Anders Christian and Nina Marie Petersen
|
Nina Marie Nielsen Petersen
Grandma Nina was well known for her homemade grahm bread and cheese which she served the children after school. What a special treat!
|
ANDERS CHRISTIAN AND NINA MARIE NIELSEN PETERSEN
Anders Christen PetersenNina Marie Nielsen
Born 13 Mar 1851Born 22 Mar 1851
Died 26 Sep 1919Died 01 Mar 1930
Nina Marie Nielsen was born 22 March, 1851, in Klarup, Taars, Hjorring, Denmark.She was the daughter of Mads Peder Nielsen and Johanna Christiansen.Johanna's maiden name is still a mystery.No record of a marriage has been found. Common law marriage was a practice in Denmark at that time. There were no marriage laws.Weddings were expensive and only those who were wealthy enough to afford a wedding had one.The less fortunate couples just lived together until they could save enough money to get married and then they would take the children with them and have them adopted.That could have been the case in this instance, only Johanna never married Mads Peder Nielsen that we know of.Later she was married to Johanas Olson and they joined the church in Denmark.They came to America because of the gospel, crossing the ocean by sailing vessle and leaving Nina Marie behind in Denmark.Two of their sons, Lars (nearly 7) and Joseph (age 3) died of cholera and were buried at sea.They traveled west from New York and joined the handcart company to walk the rest of the way to Salt Lake.They also buried a daughter, Ane Christine, Age 9,at North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska, reaching Salt Lake with only one child, Charles John (Carl Johan).
Nina Marie's first son, Soren Christian, had been born in Denmark and the father made no effort to provide for her or the baby.She had been left behind when her mother and step-father came to America.She had to work hard for a living.Among jobs she had was milking cows by hand at a dairy.She had been unable to take care of her baby and had hired a woman who lived in Copenhagen to take care of him.By the time Chris, her son, was four or five years of age, Nina Marie's mother and step-father had acquired enough money to send for them.When Nina Marie went to get her baby from the woman in Copenhagen, she found that this lady had become very attached to Chris and he to her and it was a heartbreaking experience to take him from her.Nina Marie refused to leave her son in Denmark where she probably never would have seen him again.
They crossed the ocean on the steamboat "Nevada", leaving Denmark on 26 June 1872.They came the rest of the way by train.Nina Marie was then adopted by Johanas Olson and lived with him and her mother until her marriage to Anders Christen Petersen.(There is a discrepancy in records on this point.The book "History of the Bear Lake Pioneers" states that Thomas Petersen and his son, Anders, sponsored Nina Marie and Chris's trip to the United States. Perhaps Nina Marie and Anders were acquainted in Denmark because they were married in Salt Lake City soon after she arrived.)
Many of the Danish emigrants were sent by Brigham Young to settle in the Bear Lake Valley and these families were among them.Anders Christen Peterson and Nina Marie Nielsen raised their family under pioneer circumstances at Ovid, Idaho.Soren Christian was adopted by Anders Christen and went by the Petersen name.Others of the family were; Eliza Marie, Annie Johanna, Andrew Lewis who died at the age of nine, Matilda Christina (our ancestor) Julia, and Parley Joseph who lived only a month.He was born December 16, 1884 and died Jan 23, 1885.
Anders Christian was a craftsman and a handy man.He made their furniture from material found at hand.He made chairs, wooden clogs of Quaken Aspen, and willow baskets.He was a cobbler and with a last (a form the shape and size of a foot on which shoes are made and repaired) and an awl (a small pointed tool for making holes in leather) and just a few crude tools he repaired shoes for his family and neighbors.No pan was ever discarded in those days so he soldered and repaired such things as the need arose.
He had a little tin flute that he could play simple melodies on for the entertainment of his family.Perhaps this is where some of his family got their musical ability.
There does not seem to be a record of just when Nina Marie and Anders Christian moved to Ucon.Anders Christian Peterson died September 26, 1919 in Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho and is buried in the Ucon Cemetery.Nina Marie took care of herself, living in a log house that sat behind Oliver and Julia Robinson's house, until her health began to fail.Her grandchildren could stop in after school and she always treated them with whole wheat bread, fresh butter, and cheese, all made by herself.She made wonderful Danish pastries, too.
After she celebrated her 75th birthday, she moved in with her daughter, Matilda and Daniel Tyler.She was bedfast for the last two years of her life and Matilda took care of her.After she had suffered so long that there was no chance for recovery, the family met in prayer and through the power of the priesthood asked the Lord to relieve her of her suffering.That night, March 1, 1930, she passed away, leaving her mark on the earth in the family she had raised.She is buried beside her husband in Ucon Cemetery, Ucon, Bonneville, Idaho.
