Friday, December 14, 2012

Axel Laures Fikstad Sr. (1865-1940): Gravesite


This is the gravesite of my 2nd great grandfather Axel Laures Fikstad Sr.  This photo comes from the Find A Grave website.

He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

William Henry Stevens: Store



The picture above is of the sporting goods store run by my 2nd great grandfather William Henry Stevens.  He is standing in the doorway of the store with his 4 children to his left (the youngest is my great grandfather George Earl Stevens).  The store was located on 25th Street in Ogden, Utah.

Guessing at the ages of the children from the picture, I would guess this photo was taken around 1885.

I'm not sure how prevalent photography was at this time but all the bystanders seem fascinated by the camera.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Wills

We are going way back for this post.  I discovered the wills for 2 ancestors online.

The first is for my 5th great grandfather Rudolph Larash from Macungie Twp, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

http://files.usgwarchives.org/pa/northampton/wills/laras0001.txt

Basically he gives all his land to his sons and has his sons pay each of his daughters 100 pounds.  His daughter Mary Magdalene is my 4th great grandmother.  He appears to call her Sally in the will.  (Mary Magdaline is the mother of Lucinda Romig (my 3rd great grandmonther.)

This next will is for his father (my 6th great grandfather) Ludwig Laross.

http://files.usgwarchives.org/pa/northampton/wills/laros0001.txt

From what I have gathered, Ludwig was actually from France and his name was Jean Louis la Rose.  He appears to have started using a German version of his name when he married into this group of German immigrants in Pennsylvania.  He calls his wife Cunnigunda.  Another source shows her name as Ann Kunigunda Schadin.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Caroline Penn: Newspaper Article on her Death


The article above appeared in the Deseret News on October 19th, 1864.  Caroline Penn Maiben (my third great grandmother) had died on the 15th, just 4 days earlier.  This article has many beautiful things written about her.  Below is the text of the article:

DEATH OF MRS. CAROLINE MAIBEN

On Friday evening last Caroline Penn, the wife of Mr. Henry Maiben, of this city, departed this life, after a  severe illness of 13 days, aged 47 years and 7 months.

A virtuous, loving wife,
She spent a most industrious life.
Of mothers too, one of the best.
So neat, so clean, so kind, so blest:
On earth, her mission, well she fill'd
And when, to call her hence, God will'd
In perfect happiness she sped,
To mingle with the righteous dead;
And now, her trials being o'er,
She'll live in bliss for evermore.
We miss the dear departed one,
Yet feel to say, "God's will be done." -COM.

President Brigham Young was present at the funeral ceremonies, and delivered a very impressive and consoling address to the numerous friends of the deceased.

Mr. John T. Caine has furnished us the following for publication, which shows the high esteem Sister Maiben was held in by those who knew her:

At an informal meeting of the Deseret Dramatic Association, held on the Stage of the Theatre after the performance on Saturday evening, Oct. 15th, inst., Mr Clawson being called to the Chair and Mr. Clayton appointed Secretary, Mr. Caine presented the following expressive resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, It has pleased the Supreme Ruler in His infinite wisdom, to remove from our midst, by death, our beloved sister, Mrs. Caroline Maiben:
The Deseret Dramatic Association, whilst humbly bowing to this visitation of an all-wise Providence, deeply regret the loss of one of its most worthy and useful members, a lady whose virtue, modesty and amiability won for her the affection and esteem of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance, Therefore
RESOLVED, That the Members of the Association, sincerely sympathising with the bereaved husband and family, tender them their heartfelt condolence in the loss of so excellent a wife and mother.
RESOLVED, That as a mark of respect to the deceased, the Members of the Association attend her funeral to-morrow. Further,
RESOLVED, That a copy of these Resolutions be transmitted to the bereaved family, and that the Editors of the DESERET NEWS and Daily Telegraph be requested to publish the same.
H.B. CLAWSON, Chairman
WM. CLAYTON, Secretary.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Herman F. F. Thorup: Mission Travels



In 1881, Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup was returning from one of his missions to Denmark (his second I believe.)

On June 20, 1881, he sailed from Copenhagen, Denmark to Hull, England on the ship Hero.  The passengers from the ship then took the train to Liverpool.

Then from Liverpool, England, he sailed to New York City on the ship Wyoming.  This ship sailed June 25th from Liverpool and arrived in New York on July 7th, 1881.  The picture above is from the ship's passenger list an shows his name listed.

This letter from the leader of the group that was emigrating to America says the Herman was one of the councilors to the president of the Scandinavian saints.

All the information above come form the Mormon Migration Database.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Annie Eliza Sheen: Death Certificate


This is the death certificate of my 2nd great grandmother Annie Eliza Sheen that I obtained from the Utah State Archives online.


This death certificate says she was born in Kaysville, Utah on February 14, 1860.  (This post talks about possible issues with this information.)  Her parents are James and Mary Sheen.  This says they were born in Utah but I'm pretty sure that's not right.

She passed away June 21, 1945 in Ogden, Utah.  Cause of death is listed as myocarditis.

She was married to Neriah Thomas Moore Jr.

The informant was my great grandmother Erma Squires (Moore).  Her signature is on the document.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Mormon Overland Trail Database: Part 6

Part 5 of the series is here.

This post talks about the Jacob Stevens family.  Jacob Stevens was my 3rd great grandfather.

The family traveled with the Warren S. Snow company in 1864.  They traveled by wagons from Wyoming, Nebraska about the 13th of August.  They arrived in Salt Lake on November 2nd.

Traveling with Jacob was his wife Eliza Symons (3rd great grandmother) and their two sons, William Henry Stevens (2nd great grandfather) and Thomas Jordan Stevens.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

John Fell Squires (1846-1933): Gravesite



The is the gravesite of John Fell Squires, my 2nd great grandfather. These photos come from the findagrave.com website.

He is buried in the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, Utah.


