’ll take care of you Wila, I'll take care of you,’ and he did. He just thought the world of those two girls. After dad died they went out and stayed with Ellen. After Mother died he used to walk out where Axel and I were living and I'd give him coffee and a meal. I visited with him s lot.”
Aunt Helen said, "I really thought a lot of grandpa. He would come to our place and chop wood for me. Albert always said he could tell when dad had been there as there would sometimes be enough wood chopped to last a week."
Paul passed away at his home in Osmond on 9 December 1919, probably from old age. His church record states, "general debility." He was buried on 12 December 1919 in the Afton, Wyoming city cemetery. He had a living posterity of 8 children, 3 stepsons and 13 step-grandchildren, 27 grand-children, 4 grand-children having passed away, 1 step-grandson being stillborn.
THE CLOSE OF LIFE
by Evelyn Fjelsted
Shall not the close of life be sweet-
Like coming home some tranquil day
When one has wished so long to come,
But home seemed ever far away?
Like knowing suddenly there was
No cause at all for grief or fear
When one has been so much afraid
And nothing in the world seemed clear;
Like realizing that, at last,
A burden one has carried long
Is laid aside and one is free
To live again with hope and song;
Like seeing life—yes, glorious life
In all its grand simplicity,
When life has seemed complex and strange,
When one has seen small victory?
Pal (Paul) Larsson Olson
The province of Skane, Sweden, is the most rich, luxuriant province in Sweden.
The county of Malmohus is the southernmost county in Sweden. Except for its northern boundary it is completely surrounded by water.
The gently rolling contours of Skane province, of which Malmohus is a county, is a delight to the eye. Its soil is uncommonly fertile.
In this province, Swedes smile very readily, are not so shy, and have very engaging ways. Scanians have been consistently well fed through the ages and they like to eat, drink and make merry.
The plains, the gently rolling hills and fields are broken every few miles by lovely castles which have given this part of Sweden the name of the "Chateau country".
Skane is called the "granary of Sweden." 80% of its fields are under cultivation.
In the middle ages, Skane’s coastal fish marts attracted merchants from all Northern Europe. Skane is rich in beaches, mile after mile of soft sea, sand, and dunes of stirring beauty.
Castles are Skane’s number one attraction.
Physically, Swedes are tall and athletic in build. For the most part they are fair-haired and blue-eyed. (This does not apply to our grandfather Paul as he had dark, near black hair.)
In moments of exasperation, the Swede generally remains quiet. He cannot bear scenes. The Swede firmly believes that his long training in not allowing himself to become cross or excited has helped him mentally and spiritually to keep young. The Swede is an extremely practical fellow, who knows how to deal with the hard cold facts of life and make the best of them. He thinks first and speaks after. A handshake over a transaction may mean just as much as a document signed in triplicate.
He is usually very patient and taciturn. (Aunt Cecil said she never seen a more patient man and his daughters tell how much patience he had while they combed and combed his beautiful black hair.)
He cannot bear to see injustice. He cannot stand to see cruelty to animals.
The virile Swedes have plenty of courage. They will risk their own lives to save the lives of both men and beasts.
There is a common saying that every second Swede is an engineer. The loss of a hand would be peculiarly tragic to a Swede because he makes excellent use of his hands, whether wielding a surgeon’s scalpel or a woodman’s axe. (We know our grandfather had great skill in the use of his saws in making his lovely cabinetry.)
Whatever his profession or trade, the Swede is apt to do a good honest job.
He may be slow and deliberate but he is thorough. (As evidenced in the story “The Bullhead Fisherman” by Edwin Cazier}
The Swedes are men's men, preferring the company of men. He always enjoys stag affairs. Fun to a man means being alone with men, so they can talk and drink as much as they please. (We are told by Aunt Ethel that her father liked his drinking until a near tragedy made him quit.)
We must remember that even with his vices of drinking and chewing tobacco it was not wrong for him as that was the Swede’s way of life.
Ogden, Utah
July 18, 1876
President Brigham Young,
The emigrants will arrive at 6:15 this evening.
J. Reeve
Tuesday, July 18, 1876
A Cordial Reception
"Arrangements have been made to give the emigrants who are expected to arrive tonight a cordial reception. From the tithing store the substantial constituents of a feast have been supplied while a number of the Scandinavian brethren with their usual consideration and kind heartedness have combined together and procured sufficient quantities of delicacies, then who making up an excellent repast, which no doubt will be appreciated by the travel-worn people for which it has been provided."
1876 was the Centennial year for the nation and celebrations were going on all over Utah.
The Mattsson family settled at Sandy, Utah. A large number of Saints from Scandinavia had settled at Sandy, locating on farms and taking an active part in the activities of the ward. The Sandy branch was organized in 1882. In 1877 the Union ward was organized and the Saints of Sandy were organized as a branch of that ward.
The Mattsson family changed their names to Neilson after arriving in Utah and Per Bengtsson changed his to Harrison.
On 20 October 1876 we find Kerstina and her young man, although he was some 12 years her senior in age, running into Salt Lake to the Endowment House where Peter Harrison and Kerstina Neilson were united in marriage as husband and wife. Joseph P. Smith was the officiator for the sealing and Daniel H. Wells and Levi W. Richards as witnesses.
They settled at Alta, a mining community 16 miles east of Sandy on a farm. Then they moved back to Sandy, where they purchased a small farm about 3 miles south of Sandy.
A bit more than a year later a tiny stillborn baby daughter was born to them on 14 December 1877 at Sandy.
This made a double tragedy as Kerstina's brother Nils' wife, Annie had delivered a tiny baby girl the same day and Annie died in childbirth. This tiny baby, named Anna, was taken into Kerstina's home and raised as if she were her own. She was able to nurse this baby, just as if she had given birth to her.
Peter and Kerstina raised this little girl until she was about 8 when her father remarried and took Anna away to help with his new wife and baby Ethel. But the motherly love for Anna remained with Kerstina although the separation about broke both Anna and Kerstina's hearts.
On 18 October 1879, Kerstina's father passed away at Sandy, just 3 years after his coming to America. He was never to know his youngest child, Mary Ann, as she was born the following January 31.
While farming his little farm, Peter worked on the granite for the Salt Lake Temple, unloading it from the railroad cars that came from Granite Canyon, east of Sandy. He would cut and polish the slabs and reload them on the cars, which then took them to Salt Lake.
He received his wages in goods from the tithing office.
On Sunday and Fast Days, which were held at that time on the first Thursday of each month, the family always rode to church in their small buggy.
On 5 January 1880, Kerstina's first little son was born. The name chosen for him was Otto Alfred Harrison.
Lines
by Maud Baggarley
I cling to thy hand, O, Father,
While I guide the steps of a child,
The faltering steps of a baby,
A little one, undefiled
By the stains that smirch the earth-born.
And unto thee all praise,
If mine is the path of sorrow,
If he treads pleasant ways,
O, grant that the way be easy
For the tender little feet.
But -- thine own man-child was broken
And I hardly dare to pray
That the path of my child be thornless
When thine trod a thorny way,
But the flesh is weak, O, Father.
Help me to triumph - and ask
Strength for my little baby,
Strength for each daily task,
Love and joy to attend him,
And a home with Thee at last.
Two more sons were born to them in the following years: Peter William on 8 October 1881 and Joseph Richard born 25 June 1883.
During these years they lived a very faithful and happy life.
Then one morning in early November as they were going to Fast Meeting, Peter was suddenly stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Operations were not often performed in those days and the following Saturday two days later, he passed away on 3 November 1883.
This is Just a Resting Place
by Helen Steiner Rice
Sometimes the road of life seems long
as we travel through the years,
And with a heart that's broken
and eyes brimful of tears,
We falter in our weariness
and sink beside the way,
But God leans down and whispers,
“Child, there'll be another day.
And the road will grow much smoother
and much easier to face,
So do not be disheartened --
this is just a ‘resting place.’”
Kerstina and her three sons and foster daughter lived on the farm doing the best they could. Otto was only three years old and baby Joseph only four months when their father was called to his Heavenly Home.
As her daughter Ethel has stated, "She never got over losing her dear husband, Peter, as she loved him very dearly."
In the same ward was another lonely Swedish man, Paull L. Olson. They were married on 27 November 1884.
Paull had come to this country bringing with him his two little daughters, Anna Cathrina and Carolina Helena. Being unable to care for them he had placed them both in foster homes. On March 10, 1884 Anna Cathrina passed away. After Paull and Kerstina were married, Carolina Helena came home to live with her father and new mother. Kerstina raised her just as if she were her own.
Paull moved into Kerstina’s home and also worked at the Mingo (Mountain Chief) smelter in Sandy.
They continued to live in Sandy. While there the following children were born: George Ludwig Olson born on 21 August 1885, He was blessed 1 October 1885 by Brother Ostlund.
Albert Louis was born 15 May 1887, blessed 7 July 1887 by Isaac Harrison.
Ella (Ellen) Ulela was born 27 February 1889, blessed 4 April 1889 by Ezekial Holman.
Both Carolina Helena and Otto Alfred were baptized on 4 August 1888 by Brother Hjelte Olson at Sandy, Utah.
Kerstina's brother Andrew immigrated to America 23 June 1879 on the ship, "Wyoming". He was 19 years old at the time. He married Johanna Christophersson on 21 June 1886. He had heard about a small valley in Wyoming and had gone there in 1889 to settle. Her brother Peter was working in Logan, Utah as a harness maker. He was married to Adelaide Cornelia Keaton. Swen married Hanna Selander and Nils married Annie Bunderson, she died, and he then married Emily Jarvis.
Kerstina and Paull were called by President Wilford Woodruff to go and halp settle Star Valley.
They sold their farm to the Mingo smelter and bought a team, wagon and supplies and as quoted in Paull's journal, "I, Paull Lauritz Olson and family left Sandy, 22 May 1890. Arrived in Afton 8 June 1890."
One night after fording a deep creek all their food supplies were lost. They camped that night and were all cold and hungry. Kerstina went into the nearby woods to pray. She started back to camp when a white horse with a man on its back appeared in front of her. He approached Kerstina and asked if she was Sister Olson. She replied that she was and he told her that he had something for her. He handed her a bag of flour and before she could get over her surprise to thank him, he rode out of sight. She returned to camp with tears streaming down her face and told her family what had happened. They all knelt in prayer to give thanks to the Lord for their blessings.
Omnipotent
by Nick Kenny
Somebody listens to every prayer,
When you are ill and burdened with care,
When your soul is bent with its weight of woe,
Tell it to someone who loves you so.
Someone will tell you that He understands,
He'll hold your heart in His gentle hands,
Just like a child when the father's near,
With God at your side, there's nothing to fear.
When days are long and nights have no end,
When things go wrong, there's always one friend,
Just lift your eyes and you'll see Him there,
With His gentle smile as He hears your prayer.
When they arrived in Afton they stayed for a few months with Kerstina's brother Andrew and his family. By this time he and Johanna had 3 small children.
Kerstina and Paull and the boys built them a dugout into the hillside east of town.
When they arrived, Kerstina was pregnant and not feeling too well and the good people did all they could to help her throughout the winter.
On 7 December 1890 her new baby son was born. It was decided to give him the name of their new home so on 5 February 1891 he was blessed and given the name of Charles Afton Olson by Brother Peri and Brother Harmonson.
As per Paull's journal, "Homesteaded 160 acres, 10 June 1890." By spring Paull had proven upon the quarter section in Dry Creek that he was homesteading. They started their first home that summer. Paull was a good carpenter and made it snug and secure as he could.
Kerstina was called to go into the homes of the sick as needed. This service was rendered very faithfully, many times leaving her own family for several days to go help others.
Paull made her a special toboggan called a "one-horse shay." This small sleigh was put on narrow runners to fit the narrow country lanes. Kerstina was able to harness and drive the horses by herself whenever she was called. She kept the sleigh filled with straw, hay or oats. She kept a pieced and tied overall quilt in the box and kept wrapped heated rocks for warmth. In the summer she had a cart that Paull had made to ride in.
