Tilbake |
Søkefunksjon |
Nettstedskart / innhold
Osten & Aase Sondreson from Bakkajord
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Av: C. Robert Sanders
From the Land
of the Midnight Sun
Osten & Aase Sondreson from Bakkajord
Compiled and Written by
C. Robert Sanders
A Great-great-grandson
From the Land
of the Midnight Sun
Osten and Aase Sondreson from Bakkajord
Compiled and Written by
C. Robert Sanders
A Great-great-grandson
First edition published in 1992
by Family History Publishers, Bountiful, Utah
Second edition in digital format by Troy Sanders and published in 2012 by Sanders & Sanders
CONTENTS
Norseman ........................................................................................................................................................................................... iii Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ iv
PART ONE: NORWAY
CHAPTER ONE: Norway in the Nineteenth Century ...................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER TWO: Bakkajord - Then and Now .................................................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER THREE: The Emigrants - Tinn to New York ..................................................................................................................11
PART TWO: AMERICA
CHAPTER FOUR: New York to Beaver Creek Settlement .............................................................................................................. 17 CHAPTER FIVE: Life and Death in Beaver Creek Settlement ........................................................................................................19
PART THREE: THE ORPHANS OF BEAVER CREEK
CHAPTER SIX: Kan (Caroline) Sanderson ..................................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER SEVEN: Margit (Margaret) Sanderson .......................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball ......................................................................................................................................27 CHAPTER NINE: Harriet Sanders .................................................................................................................................................. 33 CHAPTERTEN: Sondra Sanders Sr ................................................................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Aase Sanderson ..............................................................................................................................................47 CH.APTER TWELVE: Ole (George) Sanderson ............................................................................................................................. 48
PART FOUR: THE UTAH PIONEER FAMILIES
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Ellen Sanders Kimball and Descendants ................................................................................................. 50 CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Harriett Sanders Kimball and Descendants ........................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants .......................................................................................................... 55
Austin Sanders........................................................................................................................................................................ 55 Anna Matilda Sanders ............................................................................................................................................................ 55 Sondra Sanders Jr ................................................................................................................................................................... 56
George Sondra Sanders............................................................................................................................................... 66 Ellen Winifred Sanders ............................................................................................................................................... 73 Alice Irene Sanders...................................................................................................................................................... 79 Elden Eugene Sanders .................................................................................................................................................. 81 Orson Leroy Sanders ................................................................................................................................................... 85 Christian Harold Sanders............................................................................................................................................. 91 Raymond Sanders........................................................................................................................................................ 93
Raymond Earle Sanders ................................................................................................................................... 97 C. Robert Sanders ...........................................................................................................................................100 Dennis Nelson Sanders ...................................................................................................................................103
Walter Ronald Sanders...............................................................................................................................................105 Milton Wesley Sanders ...............................................................................................................................................106
Orson Sanders ....................................................................................................................................................................... 110 Heber Soren Sanders.............................................................................................................................................................115 Peter James Sanders ............................................................................................................................................................... 119 George Albert Sanders .......................................................................................................................................................... 127 Mary Ellen Sanders (Frame) ................................................................................................................................................. 138 Harriet Rosella Sanders (Berg) ..............................................................................................................................................142 John Sanders .........................................................................................................................................................................146 Hilda Josephine Sanders (Hambleton) ................................................................................................................................. 152
PART FIVE: THE BAKKA FAMILY OF NORWAY AND AMERICA
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Holge Sanderson and Families .................................................................................................................. 154 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Sondra Gjermundson of Bakkajord ....................................................................................................163
Postlog ...............................................................................................................................................................................................179
NORSEMAN
Norseman, Norseman,
From whence did thou come?
From over the waters,
From the land of the midnight sun.
Norseman, Norseman,
Whence shall thou go?
West to the barren plains,
To await winters snow.
Norseman, Norseman,
Thy maker shalt thou see.
An early spring grave,
And a legacy.
Norseman, Norseman
Thy name shall live on.
Through the span of years,
From father to son.
—C Robert Sanders
iii
Introduction
For a number of years I have been impressed
with the need to research the history of Osten and Aase Sondreson from Bakkajord in Tinn, Telemark, Norway. These are my great great grand parents. The feelings that have come to me have been far greater that just those associated with curiosity. They have permeated my soul and caused me to ponder and prayerfully consider what might be expected of me as a descendant of those ances tors. This effort of compiling their history, and the histories of their descendants, is what I feel is expected of me,
The Spirit of Elijah has truly been working upon this child, and the hearts of the fathers is now turned toward the children, and with this manu script it is hoped that the hearts of the children might be turned to the fathers (Mal. 4:6).
My interest began with a desire to begin some research in order to attempt to find the missing children of Osten and Aase who were left orphans in the Beaver Creek Settlement. Family traditions placed the Beaver Creek Settlement in the State of Indiana, My research has properly, I feel, placed the settlement not in Indiana, but rather in Iroquois County, Illinois. This site of the Beaver Creek Settlement lay just west of the Indiana border and perhaps the confusion was brought about by the unsettled boundaries of the frontier lands of the early nineteenth century.
There are only vague accounts of the Beaver Creek Settlement and the happenings during the winter of 1837-38 can only be described as unfortunate. Some historians have left bits and pieces of information and personal journals and various papers make up the balance of available accounts. I have corre sponded with a number of people familiar with Norwegian settlements in America, as well as many sources that I felt might have additional informa tion. Included in the history of Beaver Creek is the
recorded deaths of Osten and Aase, and at least one child. Perhaps one or two other children also died that first winter and spring.
As I have explored the background of this family I find it is demanding in time and other personal sacrifices. It is difficult to find the needed informa tion. Records of that time period are lacking in detail and are often missing entirely, if indeed they ever existed. Available histories and journals are lacking in specific details that would help make the effort less challenging. Each bit of information and each new discovery make the effort worthwhile. It also leaves me more determined to leave no stone unturned in this effort to compile a meaningful and complete history of this pioneer family.
I began this work with no thought of personal gain, save that which might come from a realization that I have followed those promptings, and perhaps sub mitted to those influences and directions, which I fully and sincerely believe our ancestors and loved ones can direct toward us. I seek only that satisfac tion that comes from knowing that my effort is acceptable to them, and will be used for the enlight enment and direction of those who come. My intent is that this generation of descendants, and future generations, will not forget the sacrifices of those ancestors that enable us to enjoy the blessings of today and tomorrow.
Perhaps the full story of each member of this family cannot be found and compiled to any great extent. Much of the descriptions are gained from what little written history is left to us and the rest is left to our imagination, However, much is known and should be compiled and written as a monument to those that have lived that history. The work that I do in this regard will not be complete. It will be left to future generations to seek out the remaining bits and pieces, and to add to and subtract from this work that is now begun. What cannot be accom
iv
plished in my efforts will be left to future genera tions to expand and complete. Some may be of fended because of what has been included, or excluded, in this book. I can only say that I have tried to obtain all available information and yet preserve a history of my direct line of ancestry.
This manuscript is begun with the hope and intent of presenting a compiled history of those who have lived before, for those that now live, and for those who shall yet live. No greater honor could I give my ancestors, and my posterity, than to compile a record of their lives and legacies. It was intended that this work could be completed on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Osten and Aase on the shores of America This would have been a fitting tribute to them. But in 1987 the work was not ready and time constraints made it impossible to complete this effort. As I have continued with this effort I have concluded that their lives, their accomplish ments, and the lives and accomplishments of their posterity combine to make a monument to their memory. To our pioneer ancestors this work is dedicated, without them we could not be, With them we will live into eternity. It is my sincere belief and testimony that our family ties are eternal and bind us together to span the years from then until now, and beyond to tomorrow.
C Robert Sanders
Ogden, Utah
January 1993
C Robert Sanders, Author
v
PART ONE: NORWAY
CHAPTER ONE:
Norway in the Nineteenth Century Norway is in every sense of the word — a
beautiful land! Its forests, lakes, streams, and
mountains abound in raw beauty. It is a cold climate
and the northern third of the land lies within the
Arctic Circle. Many of its high mountaintops are
snow covered year round. The distance from the
northeast tip to the southwest shores is about eleven
hundred miles, while it is two hundred eighty miles
from the Swedish border to the North Seas on the
western shores. The length of the Norwegian coast
line is sixteen hundred and fifty miles, unless taken
into consideration the many fjords and inlets, which
lengthens the distance to over twelve thousand
miles. Norway is only four percent as large as the
United States, and only three percent of its lands are suitable for farming, and another twenty to thirty percent used for pasture. Nowhere in the world can mountains, valleys, plateaus, and lowlands be sur passed in beauty and natural wonder. As the land is today so was it in the times of Aase and Osten Sondreson from Bakkajord in Tinn, Telemark.
The Vikings were some of the first to settle the northland and were there for over a thousand years before Osten and Aase. They were from the first a seafaring people who relied upon the sea, as well as the land, for their livelihood. Norway was estab lished as a kingdom at the end of the ninth century. It was converted as a kingdom to Christianity by King Olaf Haroldsson in the year 1030 A.D.
About the time of the Great Reformation, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark all adopted the Evangelical Lutheran Church as its national state-supported religion. Next to the nobility, the clergy of the state church commanded the greatest influence and respect. After the clergy came the “Bonder”, or landowners, who wielded great influence and some even sat in the national assembly (the Storting). After the “Bonder” came the “Husmaend”, or cotters. They were the class that worked the land for the “Bonders.” They received for their labors a small
acreage for personal use in growing food for their families. In the social order were the renters, or laborers, and servants were next. Among the lower classes there could be but little hope to improve upon their lot. The clergy, acting in their capacity as the state regulated church, resisted any changes and forbid any dissent among the people. They were able to wield a great influence and power over the popu lation.
The history of Norway and its political operation is interconnected with the other Scandinavian coun tries of Denmark and Sweden. This close relation
ship that lasted for many hundreds of years came to a close in 1905 when Norway be came an indepen dent nation. From 1814 until 1905 Norway and Sweden shared a common king, and yet the Norwe gians functioned in government with their own assembly which made its own laws. This form of government gave exceedingly great powers to the ruling classes. It brought many hardships and tribula tions upon the people.
In the national assembly the people were repre sented by the wealthy and powerful. Often the landowners, depending upon the amount of land they possessed, were given places in the assembly and government. Ownership of land was a great asset in
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CHAPTER ONE: Norway in the Nineteenth Century
nineteenth century Norway. Farms were kept in families for many hundreds of years and handed down from father to son in an established pattern that was held very sacred by the landowners. Those who did not own land could not look forward to bettering their social or financial position in the land. Little hope could be mustered by the lower classes. Often, because of taxation, ownership of land could position a family just a little above the poverty level and therefore become a burden.
“Poor-Taxes” and land taxes were often so suppressive that many families were forced to sell off portions of their lands to pay their debts to the government It seemed, as in many dispensations of time, that the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. In many instances the ownership of land caused a great deal of poverty for the owners, and yet they clung to the land in desperation. This desire to own and work land in the early 1800’s was one of the greatest motivations behind the Norwegian-American migration movement that would follow in the next seventy-five to a hundred years in Norway. When families would be forced to sell off portions of their lands to pay the taxes, the lands would then be
resold to new owners who would then face the same problems of earning a living from a small farm. With their land holdings diminishing the landowners found it more and more difficult to make the small farms productive to the extent they needed to maintain themselves and still prosper. The early 1800’s brought a succession of crop failures that brought with it great despair for the farmers and peasants. This added to the already existing motiva tions to emigrate to a new land that offered such great promise.
For the first time in many centuries the Norwegian people were not at war, The young men stayed at home and established families and tilled the land. The population soon began to increase and the food supplies were diminishing. There was a growing discontent with the state dominated church and the suppressive policies of the clergy. The taxes were high and to pay their obligations to the government meant selling the precious land. All of these factors brought about the greatest outward migration of people that Europe had seen in many centuries. In the 1800’s over 750,000 Norwegian people left their homeland and headed for the frontier lands of America.
Typical Norwegian farm
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CHAPTER ONE: Norway in the Nineteenth Century
Early in the 1820’s men traveled around Europe and returned to Norway with stories of America, They spread the word regarding the “American dream,” Their stories, often exaggerated, told of both priva tions and great opportunities for wealth, The hard ships were told in detail, but were soon forgotten with the arrival of some emigrants who returned from America and had prospered in the process. There was great excitement and interest in the new land and when word arrived that untold acreage could be purchased for $1.25 an acre that was enough to change the minds of any who were doubting.
Emigration to America started in earnest in 1825 with the “Sloopers.” These people were what could be referred to as the pioneer Norwegian emigrants to the new land of America, This group left Stavanger in 1825 on a ship that they had purchased for $1,300.00 and refitted to carry them to the new land. Kleng Peerson, who later settled in LaSalle County, Illinois, was their agent and scout. He had gone to America to prepare for their journey and returned to lead them there. Among the members of the “Sloopers” were a few Quakers and many dissenters from the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Some were followers and admirers of Hans Nielsen Hauge, who was imprisoned by the clergy for his leadership in the dissent movement which had asked for religious freedoms. The ship which they pur chased and refitted was named “The Reformation” and this carried the passengers who numbered about fifty, and the crew of seven. This was the first large contingent of emigrants to America from Norway. They arrived in New York harbor in October of 1825 and with the help of some Quaker friends they settled in the area of northwestern New York, which was later to be called the Kendall Settlement. Many of these first emigrants later moved westward to the Fox River Settlements of LaSalle County, Illinois.
With the voyage of the “Sloopers” of 1825, and those few who preceded them, there came a deluge of letters and stories back to the native land. A series of letters were published in Norway in the local newspapers and this caused a great deal of excite ment among the people. Many personal letters came
to the families of the emigrants and they were passed around from parish to parish and were read to many interested assemblies.
From 1825 to 1835 there were relatively few who left for America, and those who did just helped to generate interest in the movement. In 1835 there again began to be a revival of this interest to emi grate. It became such an issue, and the numbers rapidly increased, that the government and religious leaden were alarmed. Ministers spoke from the pulpits against this great sin of leaving the native land for America. The Bishop of Bergen wrote a strongly worded letter that was published all over the land. It admonished the people to “remain in thy county and support thyself honestly.” From 1835 to 1840 saw an increase in the numbers leaving. Offi cials were worried that the country would lose its population. By 1843 there were over a thousand a year that left Norway. and this was no small number for a nation of just under one million citizens, By 1860 over 70,000 Norwegians had arrived in America.
The Norwegian emigrant was an honest and re spected person in America. The Norwegian emigrant was characterized as tall and lean. A hard working and yet intelligent person. Deep thinking and once resolved to a course of action seldom deviated from that course. Their dress and living conditions were
Hannah Parr, an early Norwegian emigrant ship
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CHAPTER ONE: Norway in the Nineteenth Century
described as meager and yet maintained in cleanli ness and order. The Norwegian emigrant was a quiet and logical thinking person. They had large families which was a traditional Norse trait. The large fami lies came to be an asset when the many farming chores were considered. They were defined as loyal to the Lutheran Church, yet sought religious free doms to worship as they desired without the suppres sion of the clergy.
There were many emigrant ships that left for America during the period from 1835 to 1837. In 1835 the “Norden” and “Den Norske Klippe” left with large companies of emigrants. In 1837 the “Noord”. the “Aegir”, and the “Enigheden” all carried a large manifest of passengers to America, Included in these later groups were names that later were to be íncluded in the history of Osten and Aase Sondresson from Bakkajord. These
names were: N.P. Langeland, Ole Rynning, Mons Aadland. Nels Froland, Anders Norvig, Anders Rosseland, Thomas Bauge, Thorbjorn Veste, Eric Gauteson Midboen Haugen, and others. These were those that later settled with the Sondresson Family in Beaver Creek, Illinois.
In the above group of emigrants that arrived in 1837, there was a young man named Ole Rynning who settled in Beaver Creek. While there he suffered frost bitten feet as he was exploring the area around the settlement. Ole Rynning took the time while he was recovering from his injuries to write a book entitled, “A True Account of America.” This book was hand carried back to Norway by Austín
Nattestad, one of the original settlers of Beaver Creek. It was published and was widely read. That book is attributed to having created a greater interest in coming to America than any other influence. It was considered a guidebook for emigration to America. After he wrote that book he died in Beaver Creek in 1838, just a few months after Osten and Aase had died in the same settlement.
In summary, there were many factors that caused the movement toward emigration to America. Chief among those factors was the desire to improve the economic and social conditions of the Norwegian peasants. The desire to own and work land was a great incentive for the people of Norway to come to America. Even those who owned land found that there were suppressive taxes and policies placed upon them, and they saw a greater opportunity for themselves, and their families, in America. They sought not for an easy life, but for a better life. Few of us today can visualize the sleepless nights and the weighty decisions that those people had to make in order to leave their native land, and loved ones, for a new land and an unknown future. Osten and Aase Sondreson of Bakkajord did not obtain those greater blessings they sought after. The trials, the hardships, and the privations they encountered are little known to us today except in the imagination of our minds. They sought that better life and instead found an early grave in the frontier lands of Illinois. That which they sought was not for them obtainable, but rather for us to receive in their behalf. To use wisely that which they have provided for us is to us not just a commendable goal, but a binding obligation.
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CHAPTER TWO
Bakkajord –Then and Now
Nestled in the mountains of northern
Telemark Province lies the Valley of Gauset.A few miles to the southwest is the village of Atraa, and even further down the road is the City of Rjukan. On the eastern slopes of the Valley of Gauset is a small farm called Bakkajord. Bakkajord lies in the Lutheran Church Parish of Tinn. For centuries it has been in the geographical boundaries of that section of land over which the priest of Tinn Parish, of the State Evangelical Lutheran Church, presides.
The Valley of Gauset is a long and rather narrow valley. It is about three or four miles wide at the most and Bakkajord is situated on the eastern slope of the valley. It is about midway between the floor of the valley and the high mountain tops. There are fourteen waterfalls dotting the mountain ridges surrounding this valley and many of the falls can be seen from Bakkajord.
Bakkajord - About 1870 - Family Homestead
It was on this farm that Osten Sondreson was born on November 8, 1789. He was the fifth child born to Sondre Gjermundsson and Margit Oysteinson, He was the second child of the family to bear the name Osten. His older brother was born on June 15, 1783 and was christened in the parish church and given the name Osten. This older brother died in July of 1785 just a little over two years of age. It was
then the custom to name another child after the older child that died. It is assumed that Osten was given this name in remembrance of the older child of the family who lived so few years on this earth.
