Christian Hans Monson

Christian Hans Monson was born June 16, 1837 in Varteig Kirke, Norway, to Hans Monsen and Berthe Nielsdatter. Christian is a Pioneer of Richmond. Christian was a veteran of the Utah War and Indian Wars. Christian is the father of Utah Senator Joseph Monson, Richmond Mayor Brigham Monson, and LDS Mission President Walter P. Monson.

Early Life & Conversion

By the time Christian was born, the Monson family had worked in the lumber industry for generations. However, his father also worked in the local prison. When Christian was 14, he was also employed in the local prison. During this time, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were preaching the restored gospel and were arrested for their practice. According to family histories, one of the missionaries was Chresten K. Nelson.

"It was one of Christian's duties to carry meals to the prisoners with instructions from the ward to abuse and torment the Elders. He did this until one day Brother Edward Hansen asked him why he did so, reminding him that 'so persucuted they the Christ and His followers.' They then began to explain to the boy the principles of Mormonism.

"At night Christian would get out his catechism and his Bible, then he would study comparing the teachings of the catechism with those of the L.D.S. Elders and searing out the proofs from the Bible. ... At last, convinced during the winter of 1852 he released his prisonersand together they walked to the fjord where Christian was secretly baptized, after which the Elders returnedto their prison cell."

Christian was baptized in the winter of 1852. As custom to Lutherism, at the age of 14, children were to be asked questions before entering into the faith. Christian was present, still holding his secret about his conversion to the LDS faith. Each question that was asked, he answered as what was taught by the Latter-day Saints.

"Christian glanced occasionally at his father from the corner of his eye. His face was growing red and redder with anger. Finally, the priest drawled, 'You answer as if you belonged to this sect, the Mormons.' 'And if I do, I am proud of it,' answered Christian, loud enough for all to hear." 

That night, and several after it, Christian was abused for his faith at the hand of his father. Finally, Christian was told to leave his home and never return. However, Christian's mother was not offended by his choice and told him,"If as you say, you know this is right, my by, then stand by it. Be a good by always." This was the last Christian spoke to his mother.

After some time of being homeless, Christian was brought into the home of Mr. & Mrs. Ragnild Moen Hotvedtvien, who were also members of the Church. Ragnild taught Christian the trade of carpentry and treated the young boy as their child. 

Christian stayed with the Hotvedtvien family until he was 19 and had enough to move to the United States and live among the Saints. He sailed on the Westmoreland on April 25, 1857 and landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 21.1 Christian made his way to Ioway City, Iowa and joined the Christian Christiansen Handcard Company on June 15, 1857 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 13.

Life in the Salt Lake Valley

Soon after he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Christian moved to Sanpete County as a hired soldier. During this time, he was called to action during the Utah War and was appointed Captain.

During this time, Christian married Nielsene Olsen Kruetzbach on June 29, 1858 in Lehi, Utah. They had three children together before they ended their relationship in divorce sometime before 1862.

Life in Richmond

In 1861, the Monson family moved to Logan, Utah. The following year, they moved to Richmond in the fort. After conflicts with the Native Americans had subsided, Christian began his carpentry business and traveled throughout the local territories in construction. When the construction of the Logan, Utah Temple began, he and his son Joseph were hired to help with the interior carpentry work.

In 1883, Christian's on Joseph was called to serve in the Norway Mission. During his time, he found his aunt Maren Hansen Monson. After some time and some help from Christian via mail, Maren was converted and moved to Richmond with Christian.

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 as a Private.

Family & Polygamy

Christian Hans Monson married Nilsene Olsen Kruetzbach on June 29, 1858 in Lehi, Utah. They ended their relationship in divorce sometime before 1862. Christian remarried to Anna Catherine Peterson on April 26, 1861. Christian entered the practice of polygamy on March 16, 1867 when he married Ellen Persson in Salt Lake City, Utah. After Anna died in 1869, Christian did not practice polygamy until May 2, 1870, when he married Karen Marie Oledatter in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christian also married Elna Jenson on Jan 5, 1874 in Salt Lake City, Utah; and Vendla Jacobson on March 15, 1883 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

"Let me pause here for a moment for by this time one may have sense the fact that Father was a polygamist. ... Once I said to my mother (Ellen Persson), 'I am surely glad I did not have to find a husband in those days. I simply could not have endured having to share my husband with another woman.'

"'You could endure it,' she said, 'If you enter into it in the spirit it was intended. Why, my girl, the happiest days of my life were spent after your father married Aunt Mary.'

"Polygamy, she told me, is the supreme test of manhood or womanhood. That is if it were lived as it was intended. In order to do this, one must develop a broader sense of life, a deeper human love, greater self-restraint and unselfishness. It requires the curbing of unholy desire, the elimination of petty jealousies; in fact it requires a complete master of self. The result of such a life conscientiously lived, could not do other than raise a man and women and their posterity to a high standard of nobility, or if lived otherwise, would lower them to degradation. This was my mother's defense of polygamy."

In 1882, the Edmunds Act was passed, making polygamy illegal. Christian became a wanted criminal for this practice and was arrested in June 1888 and was in prison until Dec 24.

Christian had 29 children, 26 of whom lived to adulthood. Some in particular are from the following wives:

• Anna Chatherine Peterson:

  • Joseph Monson. Joseph followed in his father's footsteps in the architecture industry, designing Richmond's Old Tabernacle and founding Monson Lumber. Joseph also served in the City Council and Senator of Utah.

• Ellen Persson:

  • Walter Peter Monson. Walter served as President of the British Mission in 1909 and President of the Eastern States in 1913.

  • Brigham Monson. Brigham served in the City Council and as the 16th Mayor of Richmond.

  • Otto Junius Monson. Otto served in the City Council.

• Elna Jenson:

  • Rachel Monson. 7th President of the Cove Ward Relief Society.

  • William Aquilla Monson. William served in World War I.

Epilogue