The first Primary was organized in Dry Creek in 1893 and Kerstina was chosen as 1st counselor serving under Rebecca McLatchie as President and Anne Bell Hill as Secretary and Martha Meacham as 2nd counselor. At first Mary Wilson was 1st counselor but because of ill health she was released and Kerstina put in in 1896. She served in this position for 5 years.
On 13 January 1893 her daughter Ethel Laura was born. She was blessed by Bishop C. D. Cazier.
Another sorrow was to befall her in the birth and death of her tiny son, James L. born and died on 27 April 1896.
Losing a tiny new baby must surely tax all the faith a mother has. Carrying this tiny infant under her heart for 9 long months only to lose it. This was her second sad experience of this.
The Future
I know not what the future holds
Of good or ill for me and mine;
I only know that God enfolds
Me in His loving arms divine.
On 22 March 1898 her 3rd daughter was born. She was blessed and given the name of Lillian Albertha by Bishop C.D. Cazier.
Another tiny little girl was to come into her keeping on 8 April 1900 at 2 o'clock in the night but only for such a short time, just 15 minutes, long enough to take full possession of her spirit and earthly body. Her parents gave her the name of Gertrude.
Through all this, Kerstina never lost her faith, and continued in her church callings and visited the homes of the sick.
On 8 September 1901 at the ward organization there was present of the 12 Apostles, Abraham 0. Woodruff and of the Stake Presidency, President George Osmond and his 1st counselor, William W. Burton. Kerstina’s brother Andrew was chosen by Joseph F. Smith to be Bishop of the newly organized Osmond ward. The previous Sunday the new ward was also given the name of Osmond, being named after George Osmond.
On 8 September 1901 Kerstina was set apart as President of the Osmond ward Relief Society by 1st counselor William W. Burton. Mary Jane Henderson was her 1st counselor, Dolly Brown her 2nd counselor, and Elizabeth Linford her Secretary-treasurer.
Our Relief Society President
by Marguerite Burnhope Harris
She came with quiet dignity and grace,
A stranger in our midst, but stayed not so,
For soon she found a work and came to know
A host of people, who saw in her face
True love and service for the human race.
She brought them peace, and caused their faith to grow,
While always in her eyes that radiant glow
That won for her, within their hearts, a place.
Whene'er the call to duty for her came,
She answered promptly, "Here," and faltered not,
But hastened to comply, and ever sought
To brighten and lend sunshine to life's game,
So let us follow in her footsteps dear,
And when our call comes let us answer, "Here."
Kerstina held this sacred calling until 3 November 1913 when she was released because of ill health.
At the age of 44, Kerstina's 13th child and 6th daughter was born on 4 December 1902. She was blessed and given the name of Violet Fannie by her uncle, Bishop Andrew Neilson. This was on 11 January 1903.
It is told that when Violet was born it was raining and the house must have been leaking and an umbrella was held over Kerstina and the baby.
Kerstina's sister-in-law, Johanna C. Neilson had delivered all of Kerstina's babies but the last, Violet. The reason for this was that Johanna herself had a baby daughter born on the very same day.
Kerstina was a good homemaker. Times were very hard and many times she never knew what her children were going to eat.
One time her son George had begged for just a little sugar to put on his bread. Quote daughter Ethel, “They didn't have enough to eat and someone came and brought them a sack of flour. They were without any sugar and they took a slice of bread. She said George came and said, ‘Mother, could you just put a little sugar on it?’ She said it was so hard to forget, he just wanted a little sugar on it so he could eat it. Mother said one night they didn't have any bread or any flour or anything. They were pretty near starvation. The kids she knew were hungry and she didn't know what to do. They didn't know where to turn to get any more flour and she said she got up the next morning and opened the door and there was a sack of flour on the porch. She said she didn't know to the day she died who done it, but she guessed the Lord helped her out because she'd knelt and asked the Lord for help, for a little flour for some bread for her kids.”
For several years Paull and Andrew would return to the Mingo smelter for some months to earn enough money to buy supplies for their large families.
On the farm they had a few cows and Kerstina would take the cream that had been separated and make butter. Quoting daughter Ethel, "Mother would churn butter. She made big pounds of it. She made them right square. They'd look like boughten butter and we sold a lot of that and buttermilk." Paull had made her a churn out of a wooden keg and put a dasher in it.
No hungry person came into her home and went away hungry. Many meals were served to friends and visitors to her home, from the stake president to the most needy ones.
Quoting her niece, Pearl Neilson Millward, "Auntie was a very jolly, pleasant, happy person and she was always oh, so good to us kids. We would go to her place and have many get-togethers as a family. Auntie always had good eats, plenty to eat. Uncle Pol (she pronounced his name as P-o-l, not as pal as we see it written.) would go to the creek with his cart and his horse Teddy or the boys would take him someplace. He would fish and get lots of fish, or he would have a pig slaughtered and taken care of. He was always busy in his shop and would have to be called to eat while the rest of us were in the house getting ready for a party."
Money was very scarce so nature provided much of their livelihood. Paull enjoyed fishing and streams were alive with fish for the catching. He could always go fishing and come home with quite enough fish for his family. He would never eat fish himself. He would slaughter a pig and salt it down for future use, using the lard to cook the deer that he would hunt in the nearby hills.
Wild berries, serviceberries, chokecherries, currants and wild strawberries supplied the fruits. They tried to raise a garden and plant things that they had done in Utah but the season was too short and too cold and it didn't grow.
Paull was very handy about making furniture for their home, as that had been his trade in Sweden. He made their table with benches for the kitchen and his rightful place was at the head of the table. He made lovely desks and a settee for the living room. He made the beds. At first they used grass and skins for beds and then Paull made them out of logs and lumber when he could get it. Store bought furniture was a luxury that poor people couldn't afford.
At one of the homes that Kerstina was called to, to take care of a new mother, the mother was sickly and passed away. This was the home of George Chadwick. Quoting from daughter Ethel, "Mother was president of the Relief Society and she went to Chadwicks’ home to take care of her. She was really sick. She had this baby and she couldn't take care of her. Mrs. Chadwick was going to die. He said he didn't know what he was going to do with the baby and mother said, "Well, we'll take her," so we did. We'd sit and rock her. Even my brothers rocked her. Mother raised her until she died, then she stayed with father and the girls until father died. This was about 8 years." Then she went to live with her father as he had remarried aunt Ruby Harrison.
Quoting from Louise Harrison Cranney, "Mother remembers grandpa Olson as being very kind. He treated his stepchildren just like his own. You know they took my stepsister, Evva Chadwick to raise her when her mother died shortly after she was born. Evva's mother died 18 May 1911. Even after Grandma Olson died, father Chadwick wouldn't take her back because Grandpa Olson loved her so much. We didn't have her until after grandpa died in 1919."
Again Kerstina took in someone else’s little girl and gave her a mother's love.
One time when Kerstina thought her sons were old enough to be told something about the facts of life, she got them all together. But it did not turn out to be much of a success. They got their old clothes out and decorated her like a preacher. She started to cry and soon one of them grabbed the wash basin and held it in front of her. She gave up on the story of the birds and the bees.
Sometime in those early years Ethel was to have her picture taken with her family and didn't have a new dress. So Kate Stump loaned a dress to her. Katie's mother loaned her dress to Kerstina so they could have the family picture taken.
The clothes of the smaller boys were completely worn out, patches and all. One good neighbor named Hokanson could see they were in pretty desperate circumstances. He knew that Kerstina was too proud to ask for help, so he took clothes from his own family and brought them during the night and laid them on the gatepost. Nothing was ever said by anyone when the Olson/Harrison boys appeared with their new clothes. Shoes were patched and mended as many times as need be by father Paull. Shoes were very hard to come by. Quoting daughter Ethel, "I know my dad. Even when our shoes was so ragged, even when the sole was loose, he'd fasten the whole thing clear around and sew it and make a shoe out of it. We didn't have new shoes very often. We’d go without in the summertime. My dad was sure good at fixing shoes. He kept us in shoes all the time."
As has been stated, Kerstina was very good at trying to train her children right. What a joy it must have been to her when her first son received his mission call. Peter William was called to serve a mission to her beloved native land of Sweden. He was set apart on 22 April 1903 by Rulon S. Wells and returned on 7 October 1905. He held the office of a Seventy. One of his companions was Axel B. Olson from Salt Lake City who honored and respected him as a very fine missionary companion.
When George Ludwig received his mission call he threw his call out behind the barn and left it there for several days. He finally had to go and hunt the letter to send it in for his acceptance.
He too, was called to the Swedish mission. He was set apart by J. Golden Kimball on 8 September 1908 and returned 27 October 1910. While on his mission he made a visit to the home of his father's first wife, Elna Persson and reported that she seemed to be a very nice lady. It might be interesting to add that Elna eventually obtained a divorce from Paull and married again. She was married to Nils Olsson. Three sons were born to her. Olof Olsson, of Boise, Idaho, was her youngest son and is now deceased. Elna passed away 24 March 1918 in Malmo, Sweden.)
Another son of Kerstina's went on a mission to Sweden. This was Otto Alfred. He was married and had five children but when called to go he obediently went. He was set apart on 18 February 1913 by George F. Richards. After serving for 1 year and 10 months he was called home because of circumstances in Sweden prior to World War 1. Seventy missionaries left the Scandinavian mission in 1914, either returning to their homes or to be reassigned to other places to complete their mission. Otto went to Tennessee for the remaining two months of his mission but he was called home due to the death of his mother.
In 1902 Otto had been called as second counselor in the Osmond Ward bishopric serving with his uncle Andrew Neilson. He was called as Bishop of the Osmond ward in 1915 and served honorably in this call until his release in 1936, a true example of spiritual training by a wonderful mother and father. Even though father Paull did not attend church he must have been a powerful influence to these boys and supported them fully.
It may be interesting here to note that Kerstina's youngest brother August Matts, went on a mission to Sweden 1 May 1906 and returned 14 July 1908. He was married to Mabel Electa Jensen 5 days before he was set apart for his mission.
The Harrison and Olson boys were taught at an early age to work and accept responsibility. They went to the canyons and got out and hauled logs to Afton to the sawmill, selling them for lumber. They harvested and hauled grain to Montpelier. They went with gangs to shear sheep every year for three months: April, May, and June, throughout Wyoming.
The girls worked out in different homes and helped with the smaller children and chores at home. Lillian nearly always went with her mother when she was old enough to help out in the homes of the sick. Quite often she would be left for a few days to help out with new babies or wherever needed. She seemed to be completely immune from colds and contagious diseases. Ellen helped with the milking and the girls were expected to help herd the cows.
Quote daughter Lillian, "The girls helped with the chores, milked cows, fed the animals and herded the cows in the summer, also helped haul hay and grain and drive the teams while the boys loaded the hay."
With Kerstina being away from home so much of the time there was plenty for all to do.
The boys finally got logs and lumber enough that they were able to build them a new home. They did this with the help of their uncle Andrew Neilson who had built many homes and businesses in the valley. This was a nice seven-room home. This must have been a great delight to all.
Let us take a tour of this brand new home. The kitchen was partly carpeted for a time. Straw was placed under the carpet to make it softer. The other half was bare boards that had to be scrubbed.
The large family used a long table with the length going east/west in the kitchen or dining room. Benches went along the sides of the table with chairs at the end. Paull's place was at the east end of the table. The boys bought an armchair for Paull and placed it at his end of the table. The kitchen was separate from the dining area.
In the living room we find a, quote Violet, "beautiful medium-size table, all rubbed and polished, and a cabinet with three drawers. The top was made in sections to put books and what-nots in. A beautiful settee, as they were called in them days, for a sofa like, but made with tiny rounds of wood in the back and side, made by Paull, then the older girls made cushions to put on it."
Quote Lillian, "We had an organ to play for music and an old Edison phonograph with a big horn that played small round blue records on a cylinder."
Quote Ethel, "I do not recall having a clock in the house, we went more by the sun. When the sun was high in the sky we knew it was noon."
In the master bedroom we will find Paul and Kerstina's bed, with beautiful hand-tied quilts covering the bed. More of Paull's handiwork we find, quote Violet, "a bedroom cabinet, with three drawers in the bottom part and one on top. In between these drawers a writing desk of compartments of small drawers all so decorative, for Paull's special papers, the wood all grained outside, painted inside."