Sondre and Margit had ten children which was a typical family for that era. Only one of the ten children died without reaching maturity. Their children were:
Margit born February 18, 1781
Osten born June 15, 1783
Karen born October 9, 1785
Gjermund born April 15, 1787
Osten born November 8, 1789
Aase born September 1791
Margit born December 25, 1793
Holge born March 16, 1796
Kittol born July 26, 1800
Birgit bon October 11, 1801
Sondre and Margit were married in the parish church on May 31, 1780, Margit Oysteinson was born and raised on Svalestuen farm which was not far from Bakkajord. It also was in the Tinn Parish. Both Sondre and wife died on Bakkajord, with Sondre’s death recorded on May 10, 1811, and Margit on April 27, 1830.
Bakkajord is the name of the farm and according to Norwegian custom the family used the name of the farm as a surname. Hence, Osten Sondreson was also known as Osten Sondreson Bakka. On some documents he is listed just as Osten Bakka. On the manifest of the Brig “Noord”, arriving in New York Harbor in August of 1837 it lists the family of Osten Bakka, rather than Osten Sondreson. Later in America members of the family dropped the Bakka name and were known as Sonderson or Sanders, Bakkajord derives its name from the Norwegian word “bakka” meaning hillside, or slope. Jord means farm and putting them together the literal
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CHAPTER TWO: Bakkajord - Then and Now
translation would be farm on the hillside, or slope.”
Much of the history of Bakkajord must of necessity remain somewhat speculative in nature. What history is known remains with the family in Norway and the descendants in America generally have little knowledge of the history of the farm or area. Suffice it to be known that Bakkajord is where our family originated and members of the family are both living on the farm in Norway, as well as here in America.
In 1957 this author was serving as a missionary in Norway for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had the assignment of laboring in the City of Notodden which is not far from the family farm in Tinn Parish. I had the opportunity to visit the family farm and met Olav and Ranveig Bakka, the descendants of Gjermund Sondreson, who today live on the farm. Gjermund Sondreson purchased the farm in 1837 when Osten and Aase left for America. On the occasion of my visit to Bakkajord I compiled the following from memory and from my missionary journal:
Bakkajord – July 1957 – Family Homestead
“On July 26, 1957 my companion, Elder Ralph Johnson and I left our assigned city of labor and traveled to upper Telemark for the purpose of visiting my relatives and visiting the family farm which my great, great grandfather sold when he came to America in 1837.
My companion and I boarded a train at Notodden and rode for about an hour before we came to
Tinnoset. This was a ferryboat landing on the southern end of Tinsjo (sea of Tinn) which was an inland sea. At Tinnoset our train was driven on the ferryboat and we sailed the length of the water to the northern end. It took almost an hour for our ferry to traverse the length of the water. This to me was a tremendous experience as we were able to see sights of beauty unequal to any that I had seen before. The raw beauty far exceeded my expectations. The high mountains were visible on both sides of the water, and the land sloped from the mountaintops down to the waters edge. The land was velvet green in appear ance and an occasional farmhouse dotted the hill sides. Sheep and cattle were grazing along the hills and valleys along the waters edge. As I sailed along this route to the family farm I felt very close to my long since departed ancestors. I was impressed that these were the very sights, little changed, which were enjoyed by my family many years ago. In all probabil ity these very sights were the last seen of this area by Osten and Aase, and their children, as they left Tinn on the first leg of their journey to America.
We arrived later in the afternoon at the City of Rjukan where we obtained a hotel room for the night. That evening I telephoned the family farm and contacted my distant relatives, Olav and Ranveig Bakka.
Olav and Ranveig live on Bakkajord today. Olav is a direct descendant of the family of Sondre Gjermundsson Bakka. His (Olav’s) great, great grandfather was Gjermund Sondreson Bakka, a brother to Osten. It was Olav’s ancestor that pur chased the farm from Osten when he left for America in 1837. The farm passed from father to son since that time.
The day after our arrival in Rjukan, having made arrangements with Olav, we took a bus out to the farm. It took nearly an hour and a half on the bus to reach the farm. It was an indirect route with fre quent stops. It rained lightly on the way and the narrow valley road was rough and often slippery. The bus driver knew the farm and was obliging in that he stopped the bus at the right spot and directed us up
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CHAPTER TWO: Bakkajord - Then and Now
the pathway to the farm. We got off the bus and began the walk up the path. It was about two hun dred yards up the slope and the rain stopped as we began the climb. As we neared the farm we noted a brilliant rainbow arching over the valley and drop ping behind the family farmhouse. To me this virtually represented a treasure found at the end of the rainbow.
Olav Bakka was out in the field cutting hay and draping it on a wire fence to dry. As we approached he came to greet us. He introduced us to his wife and 16 month old daughter, Anne. All that day and into the evening we were treated to stories and tours around the area. Much of what was said has been unfortunately forgotten, but some has been retained from my memory and notes.
Bakkajord has been in the family since prior to the year 1700. At the time of my visit it was about 257 years old, The farmhouse was built about 150 years
before, but has been remodeled a number of times. I have a picture of this farmhouse which was taken about 1870 and shows the door in a different place than today. It then was on the south side and now it is on the east. There has been added a second story since 1870. Olav told us that be laid new planks on the floors where years of wear had worn out the existing floors.
A hundred feet away from the main house is a large barn which housed hay for the winter. The animals (two cows, some chickens, and a 1937 Ford truck) were placed in this barn when weather warranted their being housed.
Aerial View of Bakkajord About 1970.
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CHAPTER TWO: Bakkajord - Then and Now
Behind the house on the west is a smaller storage house called a “lofte”. Those types of houses, built in earlier times, were small buildings that were com mon in 18th century Telemark. This small house was the place where many family treasures were kept by Olav and Ranveig. The building appeared to be built upon stilts and rested some several feet above the ground. It was built in the year 1792 and Olav pointed out the “1792” carved on one of the heavy base logs to the right of the small doorway. This date was carved on the log upon the completion of the building. The building was constructed by Sondre Gjermundson Bakka, my great, great, great grandfa ther. It was built when Osten was a very small child. Throughout the building were many fine and intricate woodcarvings done by the builder. There are carvings on the walls, woodwork and furnishings.
Woodcarvings of this nature were very typical in Telemark of olden days. On the outside of the building there is a small doorway and a window high above it. In the window is an intricate design carved in wood and mounted on a white background. We learned that this was not a design, but rather the name of Sondre Gjermundson Bakka carved in old Norwegian alphabet letters.
Olav told us that there was a story told in the family about that carving. This story had been in the family for many years and handed down from generation to
generation. The tale is told that Sondre carved this while he sat on the steps waiting for his “grot” to cool. Grot is the oatmeal-type mush served for breakfast in Norway. The truth of this story could not be verified, but Olav confessed that he liked to believe that our ancestor could put out that fine a wood carving in the short time that it took to cool his mush. In any event the wood carvings in that building attested to the talent and craft of our ancestor.
The interior of this building proved to be one of the most interesting “mini museums” I have ever seen. Stored therein were the artifacts of this family that could only have importance to members of our family. There were items dating back hundreds of
years to the times when the family was established on this farm. I recall seeing carved wooden bowls, silverware, and woven national costumes represent ing the Province of Telemark in design. One large wooden bowl we were told was used at weddings and they served the “ol” (beer) to the wedding guests from it.
I longed to bring hack to America many of the things that I saw there that day. I thought that there were things that would be of great value and interest to family members at home. But they were highly cherished by our host and he was the caretaker. I remember seeing one fine wooden bowl dating back a couple of hundred years. It was used to feed the family cat! Oh, how I gladly would have purchased a silver chalice to exchange for that wooden bowl, had my host been willing!
In the upper loft of the building there was built in the wall a bed with carvings on the head, side, and footboard. It was long ago used for guests that came to visit. In one corner sat a spinning wheel that was over a hundred years old. Ranveig Bakka showed us a braided lock of hair from a member of the family
who had died many years ago at the age of nine. This child was named Anne. There was an old saddle built in the shape of a small chair and they said it was built about 1832, They brought out into our view many long carving type knives they said had been used long ago for cutting meats.
As we wondered about the farm and its buildings we noted a small brooklet that ran by the house and came from high up on the mountainside. Olav told us that he derives most of his income from selling timber on the land. He raises hay and feed for the animals and vegetables for the family. He clips off the cow tails and sells the hair for brushes and doll hair. Olav and his wife put us in another small guest house for the night. It was a house that was used for many years by Margit Bakka who also was a descen dant of our common ancestors. It was a small, warm, and comfortable house with two beds in the room. It had a deep sod roof with grass growing knee deep
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CHAPTER TWO: Bakkajord - Then and Now
on the top. They put the sheep on the roof a couple of times each year to cut the grass.
The main farmhouse was very neat and clean. It was well kept. It had a long cupboard running the length of the main room. On this cupboard are many artifacts from years gone by. It held painted dishes, utensils, and a clock that dated back to 1832. We used a silver sugar spoon at dinner that was about 150 years old.
We talked to Olav and Ranveig until bedtime and learned to appreciate these friendly and simple folk. We went to bed and offered prayers in their behalf. In the morning we arose and ate a large breakfast with the family. Before we left I took a walk around the farm, I talked at great length with Olav and
presented him with a fine pair of binoculars I had obtained in the far east while in the military service. He was very appreciative and prized them highly. He in return gave nice a gift that I will long cherish. He presented me with a document written and signed in the hand of my great, great grandfather, Osten Sondresson of Bakkajord. It was a legal document wherein he borrowed some money to make improve ments to the farm. It clearly showed his signature and it represents the origin of the name which I bear.
I was invited to return again prior to my leaving Norway for America and we then parted with the warmest feelings and wishes for each others contin ued blessing and prosperity.
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CHAPTER THREE
The Emigrants - Tinn to New York
On March 29, 1815 Osten Sondreson of
Bakkajord took Aase Olsson as his wife. Shewas born on Romeraasen farm in Atraa, Telemark in 1795. Her father was O1e Oysteinson and her mother was Karen Knutson, The marriage of Osten and Aase was solemnized that early spring day of 1815 by the priest of the Parish of Tinn in the usual Lutheran ceremony.
By the year 1835 this young couple had been blessed with the birth of nine children into their family. Sorrow too had visited their doorstep with the death of two of the children.
The children of Osten and Aase were:
1. Margit Sondreson Bakka,
born January 18, 1816.
2. Karl Sondreson Bakka, born September 2, 1817 and later known in America as Caroline Sanderson.
3. Sondre Sondreson Bakka,
born September 2, 1817.
4. Margit Sondreson Bakka,
born November 27, 1820.
5. Aagot Sondreson Bakka,
born April 11, 1823 and later known in America as Ellen Sanders Kimball.
6. Helga Sondreson Bakka,
born December 7, 1824 and later known in America as Harriett Sanders Kimball.
7. Sondre Sondreson Bakka,
born February 6, 1829 and later known in America a Sondre Sanders Sr.
8. Aase Sondreson Bakka,
born October 18, 1831.
9. Ole Sondresson Bakka,
born February 28, 1835 and later known in America as George Sondresson or Sanders.
The oldest child, Margit, died on May 14, 1816 at the age of 3 and one half months. One of the twins, Sondre died on April 24, 1821 at the age of three years. The loss of these children undoubtedly brought great sorrow to the parents and the other children. The parents later named two of their children after the ones that died. This practice was common in Norway in that era. Osten himself was named after an older brother that died young.
In 1835 Osten, who had earlier acquired ownership of Bakkajord, took out a mortgage on the farm. He borrowed 200 spesidaler (about $150.00 American
money of that era) from his brother Gjermund Sondreson Bakka. In this legal document, in posses sion of this author, written in his own handwriting, he acknowledges a prior mortgage in which he borrowed 100 spesidaler from his uncle, Holge Gjermundson Bakka. This new loan of 200 spesidaler in November of 1835 was reportedly taken out to make improvements upon the farm and home. It was borrowed just ten months after the birth of the youngest Bakka child and perhaps was for the purpose of enlarging the house to accommo date the large family.
In 1836 there were many in Tinn who were making plans to leave for America the next year. There seemed to be a great enthusiasm for the emigration movement in that area and the talk excited the people. The family of Osten and Aase undoubtedly began their emigration plans in that year as they had to be ready to leave by the coming Spring. Their greatest decision, of course, was that momentous decision to leave. All other plans and decisions were
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CHAPTER THREE: The Emigrants - Tinn to New York
secondary to that great decision to leave this home land and loved ones and to venture to a new land. It would be of great interest to us today to have the details of how and when these decisions were made. It would be interesting for us to know the obstacles they had to overcome, and how they became united in this decision. If in fact, they were united!
If the many journals and histories written about similar families in that same position there seems to be common reasons cited as to why they left. Basi cally they left to give their children greater opportu nities than they would have had if they had re mained.
In 1836 the final preparations and plans were made. Bakkajord had to be sold. Osten’s brother, Gjermund, purchased the farm for himself and family. Their posterity today own the land and the remaining artifacts of bygone days.
The price of the sale of the farm was reported at $2,400.00. It is not known if that amount was reported in American money or Norwegian spesidalers. If it was in Norwegian spesidaler the amount would have been about $1,800.00 in Ameri can dollars of that time period. If it was reported Correctly, and if in American money, they would have had a fairly substantial amount to establish themselves in America. Even the lower amount would have given them more than most families of that time had to take with them.
In the early spring of 1837 Osten, Aase, and the seven children made final preparations to leave. They must have disposed of all the property they could not take with them. Early in May of that year they made their farewells to loved ones, friends, and acquaintances in their valley, and in the sur rounding area of Atraa, One can only imagine the many tears that were shed, and the deep feelings that were expressed to loved ones who were never to be seen again in this life, One can only imagine the last minute doubts that crept into their minds to cause them to consider cancellation of their plans. In late April, or early May, they took leave from Tinn and
proceeded on the long journey to a new land. They traveled through the forests and mountains of Telemark to Skien, and then on the Drammen. From here it is unknown if they went to the capitol city of Christiania (Oslo), or took a ship to Gottenburg, Sweden. They carried with them the few possessions that distance and travel would allow. They would have been restricted to only those items that were of absolute necessity, as well as a few cherished possessions.
The Bakka family would have arrived in Gottenburg, Sweden early in May and would have begun to make the arrangements for passage on a ship to America. They would have had to purchase food items and gear for the voyage. The provisions would have had to last for at least three months. Once out fitted for the long voyage they were ready. They secured passage on a Swedish Brig with the name of “Noord”, and which was commanded by H.P. Brunk, who was master. This was a ship that was designed to carry iron ore to New York. It is unknown if it had ore on board or had been outfitted to carry only the emigrants and their families. A Brig is a ship with two large masts with large sails on each mast Its primary purpose was to carry ore, and passenger accommodations were in all probability makeshift and lacking many comforts.
There were 62 passengers that signed aboard the “Noord” that May of 1837. Two were fortunate enough to obtain cabin passage, while the other sixty were steerage passengers. Steerage passengers were the lowers fares and obviously they shared the least desirable accommodations on the ship. These less than desirable accommodations were to present great challenges to this young family with their seven children, and baggage, huddled in some corner of the bold. For others it would bring even greater challenge with the deaths of two children on the voyage.
According to many accounts of that era the fare for each adult was about $60.00 American money, and the fare for children was half that amount. For the Bakka family it is estimated that it cost between
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CHAPTER THREE: The Emigrants - Tinn to New York
three and four hundred dollars for their passage to America. The voyage began sometime in the middle of May 1837 and they arrived in New York Harbor on August 15, 18374 after thirteen difficult weeks on a rough and unfriendly ocean. There were many who suffered total discomfort the whole voyage, and two lives were lost among the children of the passen gers.
Traveling with our Bakka family were many from their neighborhood in Tinn. Included in this group was Eric Gauteson Midtboen Haugen, who was a brother-in-law to Osten. Eric had married Karen Sondreson Bakka, a sister to Osten, on June 6, 1826. She died in childbirth, attempting to bring twins into this world, on April 27, 1828. Eric later married again to Helga Knutsson and had a large family by this marriage. Eric and Helga brought five children with them on this voyage to America. On the voyage they lost one child, Helga, who became ill and died. There was another child which was listed on the ships manifest that died on this voyage. That child, Knut Gauteson, was probably a child belonging to another family. There was a family, Gunder Gautesson, on board with his wife and children. This other child that died could have been theirs. The two Gautesson families were probably related as they came from the same area in Tinn. These two children were buried at sea.
I have felt it of some interest to include in this work an excerpt from the life sketch of Eric Gauteson Midtboen Haugen. They were relatives to our family. They came with them to America and were benefac tors of the family as will be discussed later in this work. The following is an excerpt from a life sketch prepared by members of the Hogan (Haugen) family of Bountiful, Utah. It was provided by them with permission to use it in this history. Appreciation is extended for this courtesy.
Life Sketch of Eric Goudy Midtboen Hogan (Norwegian spelling: Eric Gautesson Midtboen Haugen)
Eric G. M. Hogan, was born on the farm Ramberg, in the parish of Uvdal, clerical district (prestgjeld) of Trollag, county of Buskerud, Norway, June 23, 1802, son of Gaute Erickson of Aaker farm and Margith Knudsen. He was christened in the Holy Parish Church.
When be came to America he adopted the American spelling of “Hogan” for his name instead of “Haugen”, which was the name of the farm where he lived in Norway. Midtboen was a previous farm name which he retained, it was a Norwegian custom to add to the name ‘of a person the name of the farm or place where he lived.
He first married Karen Sondreson Bakka in 1827. She died after giving birth to two stillborn children, and in 1829 he married Helga Knudsen of Norstebo farm, Little else is known of his earlier life.
In 1836 he and Helga were living comfortable with their five children on their Haugen farm. One day while standing on the street of a nearby village, Grandfather Eric overheard some men talking about the wonderful opportunities in America. They spoke of the privilege of having as much land as one could care for and of the religious freedom in that great new country. He was greatly impressed with these tales and made up his mind that he would go to America as soon as he could dispose of his property and make ready.
He was eager to tell his wife and thought that she would approve of the change, but to the contrary she was not at all pleased with the thought and did not take him seriously. When she found he really meant to go she was very sad indeed. Her people were opposed to the move and thought, as she did, that it was a very foolish venture. It was not for the Gospel that he was pulling up and leaving his native land. He had not heard of the Gospel yet, but the urge to go to this new land was overwhelming.