Anders Christian Petersen, born 13 March, 1851, in Flade, Hjorring, Denmark, was the son of Thomas Christian Petersen and Lise Andersen, however, the two were never married.Thomas later came to America with his wife and children, leaving Anders behind in Denmark but sent for him later.Lise never joined the church, but she came to America on the ship "Nevada" in September 1871 with a group of converts.She lived in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho and is buried there.Lise's name is pronounced as the 'liza' in Eliza.Her name is recorded as Eliza in the 1880 census with her husband: "John and Eliza Wilks".She is listed in Bloomington Cemetery records as Eliza Wilks.)
Anders Christen PetersenNina Marie Nielsen
Born 13 Mar 1851Born 22 Mar 1851
Died 26 Sep 1919Died 01 Mar 1930
Nina Marie Nielsen was born 22 March, 1851, in Klarup, Taars, Hjorring, Denmark.She was the daughter of Mads Peder Nielsen and Johanna Christiansen.Johanna's maiden name is still a mystery.No record of a marriage has been found. Common law marriage was a practice in Denmark at that time. There were no marriage laws.Weddings were expensive and only those who were wealthy enough to afford a wedding had one.The less fortunate couples just lived together until they could save enough money to get married and then they would take the children with them and have them adopted.That could have been the case in this instance, only Johanna never married Mads Peder Nielsen that we know of.Later she was married to Johanas Olson and they joined the church in Denmark.They came to America because of the gospel, crossing the ocean by sailing vessle and leaving Nina Marie behind in Denmark.Two of their sons, Lars (nearly 7) and Joseph (age 3) died of cholera and were buried at sea.They traveled west from New York and joined the handcart company to walk the rest of the way to Salt Lake.They also buried a daughter, Ane Christine, Age 9,at North Platte, Lincoln, Nebraska, reaching Salt Lake with only one child, Charles John (Carl Johan).
Nina Marie's first son, Soren Christian, had been born in Denmark and the father made no effort to provide for her or the baby.She had been left behind when her mother and step-father came to America.She had to work hard for a living.Among jobs she had was milking cows by hand at a dairy.She had been unable to take care of her baby and had hired a woman who lived in Copenhagen to take care of him.By the time Chris, her son, was four or five years of age, Nina Marie's mother and step-father had acquired enough money to send for them.When Nina Marie went to get her baby from the woman in Copenhagen, she found that this lady had become very attached to Chris and he to her and it was a heartbreaking experience to take him from her.Nina Marie refused to leave her son in Denmark where she probably never would have seen him again.
They crossed the ocean on the steamboat "Nevada", leaving Denmark on 26 June 1872.They came the rest of the way by train.Nina Marie was then adopted by Johanas Olson and lived with him and her mother until her marriage to Anders Christen Petersen.(There is a discrepancy in records on this point.The book "History of the Bear Lake Pioneers" states that Thomas Petersen and his son, Anders, sponsored Nina Marie and Chris's trip to the United States. Perhaps Nina Marie and Anders were acquainted in Denmark because they were married in Salt Lake City soon after she arrived.)
Many of the Danish emigrants were sent by Brigham Young to settle in the Bear Lake Valley and these families were among them.Anders Christen Peterson and Nina Marie Nielsen raised their family under pioneer circumstances at Ovid, Idaho.Soren Christian was adopted by Anders Christen and went by the Petersen name.Others of the family were; Eliza Marie, Annie Johanna, Andrew Lewis who died at the age of nine, Matilda Christina (our ancestor) Julia, and Parley Joseph who lived only a month.He was born December 16, 1884 and died Jan 23, 1885.
Anders Christian was a craftsman and a handy man.He made their furniture from material found at hand.He made chairs, wooden clogs of Quaken Aspen, and willow baskets.He was a cobbler and with a last (a form the shape and size of a foot on which shoes are made and repaired) and an awl (a small pointed tool for making holes in leather) and just a few crude tools he repaired shoes for his family and neighbors.No pan was ever discarded in those days so he soldered and repaired such things as the need arose.
He had a little tin flute that he could play simple melodies on for the entertainment of his family.Perhaps this is where some of his family got their musical ability.
There does not seem to be a record of just when Nina Marie and Anders Christian moved to Ucon.Anders Christian Peterson died September 26, 1919 in Rigby, Jefferson, Idaho and is buried in the Ucon Cemetery.Nina Marie took care of herself, living in a log house that sat behind Oliver and Julia Robinson's house, until her health began to fail.Her grandchildren could stop in after school and she always treated them with whole wheat bread, fresh butter, and cheese, all made by herself.She made wonderful Danish pastries, too.