Not all had beds in their bedrooms and would have to sleep on the floor on straw-filled ticks.
Quote Ethel, "Then dad would take us down to the straw stack after they'd threshed. We'd have all our mattresses all washed up and ready. We'd empty the old straw out and take them and fill them with fresh straw. Then we'd have all our ticks on our beds and floors where we slept. Then when dad built our new home, the boys slept upstairs and we girls downstairs."
Quote Violet, "Hy Perkins, a bachelor, bought Lil and I a three-quarter bed, at first we both slept on it. He also bought our first long leg underwear. Boy that was something, sure warm and nice."
Quote Lillian, "We had to haul the water we used in the home and to bathe with. We had a round tub to bathe in, a big boiler to heat the water and coal oil lamps to see with." At first they only had light from rags dipped in tallow or candles if they had them.
After they moved into the new home the washing was done in the old log house.
Quote Ethel, "After we got our new home built I used to drag all our bedding down. We had a lot of sheets and I had to drag them down to the old log house. That's where dad had his workshop. He stood in there and he'd help me get the water and build the fire. He had a stove in there. First we had a washer he'd made with slats in it, then we got an old secondhand one. He had a lot of lines back of the house and I'd have sheets and sheets galore."
Entertainment was of the homemade kind. While the girls were herding the cows they made dandelion chains for jewelry and decorated themselves. They made rock houses and cut out paper dolls out of the mail order catalogs and made paper furnishings to put in these rock houses.
As time went on the children met the one of their choice and married to make homes of their own.
The first to leave was Carolina Helena (Leannie) who married Robert Anglesey of Afton. They were married on 26 September 1896 at the home of Robert's parents.
Following in her footsteps was Otto Alfred who married Fannie Chivers Henderson on 29 August 1903 in Afton.
Next was Peter William who married Ruby Leavitt on 4 December in the Salt Lake Temple.
Next we find Ellen going to the Logan Temple to marry her love, Mr. Heber Augustus Peterson from St. Charles, Idaho. They were married on 14 October 1908.
Joseph Richard married Nora May Allred on 6 September 1909.
George Ludwig married his sweetheart, Fannie Tippetts, on 21 August 1912 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Albert Louis married Helen Mae Crook on 16 March 1914.
The last child to be married before the death of Kerstina was Ethel Laura who married Axel Justus Lindberg on 25 September 1914.
Three children were left at home to be married without a mother's blessing. Charles Afton married Eula Cecil Cline on 7 October 1915 in the Salt Lake Temple.
After Kerstina's death, Paull raised two young girls and loved them dearly. Upon his death they went to St. Charles and lived with their sister Ellen and there they both met and fell in love with two Williamson boys.
Lillian Albertha married Ellis O'Dell Williamson on 29 September 1920 in the Logan Temple.
Violet Fannie married William Dow Williamson on 13 June 1928 in the Logan Temple. They were later divorced. She married Clarence Kelstrom.
Paull never mastered the English language very well. He could understand it but spoke very broken. Kerstina could speak good English, so they spoke in Swedish mostly between themselves.
As for temperament, quote daughter-in-law Cecil, wife of Charles, "Kerstina had more fire in her than Paul did. He was so easy going." Sometimes they would get in a dispute and he would leave and go stay with his daughter, Leannie for a few days.
A great tragedy came into their lives on 1 January 1914, New Years Day. The boys had gone to the canyon that day to do some logging. Otto was still on his mission. They had been dragging the logs down and had to dig down to put a chain around the logs. They had left the shovel where they had been doing this. Charles started a couple of times to go after the shovel but Will said, no he would go get it and he said jokingly if he didn't come back soon to come look for him. After awhile they got worried and went looking for him. They found him by poking sticks into the snow. He had been caught in a small snow slide. It had come down where they had been working and left the shovel. A short while before this he was going to be ordained a Seventy and the person saying the words said, "And he will be called soon to go and preach to the spirits in paradise." They thought he had made a mistake and so they started over again and he said the same thing the second time so they left it that way.
Will's wife Ruby was planning a surprise supper for those in the canyon. What a horrible surprise this was for her.
Kerstina was not a bit well at this time. Quote Ethel, "Mother was very sick at the time. I remember how they plugged the phone cause they didn't want mother to find out that he'd been under that slide and they were digging him oUtah Doctors didn't want her to know so they plugged the phone so people wouldn't call and tell her but she surmised it or something. She saw all these travelers coming down. We could see it from the dugway."
Will was buried on 1 January 1914 in the Afton cemetery, leaving his wife, Ruby Leavitt Harrison and three small children: Kenneth, age 4, Louise, age almost 3 and De Verl, age 14 ½ months.
Kerstina's condition worsened and she passed away from a blood clot in her head on 22 October 1914 at her home. She was preparing breakfast and fell over into her son Albert's arms.
Because it was so cold they were able to hold her body until the return of her son Otto from his mission. Her funeral and burial were on 6 November 1914. She is buried in the Afton city cemetery.
Count Not the Years
by C. Frank Steele
Count not the years of life
Though here they may be brief –
She would be pained by tears,
Our unrestrained grief.
Think rather of the joys
That came to her each day;
The memory of her smile –
That does not pass away.
Forget her fleeting years,
Erase the reckoning;
Did we not have her love
Making our own hearts sing?
Count not the years of life,
With eternity to share;
Open the gates some dawn
And you will find her there.
Response
By Mabel L. Gleason
You’re giving me praise today
For reasons I know not why;
For love I've shown my children
For whom I'd gladly die.
Don't think I’ve minded the long hours
I've tended, watched and prayed;
These are golden links in my memory,
The only ones I'd hoped to have stayed.
The days I've watched o'er the cradle
The little ones lying there;
Don't thank me for care I've given,
Care I'd not have been willing to share.
Now they've grown tall—these babies of mine
Grown to manhood, womanhood too;
And I long for the old days
And those lost little jobs to do.
I ask no praise for my life's work,
Their love is all that I need;
Just knowing they're filling their niche in life
Is honor and praise indeed.
Services Held For Otto A. Harrison
Otto Alfred Harrison, was born January 5, 1880, in Sandy City, Utah, a son of Peter Bengtson Harrison and Christina Neilson. His father and mother have long since passed away. His father died when Otto was three years old. Velta Olson baptized him at Sandy, Utah, when he was eight years old.
In 1890, at the age of ten years, Otto came to Star Valley. He rode the lead horse bringing the family here where they homesteaded a ranch at what is now Osmond. His family suffered the many hardships of the early settlers in Star Valley. Otto, being the oldest child in the family, accepted the responsibility of helping and guiding his loved ones.
He had two brothers and one sister who preceded him in death, the sister being only a baby when she died. After the death of his sister, his mother adopted a little girl, Anna Neilson, whom she reared with her family. After his father’s death, his mother married Paul L. Olson and they had a family of nine children, two of them now deceased, Mr. Olson having had one daughter, by a previous marriage, making a total of fifteen children.
In 1901 Osmond became a ward, and in 1902 Otto was ordained a High Priest and became a Counselor to Bishop Andrew M. Neilson.
As a young man he fell in love with and married Fannie C. Henderson. They were married August 29, 1903. To this union were born nine children; six sons and three daughters. One son has preceded him in death, having died on the day he was born, October 2, 1919.
Otto was released from Bishop's Counselor when he moved to Grover in 1909. After his return to Osmond he was called on a mission to Sweden. He left for these labors February 15, 1913, leaving his devoted wife to carry on through many hardships with five small children, all under 10 years of age. He was called out of Sweden because of conditions developing before World War I. He was sent to Tennessee to labor for the remaining two months of his mission, but was called home on account of his mother’s death.
He was called as Bishop of the Osmond Ward in 1915 which position he honorably filled until his release in 1936. Otto was engaged in the ministry some eight years as a Counselor and nearly twenty-one years as a Bishop, or a total of nearly thirty years. Besides this he held many other offices, both in the community and in the Church. At the time of his passing he was Secretary of the Osmond group of High Priests and a Ward Teacher. For some years he was a member of the Board of the Federal Land Bank.
In the year 1941 he underwent a serious operation from which he never fully recovered. On July 11, 1948, he was stricken with an illness, which caused his death.
Surrounded by his loved ones he slipped into the great beyond Thursday afternoon, July 22, 1948 after much severe suffering.
Funeral services were held July 25, 1948 in the Osmond Ward chapel. The building was not large enough to accommodate the large crowd of friends and relatives who gathered to pay their last respects. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.
Bishop Leslie Erickson presided and also conducted the services. The first song was rendered by the Singing Mothers, "Sweet Is the Work". The invocation was offered by President E. Francis Winters. The life sketch was read by Mrs. Ivan Roberts.
The first speaker was former president Clarence Gardner who spoke of his many years of efficient and patient service as Bishop's Counselor and as Bishop. He spoke of him as being quiet and retiring and feeling incapable of accepting the responsibility of a Bishop.
A vocal duet "The Perfect Day" was rendered by Mr. and Mrs. James Gomm, assisted on the piano by Mrs. Louis Swenson.
The second speaker, Clarence Erickson, spoke of his ability to guide and counsel his family and others and of his many years of service and sacrifice of time and means to further the work of the Lord on the earth.
A vocal duet, "Thy Will Be Done", was sung by Mr. and Mrs. John Rich.
Bishop John L. Metcalf spoke of his acquaintance with the family and how he found the same qualities of dependability, willingness, and efficiency in the children as were possessed by their father. He said he liked to picture Bishop Harrison as a willing follower or a capable leader, always ready to do his share and a little more.
Bishop Leslie Erickson made the closing remarks and spoke of his associations with the family and how under any circumstances he had found them always willing and able to respond to the occasion.
Two poems paying tribute to Mr. Harrison, written by James Gomm and Claude Tippetts were read by Mrs. De Lynn Griffeth.
The song "Goin' Home" was sung by Bishop Arch Gardner.
Benediction was offered by Allen Hunsaker.
Interment was in the Afton Cemetery. The grave was dedicated by Wallace Henderson.
Otto leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Fannie Harrison; five sons, Almon, Leslie, Albon, Ernest and Thede Harrison; and three daughters, Merettie Leavitt, Alta Hillstead, and Dona Hoopes; two brothers, Albert and Charles Olson, four sisters, Ellen Peterson, Ethel Lindberg, Lillie Williamson, Violet Williamson and his foster sister, Anna Kronman, also thirty-one grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends.
The pall bearers were his sons Almon, Leslie, Albon, and Thede Harrison, and son-in-laws David Hillstead and Vearl Hoopes.
The grandchildren carried the flowers.
Those attending the funeral from out of the valley included Mr. and Mrs. John Rich, and Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Jenkins, Sandy, Utah; Mr. and Mrs. Marion Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Dow Williamson, and children, Jerry and Peggy, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Von Almen, Roy, Utah; Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Peterson, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Reed, and son, Ronald, Mr. and Mrs. Odell William and daughter, Udell, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weston, Mr. and Mrs. Wutrich, all of Bear Lake County, Idaho; Alvira Henderson, Bishop and Mrs. L. E. McDermott, Clifton, Idaho; Mrs. Chloe Howell, Preston, Idaho; Mr. and Mrs. William Hill, Powell, Wyoming; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hill, Saratoga, Wyoming; Mr. and Mrs. Albert Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Delos Olson, Salmon, Idaho; Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Olson, Mrs. Eldon Portela, Pocatello, Idaho; Emil Neilson, Salt Lake City; Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Henderson, Rock Springs; Elmer Peterson, California; and Mrs. Otto Henderson, Ogden, Utah.
Afton, Wyoming
Friday, March 14, 1952
Mrs. W. J. Cassity Dies Suddenly At Afton
Mrs. W. J. Cassity, 62, of Afton passed away in a coma at 9:15 Thursday morning. Mrs. Cassity has been suffering from diabetes for more than 20 years, but she has been able to get out and take care of her work most of the time. She attended the banquet at the Valleon Tuesday and seemed to be in her usual good health. At 11:00 p. m. Wednesday she passed into a coma and did not regain consciousness.