The following paragraph is included in the website:

John Fell Squires was the 2nd child of John Paternoster and Catherine Harriet Fell Squires. The family was converted to the LDS church in 1853 and left for America on the ship the International the same year. It took ten weeks to reach New Orleans, and from there they traveled up the Mississippi river to Iowa and on to the Salt Lake Valley. John met his future wife as a small child traveling in the same pioneer company across the plains. Alice Penn Maiben and John were married 7 Aug 1868 and had 12 children together, 9 of which grew to adulthood. John was a colorful and witty man, a writer and teller of exaggerated and entertaining stories. He was the first Cache National Forest ranger.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Ingrid Larson (1852-1920): Story


This story appeared in the July 1981 issue of the Friend magazine.  It is about Ingrid Larson (my 2nd great grandmother pictured above) and the first time she met the LDS missionaries in her homeland of Sweden.

Also mentioned in the story are her father (my 3rd great grandfather) Per Larrson and her children including my great grandmother Anna Person.

The article was written by my aunt Patricia.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Lucinda Romig (1816-1896): Death Notice



This is the death notice for Lucinda Romig, my 3rd great grandmother.  She was married to William Andrew Neimoyer.  This appeared in the Salt Lake Herald on April 18th, 1896.  Lucinda had passed away the previous day on April 17th, 1896.

Cause of death is listed as old age.  She was 80 years old when she passed away.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Henry Maiben: Song



I stumbled across this song entitled Reformation written by my 3rd great grandfather Henry Maiben.  It appeared in the Deseret News on December 31st, 1856.  The article says it was sung in a meeting of the "37th Quorum" on December 6th, 1856.

The song is sung to the tune of "Paddy Miles" (which I am not familiar with.)

Here are the words:

Oh! now is the time for us all to be proving
  Ourselves and determine to whom we belong -
Whether God or the Devil our spirit is moving,
  And which we desire, to do right or do wrong:
For the hour is approaching when those who've neglected
  To weigh up themselves, will by others be weighed
In a balance by which ev'ry fault is detected
  And even the thoughts of the heart are displayed.

Chorus:

Then - let's wake from our slumbers,
And rise up in numbers,
And prove that we're servants and saints of the Lord!

The word has gone forth that it is the intention
  Of those who now lead us this people to prove,
And where they discover the seeds of dissention,
  To take proper measures the cause to remove -
That is, they've resolved on a grand revolution
  In moral, as well as religious complaints;
And mean to eradicate sin and pollution
  And sinners themselves from the midst of the Saints

'Tis surely no fable our teachers are telling -
  The time has arrived when the Saints must be pure;
Not only each person, but even each dwelling
  Must really be clear, or it cannot endure:
Then woe to all those who love filth and corruption,
  Whose thoughts and desires and to evil inclined;
But joy and rejoicing without interruption,
  All lovers of truth will eventually find.

Yet still there is mercy for those who have faltered,
  If they will give proof of their honest intent,
That what has been wrong in their lives shall be altered -
  Confess all their faults and sincerely repent;
To make them feel free, they will be permitted
  To enter the font and be baptized again,
Whereby they may have all their past sins remitted,
  Unless blood in needed to take out the stain.

Then who is so foolish as not to take warning,
  While mercy's extended to those who repent?
'Twould be worse than madness for us to be scorning
  The counsel which for our salvation is sent.
Oh! let us then come to a fixed resolution,
  No matter what may be to us the expense,
Wherein we have wronged to make full restitution
  And live our religion in every sense.

Henry Maiben
G.S.L. City, Nov, 20, 1856

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

William Andrew Neimoyer (1817-1893): Death notice



This was a death notice for my 3rd great grandfather William Andrew Neimoyer.  It appeared in the Salt Lake Herald on February 11th, 1893.  He had died the prior day, on February 10th, 1893.

The article says he died of grippe, which we would call the flu today.  He was 75.

The article says he is the son of Andrew and Mary M Neimoyer.  My records say that his mother's name is Polly Mira so there is a disconnect somewhere.


This article from the Salt Lake Herald on February 12, 1893 was a follow-up to the previous day's article to give the funeral information.

Monday, September 17, 2012

William Henry Stevens: Funeral Notice




This article is about the funeral of my 2nd great grandfather William Henry Stevens.  This article appeared in the Deseret News on November 21, 1896 on page 22.

He was survived by his wife, Ellen Neimoyer.  They had four children but according to the article, their oldest daughter passed away about a year prior to this.


Sunday, September 16, 2012

Henry Maiben: Actor



The above comes from the blog All Things Ancestor.  It shows information about a play called Lady of Lyons. Henry Maiben, my 3rd great grandfather, played the part of Glavis.  The play was to be performed one night only, Wednesday, November 4th, 1863 in the Salt Lake Theatre.  It seems some professional actors were passing through the city and agreed to put on this performance with some of the local talent playing the supporting roles.

Just another example of Henry's love of the arts.


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Alice Penn Maiben (1847-1920): Gravesite



The is the gravesite of Alice Penn Maiben, my 2rd great grandmother. These photos come from the findagrave.com website.

She is buried in the Logan City Cemetery in Logan, Utah.


The following paragraph about her life is included with the website:

Alice Penn Maiben Squires was the oldest child of Henry and Caroline Penn Maiben. Her parents were converted to the LDS church in 1851. The family left for America in 1853 and arrived in Salt Lake Valley. She walked most of the way across the plains. She married a young man who was in the same pioneer company as her John Fell Squires on 7 Aug 1868. They had 12 children together. Her descendants remember her as being a wonderful cook and lovely lady. Heber J. Grant spoke at her funeral in the Logan Tabernacle.


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Henry Maiben (1819-1883): Gravesite



The is the gravesite of Henry Maiben, my 3rd great grandfather. The photo comes from the findagrave.com website.

He is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This short paragraph about his life is included on the website:

Born in England, Henry worked with his father's business as coach maker/ painter and was educated at Eton and Oxford Colleges. He married Caroline in 1845 at the Parish Church of St. George in London. They were baptized into the LDS Church in 1851 and came to America in 1853, settling in Salt Lake City. Henry was a lead actor in the old Salt Lake Dramatic Company, a poet, lyricist, dance master, and painter. He moved to Provo for a while with his second wife Flora and eventually settled back in Salt Lake City where he passed away and is buried next to Caroline and Flora.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Eliza Symons (1815-1878): Death Notice


This death notice appeared on page 16 in the Deseret News on January 1, 1879 for my 3rd great grandmother Eliza Symons.