After she celebrated her 75th birthday, she moved in with her daughter, Matilda and Daniel Tyler.She was bedfast for the last two years of her life and Matilda took care of her.After she had suffered so long that there was no chance for recovery, the family met in prayer and through the power of the priesthood asked the Lord to relieve her of her suffering.That night, March 1, 1930, she passed away, leaving her mark on the earth in the family she had raised.She is buried beside her husband in Ucon Cemetery, Ucon, Bonneville, Idaho.
Anders Christian Petersen, born 13 March, 1851, in Flade, Hjorring, Denmark, was the son of Thomas Christian Petersen and Lise Andersen, however, the two were never married.Thomas later came to America with his wife and children, leaving Anders behind in Denmark but sent for him later.Lise never joined the church, but she came to America on the ship "Nevada" in September 1871 with a group of converts.She lived in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho and is buried there.Lise's name is pronounced as the 'liza' in Eliza.Her name is recorded as Eliza in the 1880 census with her husband: "John and Eliza Wilks".She is listed in Bloomington Cemetery records as Eliza Wilks.)
Anders Christian and Nina Marie Petersen family
Annie Johanna Petersen Robinson, Soren Christian Petersen, Christina Matilda Petersen, Julia Petersen, and Eliza Marie Petersen Ray (in back) Oliver Robinson, Anders Christian Petersen, Nina Marie Petersen, and Annie Ray (in front)
Written by Annie Robinson
When Annie was three years old, her mother, Nina Marie Massen Nielson took her three children, Lizzie, Annie, and Andrew to see their grandmother who lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The first part of this trip was made from Ovid, Idaho to Logan, Utah, in the fall by ox team. From Liberty, Idaho through Immigration Canyon to Logan, Utah.
In Logan, they stayed with a friend (Christena Nelson, a widow) for two weeks. Here Andrew was nearly drowned in a small creek that ran past the house. Annie being small and young, did not know that her brother was drowning. She stood watching the little fellow struggling in the clear cool water. A well dressed gentleman passing by saw the small boy in the water and reach down and pulled him out!
They departed from Logan to go to Salt Lake City. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, Nina Marie left her daughters Lizzie and Annie to watch their luggage on the platform while she took her year and a half old baby boy to locate an old friend. When she located him he was seven blocks from the depot. In the mean time a well dressed lady came along and said little girl come with me, where upon Annie, frightened but courageous, took the lady’s hand and went with her leaving Lizzie on the platform with the luggage. Upon reaching the house, the kind lady took Annie through the front door to the back of the house and had her kneel on a chair up to the table. There she was given a piece of rhubarb pie. The lady then called her husband to come and see "Our new little girl."
In the mean time, Nina Marie returned to the train depot with Mr. Fred Stoffer and his team and wagon to take the girls and the luggage to his home. Annie was gone, Nina became frantic and began searching for her. She went to the station agent. He was a tall crippled man. He asked her if she had two little girls dressed alike. She answered "yes." He then told her where the lady had taken Annie. When Nina Marie reached the lady’s house she was very provoked and told the lady she was going to take her to city hall! She did get her daughter back and the family continued their journey.
Grandfather came with team and wagon to take the family to Pleasant Grove. On the way Grandfather stopped and gave an Indian a ride and Annie and Lizzie were frightened!
It was late evening when they arrived in Pleasant Grove. The lamp was burning and Grandmother took Annie and Lizzie in the kitchen and gave them a lump of sugar.
While they were in Pleasant Grove, Annie wandered in to the field and Grandfather called her to come back. Her underskirt was full of cockle burs! Annie had to stand while Lizzie sat on a stool and picked the burs out of her skirt.
It was water melon time in Utah and Grandmother cut the melons length wise. Then we would eat the melon. Then Grandma would cut a hole in one end and we would pull them around for a wagon. At the age of seven Annie was hired out to tend a little girl who was one year old while her mother milked cows. Her pay for tending was her clothing and board, with permission to go home on Sundays. She hated to go back. She stayed all summer.
That fall she worked for John Peterson, taking cows to pasture all day and then bringing them back. Then at night she tended the baby while Mrs. Peterson milked the cows. She did this to earn a book for her schooling. She needed a "First Reader." When Annie asked for the book, Mrs. Peterson got her a "Third Grade Reader." Annie needed a primmer and was very disappointed because she was unable to attend school that winter. The next summer, she went to school for three or four months. The families had to pay tuition for schooling. Annie’s teacher was Mrs. Kennington.
Through the winter months, Nina Marie used to card wool, spin wool in yarn and knit stockings and some of the yarn was made in to linsay for dresses. Mrs. Thousen wove the cloth in to various strips. Our under shirts and dresses were made of this cloth. Father spent the evenings weaving baskets from willows. Father was glad to tell us stories at night when we were quiet.