She was born in St. Charles, Idaho, January 29, 1890 and in May of that year her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Allred and family moved to Star Valley,
where she has lived since.
Funeral services will be held in the Stake house Monday at 1:00 p. m.
Funeral Services Held For Mrs. W. J. Cassity
Nora Allred Harrison Cassity, daughter of Seymour Allred and Claudia Stock, was born at St. Charles, Idaho, January 29, 1890. She came to Star Valley with her parents the same year, where she spent her entire life. She received her education in the Afton schools.
She married Joseph Harrison at Paris, Idaho, Sept. 6, 1909. They were later married in the Logan Temple, September 10, 1913. She was the mother of six children. One child preceded her in death June 27, 1916.
Nora was a kind, loving wife and mother and the welfare of her family was her constant concern. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in the various auxiliaries. She filled positions in the Relief Society for thirty-seven years.
She died at Afton, March 13, 1952. She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband, Mrs. Thelma Allen, Ogden, Utah, Mrs. Dora Hillstead, Osmond, Wyoming, Mrs. Elaine Miles, Afton, LaDell Harrison, Riverton, Wyoming, and Mrs. Verna Petersen, Osmond, Wyoming, seventeen grandchildren and one great grandchild. One grandson, Deon Allen is an electrician’s mate in the U. S. Navy. He is stationed in Hawaii at the present time.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 17 in the North Ward chapel. Bishop M. J. Austin presided and conducted the service.
Prayer in the home: Franklin R. Gardner; Processional music: Margaret Winters; Invocation: Clarence Erickson; Quartet: Harvey Allred and Co. Speaker: R. R. Dana; Duet: Ivan and Gladys Gardner; Speaker: President E. Francis Winters; Duet: Mr. and Mrs. Transtrom; Speaker: Ben Nield; Remarks: Bishop M. J. Austin; Duet: Don and Mary Beth Chadwick; Benediction: Joseph Allen; Recession music: Margaret Winters; Pallbearers: K. D. Miles, Lavon Allen, Ted Hillstead, Gayle Miles, Victor Cassity, and Neil Cassity.
Idaho State Journal
Montpelier—Lillie Alberta Olson Williamson, 78, died Wednesday at her home.
She was born March 22, 1898 in Osmond, Wyoming to Paul and Christina Nielson Olson. She married O'Dell Williamson Sept. 29, 1920 in the Logan L.D.S. Temple. She was an active member of the L.D.S. church.
Survivors include her widower of Montpelier; three daughters, Mrs. Frank (June) Weston of Laketown, Utah, Mrs. Robert (Arva) Wuthrick of Idaho Falls, and Mrs. Devon (Udell) Hirschi of Kent, Washington; nine grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; two sisters, Ethel Lindberg of Paris, Idaho and Violet Kelstrom of Ogden, Utah.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in the Montpelier 2nd ward Chapel. Friends may call at Matthews Mortuary on Friday from 7-9 p.m. and on Saturday one hour before services.
Burial will be in the St. Charles cemetery.
Ogden Standard Examiner
Violet O. Kelstrom
Mrs. Violet Fannie Olson Williamson Kelstrom, 77, of 2245 Monroe, died Thursday, May 1, 1980 at a Clearfield nursing home following a lingering illness.
Mrs. Kelstrom was born December 4, 1902 in Osmond, Wyoming, a daughter of Paul Larson and Christina Nielson Olson.
She was married to William Don Williamson on June 13, 1928 in the Logan L.D.S. Temple. They were later divorced. She was married to Clarence Kelstrom on October 17, 1952 in Ogden. He died January 1, 1959.
She had been a beautician. She had worked in Food Services at the Utah State Tuberculosis Hospital, and in Food Services at the Ogden Arsenal from 1941 to 1955.
She had lived in Osmond, Wyoming; Sandy, Utah; Bancroft, Idaho; Paris, Idaho; and Roy, moving to Ogden in 1954.
She was a member of the Ogden 6th LDS Ward and had been a Sunday School teacher, Primary teacher, Relief Society visiting teacher and MIA teacher.
Surviving are one son and one daughter, Jerry D. Williamson, Sr., Sunset, and Mrs. Bill (Davie Peggy) DeRosia, Clovis, Calif., 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Also surviving is one sister, Mrs. Ethel Lindberg, Afton, Wyoming.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at Lindquist and Sons Colonial Chapel with Bishop John R. Lee of the Ogden 6th Ward officiating.
Friends may call at the mortuary Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday one hour prior to services. Interment in the Ogden City Cemetery.
Star Valley Independent
Services Held for Axel J. Lindberg
at Osmond Ward
Funeral services were held Thursday April 3, 1969 at 1 p.m. in the Osmond ward chapel with Bishop John Gray Hillstead conducting, for Axel Justus Lindberg, 77, a resident of Osmond for many years, who died March 31, 1969 at 8:30 A.M. at his home in Logan, Utah, following an extended illness.
Burial was in the Afton cemetery.
He was born June 11, 1891 at Genarp, Sweden to Andrew John and Hanna Person Lindberg.
He spent his early life and received his schooling in Sweden until 1907 when at age 15 he came to America and started working as a sheepherder in Wyoming for Covey Brothers. He purchased a farm at Osmond prior to 1914 and in addition to sheep and dairy farming, worked at hauling freight, getting wood and logs out of the canyon, and on road construction jobs with horses.
He married Ethel Laura Olson September 25, 1914 at Paris, Idaho.
After moving to Logan, he and his wife provided board and room for college students at Utah State University. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1951 and was an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood.
He participated in the building of the Osmond ward church house and in the remodeling of the stake house in Afton.
He liked horse races, pulling matches and dancing. He played the accordion for dances and entertainment.
He is survived by his wife, Ethel Laura Lindberg, Logan. The following sons and daughters: Mrs. Lloyd (Naomi) Kennington, Paris, Idaho, Carl A. Lindberg and Wilton J. Lindberg of Osmond, Mrs. Hyrum,(Nelda) Schwab, Afton, Mrs. Lynn (Norma) Hincks, Grover, Mrs. Leon (Shirley) Von Almen, Sunset, Utah, and Vernal Lindberg, Walnut Creek, Calif. Also surviving are the following sisters, Mrs. Annie Jensen, Montpelier, Idaho, Mrs. Ellen Jensen, Pocatello, Idaho, Mrs. Wilhelmina Cook, Ogden, Utah and Mrs. Hilda Welch, Bountiful, Utah. 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren also survive him.
The Paris Post
Thursday, August 19, 1954
Mrs. Augustus Peterson of St. Charles Dies Last Friday
Mrs. Ellen Olson Peterson, 65, wife of Augustus H. Peterson of St. Charles died last Friday following a long illness.
A daughter of Paul and Christina Neilson Olson, she was born February 27, 1889 at Sandy, Utah. She was married to Augustus Peterson, October 14, 1909 in the Logan temple and had resided in St. Charles since.
Surviving besides her husband are the following sons and daughters: Ezra, Leslie, Elmer, Irene, Erma, Keith, Lavern, Goldie, Lynn, and Maythel.
Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. in the St. Charles ward chapel, conducted by Bishop Whitney Transtrum.
Speaker, Henry Monson. Song, "That Wonderful Mother of Mine," by Whitney and Hazel Transtrum, accompanied by Maurine Welling. Speaker, Lathair Rich. Song, "Beyond the Sunset." Speaker, Pres. L. Burdette Pugmire. Choir, "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." Benediction by Leslie Harrison.
The grave was dedicated by Elmer Peterson.
Idaho State Journal
St. Charles-—Heber Augustus Peterson, 88, former St. Charles resident, died April 25, 1972 of an illness at a Nampa hospital.
He was born January 29, 1884 to Ole and Joanna Transtrum Peterson. He married Ella Ulela Olson October 24, 1908 in the Logan L.D.S. temple. She preceded him in death August 13, 1954.
He is survived by sons and daughters: Ezra of Ontario, Oregon; Leslie of Emmett; Mrs. Jesse Reed and Mrs. Milton Teuscher of Geneva; Mrs. Dan Stamis, Woodland Hills, Calif.; Mrs. Goldie Peterson, Ogden; and Lynn of St. Charles; 31 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mrs. John Michaelson of St. Charles and Mrs. Harold Bullock of Salt Lake City.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 9 p.m. in the St. Charles ward chapel.
Friends may call at the Matthews Mortuary, Montpelier, Thursday from 7-9 p.m. and at the chapel two hours before the services. Burial will be in the St. Charles cemetery.
Funeral services were conducted last week at Salmon, Idaho and at Osmond in the ward chapel for Albert Louis Olson, 70, former resident, who died Monday, June 3, 1957 at a Salmon hospital of a heart ailment.
Albert Louis Olson was born May 15, 1887 to Paul L. and. Christina Neilson Olson at Sandy, Utah. When a small child his family moved to Star Valley, settling in the town of Afton.
He was one of 15 children enduring hardships that came from pioneering new places in the early days.
On March 16, 1914 he married Helen Crook of Smoot in Paris, Idaho. Later it was solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. To this union were born nine children; three daughters and six sons.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He lived most of his life in Afton until 1946, when he moved to Salmon, Idaho.
He leaves to mourn his loss his wife and eight children: Mrs. Evelyn McCammon, Conda, Idaho; Mrs. Blanche Bowles, Salmon; Ralph Olson, Logan, Utah; Lynn Olson, Salmon; Delos Olson, Salmon; Vergil Olson, Salmon; Mrs. Eva Fluckiger, Afton; Dallas Olson, Cobalt, Idaho. He is also survived by 35 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. One son, Rex, and one granddaughter preceded him in death. Rex was killed during World War II.
Funeral Services Held September 1 for Charles A. Olson
Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 1 at 1 p.m. in the Osmond Ward Chapel, with Bishop John Gray Hillstead conducting, for Charles Afton Olson, 79, a resident of Osmond most of his life, who passed away quietly at his home in Smithfield, Utah Friday, August 28, 1970, after 12 years of confinement, more or less as an invalid. Interment was in the Afton Cemetery.
He was born December 7, 1889 at Afton, Wyoming to Paul Lauritz Larsson and Christina Neilson Olson, the fourth child in a family of nine. By a previous marriage, his mother had three other sons, Otto, Joseph, and William Harrison, whom he always considered as full brothers.
A few years after he was born, his parents moved to Osmond, Wyoming, where his father homesteaded a 160-acre farm, later owned by Charles and his family. He attended school through the eighth grade in Osmond. As no higher education was available, he continued to study in the eighth grade for three school years.
Also surviving are 44 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and three sisters, Ethel Lindberg, Logan, Utah; Lillie Williamson, Montpelier, Idaho; and Violet Kelstrom, Ogden, Utah. One daughter, Joyce, preceded him in death in January 1945.
When about 16 years old, he worked with a survey company for the railroad in the Snake River country, over the Blue Trail. He led pack horses over dangerous canyon trails.
He met his future wife, Cecil Cline, at a dance in the old ward hall in Afton, and after courtship of four years, they left in a white-topped buggy drawn by a well-matched team of horses he owned for Montpelier, Idaho and caught a train for Salt Lake City, where they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on October 7, 1915. After they were married, each received a patriarchal blessing from Cecil's grandfather, B. F. Barrus.
They returned to Star Valley and worked the farm with Charles's father on the family homestead. He milked cows, kept a small flock of sheep, and hauled milk for the Afton Creamery. In early days he used a team of horses and wagon in summers and sleighs in winter, and later drove a truck. He and his brothers spent many winters sawing and hauling logs from Dry Creek Canyon. Often, the snow was deep, and there was always danger of snow slides. In one slide, his brother William Harrison, lost his life.
In January 1933, their home burned, and Charles's brother, George, invited the family to live with his family. Charles, his brothers, Albert and George, and other members of the Osmond Ward got logs out of the canyon and by April erected a new house.
Charles was active in the LDS Church, and served as secretary in the Sunday School, ward clerk, YMMIA secretary and he and his wife served as stake missionaries for three years. In 1945-46, when 57 years of age, he served a seven month mission to the North Central States. He later served as Gospel Doctrine class teacher in the Sunday School.
