George Jorgen Andersen
About
George Jorgen Andersen was born Nov 14, 1836 in Lystrup, Denmark to Anders and Ane Maria Jeorgensen Sorensen. George is a pioneer of Richmond.
History
All records indicate no history of George's early life or conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, other than leaving home at 14. George joined the William B. Hodgetts Company on July 30, 1856, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Dec 10. George lived with the Hatch family in Bountiful, Utah, and participated in the Utah War.
On Aug 19, 1860, George married Mary Ann Angell Davis in Salt Lake City, Utah. Soon after the Andersen Family moved to Richmond with George Thomson, William Aller, and Richard Bee. They first moved near the "Old Fort" near City Creek. After President Brigham Young visited Richmond, the families moved into the Richmond Fort, living on the south side. While in the fort, George was one of the many Minute Men during what is now known as the Indian Wars.
After much of the drama with the Native Americans was over, the Andersen family began building a new home. After they moved in, Mary passed away in 1872. George married Elva Armina Carson in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they had 11 children.
Epilogue
George Jorgen Andersen died Sep 3, 1911, in Richmond. The following remarks were made by the local newspaper about his death,
"Brother Andersen, while in his native land, became sincerely and permanently converted to the truthfulness of the gospel while yet a young man. All alone he left father, mother, brothers, and sisters, and came to this country to be a Mormon. None of his relatives every followed him to this country. All the trials, hardships, disappointments, and pleasures of pioneer and modern life have never in the least shaken his faith in the gospel. He was not a noisy man, but he was a living disciple of the Mormon adage, “mind your own business.” He was a hard worker, and no man enjoyed seeing his family partake of the fruits of that labor more than did he; and at last when he was compelled to say, “I can’t work,” it seemed to break his heart. Another good man has gone to that sweet rest a noble soul has earned.”
He was buried in the Richmond Cemetery.
Source
Willie, Mary Diana Beach. (Year made Unknown) George Andersen, Uploaded to FamilySearch.org by Valarie M. Rich, March 15, 2020. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/102589751?p=48591182&returnLabel=George%20Jorgen%20Andersen%20(KWCH-ZH2)&returnUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.familysearch.org%2Ftree%2Fperson%2Fmemories%2FKWCH-ZH2