Could one criticize his wife and her people for assuming that he had lost his reason? He was pros
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CHAPTER THREE: The Emigrants - Tinn to New York
pering well in Norway. His good wife cried and pleaded with him to abandon this wild scheme. Her family continually pressed her with the fear of dangers that beset people in such an undertaking, especially in the small sailing vessels then available. Some of their family, if not all, might lose their lives. Furthermore, if they succeeded in crossing the ocean they would be unfamiliar with the strange language. However, all arguments to dissuade Grandfather Eric were futile. His reply was: “If it does me no good at all, it will be better for my children.” Still Grand mother Helga held to her unchanged opinions of such a momentous and dangerous trip.
At last Eric said, “Well I am going; we will separate; I will take two of the children, you may take two and we will cast lots for the fifth one.” This was too much for Grandmother Helge and her reply was, “Where you go, I will go too,”
He sold his farm to his brother Knute for $500.00 and they bade farewell to their loved ones and their native land in 1837. They traveled thirteen weeks on the ocean and their hardships began with the burial at sea of their little four year old daughter Helge, their third child.
Another sad experience happened to the family, Upon arriving in America and while crossing some water in a small boat the boat was upset. They had kept all their money, in gold coin, in a small box wrapped in their bedding. The bedding became unwrapped; the lid of the box unfastened and part of the gold dropped into the water, ten to twelve feet deep. By motions and signs, they finally succeeded in making the crew understand what happened. Some of the money was recovered, but about $200.00 was lost. Grandfather Eric always main tained that the crew did not try very hard to recover the coin, but went back later and did a more thor ough job for their own gain.”
The long thirteen week voyage was a great challenge for Osten, Aase, and their children, With seven children it was difficult to keep them under control
and occupied. Chores took up a lot of the time during the waking hours, The ship had to be kept clean for their own protection. Preparation of meals was undoubtedly a task that they had not been expecting, and was a far cry from their kitchen on Bakkajord.
Many friendships were made on that voyage. Friend ships that lasted the whole lifetime of the passen gers. Many were friends and acquaintances from Tînn and many were just formulating close friend ships due to their situation and the necessities of the times. In any event they were to assist one another for many years to come. It is reported that Osten was a generous man and shared his means with many of his fellow emigrants as long as he was able. In this ships company was Canute Pedersen who later became a very close friend of Sondre Sanders Sr., my great grandfather. Canute and Sondre were together baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints in 1842. 1f the information were available it would probably show many other close and bind ing friendships that began on the Brig “Noord” in May, June, and August of 1837.
On August 15, 1837 the Brig “Noord” sighted land and entered the harbor of New York. No wonderful sights of giant skyscrapers greeted their eyes, al though there were probably sights that gave them wonderment. No Statue of Liberty stood as a symbol of justice and opportunity for them. Only our imagination can give us a picture of what they saw and felt as they arrived on the shores of America. The young emigrant family felt both excitement over their arrival, and fear of the unknown, Little could they visualize the blessings that their arrival would bring upon their posterity. Little did they under stand the opportunities that would be denied them, but offered to us because of their courage and foresight.
We, the descendants of the Bakka family of Tînn, Telemark, Norway owe to our ancestors far more than can be described in feeble words and expres sions. Their arrival in America on August 15, 1837
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CHAPTER THREE: The Emigrants - Tinn to New York
Lower Manhattan, New York City in the 1830’s as the Bakka family would have seen it after passing through the immi grant processing at Castle Garden.
marked the beginning of our many blessings. On
August 15, 1987 we marked the 150th anniversary
of their arrival and this manuscript is dedicated to
that celebration though it is delayed in its comple
tion.
Page 15
PART TWO: AMERICA
CHAPTER FOUR
New York to Beaver Creek Settlement
Within a few days of their arrival in New York
Harbor, Osten and his family began thejourney westward. It can be assumed that they had no long delays in leaving as they were known to be in Beaver Creek Settlement not too many weeks later. The usual route for emigrant travel included a journey by boat to the Albany area and thence by canal boat to Buffalo, and from there over the Great Lakes to Chicago by steamer.
How long the trip took the Bakka family is not known. At Chicago they had a delay of a few days prior to their departure to Beaver Creek. While at Chicago a four year old daughter of Eric Gauteson, Margit by name, died and was buried.
Osten and Aase undoubtedly were of comfort and assistance to Eric and Helge. About the same time as Osten arrived in America others also arrived by other ships. These ships were full of Norwegian emigrants from home. Two ships, the “Aegir” and the ‘Enigheden” arrived in America and their passengers traveled to Chicago. Chicago was a gathering place for the westward travelers as it was on the last leg of the journey.
The Fox River Settlements were the most popular
United States Minister to Denmark. and an author ity and author on Norwegian American emigration. Bjorn Anderson had been to the Fox River Settle ments and had both a dislike for and a lack of appreciation for those settlements. He spoke freely to the emigrants and told them of his dislike. Ole Rynning, one who was admired and trusted as their leader, spoke with some Americans and heard some good recommendations for this place called Beaver Creek. Because of these good reports the group wanted to explore Beaver Creek rather than proceed to the Fox River Settlements.
Here at Chicago, Osten and his family, made some very important decisions. It was here that they made the monumental decision to go with the others to Beaver Creek rather than to the Fox River. This decision later caused him to lose his life, the life of his wife, and possibly the life of their daughter Margit. Its result was to leave at least six children orphans in a strange and new land.
At Chicago Osten and his family joined up with other Norwegian emigrants that had just arrived. Some of their names, later to he associated with the Beaver Creek Settlement, along with the Bakka family, were:
settlements among the Norwegian emigrants in that year. The “Sloopers” of 1825 had by that time long ago abandoned the New York Settlements and most
of them were living in the Fox River Settlements. The Fox River Settlements included the townships of Mission (now called Norway). Rutland, Miller, Manlis, Adams, Earl, Freedom. and other smaller communities of LaSalle County, Illinois. Most of the
N.P. Langland
Mons Audland
Nels Froland (Fruland) Anders Norvig
Thomas Bauge
Dovig
Ingebrigt Brudvig
Thorbjorn Veste
Lars Fruland (son of Nels) Ole Rynning
Ole Nattestad
Austin Nattestad
Nils Veste
Norwegian emigrants of 1836 and 1837 settled in those townships, and later they spread out into outlying Communities,
At Chicago, Osten and the members of his party encountered a man by the name of Bjorn Anderson, the father of Rasmus Anderson later to become the
The Bakka family, and many others, waited at Chicago while a party of four men went to Beaver Creek to explore the land and country. Ole Rynning, Nils Veste, Ingebrigt Brudvig, and Ole Nattestad went south to scout the land. Nattestad did not like the land as it was sandy and swampy, but the others did.
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CHAPTER FOUR: New York to Beaver Creek
Prior to their return to Chicago it was decided that Nattestad and Nils Veste would remain there and build a log cabin for the rest of the group to use when they arrived. Ole Rynning and Brudvig re turned to Chicago and led the rest of the party to Beaver Creek. When they arrived back in Chicago they found that some of their group had already gone on to Fox River, but the others were waiting for them. Osten Sondreson Bakka and his family were unfortunately awaiting their return to take them on to the Beaver Creek Settlement.
By October 1837 the whole party had arrived in Beaver Creek and were attempting to prepare to survive the coming winter in the new wilderness frontier. Beaver Creek Settlement lay along the
western Indiana border in what is now known as Iroquois County, Illinois. It was just eighty miles south of Chicago along the eastern edge of the present State of Illinois. It was here that Osten, Aase, and the children would settle to await the tragic fate of the settlement.
Information references for this chapter:
1. Rasmus B. Anderson, THE FIRST CHAPTER OF NORWEGIAN IMMIGRATION, Published by the author, Madison, Wisconsin 1896.
2. Carlton Qualey, NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1938.
3. A. E. Strand, HISTORY OF THE NORWE GIANS IN ILLINOIS, Anderson Publishing Com pany, Chicago.
Note: The above references have a fairly detailed account of the Beaver Creek Settlement and men tion Osten Sondresson Bakka by name.
Page 18
CHAPTER FIVE
Life and Death in Beaver Creek Settlement
On the plains of eastern Illinois there once
stood a small unfinished log cabin, it’s ruinslong since cleared from sight. At one time this cabin housed a family of nine members, and then sud denly one day it was abandoned. Perhaps it later served some weary traveler as a refuge from the weather, or to shield some farmers livestock. What ever its ultimate destiny it was not many years after its abandonment that its origin and history were totally forgotten. For this was the “wilderness man sion” of the family of Osten and Aase Sondreson Bakka which he built upon his arrival in Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek was a fairly isolated area when this family arrived in 1837. There were few nearby settlers to turn to for help and assistance. There were no large settlements to purchase supplies and needful commodities. On February 26, 1833 the area had been established as Iroquois County. In 1835 it boasted a total population of 1,164 people. By 1840 it had grown to a population of 1,695 people. Beaver Creek was located, in this writers opinion, along the banks of one of the contributory streams feeding into the Iroquois River. A few miles north and east of the present town of Wateska, Illinois. .
The exact location of the Bakka farm is not known at this time. Having corresponded with a number of knowledgeable individuals shows a divergence of opinions as to the exact location of Beaver Creek. This author has received information that makes me certain of the location of the settlement and the general area where Osten Sondreson Bakka made his home. The land records of that period are somewhat incomplete, but they do show some land purchases of those original settlers.
The Land Abstract Office records show that on October 7, 1837 Mons Aadland purchased the east half of the N.W. quarter and the west half of the N.E. quarter of Section 22, Township 27 N of Range
12 W in Iroquois County. This land purchase totaled 160 acres. It was later sold on January 7, 1840 to a John Taylor for $200.00 of current United States currency.
On March 16, 1839 Sidney Brudvig sold his 40 acres (N.W. quarter of section 14, Township 27 N of range 13 W) to Edward D. Boone for $50.00. Brudvig had purchased this land on January 6, 1838.
Of greatest importance to our family in the locating of Beaver Creek Settlement is the purchase on October 7, 1837 of 40 acres of land by Eric Gautesson Midtboen. This was bought from the U.S Government and consisted of half of the N.W. quarter of Section 22, Township 27 N of Range 12 W in Iroquois County. Eric Gautesson was not mentioned in the published references of Beaver Creek, but he did come to America with his brother in-law, Osten Sondreson Bakka,
The recorded histories from the Gauteson (Hogan) family do not mention that Eric was one of the settlers of Beaver Creek. But it is evident that he purchased land during this period of time prior to the death of Osten and Aase Sondreson Bakka. It is very conceivable that the farm Osten settled was very near, or combined with, the farm land of Eric Gauteson Midtboen. That they would be far apart does not make reason.
It is estimated that Osten and his family arrived in Beaver Creek in September of 1837. They immedi ately had to begin construction on their log cabin which would he their home while in that area. The
accounts of that settlement record that these homes were very small and crude in appearance. They were referred to in some writings as “log huts”. The Bakka cabin was never fully completed.
The number of settlers in the original party is set at about fifty persons. As they arrived, and began
Page 19
LAND CLAIMS - U.S. LAND OFFICE 1837
MIDTBOEN
ODLAND
BOUGE
2009 Aerial Imagery of Proposed Areas of Beaver Creek Settlement Site
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CHAPTER FIVE: Life and Death in Beaver Creek Settlement
preparations for winter, many began to complain and accuse Ole Rynning of leading them to an undesirable place. But, for the most part the settlers were content and busied themselves with the work at hand. They were staking out land for farming and preparing for the coming winter which was to be a difficult challenge for the new arrivals.
During the winter months after their arrival every thing went relatively well considering their primitive circumstances and lack of supplies. It was during this winter of 1837/38 that Ole Rynning, their leader, suffered frost bitten feet and was forced to bed to recover from these injuries. While in this condition, during the month of February 1838, he took time to write an account of his emigration to America and this was later hand delivered to Norway and pub lished. It was to become a very widely circulated book and served as a guidebook for many future emigrants. It was entitled, “A True Account of America”.
When the spring of 1838 arrived in Beaver Creek the snows melted and the major problems began to increase for the settlers. The land that they had viewed in the fall now began to fill with water and swamps developed, along with the excessive flood ing. The marshes that filled with water soon began to become stagnant. They saw an epidemic of malaria spread throughout the colony. At least fifteen people died in a very short time. Ole Rynning lost his life and was buried, by one account, in a crude and makeshift coffin. Most of those that were not ill fled the settlement for their lives. They left belongings, and land, without any concern for their losses.
Included in the victims of this epidemic were Osten and Aase Sondresson Bakka, and possibly their daughter, Margit. The death of Margit is not fully documented, but is mentioned in family histories that have been handed down. She is supposed to have died prior to her parents. The epidemic and resulting deaths in the settlement caused panic. Many, if not all, of the settlers left immediately. By 1840 there were none left there in Beaver Creek,
Mons Aadland was the last to leave and went, with his family, to Racine County, Wisconsin.
While much of the history of Beaver Creek Settle ment is obtained in bits and pieces of information, there are some accounts recorded in history books and personal journals. While we do not have all of
the information that possibly exists, we do have some information in our family that sheds some light on the life and experiences of the Bakka family in Beaver Creek. Prior to his death in 1894, Sondra Sanders Sr., a son of Osten and Aase, gave a brief account of his life. This included some information on Beaver Creek. His son, Peter James Sanders, recorded notes in shorthand and preserved this information in his journals. The following is the information provided by Sondra Sanders Sr.:
I was eight years old when I came to
America. Sailed from Norway and landed in New York in 1837. After reaching New York we took to canal boats and a steamer from New York to Chicago, Illinois. Stopped there a little while, then we moved to Indiana (now known by information described in this chapter as Iroquois County, Illinois), where we stopped at a place called Beaver Creek. My father took up land; built a log house and died before it was finished. The home was quite small. Mother died just three weeks before father. They were taken down with chills and fever, but probably turned into something else before they died, it may be they died of neglect.
Sometimes I would be the only one out of bed, when the rest of the family would be sick in bed. The chief victuals was cornmeal. I used to wet the cornmeal with a little water and then put it in a skillet to bake it. it was made three or four inches thick. The first time I baked it, there was a little crust on the outside and the rest was perfectly raw. Next time I thought “I would get you done”—we had no stove—I put on a big fire and burnt it black, and still it was raw on the inside.
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CHAPTER FIVE: Life and Death in Beaver Creek Settlement
Author’s Note:
Milk and mush went pretty good and was the
only thing we could eat that was fit to eat, as we didn’t know how to bake the cornmeal. Most of the emigrants died, only a few that moved away into Illinois.”
Life was at best difficult in Beaver Creek Settlement during the winter and spring of 1837-38. If life was difficult, then death was a tragedy. No one can know the feelings that were experienced by this family as they first saw their mother die, and later followed by their father. Death was no stranger to this humble home. Death was feared, yet a frequent visitor during this difficult time.
We will never really know the sense of fear and loneliness that crept into the parents eyes as they knew they would die and leave these children alone. We will never know the fear and sorrow the children experienced as they saw their parents die and had to face life alone. They laid their parents and at least one sister, to rest in primitive graves on this prairie farm.
For the six orphans (with our limited under standing that only one child died in the settlement) of the family their life in Beaver Creek was a dreadful experience. But the deaths of their parents may have made it even worse for them, Each was to go his, or her, own way. Some never to see each other again. Certainly this was a tragedy that is now a recorded part of their history.
Appreciation is extended to the following for their most gracious cooperation and help in obtaining information on the Beaver Creek Settlement. They have offered their time and efforts to both identify the location as well as offer information on the settlement and circumstances surrounding this migration of Norwegian-Americans to Iroquois County.
Gerhard B. Naeseth has written many letters to this author relative to the Beaver Creek Settlement. He is associated with the Vesterheim Genealogical Center and is a noted Norwegian-American genealogist, specializing in emigration of Norwegians to America in the early 1800’s. He obtained a copy a land grant map that, in the opinion of this author, identifies the area of Beaver Creek.
Appreciation is extended to Robert C.
Wiederaenders, Archivist of the American Lutheran Church, in Dubuque, Iowa. He was the one who furnished to Gerhard B. Naeseth the original land grant map showing the claims in 1837 for the Beaver Creek Settlement. He was also instrumental in loaning microfilm to this author to research informa tion on the orphans of Beaver Creek.
Page 22
PART THREE:
THE ORPHANS OF BEAVER CREEK
CHAPTER SIX
Kari (Caroline) Sanderson
Kari, later known in America as Caroline, was
born on Bakkajord in Tinn, Telemark, She wasthe second child born to Osten and Aase Sondreson Bakka. She was the oldest living child at the time of their journey to America. Caroline was a twin and her brother, Sondra, died when he was just three years old. Her younger brother was named Sondra, according to existing custom, and was named after the twin of Kari.
Caroline was nearly twenty years old when they left Norway. Being that old, and nearing the normal age of marriage, it is supposed that she made a personal decision as to coming to America with the family or staying in Norway. Due to her age and maturity she
must have been a great asset to her parents on the voyage to America and in the newly established homestead in Beaver Creek. She was born on September 2, 1817 and she just turned twenty when the Beaver Creek Settlement was established. It is unknown as to the exact responsibilities she as sumed upon the death of her parents which left the orphans of Beaver Creek to fare for themselves. It would be supposed that she had some responsibility in seeing to the placement of the children with other families. In the history of her brother, Sondra Sanders Sr, it relates that the children were divided up and one went with one family and another in a different direction.
Caroline was lost to our family from the time of her parents death until this research was begun. The family traditions told that she lived in Chicago and went blind, That was the extent of the knowledge possessed by the present day generation. This author researched the census records of LaSalle County, Illinois in the belief that the orphans of Beaver Creek might have followed others who escaped the malaria epidemic and went to the Fox River Settle ments to join fellow countrymen in that Norwegian settlement at Fox River.
In the 1850 U.S. Census records was found one Caroline Sanderson living with Nels Fruland in Mission Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. Nels Fruland, his wife Ann, and their four children were all original settlers of Beaver Creek and apparently close friends of the Bakka family. It is also know that this same family befriended her brother, Sondra, after Beaver Creek. In the 1850 census records she is listed as a twenty nine year old female, blind and a pauper, who was born in Norway.
Caroline (Kari) was living in the home of the Fruland family which was listed as the 2,193rd family home recorded and the 2,256th family of record in this census year,
In the 1860 U.S. Census of LaSalle County. Illinois she is again shown as living with the family of Nels Fruland in Mission Township. She is listed as a 41 year old blind female who was born in Norway. The only change in this record is the addition of a 17 year old male, Osman Anderson, who was born in Norway and working on the Fruland family farm.
There is no other confirmed record found, at this time, on Caroline Sanderson after 1860. It is known that Nels Fruland died in March of 1873 and what became of Caroline in unknown. This author had caused a search of the Indian Creek Parish Records of the American Lutheran Church to be made in an attempt to find some record of her death. There is no record of any marriage, or death, of Caroline Sanderson. The Fruland family, and Caroline, attended the Indian Creek Parish Congregation of the Lutheran Church.