He loved sports of all kinds, especially horse racing. He loved horses and took pride it owning beautiful teams.
His outgoing, jovial nature won him many friends. His son Clyde said, “You couldn't say all the good things Dad has done if you wrote volumes.”
During his illness, his faithful companion remained at his side, caring for his every need.
He is survived by his wife Cecil, Smithfield, Utah; the following sons and daughters: Melvin, Osmond, Wyoming; Mrs. William (Carol) Helm, Smoot, Wyoming; Mrs. Elmer (Fern) Perry, Dayton, Idaho; Donald, Roy, Utah; Dean, Hayward, California; Clyde, Ogden, Utah; and Paul, Albuquerque, N. M.
Afton, Wyoming, Thursday. October, 19, 1939
Osmond Resident Passes Away
George L. Olson of Osmond, passed away at the Valley General hospital about 7:30 p. m. Wednesday. George has been ill for about ten days. Last week he was taken to Salt Lake City for medical treatment, and he was apparently better, and was out on the street Saturday.
Last Monday he was worse and was taken to the hospital, where he was given oxygen for several days, but he gradually got worse, and passed away Wednesday.
George was born in Sandy, Utah August 21, 1884 and his folks moved to Star Valley when he was still a young boy, and he has lived here since that time. About 11 years ago his wife died, leaving him a large family of young children. He has succeeded in raising them to be a fine bunch of boys and girls.
He leaves behind the following children: Mrs. Wanda Nebeker, DeRell Olson, Mrs. Audrey Portela, Rondo Olson, Darwin Olson, Everett Olson and Erva Olson. He also leaves the following brothers and sisters, Bishop Otto A. Harrison, Joseph Harrison, Albert and Charles Olson, Mrs. Lena Anglesey, Mrs. Ellen Peterson, Mrs. Lillie Williamson and Mrs. Violet Williamson.
Funeral services will be held in the Osmond ward Saturday, October 21 at 12:00 noon.
Afton, Wyoming, Thursday, October 26, 1939.
Funeral Services for George L Olson
Funeral services were held in the Osmond L. D. S. chapel for George Ludwig Olson, Saturday October 21. Bishop Leslie Harrison presided and counselor John Stumpp conducted the exercises.
Mr. Olson was born in Sandy, Utah August 21, 1885, the son of Paul L. and Christina Neilson Olson. He came to Star Valley when four years of age and has resided here since, except while fulfilling a long term L. D. S. Mission to Sweden 1907-09.
He married Fannie Tippetts of Georgetown, Idaho, August 21, 1912, in the Salt Lake temple. Mrs. Olson preceded him in death April 21, 1928. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom survive.
A male quartet, "The Teacher's Work is Done" was sung by Emil and Alma Nielson, James Gomm and W. J. Cassity.
Prayer was offered by Allan Hunsaker. Duet "Oh, My Father" by Louise Cranney and Ruby Chadwick.
The first speaker, W. J. Cassity, who was a close friend and neighbor, spoke words of praise for George. The other speakers who paid tribute to him were: Ozro Gardner, L. C. Jensen, President Clarence Gardner.
A beautiful poem written by Dorothy Mills was read by John Stumpp. Remarks were made by Bishop Leslie Harrison.
The benediction was by Leslie Erickson.
Mr. Olson was an active and consistent Latter-day Saint, fulfilling many positions. At the time of his death he was superintendent of the Osmond Sunday school, which position he had held for 18 years.
He was chairman of the Lincoln County 4-H Club committee and during the club camp in he took an active part. He has always taken an active part in community affairs, and for many years has been correspondent of the Star Valley Independent.
He was Republican Precinct Committeeman for many years and was always honest in his dealings and had keen judgment.
He was buried by the side of his wife in the Afton cemetery. Emil Neilson dedicated the grave.
The Osmond Ward Relief Society served lunch to about 80 friends and relatives.
He is survived by the following children: Mrs. William Nebeker, Fairview; Mrs. Eldon Portela, Osmond; DeRell, Rondo, Darwin, Everett and Erva Olson, all of Osmond.
Six grandchildren also survive, also the following brothers and sisters: Otto A. Harrison, Joseph Harrison, Charles and Albert Olson of Osmond; Mrs. Lena Anglesey, Afton Mrs. August Peterson, St. Charles; Mrs. O'Dell Williamson, St. Charles; Mrs. Dow Williamson, Paris, Idaho and Mrs. Axel J. Lindberg, Osmond.
All of George's brothers and sisters were at the funeral and nearly all of his wife's relatives.
Death Claims Mrs. Leana Anglesey
Death came peacefully to Mrs. Leana Carrie Anglesey in the early morning of February 13th 1947. She suffered a stroke early Sunday morning of Feb. 9th and was left paralyzed.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 17 at 1:00 p. m. in the South Ward Chapel. The body will be at the home of her oldest son,, Robert, before the funeral.
A sketch of her life will be available for next week’s paper.
Those from out of the valley who attended the funeral of Mrs. Leana Anglesey were: Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Peterson and Ezra Peterson of St. Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Dwendle Peterson of Bloomington, Idaho, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ewell and baby of Santaquin, Utah, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hatten and children of Superior, Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Coggins and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Laford Meikle of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Meikle and children of Lewisville, Idaho , Mr. Linel Meikle. and Mr. and Mrs. Lee Meikle of Rigby, Idaho.
Card of Thanks
We as a family wish to express our heartiest thanks and appreciation to the many friends and neighbors who were so kind and helpful during the illness and death of our dear mother.
We especially wish to thank the South Ward Relief Society for the lovely lunch, and also thank those who sent or brought food to the homes of Robert and LaVere.
Also, we are grateful for the beautiful flowers.
The Leana Anglesey family
Last Respects Paid Early Star Valley Pioneer Immigrant
Mrs. Caroline Helena (Leana) Anglesey passed peacefully away at 5:30 at her home Thursday morning February 13th. Death was due to a cerebral hemorrhage following a stroke.
Mrs. Anglesey was born on September 20, 1878 in Arlof, Molmo, Sweden, a daughter of Paul Larson Olson and Elna Person. She came to America with her father and a sister about 1882 when she was only 4 years of age. Her mother and a brother were to follow, but through a misunderstanding her mother and brother never came to America.
In 1890 when only 12 years of age she came with her father to Star Valley. They lived in Afton for several years and then moved to Osmond.
She married Robert Anglesey on September 26, 1896 in Afton. President George Osmond performed the ceremony. They moved back to their homestead one mile west of Afton where they lived the remainder of their lives. Her husband passed away on the 19th of October 1921, leaving her with the care of her large family. She was the mother of eleven children, three of whom preceded her in death.
Besides caring for her own children, she found time to help others and was always willing to assist in times of need. She nursed Mrs. Marion Nester, who was an invalid, for seven years. One shining feature of her life was her devotion to her family and her uncomplaining nature, no matter how dark things seemed around her. She will truly be missed by her many friends who came to know her during her many years. She was one of the early pioneers of Star Valley.
Funeral services were held in the Afton South Ward chapel under the direction of LaVere Johns, a member of the Bishopric on Monday Feb. 17th at 1:00 p. m.
The prelude and postlude music was played by Mrs. Nellie Roberts.
The Choir sang "Sweet Hour of Prayer" under the direction of Mrs. Barbara Lowe and accompanied on the piano by Lynette Barrus.
Invocation: Bishop Leslie Harrison.
Vocal Solo: "In the Garden" by Arch Gardner, assisted on the piano by Barbara Lowe.
Talk: Theron Merritt.
Vocal Duet: "The Lord is My Shepherd" by Nellie Roberts and Mary Call. Talk: Willard Nield.
Vocal Solo: "Forgotten" by Ernest Turner.
Talk: Ben Nield.
Remarks by Bishop Arch Gardner.
Closing song by choir "Sister Thou Wast Mild and Lovely."
Prayer: Rodney Wheeler.
The pall bearers were Boyd Weaver, LeRoy, Ralph Izatt, Wendell Meikle, Grant Allen and Kenneth Anglesey.
The beautiful sprays of flowers that banked the casket were carried by her granddaughters, Gayle, Ruth, and Delila Anglesey, Verda Izatt, Louise, Shirley, Zelma, and Norene Merritt, Maxine and Nola Meikle and Jeanie Hatten.
Mrs. Anglesey is survived by eight children: Robert W., Leonard, Charles, and LaVere Anglesey, and Annie Izatt of Afton; Rose Allen of Smoot: Carrie Merritt of Turnerville and Mable Meikle of Lewisville, Idaho; three half brothers: Bishop Otto A. Harrison, Albert and Charles Olson, four half sisters, Ellen Peterson, Ethel Lindberg, Lillie Wilhelmson and Violet Wilhelmson. She also has 37 living grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
She is a half sister to Joseph and William Harrison, deceased, and George Olson, deceased.
Memories of Ethel Laura Olson Lindberg of her father (Paul Olson) and her own life
When it was discussed at the Olson/Harrison family reunion in May of 1981 to try and compile a history of great-grandfather Paul Larsson Olson, I paid a visit to Aunt Ethel that evening and taped some of her memories of her father and her growing up years. Following is such just as we discussed it that night.
Ethel: Yes, Leannie came over with Dad. He had another daughter who died a short time after he came here.
Ruth: Now tell me what you told me once before about you thought she was buried someplace and then they built something over where she was buried.
Ethel: Yes, they did. That's what he said, they built a railroad over her grave, there in Sandy, Utah and that took in her grave.
Ruth: And he wasn't able to get her body removed?
Ethel: No, they didn't remove them, they just built it over them. I don't know how long she had been dead.
Ruth: Was it a regular cemetery, do you know?
Ethel: Yah, it was a corner of the cemetery they took and I guess she was on the outskirts of it and he said aftarwards he guessed it didn't make any difference where they were, she'd be alright anyway on the other side.
NOTE: In finding that Anna Catharina was buried in West Jordan and checking the map area, I find that the railroad line goes right next to the corner of the cemetery so it is quite possible that at the time a small part of the cemetery was taken over for the railroad.
Ruth: Did you ever hear your dad tell why she died, what was the matter with her? Did he ever tell you that?
Ethel: Well I think that she got pneumonia the way that he spoke. It was a quick death. Said she was sick on the way over.
Ruth: Well I'd found records that indicated that it was maybe a year or something after they came.
Ethel: It could be, maybe I was wrong there.
Ruth: Then how long was he down there before he married your mother?
Ethel: It was just a year after Harrison died that my dad married her. He married mother and then he helped raise the Harrison boys.
Ruth: Did you ever hear what was wrong with Mr. Harrison, the reason he died?
Ethel: A heart attack. Mother, she thought so much of him and he died a quick death. They moved to Afton in about 1890. They lived up where Gardners’ mills were. They didn't have enough to eat and someone came and brought them a sack of flour. They were without any sugar and they took a slice of bread. She said George came in and said, "Mother, could you just put a little sugar on it?" She said it was so hard to forget, he just wanted a little sugar on it so he could eat it. Mother said one night they didn't have any bread or flour or anything. They were pretty near starvation. The kids she knew were hungry and she didn't know what to do. They didn't know where to turn to get any more flour and she said she got up the next morning and opened the door and there was a sack of flour on the porch. She said she didn't know to the day she died who done it, but she guessed the Lord helped her out because she'd knelt and asked the Lord for help, for a little flour for some bread for her kids.
Ruth: Did Gardners have the mill up there then?
Ethel: Yes, they did, I think it was them.
Ruth: And then grandpa went out to Osmond and homesteaded some ground there?
