Posted on Ancestry.com 14 Oct 2016 by "mbones0415"
More than thirty-eight years have passed since Mother died. It is pleasant to recall and to think of recording the changes, the achievements - even the hardships and adversities of a life consecrated to the well-being of her companions and her posterity. Her first born, James Bruce, who came before her nineteenth year, would have done it much better. But her youngest daughter, Lula, has confirmed and added to my memory of the stories that have become a heritage of her family.
She had inherited qualities of patience, industry, integrity, and self-reliance from her sturdy Danish father and mother who, among the "pure in heart" accepted the message of the early missionaries to Denmark. Being thrifty, with a trace of Jewish blood in the Father, they were soon ready for migration to Utah, a family of seven - two boys and three daughters. Hans Peter remained to complete a mission.
They set sail from Denmark 24 November 1855 across the North Sea to England, then by rail to Liverpool. They sailed from Liverpool on the John J. Boyd 12 December under Canute Peterson. They had a very stormy passage, being driven back to the Irish Coast after about a third of the way across the Atlantic. After eleven weeks and five days they reached New York and were warmly greeted by Apostle John Taylor. President Peterson took his company by rail to points in Illinois and Missouri until ready for the journey across the plains. Jeppe Iverson and family waited at Alton, Illinois a short distance north of St. Louis where most of the Saints waited.
The Canute Peterson Company left St. Louis on the S. S. Arabia up the Missouri River on 2 June 1856 for Florence, Nebraska where they made preparations for the journey by ox team to Utah. William and Margaret Morrison and other Saints were with this company from St. Louis. They left Florence on 26 June, and reached Salt Lake City on 20 September.
Caroline Christine Iverson was born 15 December 1842 at Vestbirk, Skanderborg, Denmark. She was not yet 14 years old when they reached Utah. Jeppe Iverson went to live with a Danish settlement at Ephraim. William Morrison lived about two years in Salt Lake City. He was called and served for six weeks in March and April, 1858 in the Utah militia sent out to intercept the U.S. troops under General Albert Sidney Johnston. When released he found that his wife had been moved to Ephraim and followed them there.
In the interval since arriving at Salt Lake City, Jeppe had persuaded Christina to accept the proposal of a brother Gubler to become his plural wife. The event proved to be a definite indication of her mental integrity and her self reliance. Brigham Young, about to perform the ceremony, asked her if she wanted to marry this man. She very decisively replied "no" and President Young said to Brother Gubler, "Take this child to her parents." Later events proved that our name was to be Morrison. Christina had been employed in the family of William Morrison, and in "eight or ten months" she became, with consent of Margaret, his wife - sealed to him by Apostle Amasa M. Lyman in the presence of Warren Snow, George Peacock, and Caleb Edwards, 11 July 1859. This ceremony was probably performed in Ephraim because Father's Journal stated, "I take two wives with me from Ephraim."
Mother began her life work very young. Infant William G.C. Morrison was only a year old when she was employed in the family and Williamina was only four months old when mother was married.
William Morrison was called with others to settle at what later became Mt. Pleasant. Jeppe Iverson and family was moved to Mt. Pleasant. The next five years life followed an even tenor; she learned to love Margaret and all of her children have imbibed that sentiment. James Bruce was born 7 November 1860; and Amanda Puella 10 September 1865.
A letter dated 15 November 1864, from Apostle Orson Hyde to Bishop Seely, directed a call for William Morrison to lead 29 other brethren of Mt. Pleasant to settle on the Sevier River as soon as they could prepare for the move. On January 29, 1865 father drove up to the meeting house at Richfield, "while Sunday meeting was in session" and by request of Bishop Higgins bore his testimony. It seems that Christina and her two children must have been with him, because he records that he purchased a house which he could occupy in three weeks.
Under date of 2 September 1865 he writes, "Here at Mt. Pleasant all is well" and stated that he is in receipt of law books for Sevier County - Probate Judge. Arriving so early in the year at Richfield, no doubt Father and Mother planted a garden; but there is no other means of support mentioned except his appointment as Probate Judge. Father had taken another wife - August, 1861, Anna Maria Hansen, who had lived next door in Mt. Pleasant for more than a year. He mentions going to the grave of her second daughter, Hannah, while on this visit.