This author also requested a search of the LaSalle County records in an attempt to find further infor mation. In 1978 County Clerk Tom P. Walsh, of LaSalle County, searched the existing records from 1877 to 1900 and found no record of Caroline. These were the only official government records to survive that era.
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CHAPTER SIX: Kari (Caroline) Sanderson
It is interesting to note that Holge Sonderson (a brother to Osten Sondreson Bakka) came to America in 1843 and settled in LaSalle County. He lived and died within a few miles of Mission Town ship and it is presumed that the orphans of Beaver Creek had some contact with their uncle over the years. Nothing to support this presumption can be found at this time.
The trail of Kari (Caroline) Sanderson has been lost between the 1860 U.S. Census and the 1870 canvas of LaSalle County. Mission Township is today known as Norway, Illinois. There is a large Norwe gian Lutheran Cemetery there and while no record has been found to date, it is supposed that Kari is buried there in that cemetery.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
Margit Sanderson
Margit Sanders was born on Bakkajord in Tinn, Telemark, Norway on November 27, 1820. It is assumed that her name was changed upon arrival in America to Margaret Sanderson. This would be in keeping with what occurred with the other children of the Bakka family. All adopted the Americanized name of Sanderson and changed their Norwegian given names to correspond with similar American names.
Margit, or Margaret, was the fourth child born to Osten and Aase Sondreson Bakka. She grew up on the family farm in Tinn and received what limited education that was available to children of that locale and time. She was just seventeen when her family made the decision to emigrate to America. It must have been difficult for her to leave her friends and relatives at that age. At least, it was more diffi cult for the older children than it would have been for the younger ones who did not have such deep and lasting friendships established.
On the Brig “Noord” Margit is listed on the ships manifest, when they sailed from Sweden, as “Margareth”, a ten year old female, This was un doubtedly the spelling error of the Captain who listed all the names and ages of his passengers.
Little is known of this child, She appears to have been a victim of the Beaver Creek malaria epidemic. Family histories indicate that she died in Beaver Creek. She arrived in America in July of 1837 and reportedly died in Beaver Creek during the winter or spring of 1837-38. It is unknown if she died before or after her parents. One family genealogical sheet lists her death as 1838 or January 27,1863. It is unknown where these dates were obtained and what verification was available to use the listed dates.
From all information and sources available to this author it would appear that she died in Beaver Creek in 1837 or 1838 along with her parents. If, given the assumption, that she did survive the epidemic and was one of those farmed out to other families, she has been lost to history.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
Ellen Sanders Kimball
Caroline. Margaret, Ellen, Helga, Sondra, Aase and
Ole. Helga’s name was Anglicized to Harriet, and
Ole was surnamed George.
Ellen’s father was a farmer, and though not wealthy,
was considered prosperous in that country, where
the sum of two thousand dollars, which would have
covered the value of his earthly possessions, was
deemed at that time, among folk of his class, quite a
fortune. As a farmer’s daughter among the moun
tains of Norway her life was doubtless frugal and
peaceful, and her habits industrious and thrifty. She
possessed a kind, sympathetic heart and a very
hospitable nature, but was not always of a happy
disposition. Her moods were often extreme, some
times merry, sometimes melancholy. She had an
intelligent mind, and her spirit was brave and true.
In the early part of 1833, when Ellen was about
thirteen years old, her parents, with a view to im
proving their temporal condition and providing
more liberally for the future of their children,
resolved to emigrate to America. The farm was sold
From “Our Pioneer Heritage,” Compiled by Kate B. Caner, Volumes 8 & 10, 1965, Used by permission of The Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
In the village or parish of Tinn, Telemark
Norway, was born in the year 1824 a little girl who in after years was known as Ellen Sanders Kimball. No part of this title was hers originally, her maiden name, Ellen Sanders, being bestowed upon her in America, probably for the reason that it was more easily pronounced than the Norwegian name with which she was christened as an infant in her far off native land. She was the daughter of Osten and Aase Sondreson, and her own full name was Aagaata Osten’s Dater Baka, which by interpretation is Aagaata, Osten’s daughter, of the Bakka farm. She was the third born of the household, their being in all seven children, five girls and two boys, namely,
and the family fitted out for the journey. Leaving home, they proceeded to Skeen, or Dramen, and embarked for Guttenborg, Sweden, where they arrived in the early part of June.
There they took passage on board a Swedish brig laden with iron and bound for New York. Among the passengers, likewise emigrating with his parent to the New World, was a lad named Canute Peterson, He was about the age of Ellen, both having been born the same year. If young Peterson pos sessed the same genial qualities that characterized the man in after life, which there is no reason to doubt, he probably did much for the homeless emigrants, his countrymen, in whiling away the tedium of the long voyage over the ocean. The Hogan family, relatives of the Sondrason’s, came in the same ship.
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball
The company, after several weeks upon the sea, landed at New York about the middle of August. At Chicago, to which point they proceeded, Ellen with her parents and the rest of the family separated from the Petersons and Hogans (Authors note: see previ ous chapters and note the Hoggan family went to Beaver Creek), who remained in Illinois, and went to the State of Indiana (Authors note: see previous chapters on additional information which has come to light on location of Beaver Creek) where her father took up land, built a house, plowed and put in crops. He was a generous man, so much so that he had retained but little of the means realized from the sale of his possessions in Norway. After paying the passage of himself and family over the ocean, he had quite a sum of money left, but had lent or given away the greater part of it to the poor people whom he met on the way. He had a stout heart and a strong arm, however, and went to work with a will to found a new home in the land of his adoption.
About a year after they landed in America, Ellen’s mother sickened and died. Her older sister Margaret had died some time before. Some three weeks after her mother’s death, her father, who was ill at the same time, also succumbed and passed away. Thus thick and fast misfortunes fell upon them. The orphaned children, left among strangers, soon lost what remained of their father’s property, and a year or two after his death, removed from Indiana to Illinois, making their way to LaSalle County, where dwelt some relatives and others speaking their native tongue. There the children separated, the girls finding employment as hired help in families, and the boys securing labor suited to their tender years. They were about eight miles from the town of Ottawa, where Ellen lived in service for a while, Up to this time neither she nor her kindred had heard of Mormonism, or if hearing of it, had formed any definite idea concerning the new religion, which bad swept over several of the states and had been brought to the attention of the government at Washington.
Nauvoo, the gathering place of the Saints, was about one hundred and eighty miles from LaSalle. Some time in the year 1842 Elder George P. Dykes and a
fellow missionary named Hendrickson came to LaSalle County preaching the Gospel. In the spring or summer of the same year, Ellen joined the Latter day Saints Church, being baptized, with her brother Sondra, by an elder named Duall. Her sister Harriet joined several months later. A branch was raised up in LaSalle, numbering nearly one hundred souls; Ole Hyer being its president, and a young Canute Peterson a member. Subsequently Apostles Brigham Young. Heber C. Kimball and Parley P. Pratt visited the place to organize a stake of Zion to be called ‘New Norway.”
Some surveys were made, and the project was then abandoned. In October, 1844, Ellen Sanders with her sister Harriet, her little brother Sondra and Canute Peterson went to Nauvoo, arriving in that city a day or two before the general conference of the Church. Sondra returned to LaSalle with his em ployer, Jacob Anderson, who had brought the party by team to the city of the martyred Seer. Ellen and Harriet continued to “live out,’ the former first dwelling in the family of Charles C. Rich, and afterwards in the family of Heber C. Kimball, of which on the 7th of January, 1846, she became a permanent member. She and her sister Harriet were both married to Apostle Kimball in the Temple by President Brigham Young.
Residence of President Heber C. Kimball, Nauvoo, Illinois, Erected 18454 Restored as part of the Nauvoo Restora tion Project
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball
At the organization of the Pioneer company on the
Missouri River, Ellen Kimball was permitted to
accompany her husband upon the westward journey,
for the hardships of which the toils and trials of her
earlier life had well inured her. She was poorly
prepared, however, for the scene of desolation into
which she was suddenly ushered when on July 24th,
1847, she gazed for the first time upon the barren
valley of the desert-laying Island Sea. During the
absence of her husband, who on August 26th of that
year set out upon the return journey to the Missouri
River to bring the rest of his family to the Valley,
Mrs. Kimball dwelt in the fort erected by the pio
neers. Subsequently she had a home on City Creek.
While living in the fort her first child was born, a
son named Samuel, who died within a year. Of the
four children born to her, subsequently, the eldest
two, Joseph S. and Augusta, were twins, who died in
their youth.
In 1869, the year after the death of her husband, Mrs. Kimball removed with many others of his family to Meadowvílle, in Bear Lake Valley, where she lived with her children. She still owned property in Salt Lake City, and several times visited her friends there. In the summer or fall of 1871 she returned for the last time to the Valley which she had been one of the first to enter nearly a quarter of a century before. She came to consult a physician regarding a dropsical affection that was troubling her. Temporary relief was obtained, but she suffered a relapse, and repairing to the home of her brother, Sondra Sanders, in South Cottonwood, on the 22nd of November, 1871, she breathed her last.
She is buried in the Kimball-Whitney Cemetery in the central section of Salt Lake City.
Authors note: Ellen Sanders Kimball entered the Great Salt Lake Valley with the first pioneer company in July of 1847. She was one of the three women of the first company to enter the valley. She is depicted on the “This Is The Place” monument at the mouth of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake City. In the Church History Museum there is on display a crystal water pitcher that she owned and carefully transported across the plains with the pioneer company.
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball
The following material was submitted by Virginia Sanders Pendleton, for inclusion in this book. It contains some additional insights into the life history of Ellen Sanders Kimball. Unfortunately the source of the material is unknown and the author is unknown. If known, proper credits would certainly be given in this work.
ELLEN SANDERS KIMBALL
Wife of Apostle Heber C. Kimball and one of the first three women to enter the Salt Lake Valley (Author Unknown)
It sounds like a romance to hear told the story of the young heroine, Ellen Sanders, in its simplicity and its wonderful denouement. Ellen Sanders, originally her name was Aagaata Ysten Dater Bakka; inter preted it means Aagata, daughter of Ysten’s of Bakka farm, (I remember her telling me once that her right name was Augusta.) She was the third child in the family of seven, five girls and two boys. She was a prosperous farmer’s daughter among the beautiful mountains of Norway, in the village, or parish, of Tinn, Telemarken, and she was literally imbued with the grandeur of the sublime scenery of her native land. There is no doubt in my mind that she was a woman of destiny, as little as she thought of it in her girlhood days; she recalled at times vivid pictures of her early home.
The parents of Ellen sold their home in Norway, with a view of going to America, possibly having heard even in that far-off land at that early day of the advantages of our free country. Having sold the home, they first went to Skeen or Dramen, and embarked for Gotenburg, Sweden. And took passage on a Swedish bríg bound for New York. Among the passengers was another who was destined to figure conspicuously in the Church, likewise emigrating to the new world, a young lad, Canute Peterson, now deceased, late president of the Sanpete Stake; and the Hogan family, relatives of the Sondreson’s, came in the same ship. They were several weeks on the sea, and landed in New York about the middle of Au gust. They proceeded to Chicago, the Petersons and Hogans remaining in Illinois and the Sandersons going to Indiana, where the father took up land,
built a house and put in a crop. He had been very liberal with his means and had given away a greater portion of his money to poor people. About a year after they landed in America, the mother died; Margaret, the eldest sister, had died some time before; and in about three weeks after the death of his wife, the father also passed away. The orphaned children, left among strangers, soon lost what remained of their father’s estate, and a year or two after removed to Illinois, to La Salle county, where their relatives and others speaking their native tongue resided. There the children separated, the girls going into families as hired help, and the boys securing suitable employment. Ottawa, where Ellen was in service, was seven or eight miles away from her relatives.
Neither the Sanderson children nor their relatives had at that time heard of Mormonism, though they were not 200 miles from Nauvoo. In the year 1842, Elder George P. Dykes and a missionary named Hendrickson, from Nauvoo, went into LaSalle County, preaching the Gospel. That same year, Ellen and her brother Sondra were baptized by an Elder named Duall. Her sister joined the Church some months after. Soon a branch of the Church was raised up in La Salle County; preaching the gospel was Oley Hyer, President, and young Canute Peterson, a member. Subsequently, Apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Parley P. Pratt visited the place to organize a stake of Zion, to be called “New Norway.” This plan was, however, abandoned.
Arrival in Nauvoo
In October, 1844, Ellen, her sister Harriet and little brother Sondra, with Canute Peterson, went to Nauvoo, arriving a day or two before the general conference of the Church. Little Sondra returned with his employer, Jacob Anderson, who had taken the party to Nauvoo in his team. The girls Ellen and Harriet remained and lived in families among the Saints, Ellen first in the family of Elder C. C. Rich, and afterwards with Sister Vilate Kimball. Harriet lived for some time in the family of Joseph Young Sr. (it was there the writer first made her acquaintance),
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball
and with Ellen at Elder Heber C Kimball’s. Both sisters were married to Heber C. Kimball in the Nauvoo Temple, January 7, 1846, just previous to the exodus of the Saints from that beautiful city. They both had faith in the gospel and in the sacred covenants made in the temple and were willing to go with Brother Kimball’s family and exiled Saints westward, not knowing whither.
This journey was very trying to many, and it required mighty faith and zeal in the gospel, to stand steadfast and remain faithful. Ellen Kimball and her sister Harriet kept the faith unwaveringly, though often “tried as by fire.” The days in Winter Quarters were particularly trying. There was much sickness, scarcity and hardship, and there was need, of great humility and constant prayer to endure and prove faithful, But through it all these two girls from far away Norway, and, as it were, alone without kindred, preserved their integrity and remained true to the covenants made in holy places.
Accompanied Husband
When the pioneer company was organized, Ellen Sanders Kimball came with her husband upon that remarkable journey. She was perhaps in some respects well adapted to such an undertaking, having had the experience of travel in her earlier life. She was a woman of fortitude, kind hearted and loving in disposition, naturally good natured, even of occasionally inclined to melancholy. She was quite elated at the prospect of the journey, hazardous as it seemed to many of the sisters. O.F. Whitney, the historian, to whom I am indebted for many of the facts stated here, says:
“She was poorly prepared, however, for the scene of desolation into which she was suddenly ushered, when on July 24, 1847 she gazed for the first time upon the barren valley of the desert-laying inland sea.”
Her husband only remained about a month before taking leave of her to return to Winter Quarters, and I know the parting was terrible for Ellen. She was of a demonstrative nature, entirely unlike her compan
ion, Clara Young. She was left in the fort which had been rudely constructed by the pioneers, and was as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. She had the society of the two sisters, Clara Young and her mother, and the good brethren in charge, and of Lorenzo D. Young, brother of President Brigham Young, one of the very kindest and best of men.
Child Born in Fort
While still living in the fort her first child, a son named Samuel, was born, but died within the year. After the return of Heber C. Kimball to the valley, Ellen had a home on City Creek. Her next children were twins, a boy and a girl, Joseph S. and Augusta. They too, died in their youth. Ellen was a woman of very strong affections and her sorrow for the loss of her children was almost inconsolable. Two more children came to bless her borne afterwards, Jedediah and Rosalie; both are still living and have families around them. So Ellen is not without posterity, and they have every reason to be proud of their illustrious mother. It is difficult to tell in this brief sketch of the appearance and character of this celebrated heroine, She was of medium size, very fair complexion, like her countrywomen, with good color, rosy checked, and abundance of light hair, and altogether comely, wholesome and good looking. She was very sympathetic and whole hearted, gener ous and kindly. Her resemblance to Clara Barton, the famous Red Cross woman, whom all the soldiers simply adore, is very striking, both in her pictures and in herself. I repeat again what I said at the beginning: Ellen Sander Kimball, born a peasant child in far-off Norway, was a child of destiny. Her children may well “rise up and call her blessed,” and pay honor to her memory.
After the death of her husband in 1869, Ellen removed to Meadowville, in Bear Lake Valley. She owned property here and came occasionally to visit her friends, but her health failed, and in 1871 she came to consult a physician. She only obtained temporary relief, and instead of returning home in the north, went to her brother, Sondra Sanders, at South Cottonwood, where after much severe suffer
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Ellen Sanders Kimball
ing, she finally passed away, November 22, 1871.
Ellen Sanders Kimball had many virtues, hosts of
friends, but no enemies. She was greatly beloved by
all who knew her. I count myself happy to have
known such grand, noble women, who have passed
through much tribulation for the gospel’s sake.”
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CHAPTER NINE
Harriet Sanders Kimball
Ellen Sanders Kimball Heber C. Kimball Harriet Sanders Kimball
From “Our Pioneer Heritage,” Compiled by Kate B. Carter, Volumes 8 & 10, 1965, Used by permission of The Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Harriet Sanders Kimball, the sister of Ellen
Sanders, was born in Norway where she lived with her parents, two brothers, and four sisters until about 1837 when she came to America with her family, settling in Indiana (Authors note: see previ ous chapters for additional information on Beaver Creek location). Soon after, both parents died within a period of three weeks. The orphaned children moved to LaSalle County, Illinois. In 1842 she embraced “Mormonism,” and moved to Nauvoo arriving two days before general conference. She became the wife of Heber C, Kimball in the Nauvoo Temple January 7, 1846. Previous to her marriage she lived in the home of Joseph Young. It was in Nauvoo that Harriet and Emmeline B. Wells became acquainted.
Harriet traveled to Utah in 1848 with the Heber C. Kimball Company, and made her home in Salt Lake City until Heber’s death. Three children, Harriet, Hyrum H. and Eugene were born to Harriet and Brother Kimball. This noble pioneer woman was said to be of strong affection, and lìke her sister Ellen was true to the gospel’s teachings as long as she lived, After the death of President Kimball she moved to Meadowville, a small valley northeast of Laketown, where a few cabins were built in the fall of 1869. Her obituary appeared in the Deseret News September 8, 1896, as follows:
“Mrs. Harriet Sanders Kimball, widow of the late President Heber C. Kimball, died at 7 a.m. today, September 5th, at her home in Meadowville, Rich County, Utah. She was born December 7, 1824.
(Authors note: See Chapter 14 for information on the family of Harriet Sanders Kimball.)
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HARRIET SANDERS KIMBALL Patriarchal Blessing
S.L. CITY May 22, 1894
Patriarchal Blessing by John Smith
CHAPTER NINE: Harriet Sanders Kimball
A blessing given by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Harriet Kimball, daughter of Austin and Osa Sanders, born near Christiana, Norway, December 7, 1824.