Ethel: Yes, then he homesteaded a place out there. It was out where Charles lived. That's were dad lived was where Charles lived. We used to herd cows down there on the river, I and Lily all the time, herd cows and take them down to the pasture and bring them back. I can remember how we'd hang onto the cows tails and drag along behind. I think about I and Lily, you know. We sat in that river. They didn't have too many fences and we'd have to herd them away from the alfalfa and the grain catch and 3 corners and oh it was hard to herd. Sometimes we'd get to playing in the big riverbed and it was dry and it had flat rocks and we'd build flat houses. You know we'd forget the cows. A few of them would go into the grain catch and oh, we'd have a time to chase them out because we didn't have a dog. We scared Charles about to death once. We were down in the field and he was so scared of Indians all the time. You know the Indians and gypsies used to come through there and camp there and they'd usually camp by our place and I was scared of them too. But I and Lily, we dolled up and put red handkerchiefs on our heads and dolled up like gypsies as much as we could. He was down irrigating there in the field on a horse. It was mean of us. Mother, she'd pull our ears. We went down, Lily'd point this way and point that way and then point to him. He got on his horse and he beat it to the house. Mother asked him what was the matter and he said there was some gypsies down there in the field and she couldn't believe it and when she found out it was us she sure got after us. Yeah, that was fun days, it was togetherness.
Ruth: What did grandpa do to make any money?
Ethel: Well he had this farm. We didn't have too much; we had a few cows. They didn't pay much for milk or anything. We had a cream separator and we managed to have a separator. They used to have separators to separate the cream and then sell the cream. We'd run that through and then mother would churn butter, a lot of butter. My mother had big pounds of it. She made them right square and they'd look like boughten butter, we sold a lot of that and then we had the butter and buttermilk. And then he had a shop, a kind of a workshop, he had a bench there. Dad was awful handy at working and making different things. He made most of all that we used. He made homemade tables and different things that he made. He was really good at that.
Ruth: Did he make them for other people too? Did he sell them?
Ethel: I can't remember that he did but he made them for us. He had this farm and he farmed and he raised wheat. He had wheat, barley and grain. Stacks of grain. I didn't dare to get up on the stacks but Ellen went up on the stacks and helped them. I know when Joe wasn't very old he went out herding sheep.
Ruth: Did he make shoes?
Ethel: Oh yes, he was a shoemaker in the old country. He made good shoes for his own. Dad was good. He had one of them lasts and he fixed all our shoes, soled all our shoes. He kept us in shoes all the time that way, so he was good at that.
Ruth: I'll bet they weren't the kind of shoes we have now.
Ethel: No, he had a hard time getting shoes. I know my dad, even when my shoes was so ragged, even when the soles were loose, he'd fasten the whole thing clear around and sew it and make a shoe out of it. He was sure good to do that. He'd sit there and chew his tobacco. My mother was religious. She was president of the Relief Society but she had to buy his tobacco all the time when she bought her groceries. They used to have a little cart or thing to go to Fairview. They had a little store over there. They had a store and we traded there. In the winter, mother'd take a few sacks of grain and take over there and trade for groceries and dad always had to have that big hunk of tobacco. He always had to have that old chaw and he could chew that all day. He liked to fish too, and he went fishing all the time. When we was little we lived on a lot of fish cause he'd go over on Crow Creek and he'd bring fish home all the time.
Ruth: Did he eat the fish?
Ethel: NO. (emphatically)
Ruth: Why didn't he?
Ethel: He wouldn't touch them. He wouldn't touch pork either.
Ruth: He expected you to but he wouldn’t?
Ethel: We loved it, you know, we used to have a pig to kill and eat it but he never. He'd fix it up so nice and clean, he was clean about it and it looked so nice and then he'd salt it down and we'd eat it but he never did. And he wouldn't touch fish. He just loved to give us fish. We'd have to clean them and put them away but he never ate them.
NOTE: I was telling Aunt Ethel about going to Blackfoot and visiting with Mrs. Barrus and she told me about grandpa's fish and his cart and horse Teddy)
Ethel: Yes, Teddy, that was the one we used to ride.
Ruth: How come your mother took in this little Chadwick girl?
Ethel: This George Chadwick, yeah, Mother was president of the Relief Society and she used to take care of the sick. Mrs. Chadwick was sick for so long, she was really sick. Mother went there to take care of her. Mother was waiting on her all the time. She was so bad and she had this baby and she couldn't take care of her. He said he didn't know what to do with it and mother said, "Well, we'll take care of her," so we took her down home. We'd sit and rock her, my brothers even sit and rocked her when she was little. Mother raised her until I believe she was nine, then she was with Lily and Violet for about a year, I guess. Then he married Ruby, you know Ruby Chadwick. Then after he married Ruby he come and took her. They thought the world of her. They'd raised her since she was so little. Dad never called Violet, Violet, he called her "Wila." He took care of Lily and Violet after mother died. He said, "I'll take care of you Wila, I'll take care of you," and he did. He just thought the world of those kids and he took care of them until he died. After dad died they went out and stayed with Ellen.
Ruth: Was grandpa living with Uncle Charles when he died?
Ethel: Oh yes, they was living in one room. Cecil and Charles and Clines were living there. Finally Dad and the girls lived on one side of the house and Clines on the other.
Ruth: Your mother died before your dad did?
Ethel: Oh yes, I don't know how many years, I've got it down someplace.
Ruth: Your mother wasn't very old was she?
Ethel: She was only, if I'm right, she was 56 and Uncle George was 54. There was only that much difference in the two of them and my dad was 72 when he died.
Ruth: He must have been quite a bit older than your mother, was he?
Ethel: I don't know.
Ruth: What was the trouble with your mother?
Ethel: She had some disease, they called it Bright's disease, mother had. Mother died just awhile after Will died in that snow slide (He died 1 January 1914 and she died 29 October, 1914), because I know mother was really sick then. I was only little but I remember they plugged the phone because they didn't want mother to find out that he'd been under that slide and they were digging him out. She was really sick and the doctor didn't want her to know, so then they plugged the phone so people couldn't call and tell her but anyway she surmised it or something. She saw all these travelers coming down. We could see it from the dugway and we could see it so plain. They were coming back and forth but she found out and she was really bad.
Ruth: Then what was wrong with your dad when he died, just old?
Ethel: Just kind of old age, he didn't suffer too long. They said he was sick awhile. I was born in 1893.
Ruth: Did you used to go down to my grandmother’s, the whole bunch of you and have family dinners?
Ethel: Oh yes, she had the best. We liked to go down and eat with her. She had some fruits and jellies and everything that we didn't have. She'd set it on. She'd have hot bread and fish. She was always one to feed us all. We liked to go to
Leannie’s. I had my picture taken with her when I was just young. Mother borrowed a dress for me to wear to have my picture taken with Leannie. On that picture I just went half way up on her. She was quite a bit older than I was.
Ruth: Did you ever go stay with her after she got married?
Ethel: No, I don't remember that, I don't think I did. Rob, he was good to her. They got along so good.
Ruth: Did everyone call him Rob?
Ethel: They called him Robie Anglesey and the younger one was called Robie too. He was out and helped with our house, young Robie.
Ruth: My grandpa did a lot of carpenter work too, didn't he?
Ethel: Oh yes, he was good, he did a lot. After we got our new home built I used to drag all our bedding down. We had a couple of bedrooms; the boys slept in one. We had a lot of sheets and I had to drag them down to the old house, old log house. That's where dad had his workshop. He stood in there and he'd help me. Get the water and build the fire, he had a stove in there. Get it good and hot. First we had a washer he'd made - it had slats on it - then we got an old second handed one. He used to help me and he had a lot of lines behind the house and I'd have sheets and sheets galore on there. He was good about the water and he helped me a lot. He didn't talk much English and I'd try to talk Swedish back. When I'd get hurt he'd say —————— I'd know it was "goodness gracious girl". He was good. When I was little he used to get up and he'd sit and chew his tobacco and he'd read, read, read and we'd stand behind him and comb, comb his hair. He had pretty black hair. He had it combed nice and all but we'd just comb and comb that. Sometimes we'd get a hold of his hair, lily and I, one or the other of us all the time. We'd pull his hair back and look at him and then he'd grin. He'd let us. We'd stand there and braid it and put strings in it. He was just so patient, really patient. He was really patient with us kids.
Ruth: Did he talk in Swedish a lot?
Ethel: He always talked in Swedish, He didn't talk English much. He never could get onto English. I could understand ‘most everything he said and then he could understand what I said too. He could understand it but couldn't speak it.
Ruth: Did your mother and dad both talk in Swedish?
Ethel: Yeah, in Swedish mostly. He always spoke Swedish to her. I was smart enough to understand a lot of what they said.
Ruth: Did your mother talk in English?
Ethel: Oh yes, mother talked good English. She was Relief Society President for a long time. Dad could talk in English but it was really broken. So when he'd talk to mother, he'd talk in Swedish.
Ruth: Your mother was a midwife or doctor, wasn't she?
Ethel: Oh yes, she went and waited on everybody, they didn’t have any doctors. Axel's mother was a midwife and helped out at the birth of babies but my mother, she helped everyone. She wasn't a midwife and didn't deliver babies. They always had someone else. I can't remember back only to Dr. Beals and that was when my boy died. He died from the after-effects of chicken pox. I let him go out and play and he got wet and the doctor said it was the after-effects that caused all the trouble. He got dropsy and died within three weeks. He swelled up just terrible. The doctor had to tap him. He would have been 8 years old in the next couple of days. That was my first child. When we got the doctor out there he said he only had 1 chance in 100. He said people should be more careful, that the after-effects are bad. Sometimes it affects the eyes. But I let him go out and play, I didn't know and he died. That was a shock.
Ruth: How did you meet your husband? Did you always know him?
Ethel: No, they moved here from Sweden. They lived in Dry Creek too, up in the mouth of the canyon. I went with him when I was a kid, and I was a kid too, I was only 16. We went together for awhile.
Ruth: How old were you when you got married?
Ethel: Oh, I was 18. We rented a house for awhile. There in Dry Creek, that's where my babies were born. Auntie Nielson delivered some of my babies. Then they built us a two-room home up on the bench where his folks lived. Then we lived there. Then dad bought a ranch and they pulled those two rooms down there and that is what young Robie built onto for us. So then we had a front room, dining room and back porch. Wilton has remodeled it all now and completely changed it. Now there's no porch, I just loved that porch. And he changed all the windows and those windows were all so nice and tight, no draft could come in. I just cried when I seen them gone. I raised all my kids in that house.
No, I can't remember my dad ever having a watch. I can't remember of ever having a clock. Time didn't mean anything to us, just work. We went more by the sun. It was noon when the sun was to a certain place. We didn't have all those special things.
Yes my dad helped with the farm work, when the kids were little. But lots of times he would go fishing. We needed the fish. But in those days it took days and days to plow a little piece of ground to put grain in. All they had then was a plow and a horse, not like now-days.
Ruth: Did they raise a garden?
Ethel: We raised a garden. Yes, mother raised a garden. When mother and dad ran that farm we were out picking rocks with the wagon or whatever we had, we were picking rocks. It was a rock bed. The place dad had was pretty rocky but he had some awful good grain, hay and all. He had big stacks of grain hay. He had a thresher there for a long time at a time. You know they had that one that went around and around and around and they'd break down and they'd stay there. Us kids was tickled when they'd break down, they could then stay longer. We weren't thinking about mother. Then dad would take us down to the straw stack after they'd threshed. We'd have all our mattresses all washed up and ready and we'd empty the straw out and we'd take them down and fill the straw ticks and we'd have all our ticks on the beds and on the floor where we slept. Oh we were so comfortable, straw ticks.
Ruth: You didn't all have beds, some of you had to sleep on the floor?
Ethel: No, we had to sleep on the floor. Yeah, and then when dad built the home that Charles had, then the boys slept upstairs and we slept downstairs. Dad and I went out to see Ellen when her first babies were born. She had twins. So dad took us out. We went in the sleigh. We stayed for 2 or 3 days. Anyway when we went back, the boys had pulled all the carpet out we had in the kitchen, half way down the kitchen and we just had a little floor to scrub and when we come back they'd pulled all that carpet, all the straw that was under it, they'd swept it and cleaned it all out. They said it was too dusty so they cleaned that. It was a homemade carpet. I don't know who'd made it. Mother had had it woven someplace but it was a nice carpet. We'd put it half way in the kitchen cause the floor was quite long. They'd hung the carpet out on the line and swept all the straw out. Then we had to scrub the bare boards as there wasn't anymore straw. Then somehow mother got a piece of linoleum. It was cheap but she thought that covered her kitchen. Afterwards it was really nice and we thought that was grand. Then we got linoleum all through the house.