At the age of nine Annie left home to go to Bloomington, Idaho to live with her father’s mother. She lived there off and on until she was fourteen years old. She went to work for Mr. Rasmussen whose wife was an invalid. She was paid one dollar a week. She did all the cooking and washing and keeping house. While she was there she had her fifteenth birthday. She worked off and on for the next two years.
In the fall of 1890, I left Ovid, Idaho with my brother Christian Petersen by team and wagon. We had all our belongings with us. We traveled through Soda Springs around to Grays Lake. Here we loaded a mowing machine hay rake on to the wagon. It was late so we stayed there that night. I slept in the house and Chris slept in the yard that night. It snowed and was snowing when we left.
Upon leaving Gray’s Lake, we headed North until we came to a deep creek called Brockman Creek. There we got stuck. In the distance we could see a house, so we unhooked the horses and rode them toward the house. Upon arriving at the house, it was inhabited by a colored man named Dan Brockman. He gladly consented to help Chris to pull the wagon out of the creek. Mr. Brockman had killed two small animals which were hanging out side.
The men left and left me in the cabin where it was warm. It grew dark and I watched for the men to come. I was some what timid staying by my self. Also because it was a colored mans home. Finally they arrived and after the horses were taken care of, Mr. Brockman came in, washed, and set to work getting supper. He made biscuits from flour and baking powder stirring with a spoon and baking. They were delicious! He had two beds. My brother slept with Mr. Brockman. I was to occupy the other bed but I was afraid, so I slept on the kitchen floor without bedding.
The next morning, Mr. Brockman built the fire and told me to make the biscuits. After breakfast as we were making preparation to leave, it again started to snow. Mr. Brockman said he hoped it would snow so we would be obliged to stay all winter with him. But upon seeing our determination to continue on our journey, he heated a large stone for our feet in the wagon and wrapped my shoes with burlap so that my feet would keep warm, after saying good bye we continued on our way. We reached a hill where we spent most all day and that night with in a few rods of the top. I had walked up the hill driving the horses while my brother pushed. The wet snow would ball up in the horses feet and they would slip down. Finally we could not go any farther. That night I slept with my wet skirts on in a bed made in the teeth of the rake. My brother slept on the ground. Mr. Brockman gave us some hay so the horses had that hay for their supper. Next morning my brother took the wheels and rolled them up the hill. Again, we tried and finally reached the top. We loaded the wheels and started down. It was steep and we had no brakes on the wagon. Only one of the horses would hold back!
We reached Iona, Idaho at 10:00 that night at the home of Carl Olsen. That night I slept in the house which was a grainery and home. My bed was in the wheat bin. The boys slept in the oat bin. It was a small rock house. In the morning I went out to see the town and there was none. Only a scattering of houses here and there. I asked, "where is the town?"
To get to willow creek we traveled along the foot hills to the North fording Willow Creek and Sand Creek. Then down through the Pete Neilson place now Joe Swachze, down through the country past Pittmen and Huffaker to the corner where Archie Berrie now lives. North to the Stringham place which was the home stead of Christian Petersen. We lived in a dug out with three 8x10 window lights and the howl of a coyote that would make your hair stand up on end. The coyotes ate all the chickens we had.
There was nothing but sage brush for miles around with the dot of a small cabin here and there. George Simmons daughter had the measles and my brother took me down to help them. I stayed until June. When some family came from Bear Lake, I went back with them to Ovid. Returning July 1892.
Father went on a mission, March 7, 1895. The ground had been bare and some plowing had been done but in March it had snowed and blizzard something fierce. Father received from Jake Nolen $1.50, Elisa Bates $.50, Myrtle Bates $.05 and Oley Olsen $2.50. A return mission from Norway.
HISTORY OF ANDERS CHRISTIAN PETERSEN & NINA MARIE NIELSEN
written by a daughter, Annie Petersen Robinson
This history was written in Aunt Annie's own hand writing and was sent to me this summer by my cousin, Marjorie Gordon Swickard. My grandparents never learned to speak but very little English so my mother, her brother and sisters grew up in a home where Danish was the language spoken. Mother and her sisters all spoke good English, but if they didn't want us kids to know what they were saying they would talk in Danish.
Until I tried to decipher Aunt Annie's short history I didn't realize how difficult it was for her to spell. I did alter some. There was no punctuation nor capitalization which I have added.