She was married to Jacob Stevens.

The notice says, "she was one of God's best children, a noble wife and mother."


Thursday, September 6, 2012

Morman Overland Trail Database: Part 5

This is the 5th post on the Mormon Overland Pioneer Database.  The 4th is here.

This post is about the family of James Sheen Sr, my 4th great grandfather.  The Sheen family crossed the plains in the Edmund Ellsworth Company in 1856. This was the very first handcart company to cross the plains.  They left Iowa City, Iowa on June 9, 1856 and arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 26, 1856.  Traveling with the family were the following (and the information in the database is quite confusing):

James Sheen Sr.
Son Robert Sheen
  -Robert's Wife Eliza Elizabeth Taylor Sheen
  - Child Mary
  - Child Louisa ??
  - Child Annie
  - Child Emma (Died en route)
Son James Jr. (my 3rd great grandfather)
  - James' wife Mary Shields Jaynes (3rd great grandmother)
  - Child Annie Eliza  ?????
  - Child Sidney (Died en route)
Daughter Hannah
Daughter Ellen


Questions:
1.  Who is Louisa a child of?  I guessed Robert and Eliza but I'm not sure.
2.  James Sr. wife, Maria Loveridge, came across on the ship but isn't listed here.  My genealogy records indicated she dies on June 9, 1856 (the same date the handcarts set out from Iowa City) but no mention is made of this anywhere here in the Mormon Overland Pioneer Database.  Need more info on this.
3.  Annie Eliza.  This is apparently my 2nd great grandmother.  However her death certificate, obituary, and headstone all show her as having been born in 1860 in Utah.  There's something going on here that I need to sort out.  Maybe this Annie Eliza isn't the daughter of James Jr. and Mary (as is indicated in the database) but of someone else.

Below is a journal entry that mentions the death of Sidney

23rd Came 14 miles to 4 mi. Creek 4 mi. from the Fort Des Moin[es] town. burried a litle child Sidney Chein [Sheen] 3 mos & 14 days old[.] suposed to have ben lain on by its mother during the night[.] I burried him about 30 yds South of the Bridge on the E. Bank

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Joseph Knight Jr. (1808-1866): Gravesite


The is the gravesite of Joseph Knight Jr., my 4th great grandfather. The photos come from the findagrave.com website.


Joseph is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.  There is a discrepincy between the 2 stones.  One says he died in 1865 and the other in 1866.  My records show that he died in 1866 so I'll stick with that for now.




Saturday, September 1, 2012

William Henry Stevens (1845-1896): Death Notice


This is the death notice of my 2nd great grandfather William Henry Stevens.  This notice appeared in The Ogden Standard on November 13th, 1896 on page 5.  Here is a link.

He passed away on November 12th, 1896. He had contracted pneumonia about a week prior.

He was survived by his wife (Ellen Neimoyer), one daughter, and 2 sons including my great grandfather George Earl Stevens.

Monday, August 27, 2012

James Edwin Sheen (1830-1927): Gravesite



James Edwin Sheen was my 3rd great grandfather.  The photo above can be found on the findagrave.com website.

James is buried in the Smithfield City Cemetary in Smithfield, Utah.

His wife, my 3rd great grandmother, Mary Shields Jaynes had died in 1866.  They had 4 living children when she passed away, including my 2nd great grandmother, Annie Eliza Sheen.  2 other children had died as infants.

James remarried after the death of Mary.  Her name was Saarah Gardner.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Anna Katrina Persson (1834-1915): Death Certificate


This the the death certificate for my 2nd great grandmother Anna Katrina Perrson that I obtained from the Utah state archives online.

This lists her birthdate as April 2, 1834 and she was born in Sweden.

She died January 2nd, 1915 in Murray, Utah.  It's tough to make out the handwriting so I'm not sure of the cause of death.

Her father is listed as Peter Parson (my records show Petterson).  Her mother is listed as Anna Maria Jansdatter (my records say Jansson.)

Her occupation is listed as housewife. She is listed as a widow. (her husband Petter Emanuel Petterson had died in 1881.)

The informant space is signed by her son (and my great grandfather) Fredrick Peterson as FM Peterson.



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Henry Maiben - Songwriter


My third great grandfather, Henry Maiben, was very much into the arts.  Actor, painter, songwriter, etc.  In my notes I came across something that said Henry Maiben had written the popular song "Zion is Growing."

I'd never heard of the song (It's popularity has apparently waned) so I decided to go and look for it.  I found it in the hymnbook Deseret Sunday School Songs from 1909 at this link.  It is hymn #12 in that book.

I also found it in this book called Songs of Zion here at this link.  It is song #12 in this book as well.  This hymnbook was published in 1908.

Finally, I also found the song in this book called The Children Sing, a children's songbook published in 1951.  It is song #72 and was renamed "As Children of Zion."


Monday, August 20, 2012

Neriah Thomas Moore (1858-1943): Gravesite


The photo above is from the gravesite of my 2nd great grandfather Neriah Thomas Moore Jr.  I got the photo from the findagrave.com website. 

Neriah is buried in the Ogden City Cemetary in Ogden, Utah.  He is burind next to his wife Annie Eliza Sheen.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Mormon Overland Pioneer Database: Part 4

Part 3 of this series is here.

This post talks about the family of William Andrew Neimoyer, my 3rd great grandfather.

His family traveled with the Henry W. Miller Company.  This company traveled by wagon starting in Florence (now Omaha,) Nebraska on August 5th (or 8th).  They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 17th and 18th of that same year.