They used to have a lot of grain and straw stacks, now they just have different machines and don't have all that fun. I know there was a guy from Auburn, Hillyard, he walked on his knees. He had his legs cut off and he was the one in the center and had the horses go round and he had patches on his legs and walked around on his knees and we thought it was so pitiful. We've got so many things now, all so different.
Ruth: Did your dad go around to help others to do their haying?
Ethel: No. Oh they used to trade threshing. They used to go around and help each other thresh. He used to go like that. They managed someway to get some cows, you could live on a lot less then. A few cows and you'd manage just as well as we do now. Yes, we had chickens. I was scared to death of a hen. I didn't touch them. When dad would help me, I'd have him go around old setting hens and he'd hold this one and hold this one and tell me to hold them and before he had the other one I'd let the first one go.
Ruth: Somebody said that your dad wasn't very good around animals, is that right?
Ethel: I can't remember that. But I don't think he ever milked a cow though. I know Ellen milked cows. But he was a good pal though. He had them 3 boys and them 3 Olson boys and they always said they were their half brothers. He said, No, no halves, they were either whole or none. He always said one meant as much to him as the other one. Otto was such a wonderful guy. He was like a father to the rest of them. And then I had 3 brothers go on missions. George, Will and Otto and then Charles went on one for a few months. I didn't have any sons go on missions but they've been good church workers.
Ruth: Did your dad go to church very much?
Ethel: NEVER. No, he always stayed home. I never remember of my dad going to church. He'd stay home and he'd sweep the floor and he'd wash the dishes and everything. He'd do the housework while the rest were gone. And he'd churn. We had a barrel keg, he made a lid for it and a hole, then he made the dash. He'd put cream in that keg and he'd sit there and churn and churn. I'd sit there and churn until I got tired but he'd sit there and churn and churn and chew his tobacco and churn. Until he got butter. Then he'd say in Swedish, "Now girl you can have it, now you can take it."
And you know, he'd only lost 2 teeth when he died. Had his own teeth when he died at 72. When I told the kids that they said, well he chewed tobacco, that's what did it.
After mother died he used to go put her dress and robe that she had on his feet and we'd take them off and he'd say, “No, you just leave that there, that's for me.” So we'd have to leave that on his feet in front of his bed. After Mother died he used to walk out where Axel and I lived and I'd give him coffee and a meal. Lily and Violet would ride their horse out through the fields. I visited with him a lot.
I had 8 children, that is quite a family now-days, 4 boys and 4 girls. My sister, Ellen, she had 11 children. She said when she went to church she felt like they all shunned her because she had so many kids. She said when she went in and took her family, they'd take up a whole bench. She said she felt embarrassed of her family and herself. She said I shouldn't have been ashamed of my family, but she just felt like she wasn't wanted there so she wouldn't go to church. The ones that had only 1 or 2 children, they'd about shake their hands off but they wouldn't shake hands with her so she quit going. Ellen was so sweet and good. She didn't have too much.
(This was all told to me, Ruth Anglesey Swenson, a granddaughter of Carolina Helena Olson Anglesey.)
(Aunt Ethel died 2 July 1983.)
Memories of Aunt Ruby Leavitt Harrison of her inlaws and her own life
In visiting with Aunt Ruby Leavitt Harrison Chadwick Tolman and her daughter, Louise Harrison Cranney on the evening of February 20, 1982, I asked her to tell me some about her parents-in-law, Paul and Kerstina Olson. Following is such just as it was discussed that evening.
Ruth: Tell me what you can about the dispositions of grandpa and grandma Olson.
Ruby: Well, grandpa was a very even-tempered, easy going, quiet man. I often thought he didn't get the credit he deserved. He often said he thought more of the Harrison boys than he did his own.
Ruth: This was probably because they were older.
Ruby: Yes, that is probably right and then too sometimes we get more respect from other children than we do our own. And then too Otto was old enough to really pitch in and help him and being new to this land he needed all the help he could get.
Ruth: "Was grandma quiet like that or had more spunk?
Ruby: Yes, she had more spunk, just a Swede, I guess.
Ruth: Did grandpa speak much English?
Rubv: No, very seldom. He could understand it but didn't speak it very much.
Ruth: Did he go to church much?
Ruby: No, the only thing I can remember of him going to was an old folk's party or two. Then he'd go long enough to eat and then go home. Guess he thought he had too much to do.
Ruth: Maybe that was because he didn't speak English so well and felt uncomfortable.
Ruby: I don't know0 He was always a busy man, working in his shop or on the farm. When anyone would go there he was always right there to unharness the team and take care of them. He was always busy.
Ruth: I understand he repaired shoes. Did he make them from scratch?
Ruby: No, he just repaired them. He had a little shop where he did that. It was out behind the old house. After they built the new home I don't know if he did it anymore or not.
Ruth: They also say that he was a good fisherman?
Ruby: Yes, he was always going fishing, nearly every day. He'd walk wherever he went, off through the fields to the creek.
Ruth: I understand he had a cart and his horse Teddy that he'd go with.
Ruby: Maybe he did but I thought he always walked.
Ruth: And the Harrison and Olsons and Neilsons always had their get-togethers and had fish dinners?
Ruby: Yes, that's right.
Ruth: Was grandma a good cook?
Ruby: Yes, she was a very good cook for what she had to cook with. She'd fix potatoes, bacon and canned tomatoes. She didn't can much fruit. But I did love her canned tomatoes. I remember the year that Will died I had a lot of fruit and knowing that I would be getting more that fall I took some of it out to her, she really enjoyed that.
Ruth: Do you know if grandma was set apart as a midwife?
Ruby: No, I don't think she was ever officially set apart. She went into homes after the baby was born and helped; also into the homes of the sick. She went into the George Chadwick home when his wife had her last baby and cared for her until she died. Then Mr. Chadwick didn't know how to take care of the baby so grandma took her home. She cared for her until grandma died and then grandpa loved Evva so much that father Chadwick didn't have the heart to take her away from him. He went often to see her and sometimes she would come into our home for a few days. We didn't have her in our home until after grandpa died. By then she was about 8 years old and the same age as my little girl, Louise. After that they were raised much the same as twins.
Ruth: Were you married to Mr. Chadwick when grandpa died?
Ruby: Yes, I married him in 1914.
Ruth: Now tell me about the death of your husband.
Ruby: Well the Olson and Harrison boys were working up the canyon getting logs. They had a camp up there like a sheep camp. They'd left something up the canyon and Will said he'd go get it. There had been snow slides so he said if he wasn't back in half an hour to come look for him. It was stormy and sleeting that day. When he didn't return they went and looked for him. Here this small slide had come down and buried him. They could see his tracks right up to the slide.
Ruth: Was he buried very deep?
Ruby: No, he was wearing a cap with ear muffs and a visor that come down over his eyes and they said the cap's visor had pulled down across his face and nose and suffocated him. If it wasn't for that he might have got out.
Louise: No, they said he was under about three feet of snow, there's no way he'd have been okay.
Ruby: It took them quite awhile to dig him out. The snow was heavy and just like ice.
Louise: Now tell her what grandpa Leavitt did.
Ruby: Well he'd keep coming into the house and then go out again and look at the telephone and just kept that up. I didn't know what was wrong but he knew Will was buried in that slide. He wouldn't tell me. I was fixing dinner. We were going to have Dr. West and his wife out for dinner. I had often gone with Dr. West to deliver babies in the upper valley and we were good friends. This was on New Year's Day.
Ruth: That's really sad.
Ruby: Yes, I had three little children, Louise, Kenneth and De Verl.
Ruth: Mom told me that grandpa took you and your husband out to Montpelier when you went to get married and then returned and got you.
Ruby: Yes, that's right. He took us out in the wagon and then it snowed before we returned and he had to go get us in the sleigh. We went to Salt Lake to be married in the temple. While we were there we visited with Uncle August Neilson and family in Sandy. Coming home we stopped in Logan and visited with Uncle Pete and family. He had a store in Logan and was a harness maker.
Ruth: Boy that would have been quite a ways for grandpa to take you and then go get you.
Ruby: Yes, it was but he must have enjoyed doing it. We didn't have anyplace in Montpelier to leave the wagon and team while we were gone.
Ruth: Did you know any more of the Neilson uncles and aunt?
Ruby: No, I didn't.
Ruth: This picture is your wedding picture taken in Salt Lake?
Ruby: Yes. I had a beautiful wedding dress. Alice Call made it for me. Then I had a bouquet of orange blossoms. That was what they used for bouquets then.
Ruth: Where did you live?
Ruby: We bought a home and some ground from Hardmans out to Osmond. My husband would go shearing sheep with his brothers and one time we moved to Tremonton for a while and Will worked on a livestock ranch. I had two children by then. I went to work at a place they made denim pants for soldiers.
Ruth: This must have been for World War 1?
Ruby: Yes, it was. Then when we come back to Star Valley we bought a little house here in Afton, up across from the grade school building. It's still there.
Ruth: Do you remember what may have been the cause of grandma's death?
Ruby: Well she used to have lots of stomachaches, whether that was what killed her or not or maybe her heart. She had had a lot of babies and that may have had something to do with it too. Then after I married Mr. Chadwick we didn't go out there very often. I remember after my baby De Verl vas born and I'd go out there, grandma would put him in the middle of the table and give him a cup of coffee. She just loved that baby. Of course she loved them all but she surely loved the baby. Grandma was also a Relief Society president for a long time.
Ruth: Did grandma have a spinning wheel?
Ruby: Yes, she spun lots of yarn to make mittens and socks. She didn't weave material.
Martha Pearl Neilson Millward
February 17, 1982
I, Ruth H. Anglesey Swenson, spent a most enjoyable day at Blackfoot, Idaho talking to Pearl Neilson Millward, a niece of grandma Olson. We talked about her memories of her uncle Pal and her auntie Kerstina. These are her memories just as I recorded them. We had been talking previously and this is where the conversation was picked up and taped.
Ruth: What I want you to tell me about is what a hard worker grandpa was. How his workshop was sacred to him.
Pearl: You bet. That was sacred territory. We knew that was one place we knew we couldn't enter. That was just for him. But what I wanted to say was he was so shy, I don't know that he was shy, but just retiring. And not much of a mixer and not one to push himself forward where the rest of us was concerned. I noticed that he always had his place at the head of the table, even though he was quiet. He didn't take much part in the conversation, in the laughing and joking unless a question was asked of him personally. But he always had his place at the head of things. That really struck me and I've remembered it all of my life. That even though he was the quiet person that he was, he still maintained his place at the head of things, always.
Ruth: He was respected as the father of the house?
Pearl: He was respected. No one ever took his place. Not when there was a meal where everybody was eating, he was always there. The table was a long one the full length of their long dining room. The table would be filled on all sides with the children and grandchildren and visitors, of which there were plenty with the Neilsons, Olsons, and Harrisons. And he always had his place and the family all respected him as quiet as he was. That was the thing that amazed me, that they didn't seem to pay much attention to him otherwise but they respected him as the head of the house. I’ve thought of it often as I got older. I didn't think of it then. But the things out in his workshop, we played all over the country, every otter place but not there. We never entered his workshop. He didn't want us in there. He was always working on something, on wood, on metal and on tin, so many different things, always working. But the work like milking and the chores and things like that was left to the rest of the family. He didn't haul the hay or anything like that. Maybe he did when the children were younger. I can remember of seeing him coming in from the fields when he'd been irrigating with his boots on so he did do some things on the farm. But any repair work, that was always his job, and it wasn't only just for his own family. He did a lot for my father too, his brother-in-law. He made things for us and he did for other people too.
Pearl: He worked on shoes too, didn't he?
Ruth: Yes, he repaired them. I don't think he made them.
Pearl: That's right, repaired them. He resoled them. He repaired them for the whole family and for our family too. He was a good half-soler or he could put patches on them. If a toe came out he'd put a patch over that. They were nice afterwards. He always did a good job, he was very meticulous, very careful in his work always.
Ruth: Did you have a new pair of shoes very often?
Pearl: No, (laughing) no we did not. In the summer time when it was good warm weather we went without shoes.