Sister Harriet Kimball, according to thy desire, I place my hands upon thy head to pronounce and seal a blessing upon thee, that thy head may be comforted, and thy lineage made known and I ask God the Eternal Father for His Spirit to invite thy blessing and to make manifest His will concerning thee. Thou art of the House of Israel, and from thy youth until the present, thy life has been a chaquered one; notwithstanding this, the hand of the Lord has been over thee for good. Thou hast been preserved from early youth from the evils of the world, and many times by the power of the Priesthood and the prayers of the saints thy life has been preserved, and for a wise purpose. Thy labors thus far have been accepted with also thine offerings and thy sacrifice, for from early youth thou has been honest in thy belief. It has been thy nature to be kind to all, to give unto the needy and to minister unto the sick and afflicted and to comfort the hearts of the oppressed, for this thou shalt verily receive thy reward. The Lord has heard thy petitions. He knowest the secrets of thy heart, and is pleased with thine integrity, therefore be comforted, look always upon the bright side and be cheerful in thy deport ment and it shall be well with thee. The power of the destroyer shall be rebuked from they presence.
Thy body shall receive strength. All pain which thou art now suffering shall be removed. The nervous system shall also receive strength and nature shall assert its rights and they body shall be renewed, thy days and years prolonged until thy mission is com plete, therefore be of good cheer and let thy faith fail not, and health and peace shall be in thy dwelling and thou shalt not lack for the comforts of life, therefore look forward to the future with pleasure. Thou art of Ephraim, which is also the lineage of many of thy kindred who have gone behind the vale, many of whom will rejoice with thee hereafter in the kingdom of our father, therefore, again I say unto thee, look forward to the future with pleasure and be at rest in thy mind. From this time on it shall be thy duty to council among thy associates and to be a peacemaker wheresoever thy lot shall be cast, that the younger may receive benefit through thy experi ence and the blessings of the Lord shall attend thy labors, and give thee peace, and thou shalt receive thine inheritance hereafter among those who have fought the good fight, kept the faith and won the prize, and as a mother in Israel thou shalt be known far and near. Thy name shall live in the memory of the Saints as it is now written in the Lambs Book of Life and shall be registered in the chronicles of the fathers. This with thy former blessings I seal and reseal and confirm upon thee in the name of Jesus Christ, and I seal thee up to eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with many of thy kindred and friends, Evenso, Amen. (Recorded in book –N- page 453 Total –N- Up to Date 12452)
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CHAPTER TEN
Sondra Sanders Sr.
Anna Jorgenson Sondra Sanders Sr. Anna Marie Larson
On February 6, 1829, high in the upper moun tains of Telemark Norway, Sondra Sanders Sr.was born. He was known in Norway as Sondre Oysteinsson Bakka and was born on Bakkajord, the family farm. He was the seventh child born to Osten and Aase Sondresson Bakka. He was named after his older brother, Sondre, who was born in 1817 and only lived for three years. It was a Norwegian custom to name children after older siblings that died at an early age. The first eight years of his life were spent on Bakkajord in the Valley of Gauset. The beautiful forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains were familiar sights to this young lad as he grew toward manhood.
On the 8th day of March 1829 this newly arrived addition to the Bakka family was baptized in the Lutheran State Church by the Tinn Parish priest. According to custom and church ordinance he was
sprinkled by the priest and the ordinance recorded in the parish registers for future generations to behold. He was named Sondre, but in later life in America he changed his name to Sondra, the angli cized version of the name.
As Sondra turned eight years of age his family was
busily engaged in preparations for their upcoming journey to America, During the month of May 1837 their family left the familiar surroundings of Tinn and began their long journey to the new land that held out such great promise to them. His parents sold the family farm to relatives and with the money they outfitted for the journey.
Later in his life, Sondra described their existence in Norway. He said that his father was a farmer by occupation, and that they were considered pretty well off by existing standards. The family left Norway in the late spring of 1837 and traveled to Gottenberg, Sweden. There the family, and their traveling associates. Secured passage to America on the Swedish Brig “Noord”.
The passengers on the Noord numbered sixty-two persons. There were many children on board the ship and some were close friends and relatives of
Sondra. He later made reference to Knute Peterson (Canute) as a friend who came across the ocean with him. He had an uncle, Eric Gauteson Midtboen Haugen (later Hogan),who was on board with his family. Sondra’s cousin, Helga Gautesson, died on
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the voyage and was buried at sea.
CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
and his whole life story. He gave this biography to
his son, Peter James Sanders, who took notes in
The Noord sailed from Gottenberg in mid-May of 1837 and began the long crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. The voyage was long and difficult for the passengers. There were at least two children that died, one the cousin of Sondra’s, and the other was possibly related and carried the Gautesson name.
On August 15, 1837, some thirteen weeks after their leaving Sweden, they arrived in New York harbor. On the ships manifest passenger list, which was turned over to port authorities upon arrival, it showed the Bakka family as peasants from Norway, and bound for the State of Illinois. They traveled from New York to Chicago. They went by canal boat and steamer boat to Chicago where they arrived in August, or perhaps September. They stayed in Chicago for a few weeks while decisions were made as to where they would settle. Many went to the Fox River Settlements in LaSalle County. The Bakka family determined to go with another group to a newly discovered area called Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek was along the banks of the Iroquois River about eighty miles south of Chicago. My great grandfather, Sandra, even later in life referred to the location as Indiana. It was fairly close to the border of Illinois and Indiana.
Upon their arrival in Beaver Creek Sandra’s father took up land and began construction of a log cabin to house the newly arrived family. By the time winter carne in 1837 the family was settled down in their roughly hewn shelter and prepared for their first winter, Sometime during the winter, or early spring, the family suffered tragedy. After much illness, and a widespread epidemic, their mother, Aase Sondreson Bakka, died of the malaria fever. Within three weeks after the death of the mother, their father, Osten Sondreson Bakka, died. It is reported too that another child, Margit, also died. The remaining children were left without parents and had to fare for themselves.
Toward the end of his life, Sondra Sanders Sr., gave a short explanation of the events of Beaver Creek,
shorthand. The text of the reported biography is quoted throughout this history of Sondra Sanders Sr.
Sondra related that during the first winter most of his family were taken ill and often he was the only one out of bed. In relating his parents death he said, “They were taken down with chills and fever, but it probably turned to something else before they died. It may be they died out of neglect”.
Sondra was only nine years old at the time of his parents death in Beaver Creek. As he was often the only one out of bed during this epidemic he had to do his best to cook and care for the sick. The follow ing is part of his account of those trying times:
“The chief victuals was cornmeal. I used to wet the cornmeal with a little water and then put it in a skillet to bake it. It was made three or four inches thick. The first time I baked it there was a
little crust on the outside and the rest was perfectly raw. Next time I thought—I would get you done…; we had no stove...I put a big fire on and burnt it black, and still it was raw on the inside. Mush and milk went pretty good and was the only thing that we could eat that was fit to eat, as we didn’t know how to bake the corn meal.”
According to great grandfather most of the emi grants that came to Beaver Creek died in the settle ment, and the rest went away to Illinois (probably the Fox River Settlements).
It is not known when their sister, Margit, died, but in all probability she died prior to the parents. No one has made an accurate record of her death. Some family members merely say that she died sometime before her parents.
With the death of Sondra’s parents there were six children left as orphans in the unfinished cabin on the plains. Sondra, in his life story, continues with
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CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
the account of the times following the death of his father and mother.
“After father and mother died we all got scat tered. A man came around to get a boy. He had no family, and he came to our place and got me, and I think he had a hired girl who was Swedish. I could not understand what they said and the girl could interpret. They wanted me to say “No Sir” to him, and “Yes Ma’am” to her. I would not own anyone as my mother, as my mother was dead and I would not have any other mother. But they used to laugh at me for calling her, or saying “No Sir” and “Yes Sir” to her.
I had no clothes from the time I left Norway until I came to America and my clothes were pretty well worn out so they dressed me in my
father’s pants and a fine stove pipe hat. It was a fine hat, only I was not big enough to wear it, that was all.
It took two or three days to get to the mans place, but I looked quite queer, indeed.
After staying there awhile, a family I had been staying with moved to Illinois from Indiana, and on their way they passed the man’s place where I was staying. I went up in the evening, as they slept in the man’s barn, and I stayed with them during the night. In the morning when they were ready to start, the man came after me, and dragged me down to the house, but he got tired of that and let me go. He said he would go after me in the wagon. So I would go away from the road, following the direction of the wagon, until we were past Kankakee, because I was afraid he was coming after me.
When we got to Illinois, Nels Fruland wanted to take me to his place. I went, and he started down to Ottawa one day, on the road we stopped at Jack Andersons (Jacob Andersson). He wanted to get a boy, so, of course, he got me. I remember how I cried because he wanted me to stay there. But, it was not long before I got over my crying
spell because Knute Peterson, who came across the ocean the same time as I, lived near.”
Nels Fruland, mentioned in the narrative above, was one of the original settlers of Beaver Creek and after leaving Beaver Creek, at the time of the epidemic, afterwards went to Mission Township (now called Norway, Illinois) in LaSalle County. Jack Anderson (Jacob Andersson) was also a resident of Mission Township so it is not too difficult to trace the journey of this young orphan from Beaver Creek (near Watseka, Illinois) to Mission Township. Kankakee is midway between the two points.
Nels Fruland, and his family, should be held in great respect by the descendants of the Bakka family. Not only did they take in young Sondra as he was trying
to establish himself, but it is known that they took Karl (Caroline) into their home. Caroline was blinded in life and was dependant upon the Nels Fruland family for many years. And perhaps until her death, She was living with them in 1850 and again in 1860, according to the U.S. Census records of those years.
Perhaps others of the Bakka family orphans were befriended by this family and given care and shelter by those good Samaritans.
Great grandfather spent nearly five years living with Jack Anderson near Mission Township, Illinois. It was while living here he came into contact with the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon). At, least two of his sisters, Ellen and Harriet, were also brought into contact with the missionaries.
Ole (George) was possibly living in the area too. According to the 18.50 census there was a George Sanderson living on a nearby farm. It is unknown if this was a brother. The whereabouts of Aase is not known. Perhaps all of these children were taught the gospel by the missionaries. Great grandfather and Canute Peterson were together taught the gospel by the missionaries. Sondra, Canute Peterson, and Ellen were baptized at about the same time. Great grandfather mentions the names of some of the
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missionaries that worked in their area. Specifically mentioned were Elder George P. Dykes and Elder Dual. In his own words he tells of his conversion to Mormonism:
“When with Jacob Anderson we (Knute and I) became Mormons. We heard the gospel preached by Elder George P. Dykes and it was not long before I believed the gospel. Before Elder George P. Dykes left the place he gave out in a meeting an announce ment that if there were any who desired to be baptized they were to hold up their hand. So I looked around but did not see anyone ‘raise their hands, and I felt so bad that I cried over it. I did not join the Church then, but soon after that a young Elder named Dual stayed around. He was going to baptize one day and going down through the timber to the creek he spoke to me and wanted to know if I wanted to be baptized. I did not care much them, but my sister and Jacob Anderson was going to be baptized so I was baptized then. This was about 1842, about two years before the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed.”
In a biography on his sister, Ellen Sanders Kimball, published by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, it mentions that Sondra and Ellen were both baptized
at the same time in 1842. Mentioned also in that history are the names of Elder George P. Dykes and Elder Hendrickson, who were instrumental in the conversion of these members of the family. In the same account it tells of the baptism, a few months later, of Harriet Sanders Kimball, So within a few months in 1842 three of the family had all joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which had been restored in this dispensation of time. After his conversion and baptism into the Church, Sondra remained in Mission Township for about two and a half years. He enjoyed his associations with the members of the Church in that area. There was a branch of the Church numbering about 100 persons in Mission Township, and vicinity. Many spiritual experiences were had by those living in the branch. There is recorded in the journals of Canute Peterson (Knute Petersson) an account of Ellen Sanders Kimball speaking in tongues with Canute
Peterson translating. There were healings of the sick and an outpouring of the Spirit.
In 1844, or about two and a half years after his baptism, great grandfather describes a condition that developed among the members of the Church, and in the community.
“I joined the Church in 1842, in a branch composed of about 100 members. And we did enjoy ourselves splendidly there for about two and a half years. But, it seemed as though the devil got a foothold after that. A great many went to Nauvoo and had their endowments and then went back to LaSalle County, Illinois, or back to their homes, and most of them aposta tized. But a few came to Utah.
Trouble started from a horse trade (about a balky horse). After awhile, when the Prophet Joseph Smith was murdered, James J. Strang came along and claimed that he was Joseph Smith’s succes sor.
He held a conference in the branch (Mission Township) and I went to it. He, during the conference, said all those that would sustain him as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, he would accept them without re-baptism. When they took this vote our Presiding Elder, and others, raised their hands to sustain him. I DID NOT RAISE MY HAND TO SUSTAIN HIM.
When our Presiding Elder spoke to the young men, he said. “All you who wish to be ordained Elders can come forward.”
So I, with many others, came forward and were ordained Elders.
After a while Ruben Miller came along and was going to collect tithing. He apostatized. He met Strang and returned to Nauvoo. He said all those wanting their tithing back, he would give it to them, or take it to Nauvoo. He moved to where Strang gathered the saints and on his road he hired me to drive his stock up to Wisconsin
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(Woree). I worked for Miller for about two months. I went to Strangs meeting but I thought it was not like Mormonism. I did not go except twice.
When I left Miller, I went to Illinois and lived there awhile. I felt pretty bad, but felt that Mormonism was right But, I could not tell who was to lead, or anything about it. Finally, I got so I didn’t care much.”
The history the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is full of details of this period of apostasy following the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Many came forward claiming authority to lead the Church and assume the mantle of Joseph Smith. The above account is great grandfathers account of that period of unrest and dissention.
Full details of the remaining years of Sondra’s life in Illinois are lacking. It is known that in October of 1844 he, Ellen, Harriet, Knute, and Jack Anderson traveled by horse and wagon to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois to attend a conference of the Church. They arrived two days before the confer ence. Nauvoo lay about 150 miles south and west of LaSalle County, after the conference Ellen and Harriet remained in Nauvoo, while the others made the journey back to Mission Township.
The two sisters remained in Nauvoo and on January 7, 1846 they were both married to Apostle Heber Chase Kimball. Ellen was to later accompany her husband, President Brigham Young, and the first company of pioneers into the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847. They arrived on July 24, 1847. Harriet followed them and arrived later in 1848.
In the files of the Historians Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is a copy of a letter written from Ottawa (LaSalle County, Illinois) to President Brigham Young. It is a letter written by Elder George W. Bratton and dated February 26, 1848. Elder Bratton was on assignment of the Church and was reporting on the conditions existing in the branch of the Church in LaSalle County. This
letter lists 25 members of the branch that assembled in a special meeting and pledged their support to the Twelve Apostles and committed themselves to go to the Great Salt Lake Valley to support the Church in it’s re-establishment in the tops of the mountains.
Among the names of the twenty-five members who pledged their support and committed to go to Utah was that of Sondra Sanders (his name is spelled “Sandria”).
True to his pledge to support the leadership of the Church (The Council of the Twelve Apostles) Sondra came to Utah in 1850, he tells of the jour ney:
“There was a man who rigged up two teams to go to California, and he wanted some young men to go with him, and I for one went with him. He was going to take us clear through to California and furnish everything but clothes, and give us half of what he would make in two years from the time we left home.
We crossed the plains and got to Utah. The old man took a notion to stop here in Utah over the winter. He felt so well pleased here that he thought he would send for his family. But he worked up in Bingham Canyon, and while there he bought a stack of hay, and before he could get it away–someone stole it.
That settled Mormonism for him. He then went on out of Utah to California in the spring of 1851. I hired another boy to take my place for him I gave him $50.00 and paid Miller $25.”
Sondra Sanders Sr. arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on the 18th day of July 1850. He arrived here three years after the first company of pioneers entered the valley. In the biography of Mary Ellen Sanders, a daughter of Sondra, she tells of stories told to her by her father.
“Mary’s father told her many interesting experi ences. Crossing the plains the dust was so thick
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it would get in the hubs of the cart wheels and clog the wheels so they wouldn’t turn. They put hides on the outside of the hubs on the wheels to keep the dust out. At one time they took the hides from the hubs of the cart wheels, washed
them, and boiled them to try and get a little nourishment so they could continue on their journey.”
After great grandfather arrived in the Salt Lake Valley he stayed for less than two years before the vagabond spirit got a hold of him, He was 21 years of age when he arrived in Utah, and his youth and desire for adventure turned his thoughts to Califor nia and the gold rush. Here is an account of his prospecting adventure:
“I stayed here until the spring of 1852 and then Livingston and Kingskad had stock they wanted to get driven to California. I went with other boys and drove the stock for them. The spring before we started Brigham Young said in the first April Confer ence: ‘Boys, I don’t want you to go to California, but if you do go, you won’t make much, and if you should happen to make a little, it won’t do you much good.’
But, anyhow, there were some 25 went. We got through to California all right. We had poor luck while there. When we got through the Sierra Nevada Mountains we came to some mining camps. Here three or four of us stopped and left the herds. We got some tools and went to prospecting. Miners told us if we did not get much on top we should not stop until we got down to bedrock, and there we would find the most. We dug a hole and got down to bedrock - we thought. But we did not find hardly anything there. There was some gold, but we did not think it good enough to work it. So we left, then three or four men got into the same hole, dug around a little, and found that we had not got down to bedrock, but that it was a large rock- They got down to bedrock, and they took out a dollar to the panful. They made about $4,000.00 per month for about four months.
We went to prospecting in other places, but did not happen to find anything and we were then offered $100 per month to go and work on a river claim. We made a flume which we joined with a flume above us. The flume was ready and the water was pumped out, We took out 75 cents in gold. After that the river rose and washed our flumes away.
We worked there for about a month, six of us, and our expenses were $600. So I had worked there that length of time and was $100 behind, and winter was coming on. We went to prospecting up in a dry digging. As we got onto the dry place we made enough to pay our debt. By then the water gave out and we could not work anymore. That is the kind of luck we had.
We then bought a river claim on the North Ameri can River, called Nigger Hill. They were going to dig a canal and get water on that hill. We hired out to work for a man who had taken the job on the canal. We worked there until our wages came to $120 when this man ran behind and could not pay us but $20, enough to pay for our grub. Here $100 was lost.
So were just about naked again. When we got water we went to work on the claim we had bought. We had to pay $1.00 an inch for water, and had to have ten inches each day, making it $10.00 a day for water, which was the regular price for water. We made just enough to pay for our water, grub, and tools. Just came out even.