Traveling with William was his wife Lucinda Romig and children Pauline, Jacob, Ellen (my 2nd great grandmother), Mary, George, and Emma.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Caroline Penn (1817-1864): Poem


The poem above was written by Eliza R. Snow after the death of Caroline Penn (3rd great grandmother.)   It appeared in the Deseret News on October 26, 1864.  You can see the full page at the following link.  Caroline Penn died on October 14th, 1864.

Books today of the poetry of Eliza R. Snow title the poem Caroline.


Caroline

Respectfully Inscribed to Br. Henry Maiben

To live a Saint - a Saint to die,
Perfects the aim of mortal life -
Secures the key to courts on high,
With all the powers of being, rife.

Thus when a parting, lingering look
Of that dear gemless casket form,
Which in the coffin lay, I took;
This thought diffused a soothing charm.

For she was faithful, to the end -
In life's associations, true -
An upright, kind, confiding friend -
A faithful wife, and mother too.

Peace to her dust: your Caroline
Lives where no earthly ills betide:
In brighter spheres, her graces shine:
She lived a Saint - a Saint she died.


E. R. Snow
G.S.L. City, Oct. 17, 1864.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Henry Maiben (1819-1883): Death Notice


The above was a notice about the death of Henry Maiben (3rd great grandfather.)  It appeared in the Deseret News October 10th, 1883.  A link to the full page can be found at this link.

He died on October 8th, 1883.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Caroline Penn (1817-1854): Gravesite



The is the gravesite of Caroline Penn, my 3rd great grandmother. The photo comes from the findagrave.com website.

She is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The following paragraph about her life is included in the website:

Caroline was born in Brighton, England to Thomas Penn and Sarah Edwards. As a young woman Caroline was head dressmaker in a large dressmaking establishment in London. She married Henry in 1845 in London and joined the LDS church in 1851. They traveled to America in 1853 settling in Salt Lake City, Utah. Caroline made the costumes for the old Salt Lake Dramatic Company where her husband was a lead actor. She died at age 47. Brigham Young spoke at her funeral and Eliza R. Snow wrote a poem in her memory and gave it to the family. She is buried next to Henry in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Warren And Emeline Washburn: Mystery

Looking at the timelines for Warren and Emeline, you may notice that they were together in the 1860 census but were separated in the 1870 census and thereafter.  Warren remarries before the 1880 census.  Emeline is listed as widowed in the 1900 and 1910 census.

So the mystery is what happened to cause the split?  This question I am still trying to figure out.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Emeline Judith Taft (1833-1917): Timeline

This is a timeline that I put together for Emeline Judith Taft (3rd great grandmother), similar to the one I posted for her husband.


Born:   8 Jan 1833 in Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont


1850 Census:     Emeline J Taft living in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
                        Age 16
                        Living with a Cobb family (Cobb is Emeline’s mother’s maiden name)


Marriage:         2 March 1857 to Warren Azro Washburn in Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont


Child:   Birth of Son Wallace Taft Washburn
            3 December 1858 in Creston, Ogle, Illinois


1860 Census:  Emaline Washburn living in Dement, Ogle, Illinois
                        Age 26
                        Occupation – None listed
                        Living with Warrin, Age 25; Wallace, Age 2; Wallace Age 22


1870 Census:   Emiline Washburn living in Ypsilanti, Washtenah, Michigan
                        Age 36
                        Occupation – At home
                        Living with Ed W. Lovell, Age 39; Mary Lovell, Age 28; Flora Lovell, Age 11;
                        Charlie Lovell, Age 9;  Wallace Washburn, Age 12


1880 Census:   ?????? (I can't find Emeline or son Warren in the 1880 census.)

1900 Census:   Emiline J Washburn living in Weber, Utah
                        Age 66;  Born Jan 1834
                        Occupation – None Listed
                        Marriage Status: Widowed
                        Living with Wallace Washburn, Age 42; Martha E Washburn, Age 31;
                        Wilber W Washburn, Age 12; Myrtle E Washburn, Age 10

1910 Census:   Emmelina J Washburn living in Wilson, Weber, Utah
                        Age 70
                        Marriage Status: Widowed
                        Living With Wallace T Washburn, Age 54; Martha E Washburn, Age 50;
                        Wilbur W Washburn, Age 22; Myrtle E Washburn, Age 19

Death:  25 Jan 1917 in Provo, Utah, Utah

Burial in Ogden, Weber, Utah

Monday, June 11, 2012

Warren Azro Washburn (1835-1907): Timeline

As I was doing research on Warren Azro Washburn (3rd Great Grandfather), I put together this timeline of the dates and places he was in his life.


Born:   6 Jan 1835 in West Windsor, Windsor, Vermont


1850 Census:  Azro Washburn??? living with a Bixby family in Reading, Windsor, Vermont
                        Age 15
                        Living with James A Bixby, Age 41; Betsey Bixby, Age 34; Joshua M Bixby,
                        Age 5; Phebe Martin, Age 37; Elizabeth Martin, Age 46
                        (I'm just guessing this is him since the name Azro is not very common.  He
                         wasn't  with his family in the 1850 census.)

 Marriage:        2 March 1857 to Emeline Judith Taft in Woodstock, Windsor, Vermont


Child:   Birth of Son Wallace Taft Washburn
            3 December 1858 in Creston, Ogle, Illinois


1860 Census:  Warrin Washburn living in Dement, Ogle, Illinois
                        Age 25
                        Occupation - Carpenter
                        Living with Emaline Washburn, Age 26; Wallace Washburn, Age 2;
                       Wallace Washburn,  Age 22


Civil War:        Date of Muster - 18 Sep 1861
                        Company L of the 8th Illinois Calvary
                        Bugler


1870 Census:   Warren Washburne living in Dement, Ogle, Illinois
                        Age 40
                        Occupation – Carpenter
                        Living Alone

 Marriage:          Mary Rickey (Date Unknown/Place unknown - Still looking for this information)


1880 Census:   Warren A Washburn living in Oregon, Ogle, Illinois
                        Age 44
                        Occupation – Carpenter
                        Living with Mary R Washburn, Wife, Age 35; Mark W Washburn, Son, Age 4


1900 Census:  Warren A Washburn living in Oregon, Ogle, Illinois
                        Age 65
                        Occupation – Builder
                        Living with Mary R Washburn, Wife, Age 54; Jane Rickey,
                        Sister-in-law, Age71; Anna Allman, Employee, Age 28

Death:  25 Oct 1907 in Oregon, Ogle, Illinois
            Age 72


Buried: In Denment Township, Woodlawn Cemetery

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Annie Eliza Sheen (1860-1945): Gravesite




The photo above comes from the findagrave.com website.

