Christian Larsen Hyer

Christian Larsen Hyer was born Sep 8, 1817 in Haugen, Norway to Lars Andersen and Ann Marie Olsdatter Hayer. Christian is a Pioneer of Richmond. Christian is a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

In 1842, the Hyer family moved from Norway to the United States to find better wages and lower taxes. They set sail on June 3, 1842 on the Washington from Larvik, Norway, and arrived in New York City, New York on July 30. They sailed by river and the Great Lakes until they reached Wisconsin and settled in Rock County where some other Norwegian immigrants lived.1

"We located ourselves in Misquite County, Wisconsin Territory, in the spring of 1843, when an elder of Israel by the name of Ole Olsen Hayer came into the neighborhood, preaching the gospel of the Son of God; and as I was convinced of the truth of the principles that he taught, I immediately embraced it, and was baptized the 23rd of June 1843 the same year. As there was no branch of the church there, I moved to La Salle County, Illinois, where there was a branch."2

The Hyer family continued to live Illinois until 1849 when Christian joined the Ezra T. Benson Company to move to Utah. He lived in Salt Lake City, Utah until 1850 when he moved to Bountiful, Utah. He met and married Caroline Ericsen Hogan on Nov 23, 1850 in Bountiful. Christian joined the practice of polygamy by marrying Lavina Ericsen Hogan on March 7, 1854 and Elizabeth Hogan in 1858.1

In 1855, Christian was called to serve a mission to the Eastern States, serving as a Seventy. How long he served his mission is unknown, but he returned home before 1858.3

In 1859, Church President Brigham Young sent Church Apostles Orson Hyde and Ezra T. Benson to survey Cache Valley, as it was prime real estate. During their return, the Apostles encouraged the Hyer family and their neighbors the Merrill family to move to the new valley. The Hyers, Hogans, and Merrills made a small company and began travel to Cache Valley on March 11, 1860. They arrived in Richmond soon after.4

In 1866, Bishop Marriner Wood Merrill instructed Christian and Goudy Hogan to build a grist mill on the Cub River.5 In June 1877, Christian was called as First Councilor of the Richmond Ward Bishopric. He served until Marriner finished his time as Bishop in 1879, then served as First Councilor under Bishop William L. Skidmore until 1900, a total of 23 years.6

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Christian was appointed Lieutenant of Calvary Team 3.

On Sep 14, 1864, Christian was enrolled in a company led by Captain Thomas Winn. The company marched to Franklin, Idaho on Sep 14 and had a battle with some Native Americans. He was released from active duty on Oct 25, 1864.7

Epilogue