Stuart Tyler, Nov. 24, 1993
The following was written by Annie Robinson, daughter of Anders Christian Peterson and Nina Marie Neilsen Peterson. Annie had three sisters: Lizzie Ray, Matilda Tyler, and Julia Short. She also had a half brother, Chris Peterson, who was born out of wedlock in Denmark.
A short family record I cannot give you dates. My mother's folks left Denmark before thair was steamships so they left Denmark by sail boats. Mother and hir sister that settled in Iowa was left in Denmark at that time and came over after they had steamships. Thair stepfather and thair mother left Denmark with three boys and a girl 8 years old. They ware on the sea 9 weeak and thair drinken water got stale and collare broke out on the ship and the 2 boys died at sea and was droped in a watery grave. The girl 8 year old died at Llarance, Neb. and was buryed thair. They ware met with teams and wagons from Salt Lake City, Utah that halled them to Pleasant Grove, Utah. With onley one little boy named Charley Olsen and they had no other children after comen to Utah. I don't no how long it was before mother and brother Cris got to come but it was after her step father could get the money to send far hir and him. Cris was barn out of wedlock. Hir sister came later with a company that settled in Iowa so she nevir got to see hir people eney more but made hir home in Iowa. Uncle Lee found them when he was on his mission about 54 years ago. Than when Ray was 42 years old Lee went bak with sheep and Ray and me went on the trane to visit them. I was the only one of hir relations that she met in this cuntry. When she saw me she could not speak to me. She met me and the tears ran down hir face and she went bak in the kitchen and shed hir tears than came bak to speak to me of hir girls and one grandaughter has visited us. I think you will remember the one we called Hannah (Sheahan) She has been out 4 times. She came out to Dan and Matildas Golden Wedding. She stayed with me three weaks after the wedden befar she went back to Iowa. She is a widow and all hir children are married so you see that it has not been all sunshine after levin Denmark for mother and her people. Father and mother married in Utah. I could have had a lot of histry if I had got at it sooner and not wated untill it was to late. Father was 18 years old when he came to Idaho. He worked and payed his mothers fair to Salt Lake City from Denmark. When she got to Salt Lake fathers father and his wife went to meet hir but did not like hir and then she was in the city for severl years before she got to father and famley so you see it was a sad afair. I dont no what more I can tell you. I hope you can make this out.
P.S. You see father to was born out of wedlok which was often the case in Denmark and at that time was not thought mouch of so grandmother was never married to his father.
CORRECTED COPY:
A short family record; I cannot give you dates. My mother's folks left Denmark before their was steamships so they left Denmark by sail boats. Mother and her sister that settled in Iowa was left in Denmark at that time and came over after they had steamships. Their stepfather and their mother left Denmark with three boys and a girl 8 years old. They were on the sea 9 week and their drinking water got stale and cholera broke out on the ship and the 2 boys died at sea and was dropped in a watery grave. The girl 8 year old died at Lawrence, Neb. and was buried their. They were met with teams and wagons from Salt Lake City, Utah that hauled them to Pleasant Grove, Utah. With only one little boy named Charley Olsen and they had no other children after coming to Utah. I don't no how long it was before mother and brother Chris got to come but it was after her step father could get the money to send for her and him. Chris was born out of wedlock. Her sister came later with a company that settled in Iowa so she never got to see her people any more but made her home in Iowa. Uncle Lee (Robinson) found them when he was on his mission about 54 years ago. Then when Ray was 42 years old Lee went back with sheep and Ray and me went on the train to visit them. I was the only one of her relations that she met in this country. When she saw me she could not speak to me. She met me and the tears ran down her face and she went back in the kitchen and shed her tears then came back to speak to me of her girls. One granddaughter has visited us. I think you will remember the one we called Hannah (Sheahan) She has been out 4 times. She came out to Dan and Matilda's Golden Wedding. She stayed with me three weeks after the wedding before she went back to Iowa. She is a widow and all her children are married so you see that it has not been all sunshine after leaving Denmark for mother and her people. Father and mother married in Utah. I could have had a lot of history if I had got at it sooner and not waited until it was to late.
Father was 18 years old when he came to Idaho. He worked and paid his mothers fare to Salt Lake City from Denmark. When she got to Salt Lake fathers father and his wife went to meet her but did not like her and then she was in the city for several years before she got to father and family so you see it was a sad affair. I don't know what more I can tell you. I hope you can make this out.
P.S. You see father, too, was born out of wedlock which was often the case in Denmark and at that time was not thought much of so grandmother was never married to his father.
|
|
A letter Written by Annie Petersen Robinson
When Annie was three years old, her mother, Nina Marie Massen Nielson took her three children, Lizzie, Annie, and Andrew to see their grandmother who lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The first part of this trip was made from Ovid, Idaho to Logan, Utah, in the fall by ox team. From Liberty, Idaho through Immigration Canyon to Logan, Utah.