Mother's third child was born at Richfield, 25 November 1866, a son named Alexander. They were not to enjoy peace very long. The Indians under Chief Black Hawk were driving their livestock away and killing the settlers when too few opposed them. Three were killed while on their way to Glenwood to do some shopping. On 20 April 1867 Richfield was abandoned, all of the settlers in Sevier returned to their former homes in the larger settlements.
During this time Annie Christina was born at Mt. Pleasant, 4 May, 1869. She was named for grandmother Iverson. Evacuation due to Indian depredations lasted four years. Father with mother and four children were among the first to return. It was necessary for father to return to Mt. Pleasant so for a few weeks mothers and children and James M. Petersen, age 21 tending livestock were the only white inhabitants in the settlement. Baby Annie subsisted largely on milk the young man brought daily. Soon there were eight families and two single men in the village. (The following incident is referred to the time of the first settlement as Juanita has heard it from her father, My impression has always been that it was when Annie was the baby). The Indians were ugly. One young buck came to the home and demanded bread. Mother was on her knees scrubbing the floor. When she told him she had no bread he lashed her with his riding whip. She ignored him and he went away saying "heap braze squaw."
After the settlement was reestablished, mother's home became a civic center. Father made application for a post office and became the first postmaster as he had been in Mt. Pleasant. The office was in her home, and the room was always thereafter called the Office. Later, when the Deseret Telegraph Company extended their service to Richfield, the office was installed in the former post office room.
Hannah Jane Spencer came from Sauna as Telegraph Operator. She taught Amanda telegraphy and when Mrs. Spencer left Richfield Amanda became operator at age thirteen. Mother and Amanda purchased the first reed organ in the village. Choir rehearsals were held at our house. This was at the time of the United Order - 1874 (19 April) to 24 November 1877 - when Elder Orson Hyde recommended "prompt and decisive winding up the Order." The ward chorister requested possession of the organ, but Mother vetoed the request. This narrative already indicates that Christina had little inclination for public service. Pioneering, home making, child care, nursing, and the virtues essential to such activity made life worth living for her.
George Charles was born 8 September 1871, one day after Father's fifty-first anniversary. Walter William was born 3 February 1874, while Father was representing Sevier County in the Legislature. William was born 10 December 1876 and died in his second year of scarlet fever. Walter was in bed from a relapse of the same disease when Willie was buried. This was the first death in the family of the only child Mother did not live to see married and with children. Lafayette was born 10 October 1880 and marriages began the next year.
Amanda P. Morrison married John August Hellstrom in the St. George Temple, 28 September 1881. I remember the delicious grapes (pickled) they brought home with them. James B. followed his fiancee, who had moved to Tuba, Arizona. He remained for some time to work for John W. Young as coachman driving four horse team between St. John and Flagstaff. He married Caroline Amanda Foutz in the St. George Temple, 30 January 1882 on the way home.
Father was plagued with stomach trouble; but to evade the U.S. Officers harassing the L.D.S. elders who had plural wives he purchased a ranch in Millcreek canyon a tributary of Clearcreek. Mother pioneered with him the first summer (1883) really enjoying it when there was no Indian trouble. At the end of the harvest she returned, Amanda with a daughter Juanita born 12 July 1883 came to care for mother and Lula and I tended Juanita. I could never thereafter sit near a cradle without keeping it in motion.
Lula was the ninth child and the end of that function proved very hard for mama. She became so ill that all the family gathered about her in tears. Annie took me aside asked me to go by myself and pray for mama. Young as I was, about 10, I went where a clump of wild currant bushes grew and offered such a prayer as a child would, and returned to find the family still weeping. Unnoticed, the climax had passed. Days before mama and "Cad" had been amused at a soap figure of a man nursing his toe. Mother said, "Cad, look at that soap man." That set them all laughing. In a few days she was active both indoors and out, as she had always been.
Amanda's second child was born and died 3 July 1885, named Celeste. Zitelle was born 21 August 1886, John August Junior was born 27 January 1889, and Amanda died of puerperal fever. This year was a great trial for mother. Grandmother Iverson died 14 February, thirteen days after Amanda. She had lived for years with Aunt Elizabeth Salisbury and was almost a daily visitor with Christina. She walked four blocks morning and evening, but at this time was growing weaker. Five year old Lula would meet her and go party way home with her almost until her death. Father died 26 August 1889, at his ranch, and was buried 28 August at Richfield, the same day as little Johnny who had been cared for by cousin Hannah Salisbury.