Annie Eliza Sheen is buried in the Ogden City Cemetary in Ogden, Utah.  Her husband, Neriah Thomas Moore Jr. is buried right next to her.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup: Mission Experience #2

This post is about another mission experience of my 2nd great grandfather, Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup.You can see the first post here.

This experience also took place in Denmark.  No exact date is given but appears to have happened sometime late in the year of 1880.  The experiance was written by him and appeared in the April 1, 1895 edition of the Juvenile Instructor.  You can see an original scan here.


THE LORD IN A WONDEREUL WAY PROVIDES FOR HIS SERVANTS.

In the years of 1879-80, and '81 I was laboring as a missionary in my native country. I was called to preside over two large branches of West and South Sjalland, in the Copenhagen Conference. Several brethren were also laboring as traveling Elders in the same branches. Elder Jacob Hansen, of Bear River City, Box Elder County, was, in the year 1880, appointed to travel in those branches. He never had been on a mission before, consequently it was trying to him; but he was a humble man, and had the desire of fulfilling his mission to the glory of God.

One day late in the season of the year he wanted to go with me, out among strangers, leaving money and everything behind us, and to trust in God alone. So we started early one morning, after leaving our blessings with the Saints. When we had traveled a few miles we entered the houses of the farmers, spoke to them of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, called on them to repent of their sins and turn unto their God. But no one seemed to care to listen to what we had to say. At each house we left a few of our tracts with the people. Night was now approaching, and still we had eaten nothing since morning, nor was there any prospect of our getting either food or lodging. We were already several
miles distant from any of the Saints, but had no desire to visit them, as they were mostly poor. Wherefore we trusted in God that He would open up the way for us. We were just at this time passing
a small graveyard, which we entered for the purpose of calling on the Lord. I was mouth at the time, and in my prayer I asked the Lord that He would open up the way so that we might get a place of
entertainment.

After we had offered up our supplications before the throne of God, we started again, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Finally, as we were walking along the road we came to a fine, two-story brick building. I felt impressed to call at the house. We knocked at the door, and a gentleman who was dressed very nicely
appeared. He invited us to enter, which we did, and found ourselves in what appeared to be an office of some kind. I was the spokesman, and told who we were and what we were doing.

He then asked if we knew who he was. We told him we did not, whereupon he said he had authority to arrest us if he so desired, as we had no right to sell our books and tracts in the country. I told him that we did not believe he could do this, as we had not sold any of the books, but had given most of
them away for nothing, yet at the same time if we were offered money in exchange for the books we took it, for we had to pay for the printing and binding of the books.

After some remarks had passed between us, I began to tell him that we were sent out to warn our fellow-men and to tell them that God had again spoken from heaven and restored the Priesthood unto the children of men; but he did not care for our warning voice. He said there was lots of Christianity in the land, and that we better return home and do somthing else than preach.

I had a small valise with me, and he wanted to know what it contained. I therefore opened it, and on the top was a small pamphlet called "Invitation to the Kingdom of God." He looked at it and told us that if God wanted him to come to His kingdom He would have to come Himself and present the invitation.

As it was now getting rather dark, and not knowing where we would find entertainment for the night, we thought we better leave the house. Brother Hansen was already outside, but I lingered somewhat. When I took my hat to leave, the gentleman unlocked and opened his writing-desk, taking something out of it. I now bade him good-by; but he extended his hand toward me saying, "Take this and use it for your night's lodging."

I was greatlv surprised, for he uttered the same words as I did at the graveyard when asking our Heavenly Father for what we needed. I did not look at the money, but I asked God to bless him for the good he had done to us.

When I came down upon the street where Brother Hansen was I said to him, "What do you suppose I have in my hand?" for I felt that Brother Hansen did not believe there was any good in that gentleman, because of the way he spoke to us. I opened my hand and found that I had been given two crowns, just enough for our night's lodging.

We felt thankful to our Heavenly Father for this, as we could now go to the nearest hotel for lodging.

As we passed out of this small village I heard a voice say to me, "Do not spend that money for your night's lodging, but go and buy provisions with the money and then go to the family of Brother Folkersen, for they have nothing to eat, and your bed is already made for you."

I told Brother Hansen what I had been impressed by the Spirit of God to do with the money. Brother Hansen felt as I did in regard to the matter, so when we came to the other village we bought bread, butter, cheese, sugar, etc., with the money, and then started for Brother Folkersen's place, a distance of three miles. When we came to the house we saw a light within, and through the window we saw our bed ready, as the Spirit had told us it would be. Knocking on the door, the sister came and opened for us, saying as she did so, "I knew you were coming." She had felt very sorrowful, however, because she had nothing in the house to eat, and her husband had not come home yet.

When we got inside we placed all that we had bought on the table. Our sister looked at it and began crying, saying that it was a shame that we had to spend our money in that way. I told her not to cry but to hurry up the meal, for we were very hungry, having had nothing to eat since early morning. While thus speaking to her Brother Folkersen entered the kitchen and said to his wife, "Mother, I was not able to get any bread. The baker would not let me have any on credit, and I could not get any
money for my work today, and here are our brethren and we have nothing for them to eat." He then opened the door into the room where we were, and seeing all the provisions laid on the table he began to cry like a child. In his tears he said, "Brethren, this is too much for you to do. You have left your families, your homes for our sake, and then spend your money to buy provisions for us. "

I told him not to feel sorrowful, but "let us get to the table, for we are hungry, and we believe that you and your wife are also hungry, and when we have satisfied our hunger we will tell you how we came to bring all these things with us."