In Logan, they stayed with a friend (Christena Nelson, a widow) for two weeks. Here Andrew was nearly drowned in a small creek that ran past the house. Annie being small and young, did not know that her brother was drowning. She stood watching the little fellow struggling in the clear cool water. A well dressed gentleman passing by saw the small boy in the water and reach down and pulled him out!
They departed from Logan to go to Salt Lake City. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, Nina Marie left her daughters Lizzie and Annie to watch their luggage on the platform while she took her year and a half old baby boy to locate an old friend. When she located him he was seven blocks from the depot. In the mean time a well dressed lady came along and said little girl come with me, where upon Annie, frightened but courageous, took the lady’s hand and went with her leaving Lizzie on the platform with the luggage. Upon reaching the house, the kind lady took Annie through the front door to the back of the house and had her kneel on a chair up to the table. There she was given a piece of rhubarb pie. The lady then called her husband to come and see "Our new little girl."
In the mean time, Nina Marie returned to the train depot with Mr. Fred Stoffer and his team and wagon to take the girls and the luggage to his home. Annie was gone, Nina became frantic and began searching for her. She went to the station agent. He was a tall crippled man. He asked her if she had two little girls dressed alike. She answered "yes." He then told her where the lady had taken Annie. When Nina Marie reached the lady’s house she was very provoked and told the lady she was going to take her to city hall! She did get her daughter back and the family continued their journey.
Grandfather came with team and wagon to take the family to Pleasant Grove. On the way Grandfather stopped and gave an Indian a ride and Annie and Lizzie were frightened!
It was late evening when they arrived in Pleasant Grove. The lamp was burning and Grandmother took Annie and Lizzie in the kitchen and gave them a lump of sugar.
While they were in Pleasant Grove, Annie wandered in to the field and Grandfather called her to come back. Her underskirt was full of cockle burs! Annie had to stand while Lizzie sat on a stool and picked the burs out of her skirt.
It was water melon time in Utah and Grandmother cut the melons length wise. Then we would eat the melon. Then Grandma would cut a hole in one end and we would pull them around for a wagon.
At the age of seven Annie was hired out to tend a little girl who was one year old while her mother milked cows. Her pay for tending was her clothing and board, with permission to go home on Sundays. She hated to go back. She stayed all summer.
That fall she worked for John Peterson, taking cows to pasture all day and then bringing them back. Then at night she tended the baby while Mrs. Peterson milked the cows. She did this to earn a book for her schooling. She needed a "First Reader." When Annie asked for the book, Mrs. Peterson got her a "Third Grade Reader." Annie needed a primmer and was very disappointed because she was unable to attend school that winter. The next summer, she went to school for three or four months. The families had to pay tuition for schooling. Annie’s teacher was Mrs. Kennington.
Through the winter months, Nina Marie used to card wool, spin wool in yarn and knit stockings and some of the yarn was made in to linsay for dresses. Mrs. Thousen wove the cloth in to various strips. Our under shirts and dresses were made of this cloth. Father spent the evenings weaving baskets from willows. Father was glad to tell us stories at night when we were quiet.
At the age of nine Annie left home to go to Bloomington, Idaho to live with her father’s mother. She lived there off and on until she was fourteen years old. She went to work for Mr. Rasmussen whose wife was an invalid. She was paid one dollar a week. She did all the cooking and washing and keeping house. While she was there she had her fifteenth birthday. She worked off and on for the next two years.
In the fall of 1890, I left Ovid, Idaho with my brother Christian Petersen by team and wagon. We had all our belongings with us. We traveled through Soda Springs around to Grays Lake. Here we loaded a mowing machine hay rake on to the wagon. It was late so we stayed there that night. I slept in the house and Chris slept in the yard that night. It snowed and was snowing when we left.
Upon leaving Gray’s Lake, we headed North until we came to a deep creek called Brockman Creek. There we got stuck. In the distance we could see a house, so we unhooked the horses and rode them toward the house. Upon arriving at the house, it was inhabited by a colored man named Dan Brockman. He gladly consented to help Chris to pull the wagon out of the creek. Mr. Brockman had killed two small animals which were hanging out side.
The men left and left me in the cabin where it was warm. It grew dark and I watched for the men to come. I was some what timid staying by my self. Also because it was a colored mans home. Finally they arrived and after the horses were taken care of, Mr. Brockman came in, washed, and set to work getting supper. He made biscuits from flour and baking powder stirring with a spoon and baking. They were delicious! He had two beds. My brother slept with Mr. Brockman. I was to occupy the other bed but I was afraid, so I slept on the kitchen floor without bedding.
