Goudy Ericsen Hogan

Goudy Ericsen Hogan was born Sep 16, 1829 in Tinn, Norway to Eric Gautesson Midtboen Hogan and Helga Knudsdatter. Goudy was a founder of Orderville, Utah. 

Early Life, Expeditions, Conversion

"In 1837, my father was moved upon to sell out his farm and start to America to better his conditions temporally. …It was a great surprise to his folks and all the people around in that part of the country to start to America with a family in those early days as my father was the first one that had been known to start to America in that part of the country." The Hogan family ultimately moved to LaSalle County, Illinois 1838, then moving to Iowa in 1841.

"In the winter [of 1843] a man by the name of Goudmon Hougus, a Norwegian, came from Illinois where we formerly lived to visit us and preach Mormonism in our native tongue. After hearing one or two discourses, my father was convinced of the truth of the everlasting gospel and was the first in that part of the country of the Scandinavian to believe and embrace the Gospel, and soon after my mother also was baptized. I also was baptized that same winter." The family continued to live in Iowa for many years, working on building fences, granaries, and farming.

In 1846, the Hogan family moved from their part of Iowa to Council Bluffs to be closer to the Saints. They lived their for two years before beginning their journey west to the Rocky Mountains. They were part of the Brigham Young Company in 1848 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley Sep 22, 1848.

Life in Salt Lake Valley