So we all sat down at the table and gave thanks to our Father and God for His many blessings which He had bestowed upon us, asking Him to bless this food which He in very deed had prepared for us, and for the poor and worthy Saints. We all had a good supper, which we enjoyed, for we had the best
sauce of all, a good appetite.

After we had eaten our supper we told Brother and Sister Folkersen our experience of the day, and how we happened to get the money. When they heard this they both wept, and we could not restrain our tears, not because of sorrow but for joy, for we all realized that we had a good and kind Father in heaven, who watches over all His children, and provides for them in His own due time, and to Him we gave the honor, praise and the glory.

Brother and Sister Folkersen , both died years ago, but they passed away in full faith of the work of God. They have a son and daughter in Zion who are both faithful in the Church.

May the Lord bless the young readers ot this little piece, that they may learn that we have a kind Father in heaven, who provides for all those who seek Him and try to do His will.

H. F. F Thorup.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Mormon Overland Pioneer Database: Part 3

Part 2 of this series is here.

This post is about the family of Joseph Knight, Jr., my 4th great grandfather.  They traveled in the Benjamin Hawkins Company.  This company traveled from Kanesville (now Council Bluffs,) Iowa on June 5, 1850.  They arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 9th, 1850.  This company traveled by wagon.

Traveling with the family was Joseph Knight Jr., his wife Betsey Covert, Martha, Mary, Rhoda (my 3rd great grandmother), and Ellen.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Wallace Taft Washburn (1858-1915): Photo



This is a photo of my 2nd great grandfather Wallace Taft Washburn.  The back of the photo says he is in the center and also says he is second from the left.  I presume that he is the short one with the big mustache in the middle of the 3 men in the foreground.

Wallace worked on the railroad in Utah.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup: Tragedy



I found this very well done post (and the picture above) about Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup on a blog called the Renstrom Record that was created by another descendant of Herman F. F. Thorup.  It discusses the death of his first wife, Sophia Augusta Johnson, and their 4 children.  It truly was a loss too great.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Mormon Overland Pioneer Database: Part 2

This is the second post on the Mormon Overland Pioneer Database.  This first is here and is about the Henry Maiben Family.

This post concerns the family of John Paternoster Sqiures, my third great grandfather.  This family, like the family of Henry Maiben, also crossed the plains with the Jacob Gates Company in 1853. The company left Keokuk, Iowa on June 3rd, 1853 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 26-30 of that same year.
Traveling with the family was John Paternoster Squires, his wife Catherine Harriet Fell, and their children Mary, John Fell Squires (My 2nd great grandfather), Richard, and Henry.  Their son Richard died along the trail on September 12th about 200 miles from Salt Lake City.

This except from the life of my 2nd great grandfather John Fell Squires that can be found in the database is interesting as it talks about meeting his future wife (He was 6 or 7 years old on the trip.).

"There was a little black eyed curly headed girl [Alice Penn Maiben] under six years of age. Her Father’s [Henry Maiben’s] wagon was next to ours most of the way. She was gritty and tougher than myself. She truged along day after day walking nearly the entire distance from the Missouri River to S.L. City.

I used to watch her at this and I might say kept my eye on her until we grew up and became husband and wife. Since then she has kept her eye on me."

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Annie Eliza Sheen (1860-1945): Obituary


This is the obituary for my 2nd great grandmother, Annie Eliza Sheen.  She was married to Neriah Thomas Moore Jr.  I believe this came from the Ogden, Utah paper.  She passed away on June 20, 1945.

This second image came from a church newsletter following her death.


Saturday, April 28, 2012

Henry Maiben and Family: Emigration to the United States

This post is a follow-up to this post.

Before beginning their journey from Keokuk, Iowa to Salt Lake City, Henry Maiben, his wife Caroline, and daughter Alice had already been in a long journey to get there.

This information comes from the Mormon Migration Database.  The family sailed on a ship called the International from Liverpool, England on February 28, 1853.  There were approximately 477 passengers on the ship.  The ship was wind powered, so the journey took about 10 weeks to get to New Orleans in the United States.  They arrived in New Orleans on April 23, 1853.

In New Orleans, the ship's passengers traveled by steamship up the Mississippi river to Keokuk.

One interesting note from the voyage.  On April 6th, the passengers had a special meeting to commeration the organization of the Church.  A journal entry from one of the passengers note this about the meeting,

"One of the songs composed on that occasion was a description of the officers on the ship and as I have said nothing about them, will give the parts of the song. I do not remember all of it but will give the parts that I remember.
It was set to the tune of Yankee Doodle and you may judge when four hundred were singing with all their [-] we at least made some noise, whether it was very musical or not."

That song was composed by my 3rd great grandfather, Henry Maiben.  Below is the song.  (Caution: language used that is considered to be in very bad taste in our modern times.)

An original song, Written and Sung, by Henry Maiben [Maibin] (of Brighton) on board the ship International, on the occasion of a Festival, held April 6th, 1853, in commemoration of the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

------------
TUNE--YANKEE DOODLE
------------

On board the InternationalAll joyful, and lighthearted, Bound Zionward, four hundred Saints, From Liverpool we started. We're English, Irish, Scotch, and Welsh Assembled here together; Resolved to do the will of God, Whate'er the wind and weather.
CHORUS Then, sing aloud, ye Saints of God, In one united chorus; Old Babylon we'll leave behind, For, Zion is before us.
We had a noble president, You'll scarce find such an one, Sirs, He stands near six feet six, in height,  And weighs near twenty stone, Sirs. But, best of all, he's full of love, He's frank, and open-hearted; And as sincere as any that From Bab'lon has departed.

Now, Elder Arthurs' counselors (I wish you all to know it) Are, Elder Lyon (from Glasgow), The celebrated Poet: And, Elder Richard Waddington, (From London's famous city) Who's been sick almost all the way, Which has drawn forth our pity.

And Elders are appointed to Take charge of wards and sections, And do all things according to The president's directions. Thus ev'ry regulations made Which is found to be needed; So that, there's not a soul on board Whose welfare is unheeded.