The next morning, Mr. Brockman built the fire and told me to make the biscuits. After breakfast as we were making preparation to leave, it again started to snow. Mr. Brockman said he hoped it would snow so we would be obliged to stay all winter with him. But upon seeing our determination to continue on our journey, he heated a large stone for our feet in the wagon and wrapped my shoes with burlap so that my feet would keep warm, after saying good bye we continued on our way. We reached a hill where we spent most all day and that night with in a few rods of the top. I had walked up the hill driving the horses while my brother pushed. The wet snow would ball up in the horses feet and they would slip down. Finally we could not go any farther. That night I slept with my wet skirts on in a bed made in the teeth of the rake. My brother slept on the ground. Mr. Brockman gave us some hay so the horses had that hay for their supper. Next morning my brother took the wheels and rolled them up the hill. Again, we tried and finally reached the top. We loaded the wheels and started down. It was steep and we had no brakes on the wagon. Only one of the horses would hold back!
We reached Iona, Idaho at 10:00 that night at the home of Carl Olsen. That night I slept in the house which was a grainery and home. My bed was in the wheat bin. The boys slept in the oat bin. It was a small rock house. In the morning I went out to see the town and there was none. Only a scattering of houses here and there. I asked, "where is the town?"
To get to willow creek we traveled along the foot hills to the North fording Willow Creek and Sand Creek. Then down through the Pete Neilson place now Joe Swachze, down through the country past Pittmen and Huffaker to the corner where Archie Berrie now lives. North to the Stringham place which was the home stead of Christian Petersen. We lived in a dug out with three 8x10 window lights and the howl of a coyote that would make your hair stand up on end. The coyotes ate all the chickens we had.
There was nothing but sage brush for miles around with the dot of a small cabin here and there. George Simmons daughter had the measles and my brother took me down to help them. I stayed until June. When some family came from Bear Lake, I went back with them to Ovid. Returning July 1892.
Father went on a mission, March 7, 1895. The ground had been bare and some plowing had been done but in March it had snowed and blizzard something fierce. Father received from Jake Nolen $1.50, Elisa Bates $.50, Myrtle Bates $.05 and Oley Olsen $2.50. A return mission from Norway.
When Annie was three years old, her mother, Nina Marie Massen Nielson took her three children, Lizzie, Annie, and Andrew to see their grandmother who lived in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The first part of this trip was made from Ovid, Idaho to Logan, Utah, in the fall by ox team. From Liberty, Idaho through Immigration Canyon to Logan, Utah.
In Logan, they stayed with a friend (Christena Nelson, a widow) for two weeks. Here Andrew was nearly drowned in a small creek that ran past the house. Annie being small and young, did not know that her brother was drowning. She stood watching the little fellow struggling in the clear cool water. A well dressed gentleman passing by saw the small boy in the water and reach down and pulled him out!
They departed from Logan to go to Salt Lake City. When they arrived in Salt Lake City, Nina Marie left her daughters Lizzie and Annie to watch their luggage on the platform while she took her year and a half old baby boy to locate an old friend. When she located him he was seven blocks from the depot. In the mean time a well dressed lady came along and said little girl come with me, where upon Annie, frightened but courageous, took the lady’s hand and went with her leaving Lizzie on the platform with the luggage. Upon reaching the house, the kind lady took Annie through the front door to the back of the house and had her kneel on a chair up to the table. There she was given a piece of rhubarb pie. The lady then called her husband to come and see "Our new little girl."
In the mean time, Nina Marie returned to the train depot with Mr. Fred Stoffer and his team and wagon to take the girls and the luggage to his home. Annie was gone, Nina became frantic and began searching for her. She went to the station agent. He was a tall crippled man. He asked her if she had two little girls dressed alike. She answered "yes." He then told her where the lady had taken Annie. When Nina Marie reached the lady’s house she was very provoked and told the lady she was going to take her to city hall! She did get her daughter back and the family continued their journey.
Grandfather came with team and wagon to take the family to Pleasant Grove. On the way Grandfather stopped and gave an Indian a ride and Annie and Lizzie were frightened!
It was late evening when they arrived in Pleasant Grove. The lamp was burning and Grandmother took Annie and Lizzie in the kitchen and gave them a lump of sugar.
While they were in Pleasant Grove, Annie wandered in to the field and Grandfather called her to come back. Her underskirt was full of cockle burs! Annie had to stand while Lizzie sat on a stool and picked the burs out of her skirt.
It was water melon time in Utah and Grandmother cut the melons length wise. Then we would eat the melon. Then Grandma would cut a hole in one end and we would pull them around for a wagon.
