Bergetta Nelson

Bergetta Nelson was born Aug 5, 1833 in Kjelgaarden, Denmark to Knud Christensen and Karen M. J. Christensdatter Nelson. Bergetta is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

Because of Federal Law, the Nelson family was raised to participate in the Lutheran Church only until 1849. During this time, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began preaching in Denmark. The Nelson family converted and was baptized in 1851. 

Soon after their baptism, the Nelson family began their journey to Utah. They boarded the Forest Monarch in Liverpool on Jan 16, 1853, and landed in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 16.1 From New Orleans, the Nelson family made their way to Keokuk, Iowa, and joined the John E. Forsgren Company on May 21, 1853. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 29.

Once they entered the Valley, the Nelson family moved to Bountiful, Utah. While in Bountiful, Bergetta met Goudy Ericsen Hogan. They were married on Christmas Eve, 1853, along with Bergetta's sister, Christiana, in a polygamous relationship.

In 1860, the Hogan Family, along with the Merrill and Hyer Families, moved to Richmond. Soon after, the other members of the Nelson family joined. They remained in Richmond until 1874, when they were asked by the Church to move to southern Utah. They settled in Orderville, Utah, until 1880, when they moved back to Richmond.

"Her thoughts were always of others. True in every respect to her convictions she stood for the right regardless of the consequences, and yet she was careful not to offend. Her mottos was: 'Better keep still if you can say nothing good.' The Danish title she attached to a gossip was 'Blather skite.' I think she disliked gossiping more than any other failing of mankind.

"...Danish hospitality was a specialty with her. No one ever went hungry so long as she had a morsel of food, and her cupboard was always full. Her motto was, 'Wast not; want not.'

"...Humility and sincerity were two of the outstanding characteristics."

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