Every Sunday we would pay out what we had made all the previous week. So we quit work on the claim and hired out. We worked by the day for awhile. After awhile people talked about jumping our claim. So I said if they would do as I would we would try the claim once more. I told them my plan. Go to work five days each week and pick the dirt loose and throw all the big rocks out. By doing this we took out just as much gold. That saved $50.00 each week as we would have no water to pay for. It went pre cisely as Brigham Young told us before we left.
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We worked up in the hills this way from Sacra mento. After staying there three years I took it into my head that if I could get to Utah I promised the Lord I would not leave unless I was sent. But, I had great difficulty getting any of the boys to come home with me. But, one day two of the boys concluded to go to, so we went to Sacramento to buy our outfit. We thought next morning of buying a carriage and a span of mules. I was to get the mules and the boys to get the carriage. So when I came to the stable the man had gone away and I could not find him. I started out to find, the boys and tell them that I could not get the mules that day.
I met Lars Jenson and Andrew Peterson (they had visited father’s place). They had not bought a car riage because they had heard that they could get good wages on these, and they had not enough money to get back to Utah. So I was left again. We went again into the mines.
I told one of the boys if he would buy a riding animal I would get an outfit. So he said he would. We left the other man alone. He did not know what to do. He told me that if J would do to him, as I had agreed to do with Larson, he would go too. Alright, I’ll do it”, I said.
We were gone before Fall and I was glad of the company. So I bought my outfit on the river where we used to work. Bought a spring carriage, a span of mules, and a harness, so we started for Utah. We went down to Sacramento and so far it went first rate, But, when at Placerville, we found that there was no one going in wagons, or carriages. Only a few going on pack horse. The boys thought it to be too dangerous to go alone and wanted to buy pack animals and go across with the packers as it was not safe for three to go alone. So I was left alone again. I thought that it would not do to be alone with a wagon. I was afraid I could not keep up. So I sold my wagon and harness for $25. I paid about $100 for it, I think. We had rigged up nice with every thing to live on, but when we commenced to back we could not take all of our goods. Folks would not buy of us because they knew that they could get it for noth
ing. So we started and came across the mountains and got over this side.
These fellows we got in company with had to pound their mules for two hours before they could do anything with them. We got tired of traveling with them. There were only four that joined and started in the company. We left the rest behind and went ahead of them. When we got up into the Humbolt, and on the Snake, or the Mary’s river, the water was bad. The more we drank, the drier we were.
Andrew Peterson got sick and wished we had that carriage. We had to pole along the best we could with our pack animals. When we got to the Bear River we ate our last grub and could not get any
more. That brought us back to Utah. I was a single man all this time.
The first winter we stayed here these two boys got to sparking and running around to parties, I and married in the spring. They had spent all the money they had, and only had enough to keep house with.
I let Brother Heber C. Kimball have my money (he borrowed it). I did just as well as they did. I got back an old mule, a harness, and $25.00 in case, and one thing and another. I took up some land before I went to California. I hired two yoke of oxen of Kimball and bought seed wheat from him. Hired a boy to drive the oxen and hired a plow to plow with. Put in about eight acres of wheat. That was in the spring of 1852. I rented it out to Lars Larson in the spring of 1852, and he was to give me half of what was raised. He was to take care of it. He was to keep my half until I got back, or put it into the tithing office. I did not care much. He kept the wheat and had the use of the land for three summers besides.
When I came back he wanted $100,00 besides for taking care of my place. I did not feel like paying this $100.00, but he kept dunning me for this money every time I would see him. I told him we would lay the matter before Heber C. Kimball and we would do what he said was right.
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CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
We went to Heber and told him what we wanted. Kimball said, Lars Larson (brother to Thurston Larson) he asked him if he was doing to me as he would wish to be done by under these circum stances. He said, ‘yes’. Larson said he was willing to take $50.00. Kimball said, “Are you willing to take $40.00? $30.00? Kimball sat down and wrote him an order for me to pay his tithing. He had the use of all the land for four years and all the wheat I had sown, and $40.00 besides. This is how I came out by going to California.
During the rainy night I was on guard when we were driving cattle to California. Thurston Larson (kind of a bossy’s calf) and I had to watch the cattle. As many times the Indians would come and steal them on a dark rainy night when you could not see your hand before you. Thurston Larson wrapped a blanket around him and went out around the cattle just to try us to see if we were scared. I could not see anything except when it was lightening and this figure I saw and thought it was an Indian. It raised every hair on my head. I could hardly speak. I said. ‘who come there’? I raised my gun. He ran and I ran too. I stammered out again, ‘who’s there?’ Then he stopped and spoke. I nearly came shooting him.”
After his return to Utah from California great grandfather met and married a young woman. She was Anna Jorgenson who was born on April 14, 1840 in Lyngby, Malmohus, Sweden. She was the daughter of Soren Joransson and Karna Nilsson. She was a twin. Her family all converted to Mormonism in Sweden and Anna was baptized just before they came to America. She was baptized on August 17, 1855. In 1855 their family emigrated to America.
Their ship, the John J. Boyd, left Lìverpool, England on December 10, 1855 and arrived in New York Harbor on February 15, 1856. After a stay in Illinois and Iowa they proceeded to Utah.
They came by ox cart. They joined up with the Matthias Cowley Company in Iowa City, Iowa on June 15, 1857. Their company, after many difficul ties, arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley on Septem
ber 13, 1857.
Upon arrival in the valley, Anna Jorgenson went with her family to Spanish Fork where they had been directed by the Church Authorities. In Spanish Fork she met Sondra Sanders Sr. They were married on December 1, 1857, She was seventeen years of age and Sondra was twenty eight. The following are children that were born to
Sondra Sanders Sr and Anna Jorgenson Sanders:
CHILDRENS NAMES BIRTH DATES Austin (Osten) Sanders July 28, 1858 Anna Matilda Sanders October 10, 1859 Sondra Sanders Jr. March 8, 1861 Joseph Sanders November 8. 1862 Orson Sanders November 15,1863 Sarah Sanders November 5, 1865 Heber Soren Sanders October 24, 1868 Peter James Sanders April 1, 1871 George Albert Sanders May 14, 1873 Mary Ellen Sanders April 18, 1876 Harriett Rosella Sanders March 15, 1879
After their marriage Sondra Sanders Sr. took up farming in South Cottonwood, which is now known as Murray Utah, The farm he owned and operated was located on what is now 5900 South Street and was just west of the railroad tracks. The family belonged to the South Cottonwood Ward of the Church. Sondra related in his biography that he went to dig a well and dug seventy-five feet down without reaching water Later they dug a grave in the orchard and found water at the grave depth.
In the Church Historians Office there is recorded an account of services conducted in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on September 13, 1857 where it was announced that Sondra Sanders Sr., and others, would go on the Black Foot Fork Mission. Little is known of this calling, and it was undoubtedly a short assignment as he married Anna Jorgenson less than three months later.
Upon inquiry, The Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints referred
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CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
Sondra Sanders Sr. Family Home in South Cottonwood, Utah
Children of Sondra Sanders Sr. seated at table: Sondra Jr.,l to r: Orson,
George Albert, Harriet Rosella, Peter James, Mary Ellen, and Heber Soren.
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CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
to the Black Foot Fork Mission as a very brief occurrence in connection with the “Echo Canyon War” of 1857. No record of the complete roster of names of those who actually accepted this call are on file with the Historical Department. They further referred to the biographical sketch of Andrew Cunningham in the book “Latter-Day Saint Bio graphical Encyclopedia” by Andrew Jenson. The following is an excerpt taken from that source:
The year he returned from his mission was the year of the “Echo Canyon War”, which began in the latter part of September 1857, so far as Utah was concerned, with the investment by the militia of the mountain passes of the Wasatch, in response to Governor Young’s proclamation placing the Territory under martial law.
About the time of this movement a small com pany of men numbering about fifty were called to go to the Snake River Country to form a new settlement there and to watch any movement that might be made by Johnson’s Army or other hostile forces in that direction. At the head of this company was Capt. Andrew Cunningham. They settled near the present town of Blackfoot, Idaho, but returned to Salt Lake City that same winter.”
The Deseret News reported the death of Sondra’s sister, Ellen Sanders Kimball, on November 22, 1871. She reportedly was in Salt Lake City from her home in Meadowville, near Bear Lake, Utah. She was ill and was at the home of her brother Sondra Sanders Sr. when she died.
On May 5, 1879 Anna Jorgenson Sanders died in South Cottonwood. Three of their children pre ceded her in death; Austin, Joseph, and Sarah. She left eight children living and her youngest, Rose. was just a baby, not even a year old.
After the death of his wife, Sondra was responsible for the care and feeding of his family. He farmed and tended the flock. He soon remarried a young woman named Anna Marie Larson. She married
Sondra on the same date, December 1st, as his first marriage was preformed. Anna Marie Larson was born in the same locality in Sweden, as Sondra’s first wife, Anna Jorgenson Sanders. Anna Marie was born on April 3, 1850 in Sweden. Anna Marie was the child of Lars Anderson and Ellen A. Goranson. From this marriage two additional children were born into the Sanders fold.
CHILDRENS NAMES BÌRTH DATES John Sanders August 29, 1882 Hilda Josephine Sanders January 11, 1884
Sondra Sanders Sr. was characterized by his children as a hard working and religious man. He taught them to be honest and to live lives of righteousness. He taught them the standards of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ which he fully believed and accepted. He never became wealthy, but provided an adequate living for his family. He attended Church often and would sometimes walk miles to the church building. Four of his children; Sondra Jr., Heber, James, and Albert fulfilled missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Three of his children; Sondra Jr., Heber, and James attended the Deseret University (now University of Utah) and became teachers. His son, Orson, was a successful merchant and businessman in Murray.
Sondra Sanders Sr, suffered ill health in his later life. It is known that he traveled to San Francisco in September of 1888 to meet his son, Sondra Jr., who was returning from a mission to New Zealand. While in California Sondra Sanders Sr. undoubtedly relived many of his former adventures as a prospec tor for gold. Sondra Sanders Sr. died on September 2, 1894 in South Cottonwood. He was survived by his wife and ten children. He was buried in the Murray City Cemetery. He was sixty-five years of age at the time of his death. The following patriarchal blessing was given to Sondra Sanders Sr, and is included in this history for the benefit and blessing of his posterity:
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Patriarchal Blessing of Sondra Sanders Sr.
CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
Given in South Cottonwood Ward September 22, 1862, by John Young, Patriarch, on the head of Sondra Sanders Sr., son of Osten and Aase Sanders, born in Norway. Brother Sanders:
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I now lay my hands upon your head to bless you. Inasmuch as you have embraced the Gospel and desire to do good and to help build up the Kingdom and live the life of the righteous, you shall be blest with the graces of the Holy Spirit.
From this time henceforth and forever no evil or accident shall befall you. The Lord has had His eye upon you and preserved you through dangers seen and unseen. Satan had desired to destroy you; yet the good Spirit has followed you, and you feel in your heart to work righteousness and to help build up the Kingdom, therefore I feel to bless you, and say let your heart be comforted.
You are a literal descendant of Joseph and entitled to the blessings which have been promised to the faithful sons of Abraham, which shall rest upon you. You shall be blest in
your outings and your incomings and whatever you put your hand to do, you shall prosper.
If you will trust in the Lord you shall never be confounded. You are entitled to the Holy Priesthood, which you shall hold a fullness of and in the own due time of the Lord you will have power to govern and control yourself and all that is under your jurisdiction. You shall have wives and children and posterity upon the earth and be a blessing to your father’s house and to your forefathers. The gifts and the graces of the Spirit shall rest upon your head. Your mind shall expand. It shall be your meat and your drink to do the will of your Heavenly Father.
You shall be blest in your fields and in your gardens and in flocks and in your herds. I seal upon you the blessing of health and prosperity and long life. If you desire it, you can live to see the overthrow of Babylon, and the Saints, gathered up to the Center Stake of Zion and shall yet become a mighty man in helping to roll forth the Kingdom. Your name shall be honorable among the Elders. You shall become acquainted with the Holy Ordinances of the House of the Lord and be prepared to be a minister of salvation and assist in gathering Israel and bearing your testimony and build up the cities of Zion, and wicked men and devils shall have no power over you.
Your feet shall be shod with the preparations of the gospel of Peace. Truth, and righteousness shall be the girdle of your loins. You may be called to hold important stations in the Kingdom of God, therefore, Brother, be faithful and humble.
The Lord had designs to make a polished shaft of you, that you may be a great blessing to your forefathers, even to become a Savior on Mount Zion. Inasmuch as you are faithful no good thing shall be withheld from you. You shall be a bright and shining light. You can live on the earth until your head and hair become as white as the pure wool.
You shall be clothed with salvation as with a mantle and the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit shall rest upon you. You shall have power to administer to the afflicted, and many shall call you blessed.
I seal upon you a Holy Resurrection.
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REFERENCES
CHAPTER TEN: Sondra Sanders Sr.
3. Biography of Mary Ellen Sanders Frame,
1. History of Sondra Sanders Sr,, as told to his son Peter James Sanders, and recorded notes taken in shorthand.
2. “Our Pioneer Heritage”, compiled by Kate B. Carter and published by the Daughters of The Utah Pioneers, Vol, 8 & 9.
4. Biography of Heber Soren Sanders.
5. TALL TIMBER, by B1aine M. Yorgason, Ricks College Press, 1976.
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CHAPTER ELEVEN Aase Sanderson
Of all the orphans of Beaver Creek least is
known about this eighth child of Osten andAase Sondresson Bakka. She was born on Bakkajord, Tinn, Telemark, Norway on October 18, 1831.
Aase was probably named after her mother. She was just six years of age when the family left Norway for America, She is listed on the Brig Noord passenger manifest as “Aase” a female of the age of five years.
She would have been only six years old when her parents were taken in death by the epidemic of Beaver creek.
No known information is available on this child after her arrival in America and presumably Beaver Creek, Illinois. She is truly the missing orphan of Beaver Creek.
It is speculated that she was taken by some local family, or even some transient family, who wanted a young girl to raise or to work for them. Her brother,
Sondra, related that after the death of the parents some of the children were taken by one or another family. They were evidently separated as a family.
A search of the official government records of LaSalle County do not reveal any information on her. LaSalle County Clerk Tom P. Walsh certified that a search of all available records from 1832 to 1877 revealed no information on this person under the name of Aase Sanderson.
LaSalle County is where most of the Norwegian emigrants settled after Beaver Creek. Aase could have been raised by one of these families and as sumed their family name and raised under that
identification. It can be assumed at this time that she has been lost to our family as we are left with little or no clues as to where she went or what her fate might have been.
Perhaps someday information will come to light as to this missing orphan of Beaver Creek.
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CHAPTER TWELVE
Ole “George” Sanderson
Ole Sanderson was born in Tinn, Telemark,
Norway on Bakkajord farm. He was born onFebruary 28, 1835. We was the ninth child of Osten and Aase Sondreson Bakka. It is known that upon arrival in America, and after Beaver Creek, he assumed the anglicized name of George Sanderson (or perhaps Sanders as the other children chose to use after Beaver Creek).
Ole, or George. was only two years of age when the family left Norway for their new land of America. After the death of his parents in Beaver Creek during the winter/spring of 1837-38 little is known as to what happened to him. He undoubtedly found his way to the Fox River Settlements and lived with some family that adopted him in a similar manner as his siblings. In later life he was aware that his three siblings had joined the Mormon Church and had gone to Utah. So it is assumed that he lived some where in the vicinity of LaSalle County and had contact with the others members of his family.
In the U.S. Census for 1850 there is listed a George Sanderson in Ottawa Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. This George Sanderson is listed as a farm hand living with one Marcus Monill and his wife on a farm. Two other farmhands are listed as living on this farm. It is possible that this is our “Little Ole” of Beaver Creek.
No other information is known about this child until later in the 1860’s. He presumably lived in LaSalle County from the Beaver Creek era until the mid 1860’s when he showed up in Utah. Family histories of those who came west to Utah relate that in the mid 1860’s Ole, then known as George, came to Salt Lake City on his way West to California, He stopped in South Salt Lake City and inquired of a storekeeper about his two sisters, Ellen and Harriet, and his brother, Sondra. The shopkeeper told him of their where abouts. But George was very antago nistic toward the Mormons’ and would not go see his sisters and brother. Instead he continued on his way to California. A few hours later the shopkeeper sent word to Sondra Sanders Sr. that his brother was at the store and had inquired after him. Sondra went immediately to the store and found that Ole, or George, had left and could not be found. It is reported that he cried over missing his brother and finding out the brother did not want to see them. He was very disappointed when he tried and failed to locate him in the valley.
No other information is known about George Sanderson and it is assumed from the information given to the family, from the storekeeper, that he proceeded to California. While it is possible that he may have returned to Illinois later in life, it is more probable that he lived his life somewhere in the west between Utah and his reported destination of California.
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PART FOUR:
THE UTAH PIONEER FAMILY
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ellen Sanders Kimball and Descendants
An attempt has been made by this author to
author obtain information on the descen-dants of Ellen Sanders Kimball who came to Utah with the first company of Mormon pioneers in 1847. Ellen and her sister, Harriet, were married to Heber Chase Kimball in Nauvoo, Illinois on January 12, 1846. They had been converts to the church for about two years when they traveled to Nauvoo to attend a church conference. The two sisters re mained in Nauvoo and about fifteen months later were married to Heber, one of the Twelve Apostles of the church. They entered into polygamy with the knowledge that the principle had been revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and was practiced with church approval among the members, and with approval of church leaders. Ellen was with the first company of emigrants to the Great Salt lake Valley. They arrived in July 1847. She is memorialized on the “This is the Place” monument at the head of Emigration canyon in Salt Lake City. She was one of the three women to come to the valley in the first company.
Little history is available to tell of her journey to the west and her subsequent life in Utah. This author has been in touch with the Kimball Family Organiza tion, and on one occasion attended one of the family reunions and business meetings. As Heber Chase Kimball had over twenty wives during his lifetime there were many different branches of the family that met in this organization. No one at the family reunion knew anything of the descendants of Ellen Sanders Kimball, or the family of her sister Harriett. The leadership of the organization tried to assist in putting me in touch with some of her family, but it did not prove successful.
It is known that after arriving in Utah she stayed in Salt Lake City until the death of her husband and then relocated to Meadowville on the southern end of Bear Lake in Rich County, Utah. She had five children in all.