Then, of such fact, or incident That's worthy of remark here; We have a faithful record kept, By Elder Sims, our clerk here. [p.14 ] Amongst which you'll find, two deaths, five births, And twenty-five baptisms. Likewise (today) four marriages, But no such thing as schisms.

The Captain name is "David Brown," My muse cannot refuse its Verse, in reference to him; He comes from Massachusetts. Of course, he is tarnation 'cute,' Yet, he is honest, "rather," And must, ere long, become a Saint, And serve our Heav'nly Father.

The first mate's name is "Alfred Howes," The second mate's "Arch. Campbell," The third mate's is "John Marston," and Then, comes a sort of scramble: That is to say, a motley crew, Called sailors, or ship-riggers; Amounting to about eighteen, Swedes, Germans, Dutch, and Niggers.

The Captain's "Steward, and his wife," Next and forth our attention; Then "Richard Foulton" Captain's cook, I can 't omit to mention. And last (not least) the carpenter, "Calle Westerlind," a Swede, Sirs, The first of the ship's company T' embrace our Holy Creed, Sirs.

We've been on board five weeks and more, And have endured much sickness; We've also had headwinds and storms, T' impede the vessels quickness. Yet, we have cause, and do rejoice, Thanks to the God of Heaven! For unto us, his blessings have Abundantly been given.

Today's the 6th of April, and We now, are celebrating The glorious anniversary, With gladness unabating. And who? that could but witness now, Our festive, happy faces; But would obey the truth, to share The joy our faith embraces.

BIB: Lyon, John. Diary. (Ms 4687), pp.1-15. (CHL)

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Rhoda Caroline Knight (1839-1920): Gravesite



The is the gravesite of Rhoda Caroline Knight, my 3rd great grandmother.  The photo comes from the findagrave.com website.

She is buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A note with the picture on the website says this, "There is no stone for Rhoda. According to plot map she is just beside the small white stone."

Rhoda was married to Neriah Thomas Moore, Sr.



Sunday, April 22, 2012

Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup: Mission Experience

This is a mission experince that my 2nd great grandfather, Herman Fredrick Ferdinand Thorup, had while serving a mission to Denmark in 1867.  This was written by him and appeared in the October 15, 1895 issue of the Juvenile Instructor.  You can see a scan of the original here.


 A KIND PROVIDENCE.

In the month of November, 1867, while traveling from place to place as a missionary in Denmark, I came to a small village called Dysted. It was in the South Sjaelland district, in the Copenhagen Conference. I had visited nearly every house, when it began to be late in the afternoon, and I concluded it was time to be looking for a lodging place for the night.

It was raining very fine, and had been for nearly two weeks, which made traveling very unpleasant.

I inquired at several places for lodging, but was told to go to a farmer, whose house was some distance from the road. When I saw that there was no other prospect for me than to go to that place, I started off towards the house. On arriving and stating my errand to the lady of the house, she said she could not entertain me; so I bade her good-by. I had just turned to leave when I was called back. I was told by the lady that I could stay over night, as she had seen her husband. I went inside the house, and was given a chair in the sitting-room. The lady left me, closing the door, and I was left
alone in a dark room.

One hour had passed away, and I was still alone. Suddenly the door was opened, and the lady stepped inside. She walked right up to me and asked if I wanted something to drink. I replied that I did. She brought me a glass of milk, and then left. When I took the glass in my hand I was not able to raise it so I could drink the milk; yet I could move my hand, and set the glass back on the table. I tried three times to place the glass to my lips, but could not do so. I began to feel uneasy, and believed that some poison was placed in the milk, so I threw it out of the window. I had no sooner done this than the door was opened and the lady came and asked me if I wanted some more milk. I said, "No, thanks, I have had all I want," so she left me again in utter darkness.

It was getting close to nine o'clock and every minute seemed to me to be an hour. I was busy planning how to get away, for I felt that something evil would happen if I could not escape
from that place.

Presently the man appeared with a lamp in his hand. He never spoke a word to me, but sat down on a chair opposite me. Supper was now ready, but no one asked me if I wanted anything to eat.

When the man got through with his supper he turned right towards me. His first question was, "Well, how is the mission? Are there many who believe and become members of the Church?"

I told him yes, there was quite a few. Finally a conversation was begun about the Gospel. The man was very abusive in his language toward me and I was anxious to get away.

As the clock was striking ten, a thought came to me about a family in the village near by who would like to see me at that hour, which was the time the gentleman came from his work. So I said to the man, "Now, you must excuse me, for I have promised a lady in the village to be at their house at
ten this evening."

"O no!" said the man, "it is too late. Your bed is ready," signalling to his wife to show me the place.

I took a look at the room, when to my horror I found it to be a small, square room with no window in it, and only one door which led into the room where we were sitting.

Returning to the man, I thanked him for the room and bed that I was to sleep in, but added that I must go and fulfill my promise to this lady up in the village, and if I did not return inside of one hour he should not wait for me.

Seeing that I was determined to go, he said. "Well, I will wait for your return. "

So I took my coat, satchel and hat and bade them good night.

The man and his wife both kept their seat, so I had to find my way out in the darkness. When I came to the outer door I could not get it open. By feeling with my hand, I found that an iron chain had been placed on the door so that no one could come in from the outside.

Here I stood a long time before I got the end of the chain off, for it was fastened in four places. When I got the door open I can assure you, dear readers, that I felt thankful unto my Heavenly Father that I once more could breathe the cool air of the night.

I closed the door, and off I went for the village as fast as my feet could take me. After leaving the house the dog had been turned loose by the man and was sent after me to bite me. But the dog came so swift that it passed me, and I took up a stone to drive it off if it returned to attack me.

It was getting very late, so I did not call on the people I had told the man that I was going to see, but started off to a place where lived a family who were members of the Church.

I reached my destination at midnight. Here I related my experience of the evening, when I was told that the man whom I escaped from was an ex-convict and had just returned from the state prison where he had been for eighteen years. The crime for which he was imprisoned was poisoning two young men, strangers in the land, whom he robbed and then buried in his field.