John A. Helistrom was soon called to the Swedish Mission and Juanita and Zitelle lived as part of our family. Soon after he returned he married a convert who had preceded him to Utah. They lived in Richfield for some time and then moved with his family to Salt Lake City where he found employment at Z.C.M.I. He was an expert accountant and penman. Juanita returned later and grew up with Lula.
During the eighties, Martin Andersen, a cousin of Christina came as a convert to Utah from Minnesota. He lived as one of our family several years. Being a skilled mason, he built of stone two rooms replacing the "office" and one bedroom, with bedrooms in the half story overhead. His sister who lived in Arizona sent a teenage son for Martin to care for during the summer.
Another summer in the eighties mother had a respite from unusual cares. She paid a visit to her older sister living with her Daughter Ardena Leslie in Salt Lake City. Aunt Maria was working in the Temple. Another family living near by was caring for an orphan boy from British India heir to a small fortune. The child seemed to be neglected and Mother entertained him with stories of farm life. Bert learned when Mother would return home. After she was on the train and well on her way he came into the car where she was. She brought him home with her, and kept him until his guardians came and got a court order for his custody. Mother told her story to the Judge, Nephi J. Bates. Bert was remanded to the care of his relatives, who were admonished by the court as to his care.
Uncle Peter Iverson, eluding the Federal Officers who were making it very distressing for those who had plural wives, came to our house very sick with pneumonia. Mother made him as comfortable as possible. She prepared a bran poultice to cover him completely except his head. This home remedy proved very effective. In a few days he was able to go on his way.
Mother and Annie financed my course in the Normal School of the Deseret University now the Utah University, from November 1888 to June 1891. Bishop Joseph Pollard of the fifteenth ward and father were converts and close friends in England and in St. Louis. I boarded at the Pollard home.
Annie married John W. Orrock, 23 December 1892 in Manti Temple. She had been teaching beginners' grades in Richfield school. When Viva was just old enough to stray away one block down to Main St. (Annie was teaching again) and Mother was tending Viva, this happened a second time. Her mama said to her, "Didn't I tell you I'd spank you if you ran away again?" Viva replied "I didn't wun mama, I dis alk, I dis alk." She didn't get a spanking. A few years later while John was on a Mission Annie was teaching again and Mother was with her children either at their home or ours.
Annie lived only a few minutes after the birth of her fifth child, she never regained consciousness and died a few minutes after Annie's birth. They named the child after its mother. Christina now cared for the children of her second daughter during their tender ears. There were four, Viva, Cyril, Beatrice and Annie. Leal had died in infancy. Artificial feeding was not so common then but Annie fared well. Annie Poulson and Lar's Baker's mother wet nursed Annie with a supplemental bottle which she nursed until she was five years old, "I want my pretty bottle" she used to cry.
Mother had me build two houses on the old homestead; one a five room place for rent; the other one a small home for herself, with cellar for milk, butter, etc. and shelving for cured meats, fruit, and vegetables. She was well known for the excellence of these things; and a cellar was essential for her kind of living comfort. Later she sold the new homes to Alex and returned to the old one.
This is where Lula and her four children shared the home with her; Lula worked for the White Sewing Machine Company and mother cared for the children of her youngest child.
On the 27th of January 1916, after the children were all in bed, Mother and Lula went to a cottage meeting in the home of Samuel C. Clark on the corner west from her home. A blizzard came on which would have made it very disagreeable if they had to go far. Lula slept in the bedroom downstairs and mother upstairs. To make the picture realistic, I let granddaughter Roma tell the final story, quoting from a letter just received from her, 5 April, 1955.
"I remember the family story, and it is hard to sort out my own memories from that. I do know that grandmother came to the big room over the kitchen on her way to bed. She did arrange the covers over me, and I think Enid. I remember the way she took the top cover by one end and shook it over us so that it settled down to cover us. I also remember waking the next morning when the school bell rang. I think it was 8:30. I think I went into her room and realized something was wrong, and that I went downstairs for mother. I'm sure I had very little realization of what it meant, because it was my first experience with death."
No sweeter tribute could be told than this recital of mother's solicitation for her grandchildren before lying down for her final sleep. When Dr. Neill came to see her he said, "She never tasted death."
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