ELLEN SANDERS KIMBALL
Born: April 11, 1823
Place: Bakkajord, Tinn, Telemark, Norway
Married: Heber Chase Kimball
Date: January 12, 1846
Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois
Died: November 22, 1871
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah
Buried: Kimball-Whitney Cemetery
Salt Lake City, Utah
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH 1. Samuel Kimball January 1842 Died July 1848
2. Joseph Sanders Kimball June 2, 1850 (twin) Died 1865
3. Augusta Kimball June 2, 1850 (twin) Died 1862
4. Rosalla Kimball November 25, 1853
Married : Manassah Williams
May 11, 1867
Died Feb. 22, 1950
5. Jedediah Heber Kimball March 10, 1855
Married: Eleanor Oline Mary Lufkin
May 23, 1876
Died June 24, 1927
Note: Child #5 also known as Jedediah Heber Chase Grant Kimball according to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers.
Reference: “Life of Heber C. Kimball” by Orson F. Whitney
Page 50
ROSALIA KIMBALL
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Ellen Sanders Kimball
JEDEDIAH HEBER C. GRANT KIMBALL
Married (1) Manassah Woodville Williams Date: unknown
CHILDREN BIRTHDATE 1. Rosalia Marison Williams October 27, 1868 2. Francis Edgar Williams June 23, 1871 3. Manassah W. Williams March 24, 1873
Married: (2) Joseph Smith Gordon
Date: unknown
CHILDREN BIRTHDATE 1. Ellen Augusta Gordon 11 April 1879 (Sealed to mother and Manassah Williams)
Married: (3) Edward Edwards
Date: unknown
No children known
Married: (1) Eleanor Oline Mary Lufkin Date: May 23, 1876
CHILDREN BIRTHDATE 1. Eva Oline Kimball April 14, 1879 Married Edward Hodges October 14, 1896
2. Lola Rosalia Kimball July 11, 1885 Married Charlie Daniel Fox March 30, 1904 Died August 9, 1914
3. Don Lufkin Kimball May 7, 1887 Married Sharlot Perry July 19, 1906. Died May 22, 1966
4. Oren Leslie Kimball July 9, 1889 Died Dec. 6, 1901
5. Sadie Irene Kimball April 25, 1891 Married James William Rose Sept. 13, 1906.
6. George L. Kimball January 20, 1894 Married Gladys Ross
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Harriet Sanders Kimball and Descendants
Even less information is known of Harriet Sanders Kimball than that of her sister, Ellen Sanders Kimball. She was born on Bakkajord, Tinn, Telemark, Norway in 1824 and came to America with her family in 1837 at the age of twelve.
She did not come to Utah with her husband, Apostle Heber chase Kimball, and her sister, Ellen. They came with the first company of pioneers in 1847. Harriet came about a year later with another company. She too stayed in Salt Lake until the death of her husband and then relocated to Meadowville, Rich County, Utah. This small farming community lies on the south end of Bear Lake Valley. Her sister Ellen lived in the same community.
She had three children by Heber Chase Kimball.
HARRIET SANDERS KIMBALL
Born: December 7, 1824
Place: Bakkajord, Tinn, Telemark, Norway Died: September 5, 1896
Place: Meadowville, Rich County, Utah Married: Heber Chase Kimball
January26, 1846
Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH 1. Harriet Kimball 1852
2. Hyrum Heber Kimball July 6, 1855 3. Eugene Kimball 1863
References:
“Life of Heber C Kimball,” by Orson F. Whitney
—Life sketch of Hyrum Heber Kimball furnished by the Kimball Family Organization
HYRUM HEBER KIMBALL
Hyrum Heber Kimball, the eldest son of Heber C. Kimball and Harriet Sanders, was born in Salt Lake City July 6, 1855. A sister, Harriet, was born in 1852 and died at birth. A brother, Eugene, was born in 1863.
Though Hyrum was young when his father, Heber C. Kimball, passed away, he remembered well how his father prayed as though the Lord were right there with him.
Hyrum served a two-year L.D.S. mission to Virginia during a period of much hostility to the Church.
A number of the wives and children of Heber C. Kimball were sent to colonize Bear Lake country and Hyrum and Eugene made a home in Meadowville, Rich County. Utah. with their mother. Eugene met a Meadowville girl and married in 1883, but Hyrum remained single and looked after his mother until her death in 1896. During this time Hyrum taught school for a number of years. He was also a choir leader and the postmaster.
After his mother’s death, Hyrum left Bear Lake and went to work in the mines. At this time he met Elizabeth May Hale, a pretty, young girl from Mor gan. Utah, and they were married June 10, 1897, in Salt Lake City. Their first child, Norman, was born three years later in Salt Lake. Vilate Harriet was born in Snyderville, Utah., in 1902.
Around 1904 they answered the pioneer call and moved to Raymond, Alberta, Canada. They had five more children there: Ruth, Della, Lola Mary, John and Ellen.
Jessie Knight brought the beet sugar industry to Alberta and Hyrum was employed as Field Superin tendent or overseer for the entire beet-growing part of the business. When the Knight factory was closed
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Harriet Sanders Kimball and Descendants
a number of years later, Hyrum worked as a gardener and landscaper and as a caretaker of the Raymond 2nd Ward Chapel until he was in his 80’s.
Hyrum was always a teacher at heart and insisted that every one of his children receive a good educa tion. He was such an outstanding father and had such an influence over all the young people that he came in contact with, that he was offered the job of sheriff but turned it down.
Hyrum died June 5, 1943, in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, and was buried there.
HYRUM HEBER KIMBALL
and
ELIZABETH MAY HALE
I. Norman Hyrum Kimball & Ruth Mae Hamilton 1. Norman Hyrum Kimball &
Lois Afton Wardle
A. Robert Leroy Kimball
Dorothy Alleene Kimball and Richard Samuel Leavitt
(1) Cody Samuel Leavitt
(2) Calvin Samuel Leavitt
2. Kathleen Kaye Kimball & Austin Whitlock A. Paul Leslie Witlock & Judy McKean
(1) Tray Lynn Whitloek
(2) Yvonne Whitlock
B. James Stanley Whitlock
C. Stephen Leroy Whitlock & Geraldine Dewilde
(1) Nanette Whitlock
(2) Shane Lee Whitlock
D. Linda Jean Whitlock & Edward Hofseth (1) Edward Hofseth
3. Marjorie Mae Kimball (deceased)
4. Helen Merle Kimball & Everett Thompson A. Yvonne Denise Thompson & Bruce
William Wilhelms
B. Timothy Gene Thompson
5. Miriam Joyce Kimball &
Norman Merlin Becker
A. Norman Merlin Becker
B. Shirley Ann Becker &
Gerald Henry Holt
(1) Lola Louse Bolt
(2) Lydia Mae Bolt
C. Marjorie Mae Becker &
William J. Edwards
(1) Eddie Ercanbrack
D. Craig Otto Becker
6. Margaret Jean Kimball &
William J. Edwards
A. Patricia Ann Edwards &
Lee Rosenbaum
(1) Erin Lee Rosenbaum
B. William J. Edwards & Sheryl
(1) William J. Edwards IV
C. Dennis Robert Edwards &
Brenda Millard
(1) Mark Allen Edwards
(2) Dennis Edwards
D. Margaret Jean Edwards &
Dale Edmunds
E. Diane Edwards
F. Roy Edwards
G. Irene Deleen Edwards & Chris Rutz H. Carol Ann Edwards
II. Vilate Harriet Kimball & Leon Skillen Fownes 1. Elizabeth Fownes (died young)
2. Gladys Lilly Fownes & George Hertz A. Lawrence Leon Hertz & Eileen
(1) Larland Hertz
A. Lawrence Leon Hertz & Dwila
B. Frances Vilate Hertz &
Kenneth Rosenau
(1) Kenneth Rosenau, Jr.
(2) Laura Lee Rosenau
(3) Bonnie Rosenau
(4) Barry Rosenau
C. Douglas Hertz
D. Robert Hertz and Joyce
(1) Dylan Hertz
(2) Carrie Hertz
(3) Travis Hertz
E. Anthony Hertz
Page 53
F. Donna Hertz
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Harriet Sanders Kimball and DescendantsD. Norma Thompson & William Heath
G. Joy Hertz & William Tilley
(1) Troy Tilley
(2) Monica Tilley
H. Gerald Hertz
I. Gregory Hertz
3. Ruth Alberta Kimball &
Ralph Boswell Baker
A. Susan Camille Baker & Clive Court (1) Carson Court
4. Della Alice Kimball &
Winton Leroy Thompson
A. Joan Kimball Thompson &
Donald Gary Midgley
(1) Kim
(2) Susan
(3) Elizabeth
(4) Gavin
B. Deanna Mae Thompson &
William Neale
(1) Jill Neale
(2) Gregory Neale
C. Charles Winton Thompson & Diane Steele
(1) Terry Thompson
(2) Sandra Thompson
(3) Heather Thompson
(1) Shannon Heath
(2) William Heath
(3) David Heath
5. Lola Mary Kimball & Edward Flexhaug A. Barbara Flexhaug &
Ronald John Gorzitza
(1) Wendy Marlene Gorzitza
(2) Brenda Joyce Gorzitza &
Clive Robin Peter Joseph
(3) Gregory Dean Gorzitza
(4) Robert Douglas Gorzitza
(5) Darren Boyd Gorzitza
B. Richard Jerry Flexhaug &
Grace Eileen Rutledge
(1) Richard Dale Flexhaug
(2) Patrìcia Dawn Flexhaug
6. John M. Kimball & Anna Pellick
7. Ellen Claire Kimball
Reference: Life Sketch on Hyrum Heber Kimball and Family
Furnished by the Kimball Family Organization
Page 54
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
SONDRA SANDERS SR.
Born: February 6, 1829
Place: Bakkajord, Tinn, Telemark, Norway Died: September 21, 1894
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah
Buried: Murray City Cemetery
Married: First: Anna Jorgenson
December 1, 1857
Second: Anna Marie Larson
December 1, 1881
FIRST MARRIAGE
CHILDREN’S NAMES BIRTHDATES 1. Austin Sanders (Osten) July 28, 1858 (Died in infancy)
2. Anna Matilda Sanders October 10, 1859 3. Sondra Sanders Jr. March 8, 1861 4. Joseph Sanders November 8, 1862 (Died in infancy)
5. Orson Sanders Nov. 15, 1863 6. Sarah Sanders November 5, 1865 (died in infancy)
7. Heber Soren Sanders October 24, 1868 8. Peter James Sanders April 1, 1871 9. George Albert Sanders May 14, 1873 10. Mary Ellen Sanders April 18, 1876 11. Harriet Rosella Sanders March 15, 1879
SECOND MARRIAGE
CHILDREN NAMES BIRTHDATES 1. John Sanders August 29, 1882 2. Hilda Josephine Sanders January 11, 1884
AUSTIN SANDERS
Born: July 28, 1858
Place: South Cottonwood, Salt Lake
Died: September 17, 1858
Place: Salt Lake
ANNA MATILDA SANDERS
This author has tried to find descendants of Anna Matilda in an effort to include a history of this oldest child of Sondra Sanders Sr. and Anna Jorgenson. The best information available would indicate that there were no children born to her. She died just three years after her marriage to William Boam. Only barest of facts can be included about her life and history.
When “Tillie”, as she was called, was about twenty years of age her mother died. She assumed great responsibility in the family. It is reported that she assumed the responsibility of house cleaning, feed ing, washing, and caring for her younger brothers and sisters. Her father remarried a year or so later. Tillie married a young man that came to the family homestead to court her. He was William Boam who worked in the vicinity for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. He did grading work for the railroad. About a year after her father married again Tillie married William Boam. She then took her little sister Rose, who was just a baby, and cared for her until her own death in 1884. She was greatly respected by the family for her care and concern.
William Boam and Anna Matilda Sanders
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
ANNA MATILDA SANDERS
Born: October 10, 1859
Place: South Cottonwood (Salt Lake City, Utah) Died: February 1, 1884
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah
Married: William Boam
December 29, 1881
SONDRA SANDERS JR
and His Descendants
Born: March 8 1861
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah
(South Cottonwood)
Died: March I, 1934
Place: Salt Lake City, Utah
Buried: Murray City, Cemetery
Married: Annie Caroline Steffensen
Date: May 2, 1889
CHILDREN BIRTHDATES
1. George Sondra Sanders January 15, 1891 2. Ellen Winifred Sanders December 1, 1892 3. Alice Irene Sanders February 10, 1895 4. Lucy Sanders March 13, 1897 5. Elden Eugene Sanders June 28, 1899 6. Orson Leroy Sanders November 3, 1901 7. Christian Harold Sanders June 1, 1904 8. Lester Steffenson Sanders February 2, 1907 9. Raymond Sanders April 4, 1908 10.Walter Ronald Sanders September21. 1911 11. Milton Wesley Sanders March 24, 1917
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF SONDRA SANDERS JR.
Written by his son Orson Leroy Sanders
Annie Caroline Steffensen Sanders
and Sondra Sanders Jr.
The following was the opening comment of my father’s brief biographical sketch from his journal begun on his 24th birthday, March 8, 1885:
“I was born on the 8th day of March in the year 1861, South Cottonwood Ward, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory. I was the third child of my parents, Sondra and Annie Sanders. My father is Norwegian and my mother Swedish, hence of Scandinavian descent.
My father was eight years old when he came to America and my mother about 17 and though they could and often did speak in their native
language, I never learned it sufficiently to speak it. I, however, understood most of what was said
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
when common objects and daily occurrences
were spoken of.”
As the two older children died Sondra Jr. was the next eldest of six boys and three girls in the family. He was an obedient and very truthful child remem bering only one whipping in his lifetime though he says there may have been more, and on that occasion the switch hurt not nearly so much as his feelings.
One falsehood also stood out in his history. He had the use of his father’s pocket knife and loaned it to his brother. It was returned to him and subsequently could not be found. He knew his brother had returned it and his brother knew he had returned it, but for some reason when the knife was wanted it could not be found, and father disclaimed any knowledge of it having been returned to him. Much later it was found in his Sunday pants pocket. This, he said, was a lesson needed only once and his feelings and conscience were severely affected.
He attended about ten schools, each with a different teacher. Five of them placed him in the primary and intermediate classes and the last five placed him among the leaders and in the highest classes.
He belonged to four “Societies”. Two debating societies and two YMMIA’s (Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations). He belonged to the South Cottonwood Debating Society and the Hawthorne Debating Society of the University of Deseret. He belonged to the South Cottonwood Ward and the Farmers Ward YMMIA’s. He was a member of the Teachers Institute of Salt Lake County in 1885.
He was born in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and had a strong and enthusiastic faith and belief in the Church. He went regularly to church services and Sunday School, but he said he resented the compulsion that made him go at the desire of his parents. They lived a long way west of State Street, but the South Cottonwood Ward was far up on the hill beyond the cemetery, east of Murray, and it was a long ways to go.
As a boy he herded sheep and cattle on the western hills of the valley in the Oquirrh Mountains and loved the outdoors. Frequently in winter time, as a boy he would run out and roll in the snow with no clothes on at all and come in for a brisk rubdown.
For some reason, not explained, he was baptized when he was 16 years old. His mother died in the year 1878 when he was 17, the tiny baby at the time of her death was his sister Rose. Later, his father married Anna Maria Larson and the young children thought the world of her. However, much friction developed and after a while Sondra left home, attending school at the University of Deseret. He then took a school teaching job for the George Q. Cannon family where he lived and taught. For this he had worked terribly hard as a section hand on the railroad and other jobs to put himself through the University.
On Sunday morning March 8, 1885, his birth day, he wrote in his journal the following:
“Twenty four years old today, with a grateful heart I arose this morning from a sweet night’s repose, and on looking out of my window, nature met me with a smile—an invitation to partake of her genial spirit of Spring. The birds were singing their makers praise and I, in turn, knelt in thanks to God.”
He reviewed that morning his life to date, and aside from some things “that might have been”, he was pleased, but yet unsatisfied with his career. He had done modestly well under many unfavorable circum stances.
Sondra Jr. received a mission call to the land of New Zealand which at that time was part of the Austra lian Mission, and on June 29, 1885, he left a crowd of friends at the Denver and Rio Grande Depot. His destination that night was not very far distant as he was staying with another university school chum at Farmington. The next day however, he was joined in Ogden by two more missionaries who were to travel
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
to New Zealand with him, one of whom was a Maori.
Sunday, July 5, at 2 P.M., the eventful journey across the Pacific began aboard the Steam Sailboat “City of Sidney.” Not too much is said about the fact that they traveled “steerage” of the cheapest accommoda tions aboard ship, but the comments in his journal are most interesting. They were not allowed to buy palatable items of food from the ship personnel other than that served to them. They were not allowed to mix with the more favored passengers except on one occasion when they were asked to preach at Sunday Services.
Also, he told of the rats constantly running from under the bunks and boxes and baggage. Sea Sick ness was a constant companion.
The long sea journey was relieved by a pleasurable one day stop over at Honolulu. Here missionaries and natives gave them abundantly of food and fruits, even the famous “poi” was sampled but disliked. One week spent on the voyage here and two more to go. The good old 24th of July was wiped from the records as they crossed the International Date Line.
Navigator Island, only a stop to drop mail in a small boat, the Friendly Islands, a whale, and the Steamer “Zealandia” passing close by, all were brief interludes of rather ill health and not too peppy feelings.
A number of philosophic and religious conversa tions were mentioned and the journey went along slowly. The 26th of July brought a feeling of good health and rejoicing, soon the Great Barrier Reefs of Australia was passed, island after island. Monday morning July 27th, Auckland was reached and the meeting with the Elders. He discovered that the weather of New Zealand is moist, chilly, and dis agreeably cold.
His early mission was spent with no companion and he tried so hard to learn the language. The people were very good to him. He lived with a well-to-do Maori Chief. His hearing was such a detriment to him that he could not catch the pronunciation and
inflections of the spoken word, so he studied it from book and began translating the New Testament verses daily. He remembered a blessing promised to him by the Patriarch John H. Smith, that he would speak fluently the words of Life and Salvation in the native tongue of those among whom he would sojourn. Therefore, he prayed that this blessing would be his.
Humorously he told of the habits of all who slept in a common room. All the family, he and also the young ladies present, could get into their beds and then undress under the covers. In the morning, upon awakening, the process would be reversed.
Another vivid description of a household or family was on an occasion after a long and stormy walk with no raincoat or protection from the rain. They came to a little shack soaking wet, the mother bade them welcome. They entered into a one room house about ten by twelve feet in size, full of smoke from the open fire usually in the center of the room, three young boys and two girls, all naked without a stitch of clothing, dirty and covered with sores, running sores on their bodies and arms and faces, each had their own little blanket to roll up in for the night. After feeding them with the best of what they had, they also were given a blanket for the night. He retired, but not to sleep, as all through the night he was aroused and lighting a candle would search for fleas. He records a total of 225 fleas killed and no sleep.