Both the family and myself were thankful to our Heavenly Father that my life had been preserved.

H. F. F. Thorup.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Warren Azro Washburn and Emeline Judith Taft: Marriage



When I was searching for the parents of Warren Washburn, I was hoping the marriage record would list the parents.  I was sent these two images from the Vermont State Archives; marriage records, one for the groom (above) and one for the bride (below).  The marriage date is March 2, 1857 and they were married in Woodstock, Vermont.  Warren's occupation is listed as machanic.  The were married by a Rev. Moses Kidder.  The parent's names weren't listed however.  I found that out later.


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Mormon Pioneer Overland Trail Database: Part 1

This is an interesting database for those who have Mormon pioneers that traveled across the plains by wagon or handcart.  The database can be found here.

This first post looks at the family of my 3rd great grandfather Henry Maiben.

This family traveled with the Jacob Gates Company in 1853 by ox pulled wagons.  The company left Keokuk, Iowa on June 3rd, 1853 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 26-30 of that same year.

Henry Maiben, his wife Caroline Penn, daughter Alice Penn Maiben (my 2nd great grandmother), and an infant daughter Marion Maiben made the journey.  Marion was born in Keokuk.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Warren Azro Washburn (1835-1907): One of Those Stories

Warren Azro Washburn was my 3rd great grandfather and a couple of years ago, I started out my research looking for his parents as he was the only 3rd great grandparent that I didn't have parents names for.  (All the genealogical info I had had come from others.)  I thought it would be easy but it wasn't (Which is probably why I didn't have the names in the first place.)

After about a year, I did find the names of his parents (Leonard F Washburn and Arvilla Nutting) but finding any more Washburn ancestors on the internet had seemingly come to a dead end.  There were 2 competing pedigree charts on Ancestry.com for Leonard but I didn't know which was correct.  Short of taking a trip to Vermont where they were from and digging into records there, I didn't know what to do.

Then one day, I did one more Google search on the Washburn family names and this link came up which I hadn't seen before.  It was a book scanned by Google as part of their project to scan old books in libraries (this one was in the library of the University of Wisconsin of all places.)  The book is called Washburn: A Partial History of the family from the arrival of John Washburn about 1632 ...  and it was written by none other than my 3rd great grandfather Warren Azro Washburn!  The book is loaded with genealogical information on his family and gave me the names of his grandparents and many others in the Washburn line going back to when Washburns first came to America.

Needless to say, I was stunned.  I could hardly believe that I  had found it.  I truly believe that when all doors seem closed, that's when God will be there to open one to let one's research continue.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Axel Laures Fikstad Sr. (1865-1940): Death Certificate



The is the death certificate of my 2nd great gradnfather Axel Laures Fikstad, Sr. that I obtained from the Utah State Archives online.

Axel was born in Norway on March 13, 1865.  (The death certificate lists the city as Sanasun.  My records list the city as Sasberg.)

He died December 16th, 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 75.  The cause of death is listed as senility which in my mind is a bizarre choice. 

His father is listed as Hans Fikstad.  His mother is listed as unknown.  (Her name is Helena.)

Listed as widowed from his wife Hannah C. Fikstad.  I do know that they divorced in (I believe) 1912.

His occupation is listed as a merchant in the retail grocery business.


Thursday, April 12, 2012

Mary Shields Jaynes (1833-1866): Gravesite


Mary Shields Jaynes Sheen is my 3rd great grandmother.  This is a photo of her headstone that I found on the Find A Grave website.

She is buried in the Kaysville City Cemetary in Kaysville, Utah.

She died during childbirth on June 9th, 1866.  The child, named Joseph Thomas Sheen, also died that day.

Her husband, James Sheen, eventually remarried after the death of Mary.

Notice that the death date does not match the headstone.  The birthdate on the headstone is also off from what my records show.  I have her birthdate listed as March 21, 1833.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Helena Kjeldsen (1833-1899): Emigration


Helena Kjeldsen Fikstad (my 3rd great grandmother) emigrated to the United States from Norway in 1877.  The Mormon Migration database documents her trip (as well as over 700 others) here.  Traveling with her were two of her sons, Oscar and Axel (my 2nd great grandfather.)

From the notes in the link, it sounds like a group of Norwegian converts had sailed to Copenhagen, Denmark and picked up some Danish converts then set sail to Hull, England on June 21, 1877 in two ships, the "Argo" and the "Pacific".  They arrived in Hull on June 24, 1877.  From there, the converts took a train to Liverpool.  In Liverpool, they joined converts from England, Germany, Switzerland, and Holland and boarded the steamship "Wisconsin."  The "Wisconsin" sailed from Liverpool on June 27th and arrived in New York on July 7th.  In New York they set out by train and arrived in Salt Lake City on July 14, 1877.

Some notes I have say that her husband, Hans Christian Fikstad, emigrated a couple of years later although I can't find his name in the database.  Other children also arrived later.

The impact of the train can't be ignored here.  Had they arrived just a few years earlier, the journey from New York to Salt Lake would have taken months, not the week it took Helena and her sons.

The database spells her name Helene.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Caroline Penn (1817-1864)


I found this post and the above picture on the blog All Things Ancestors about my 3rd great grandmother Caroline Penn.  She was married to Henry Maiben.

I have more information on Caroline Penn to come in a later post.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

John Fell Squires (1846-1933): News Article



John Fell Squires was my 2nd great grandfather.

I found this article in the Logan, Utah Herald Journal from 2003.  Apparently the owners of the house of John Fell Squires wanted to tear it down.  A historic committee had to decide whether to allow this or to preserve this house in Logan, Utah of a historic figure from Logan's past.  I'm not sure what was decided on the house but I found the information about my 2nd great grandfather very interesting.

Among the interesting things was that he was the first ranger Cache National Forest.  He had also worked as a barber like his father John Paternoster Squires  (although it sounds like he didn't really enjoy that work.)