At the age of seven Annie was hired out to tend a little girl who was one year old while her mother milked cows. Her pay for tending was her clothing and board, with permission to go home on Sundays. She hated to go back. She stayed all summer.
That fall she worked for John Peterson, taking cows to pasture all day and then bringing them back. Then at night she tended the baby while Mrs. Peterson milked the cows. She did this to earn a book for her schooling. She needed a "First Reader." When Annie asked for the book, Mrs. Peterson got her a "Third Grade Reader." Annie needed a primmer and was very disappointed because she was unable to attend school that winter. The next summer, she went to school for three or four months. The families had to pay tuition for schooling. Annie’s teacher was Mrs. Kennington.
Through the winter months, Nina Marie used to card wool, spin wool in yarn and knit stockings and some of the yarn was made in to linsay for dresses. Mrs. Thousen wove the cloth in to various strips. Our under shirts and dresses were made of this cloth. Father spent the evenings weaving baskets from willows. Father was glad to tell us stories at night when we were quiet.
At the age of nine Annie left home to go to Bloomington, Idaho to live with her father’s mother. She lived there off and on until she was fourteen years old. She went to work for Mr. Rasmussen whose wife was an invalid. She was paid one dollar a week. She did all the cooking and washing and keeping house. While she was there she had her fifteenth birthday. She worked off and on for the next two years.
In the fall of 1890, I left Ovid, Idaho with my brother Christian Petersen by team and wagon. We had all our belongings with us. We traveled through Soda Springs around to Grays Lake. Here we loaded a mowing machine hay rake on to the wagon. It was late so we stayed there that night. I slept in the house and Chris slept in the yard that night. It snowed and was snowing when we left.
Upon leaving Gray’s Lake, we headed North until we came to a deep creek called Brockman Creek. There we got stuck. In the distance we could see a house, so we unhooked the horses and rode them toward the house. Upon arriving at the house, it was inhabited by a colored man named Dan Brockman. He gladly consented to help Chris to pull the wagon out of the creek. Mr. Brockman had killed two small animals which were hanging out side.
The men left and left me in the cabin where it was warm. It grew dark and I watched for the men to come. I was some what timid staying by my self. Also because it was a colored mans home. Finally they arrived and after the horses were taken care of, Mr. Brockman came in, washed, and set to work getting supper. He made biscuits from flour and baking powder stirring with a spoon and baking. They were delicious! He had two beds. My brother slept with Mr. Brockman. I was to occupy the other bed but I was afraid, so I slept on the kitchen floor without bedding.
The next morning, Mr. Brockman built the fire and told me to make the biscuits. After breakfast as we were making preparation to leave, it again started to snow. Mr. Brockman said he hoped it would snow so we would be obliged to stay all winter with him. But upon seeing our determination to continue on our journey, he heated a large stone for our feet in the wagon and wrapped my shoes with burlap so that my feet would keep warm, after saying good bye we continued on our way. We reached a hill where we spent most all day and that night with in a few rods of the top. I had walked up the hill driving the horses while my brother pushed. The wet snow would ball up in the horses feet and they would slip down. Finally we could not go any farther. That night I slept with my wet skirts on in a bed made in the teeth of the rake. My brother slept on the ground. Mr. Brockman gave us some hay so the horses had that hay for their supper. Next morning my brother took the wheels and rolled them up the hill. Again, we tried and finally reached the top. We loaded the wheels and started down. It was steep and we had no brakes on the wagon. Only one of the horses would hold back!
We reached Iona, Idaho at 10:00 that night at the home of Carl Olsen. That night I slept in the house which was a grainery and home. My bed was in the wheat bin. The boys slept in the oat bin. It was a small rock house. In the morning I went out to see the town and there was none. Only a scattering of houses here and there. I asked, "where is the town?"
To get to willow creek we traveled along the foot hills to the North fording Willow Creek and Sand Creek. Then down through the Pete Neilson place now Joe Swachze, down through the country past Pittmen and Huffaker to the corner where Archie Berrie now lives. North to the Stringham place which was the home stead of Christian Petersen. We lived in a dug out with three 8x10 window lights and the howl of a coyote that would make your hair stand up on end. The coyotes ate all the chickens we had.
There was nothing but sage brush for miles around with the dot of a small cabin here and there. George Simmons daughter had the measles and my brother took me down to help them. I stayed until June. When some family came from Bear Lake, I went back with them to Ovid. Returning July 1892.
Father went on a mission, March 7, 1895. The ground had been bare and some plowing had been done but in March it had snowed and blizzard something fierce. Father received from Jake Nolen $1.50, Elisa Bates $.50, Myrtle Bates $.05 and Oley Olsen $2.50. A return mission from Norway.