Ruth: Yes, my aunt Annie Izatt told me that they used to have to go without shoes too and she was scared to death of her grandpa cause when the kids would go past him he would spit tobacco juice on their bare feet.
Pearl: Yes, he was always chewing his wad of chewing tobacco, I can remember that. I can't remember of him ever spitting on us kids' feet and we were there an awful lot. He had something that he'd spit in.
Ruth: A spittoon?
Pearl: It wasn't what we'd call a spittoon but that's what he used it for. I know it's something that I avoided. But he never did anything to hurt any of us kids. I know that none of my brothers or sisters was afraid of him. But they respected him because he was quiet and minded his own business. We knew enough to not take any liberties with him or with anything that belonged to him. He was particular about the things that were his and he wanted them left alone. We always thought he did anyway. I can always remember that. He never said anything to us that I can remember. But we knew that he didn't want us to mess with anything that was his. THAT WAS HIS.
Ruth: Now this workshop that he had. Was that the old first home that they had? Or did he have a special building?
Pearl: It was a special building. There was a granary or something was in front of where his workshop was. They were all connected and were all made of logs. He had his workbench. We peeked in of course, but I was never inside of it. We could see inside. And his tools and all were always in order. That was one thing that I can remember was that he was always so orderly about everything. He took such care of everything. That wasn't so with a lot of us.
Ruth: And of course he didn't have the kind of tools that we have now.
Pearl: No, but the tools that he did have, he took good care of and used them to the very best advantage of everything, seemed to me like.
Ruth: Now when he built his new home that he lived in when he died, I understand that your father helped build that. Did grandpa help build that? Was he that kind of a carpenter?
Pearl: Oh yes. He wasn't the kind that did big fancy tall buildings with shingled roofs and things like that on. He wasn't the one to make fancy stuff, but the stuff that was bedrock, but the farm buildings and everything, they were all made of logs and they were well fitted together. The new home was made of lumber. Oh yes I can remember when that was built. It had an upstairs and downstairs.
Ruth: That's what I want you to do. I want you to describe this house for me. How many rooms did it have on the ground floor?
Pearl: It had a kitchen, dining room, and two bedrooms. And then there was a basement or cellar. It was underneath. I don't know to what extent that went. Enough that they could keep their fruit and vegetables in, what they didn't keep in the root cellar.
Ruth: And it had an upstairs in?
Pearl: Oh yes, it had an upstairs. I think there were just two bedrooms. I don't remember for sure. I can remember two rooms but I can't remember any more and then there were clothes closets, of course.
Ruth: Where did they have to haul their water from for house use?
Pearl: Oh it was right there. They had a little ditch that ran right close to the house.
Ruth: Where did they get it from in the winter time?
Pearl: The same place.
Ruth: It never froze up?
Pearl: It never froze solid. There was always water running there in the same place. I guess maybe they had to haul it sometimes. Some people had to haul water in the wintertime in Star Valley. They had so many animals, cows and horses. They had to have water for them.
Ruth: Now this kitchen that they had in the new house. I understand that it was
a long kitchen. You said that they had this long table that had benches along each side.
Pearl: That was in the dining room.
Ruth: Oh, they didn't eat in the kitchen?
Pearl: No, that was in the dining room behind the kitchen. The double window was in the south side and the table was next to that. Yes the table had long benches along each side that uncle Pal had made. And then they had chairs at either end. The east end of the table was the head of the table and he always sat there and no one ever took his place. None of the big boys or Pal's stepsons, they never took Pal's place.
Ruth: Now where grandma Olson prepared the meals, that was not where the table was?
Pearl: No that was in another room. The kitchen was east of the dining room because I know they didn't do the cooking where they ate. They had to go through a doorway into this other room to get the food. But that was lots of food for every table. Big boys, little boys, girls and relatives.
Ruth: No and she probably didn't have all that much to do with either.
Pearl: They always had milk and butter. They always had meat. Uncle Pal was real good about fattening pigs. They always had plenty of pork, either salted or fresh.
Ruth: Yes and I understand he wouldn't eat pork, fish or chicken. The three things that we'd like to eat. I don't know what he did eat.
Pearl: Well I guess they always had beef too. They always had animals that they could kill. And after separators came to Star Valley, they had a separator so they always had butter and plenty of milk. I was never there, and I was there lots of times, when they didn't have plenty of food. Not fancy food but just good old plain basic food. They had a big garden and grew their own vegetables, potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage.
Ruth: I would take it then that grandma was a good cook?
Pearl: She was. Her girls were too, Ellen and Ethel. I don't think the boys ever did any cooking around home. I don't think they did anything with the cooking. That was woman's work.
Ruth: Do you know if grandma might have ever been set apart as a midwife for the Star Valley area?
Pearl: No, I don't think auntie was set apart as a midwife. She was a Relief Society President, so she could have helped a lot but I don't think she had a specific ordination or calling. She went wherever there were babies. She went and helped then and my mother (Johanna Christophersson Neilson) went with her.
Ruth: Did they go together?
Pearl: Lots of times they did. My mother delivered lots of babies.
Ruth: You know I thought that was so strange. In reading grandma's history I
found your mother delivered all grandma's babies but the last one, Violet, so I wondered how come so I got out the two family group sheets and found they each had a baby the same day so I guess that accounted for that. They each must have been delivering their own.
Pearl: You know, they were always so close about that. They wouldn't let us kids know. But we whispered to ourselves when Auntie had called and they went to a home.
Ruth: Now you said grandpa was a real even-tempered, quiet, good natured man. Would you describe grandma the same way?
Pearl: No, she was jolly and talkative and friendly, real outgoing.
Ruth: Do you think it was because grandpa didn't speak very good English like she did?
Pearl: No, it was just a difference in their dispositions. He was quiet with everybody. He'd sit around and listen and enjoy the associationship with everyone. He never gave the impression that he didn't want people around him. It was just that he didn't have anything to say. Minded his own business.
Ruth: Was grandpa a very big person?
Pearl: Oh no, he was short, he was shorter than auntie was. She wasn't a tall person either but she was taller than him. He was shorter. He wasn't a big man. He wasn't fat. He was going all the time, guess he must have wore it off. I don't know what he was doing out in his shop, he could gone out there to get away from the noise, away from the confusion. But I know he was working out there ‘cause he did too many things. The things he made were very good. He was very capable and very particular with what he did do. There weren't any outstanding designs that I remember but they were serviceable and good for the family to use.
Ruth: Now this Nils that was a brother to your dad, did he live in Star Valley?
Pearl: No, uncle Pete and uncle August. Uncle August was about the same age as Otto, auntie’s oldest boy. So they associated together. When he would come to Star Valley to visit he would go to dances with Otto, Will, and Joe.
Pearl: No, I don't think Olsons ever went to Sandy to visit with them. When they came to Star Valley to visit they always went to Auntie’s and the boys. We never had anyone their age.
Ruth: Where was your home in Osmond?
Pearl: Well when the folks first moved there they were all on the same road, the road that is now the county road between Osmond and Fairview. We were a little further west than the Olsons. We'd go often up through the fields to visit and play.
Ruth: Now tell me about the little cart and the horse that grandpa used to go fishing.
Pearl: Well he took the front running gear off a wagon or a buggy - no it wasn't
a buggy, it was heavier than that - and he built a cart on the box. That's what he rode in always. The rest had the other conveyances. But he never went on horseback. He always had old Teddy and the cart.
Ruth: And this was just a two-wheeled cart?
Pearl: Just two-wheeled and he'd made a box on it and he didn't put a seat in it. He could have put a spring seat in it but he didn't. He always kneeled down. You'd see him kneeling down in his cart with old Teddy and that's how he went fishing. He'd go over to Crow Creek, and he'd always get his fish. That's one thing, he was surely a good fisherman. Lots of times we had fish there.
Ruth: Didn't your father fish?
Pearl: No, he never had time. No, he just didn't want to. Oh we went on fishing trips with Olsons and we'd stay overnight but that wasn't very often. My father was the Bishop and he had that to take care of.
Ruth: Did my grandpa ever go to church? Was he a religious man?
Pearl: No, he never went. I don't think I ever seen him but once or twice. Or even out to anything in the ward.
Ruth: He supported three boys on mission but didn't go to church himself?
Pearl: He wasn't one to get out and go much anywhere. He didn't come to parties either. The rest of the family came but not he. He was always willing for them to go. He didn't try to keep them home to work or anything. I don't know why. I never asked anyone.
Ruth: Now I understand that after they came to Star Valley, both he and your father would go back every winter to Sandy to work in the Mingo smelter to make a little money to survive on.
Pearl: My father was interested in mining and what with being Bishop, I don't think he went after that. He may have gone earlier, before I could remember or before I was born. I was born in 1896. But they surely needed money bad. I have heard them talk about the hard winter in Star Valley and so many cattle died and they hadn't been there long enough to raise any hay. They had difficulty just living. Star Valley then wasn't a place where they could get any food very easy. I know they picked wild berries and things of that sort to live on. They did everything to survive. There was wild deer and antelope. Game was easier to get than it is now.
Ruth: Did grandma have a spinning wheel?
Pearl: Yes, she did. No, I don't think she made any material, but I do know we all had homemade stockings and the yarn was spun with spinning wheels. They had one and we had one. They also had one great big wheel. I don't know what that was for. Maybe it was a spinning wheel. I don't know whether they made cloth or not but I don't think so. That big one was too big to spin yarn with, but they did have a smaller one to spin yarn.
Ruth: Can you remember when Uncle Will was in that snow slide?
Pearl: Oh, you bet I can.
Ruth: It happened on New Year's Day.
Pearl: Yes, the ward was going to have a New Year's party and they called it off.
We kids were very disappointed because we didn't have very many parties. But we all felt really bad about Will.
Ruth: He was really a good-looking man, wasn't he? At least he appears to be so from the pictures I have seen of him.
Pearl: Yes, he was a very good-looking man.
Ruth: Was the Olson/Harrison boys’ hair naturally curly?
Pearl: You bet it was. Auntie had curly hair too. I don't think any of the girls’ hair was curly. Albert was the only one in the Olson family and Will and Joe in the Harrison family. Albert’s was really tight curly.
Ruth: What did you do for entertainment? Did you have radios, phonographs?
Pearl: No, we didn't have any of them. My father played the accordion and we had an organ too. Yes we did have a phonograph a lot later. Olsons had
a phonograph too. They didn't have anyone that played the accordion.
Ruth: Did they have an organ?
Pearl: Yes, I think that they did.
Ruth: Do you remember anything about when grandma died? From what I understand she was never really a well woman.
Pearl: No, I can't. But she sure had a large family. Let's see, there were the three Harrison boys and was there a girl?
Ruth: Yes and she died at birth or was stillborn without a name.
Pearl: Then in the Olsons there was, George, Ellen, Albert, Charles, Ethel, Violet, and the two that died, James and Gertrude, and then Lily.
Ruth: Didn't you ever know anything about your uncles’ kids that still lived in
Utah? Nils, Swen and Peter's kids?
Pearl: Swen didn't have any, did he?
Ruth: I don't know, I haven't found anything about their families.
Pearl: I don't think uncle Swen did, he was an old bachelor until he was quite an old man. He married an older woman, I am sure they never had any children.
Ruth: He married a woman by the name of Hannah Selander. And this Nils from what I can gather, he had this one little girl and his wife died in childbirth and grandma took the little girl and raised her until he married again. Then he came and got her when his new wife had a baby. That baby’s name was Ethel. Did you know her?
Pearl? Yes.
Ruth: And how many other children he had, I don't know.
Pearl: They didn't have any other children. Anna was the first one.
Ruth: And what did Peter have for a family? He was a harness maker in Logan?
Pearl: Yes, he had a nice home there.
Ruth: But you never got to visit back and forth, did you?
Pearl: I was at their home once.
Ruth: Then there was Jens and Lawrence and Erik and August.
Pearl: I've heard of Lawrence and Erik but I can't remember of ever hearing of Jens.
Ruth: You know August went on a mission back to Sweden. I found that on the missionary records the other day.
Pearl: Otto and Will both went to Sweden too, didn't they?
Ruth: Yes and George too. Uncle Otto went after he was married and had five children in about 1913.