He wrote of having his first drink of water in over one month, except for the Sacrament on one occa sion. He had two cups of milk and had been sus tained by eating plenty of melons. He became gradually, quite proficient in the native tongue and when Pres. Paxman spoke in a meeting he was asked to interpret for him and was complimented very profusely by the natives. Proficiency in the language comes of course from hard constant work and father never stopped working. On Nov. 6, 1886, father and his companion started on a new pamphlet, they were asked to write in Maori, on “The First Principles” and ending with their testimony. He was also on a
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
committee which revised the Sacrament Prayer translation.
On January 11, 1886, at Nuhaka, the first L.D.S. school was begun with 20 students and two teachers. No books but slates and homemade blackboards were used. This school was a historic beginning in the Church education of the Maori people and it was a real struggle over the years. Father relates in his latter writing how he prayed that he would be an instrument in opening a school for the Maori people and that he would also be called to help translate the Book of Mormon into the Maori language. It was, he said, only after a few weeks that he was asked to begin and organize the school and only several months later he was set apart to help translate the Book of Mormon.
On Sunday, March 13, 1887, assignments for the next year being made, Father and Ezra F. Richards were given the assignment of translating the Book of Mormon into the Maori language. The Priesthood in their meetings had voted to support the work by their donations and raising the necessary money for the publication. All the missionaries were asked to sustain the work by their prayers and to teach the members of the Church the same. Sister Paxman, the President’s wife, was chosen to cook and keep house and help in any way possible. All these things were voted upon and sustained in the official confer ence meetings.
A new six-room house was offered and provided in which all who were concerned in the translating would live and be comfortable. It was a real moving day, by horses and carts. This home was located in Wakaututu, and was to be headquarters for quite some time. A special room was set apart and dedi cated by Pres. Paxman for a translating room. Pres. Paxman laid his hands upon Elder Richards head and set him apart to the special work of translating the Book of Mormon. Then Pres. Paxman and Elder Richards pronounced a like blessing on father. Each day they found the actual translating slow and difficult, interrupted by many necessary trips, meet ings, particularly on Sundays. Each day they went up
into the nearby hills and cut a supply of firewood for the household chores, but the interruptions were often much welcomed in the confining work of the day. After nearly two months of early morning work by candlelight and till nearly midnight they calcu lated that only one seventh of the book had been translated, not to mention revision, corrections and proofreading. Looking ahead the labor seemed mountainous.
Every Sunday work on translating was suspended. Father or Bro. Richards, or both together, would cross the river nearby and hold meetings, if the streams were not swollen too deep by numerous rains.
Sister Paxman did not get much relief. She cooked and kept house for them and often acting as scribe in the translating. Occasionally other missionaries
dropped by. Horses were usually the means of transportation if one did not walk. Sometimes emergencies would come up, deaths, etc., and it would take a day or so of travel to reach their objec tive.
On Sunday, July 24, 1887, two Elders came by with very sad news. An Elder Brigham Willard Young had died. He was some 180 miles away and father and Elder Stewart were selected to ride the long journey and lend what help they might give in taking care of the body. It was a wild ride, through dense forests, over mountains, on two little ponies that were available. Finally borrowing horses along the way, through the night they went. The horses would stumble and fall and were so worn out they didn’t care if they got up or not. On arriving at their destination at Nuhaka, they were informed that the body had been taken further on. They continued on and on in pouring rain and in the black night only to find the folks had taken the body still further along for convenience.
Finally they came upon the group at night holding a late meeting and really surprised them. Father was laid up several days by a very severe cold brought on by the damp and hard journey. They waited a num
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Sondra Sanders Sr. and Descendants
ber of days until a lead coffin was brought by ship and finally the body was sent on its way to Zion.
Along the way home when they got to Elder Wright’s, they were handed a Gisborne news clip ping in which was an item datelined, New York, July 28, 1887, which read: “Intelligence had been re ceived of the death of Taylor, President of the Mormon Church, who was a fugitive from justice.” Father comments that it was a hard light in which to present the end of a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the Lord.
Every days journal entry tells of how much Elder Richards and father had translated that day. They were each doing it separately and it seemed to be
moving steadily along. On Thursday, September 8, 1887, they realized the halfway mark had been reached. Four months and two weeks time.
Pres. Paxman told them that it had been revealed to him who was to translate the Book of Mormon. After what seemed like mountains of paper and endless days the final work, including title page, Testimony of the Witnesses, and complete index, was completed, finishing at 17 minutes to 9 o’clock on the evening of the 24th of November 1887. The total time elapsed was seven months lacking one day.
Much time must still be spent in revisions. Revisions began December 5, 1887. No help was forthcoming as was promised earlier, so many little corrections began on nearly every verse. Many disappointments were faced during the tedious work of correcting the manuscript. Some of the Maori help that did show up was incompetent and not too dependable. Work was continually being interrupted by meeting visi tors, work, and sickness. Sisters Paxman and Marriott helped considerably in reading and copying for them.
They received much appreciated encouragement and admonitions from letters written by President Woodruff concerning the translation. Negotiations were entered into with printers in Auckland for the publishing of the book when ready. The completed revision and re-reading with two Maori advisors
ended on the night of March 24, 1888, an elapsed time of 3 months and 21 days. A total time of translating and revisions being 10 months and 29 days.
It was a very busy time getting ready for Conference, thanking the people who had loaned the house for translating, all who provided help, food, and cloth ing during this long time of work. Conference started on April 6th at TeHauke. Most of them traveled by horseback for a number of days. Others who could pay the steamer fare or who were ill went by boat. It was a note-worthy trip and a joy to meet with so many Elders, Sisters, and members.
At the Conference it was decided that a central place, in the District of which father had been appointed president, should be chosen for the final work on the manuscript. TeHauke was chosen. Ngaore T Hapuke offered his house for the purpose and it was accepted. Father’s companion in translat ing, Elder Ezra F. Richards and a number of others left for America on Sat. April 4, 1888.
Pres. and Sister Paxman, and father, left by train and traveled to TeHauki again. Here Tetina Hakopa came, who was chosen to help with the re-reading of the manuscript, and on May 2, the work was begun. Fifty pages were read and it was found that all types of errors, omissions, or additions averaged only one for each page. Ratina however was excused and further help sought.
Sister Katie Paxman again took care for them in cooking and keeping house. Father says she made him two new pair of garments out of the white flannel he had bought. On July 4th after many weeks of writing manuscript, Pres. Paxman talked with father about his release. That as soon as the manuscript was read before a committee he would be free to go home. On July 20th, just as Pres. Paxman lighted the lamps, father said he wrote the last verse and, as he said, “It let me breath a little more freely.”
However, there was yet a preface to translate when
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Pres. Paxman got it ready, as well as the testimony of the three witnesses, an index which hadn’t been finished before, then of course reading of the whole for the conference.
An interesting chart is included in his journal showing the dates and what verses were re-written. On July 31 and August 1, the translation and rewrite of the preface was completed, making a grand total of 2161 pages of manuscript, written on one side with ruled margin on the right. The English version of the Maori preface is on page 113, Volume five, of father’s journals. Two natives were to come and take over the final reading of the manuscript, but as so often happened, didn’t arrive so it was started with two other Maori’s. Brother Jury came and assisted tremendously in the final reading and was the best help they had. Friday, August 3 1st, the reading was finished at about 5 p.m. and father shed tears of joy. He stayed up till 3 A.M. busy packing and getting the manuscript ready for the printers.
Saturday was the start of Conference and Pres. Paxman spoke very highly of father concerning his labors among the Maoris and on the Book of Mor mon—saying there wasn’t another Elder in the whole mission that had labored so zealously as he. There seemed a spirit among the native groups, somehow against the immediate printing of the book. But after much explanation and preaching it was agreed that he, father, would take the manuscript with him the following day to Auckland. Finances, which were questionable, were promised by the various districts for the second payment within three months.
At the early meeting of the conference on Septem ber 1st, Pres. Paxman asked father to speak first as this was the day he was leaving for home. All belong ings were hurriedly gathered together down by the railroad tracks, or stopping place of the train. Fare wells were tearfully said and a general “hongi”. At Napier he got his ticket for Aukland and San Fran cisco- the first costing L 21-2 and the latter L 18-0-0 including a 10% reduction. Other money was given him by Pres. Paxman, L75-0-0 to give to the Star Office for the first payment on the Book of Mor
mon printing. He also gave father his release papers and a specially written letter of appreciation.
The sea was so rough that he became seasick as soon as the launch got him aboard the big steamer, which took several hours, then overnight to Gisborne, where he again was sick, but found that laying down saved his meals. The trip to Auckland was smooth and upon arrival he was surprised to be met by EIder J.E. Magleby who was one of the Elders he came to New Zealand with over three years earlier. A Mr. and Mrs. Rogers asked him to stay at their home.
Tuesday, September 5th, Elders Magleby and Rom ney took him to the Star Publishing Office where the manuscripts were left with the first payment of L75-0-0. Receipts were made out and letters to Pres. Paxman in explanation. Several days were spent around Auckland with friends and seeing the city. Meetings and testimonies were borne. A deck chair was purchased, being the custom, and a Maori Bible and miscellaneous items including a new suit for $12.50.
He set sail on the S.S. Zealandia, homeward bound, alone and not knowing a soul, except a colored barber on the ship. A letter was handed him by the steward from his Salt Lake friend Ezra Stevenson, now at Uawa, Tologa Bay, expressing his and the Saints love on his homeward journey. Five days on the water and a stop was made at the island of Tutuila, where officials and natives in boats came out to the ship.
The first Sunday on board ship father was asked to conduct religious services. He was a steerage passen ger the same as on the trip out and the meeting was
held on the quarter deck. None of the cabin class passengers showed up for the meeting save one or two. Father said it was a meeting in which he talked straight from the shoulder and presented Mormon ism and the Gospel in all it’s simplicity. Inviting anyone who would like further information to see him after the meeting. The crowd melted away like a mist except a one-armed old man who seemed to be a crank.
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His visit in Honolulu was a very short one, but the Hawaiians were delighted when he talked to them in Maori because it was like their own tongue. He met no one that he knew. Arrived in San Francisco, September 29, 1888. He was surprised by his father (Sondra Sanders Sr.) meeting him at his hotel. His father was not in the best of health.
Upon his return home he spoke in his home ward at the old South Cottonwood meeting house. My mother lived about a mile southeast of the church. She said that she had a dream in which she saw a certain young man and said, “That is the man I’m going to marry”. That young man was Sondra Sanders Jr. and the first time they met was when he spoke in church that night. They were married the next spring, May 2, 1889 in Manti Temple. He records the fact that he weighed 195 pounds, was six feet tall, had brown eyes and dark hair, and was 28 years old. Mother was a beautiful girl, tall and blue eyed and black hair, and only 18 years old.
They lived in Murray after their marriage, for a year or so while father worked in his brother Orson’s butcher shop. There were four brothers at the store and it fell to mothers lot to wash for all four men. This was a back-breaking job on the scrubbing board.
.
They then moved to 1st South and 1st West in Salt Lake, in President John Taylor’s old home, where
Children of Sondra Sanders Jr.- 1 to r: Winifred Sanders Bowers, Annie Caroline Sanders, Lucy Sanders, George Sanders, Sondra Sanders Jr., Alice Sanders Steed.
George and Winifred were born. Moved to 5th Avenue (now Hollywood Avenue) where Alice, Lucy, and Elden were born. Just before Alice was born his father, Sondra Sr., came to live with them. He was very sick. He died after about six weeks. Father’s sister Rosie and Ellen lived with them for a while and some of his brothers or sisters were with them, going to school at various times.
Father went into the grocery business, fruit and vegetables, etc., in Salt Lake, finally locating at 66 West 1st South along what was called Market Row. A street everyone knew who came to Salt Lake before the growth of the supermarkets forced things into a different status. About 1900, father bought the two story frame house at 363 Bryan Avenue, where all the rest of the children were born beginning with myself (Orson Leroy), Harold, Raymond, Lester, Ronald, and Milton.
They were members of the old Farmers Ward on South State Street, and the older children went to the Burton School nearby. Then to the old Waterloo School only a half block away. Then in 1905 the new Waterloo Ward chapel was built and church was much nearer. A new school, called the Whittier, was subsequently built and the old Waterloo building torn down.
Father usually worked very late at the store every night, summer and winter, and it was hard work supporting a large family, though he said getting the
The Sanders children: George, Sondra Sanders Jr., O. Leroy, Raymond
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Sondra Jr.’s Family: Back row: l to r, Raymond, Alice Irene, George, Winifred, Leroy. Front row: Elden Eugene, Annie Caroline Sanders, Milton, Sondra Sanders Jr., Lucy (insert), Harold and Ronald.
groceries wholesale was the saving factor.
He had very poor hearing all his life, ever since he was a young boy. It was a very heavy handicap to live under, there being no modern hearing aids to help. He had two sisters who also developed the same affliction, Mary and Rose. This hearing trouble, of course, was quite a serious drawback in all business dealings with the public and of course affected us all at home also.
George, the oldest, filled a mission to Denmark. Alice and Winifred were married. Elden was married and Leroy and Harold went on missions to Hawaii. At this time Elden died in Chicago while going to school in the year 1922. Before this time and leading up to it father’s health had been declining. He was afflicted with Sciatic Rheumatism which had him bent over almost double and suffering severely. This forced him to sell out his store business in 1919 and he began working in the City Engineers Office. There he worked until shortly before he passed away.
Father rarely attended church because he could not hear a word that was said. Mother did enough church work for both of them it seems. However father was a deeply religious man and very orthodox in his habits and teachings. He did many things for people and the ward members without any fanfare or notice. I especially remember one time which was typical of him. We were having a general work and clean-up day at the church building and grounds. And of course father had to work at his store, but during the morning a horse-drawn wagon rolled up and unloaded 40 or 50 watermelons which were put in the creek to cool and quite a refreshing repast for the workers. For some days it was not know who had sent them.
He was ordained an High Priest in 1916.
The biggest blow came in the Fall of 1926 when mother suffered a stroke while helping to care for father’s sister, Mary Frame, who also was suffering from the effects of a stroke. She was partially para
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lyzed for upwards of six months and was gradually recovering when in May 1927 another stroke took mother away. This left father with Milton, the youngest at 9 years, Ronald, Raymond, and Leroy who was home on a visit from New York when mother died. Alice and Marion Steed, and family, came to live with them in the big house on Bryan Avenue, for about two years.
Later the old home was rented and father, Milton, Ronald, and Raymond went to live with Winifred and Frank Bowers and their family. The Bowers were so kind and considerate for nearly five years in taking care of father. He went to the temple 2 or 3 times daily after he quit work and kept himself very busy. He became ill in 1933 and for quite some time was in the care of a Neuropathic Physician, but seemed to get very little relief. Finally through very painful examinations by medical doctors, it was determined that he had cancer of the bladder. For about nine months he was in almost constant excruciating pain, the pain killing pills losing their effectiveness.
On March 1, 1934, seven days before his 73rd birthday, father passed away: His funeral was one of those inspiring occasions when old friends of past years recalled all the good qualities that were his.
PATRIARCHAL BLESSING
Of Sondra Sanders Jr.
A blessing given by John Smith patriarch upon the head of Sondra Sanders, son of Sondra and Anna Sanders, born in South Cottonwood Ward, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory, March 8, 1861.
Brother Sondra, in the name of Jesus Christ I place my hands upon thy head and seal the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob upon thee. For they are thine through right of lineage & I say unto thee be firm in thine integrity and honor God & keep his commandments, and hold sacred the counsel for thy parents. Thy days and years shall be long in the land. Thou shalt have great faith and become a mighty man in Israel & shall travel much for the gospels sake. And assist in gathering the honest in heart out from Babylon. Thy tongue shall be loosed and shall speak fluently the words of life and salvation among the tongue of the nations wherever thou shall sojourn and find friends among strangers. Many shall seek thee for council and wonder at thy wisdom. Thou shalt also be prospered in thy journeys at home and abroad, and in thy labor spiritu ally and temporally be able to feed many with spiritual and temporal food.
Thou art of Ephraim and shalt have an inheritance with the Saints. Shall fill up the measure of thy creation. Thy name shall be handed down to posterity in honorable remembrance from generation to generation. Thou shalt also see many changes and know of a surety that there is a God in Israel who will hear and answer the prayers of the honest for they shalt see his arm made bear in behalf of his people. This blessing I seal upon thy head and seal thee up unto eternal life, to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, even so. Amen.
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TITLE PAGE
Maori Book of Mormon
Replica of title page of The Book of Mormon, 1888 Maori (New Zealand) edition. This shows Sondra Sanders Jr. as one of the translators listing his Maori name as “Honore Hanare”.
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GEORGE SONDRA SANDERS
I can clearly recall the time that Grandfather Sanders
An autobiography furnished by Elda Draper Sanders, his wife, and his daughter, June Sanders Griner.
George Sondra Sanders and Elda Draper Sanders
“I was born in a three or four story type apartment house in the three or four hundred block of West Second South Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was born on January 15, 1891. I cannot remember anything about my birthplace, but I have seen it several times prior to the building being torn down.
My earliest recollections are when we lived in a single story red bricked house on East Fifth Avenue (now called Redondo Avenue). Father had this place nearly paid for when he sold it to a Mr. Hare and we moved to a two story frame house which father bought on 363 York Street. This street is now called Bryan Avenue. We lived there for many years, until I married and secured a home of my own.
lived in our home on Fifth Avenue and the peculiar type of shoes which he wore. They had no shoe laces, but rather a wide elastic band running down each side made it possible to stretch them in order to get them on and off. It seems to me that Grandfa ther Sanders died in our home on Fifth Avenue, but I am not positive.
Very clearly can I remember Grandfather and Grandmother Steffensen when they came to our place for a meal. Many times they stayed over night on their trips to and from South Cottonwood where they lived. They would come in to Salt Lake City each weekend to get provisions. Later they arranged their wagon so as to haul garbage from Salt Lake to feed their hogs. They also brought in produce from their ranch and sold it in the city. The trip from South Cottonwood to Salt Lake City by team and wagon took about a half a day. They usually left home long before daylight and arrived in Salt Lake about noon. It would be ten or eleven o’clock at night before they arrived back home. We would sometimes prevail upon them to stay overnight with us. Quite often I was allowed to go back with them to South Cottonwood for the week. I usually was sound asleep when we arrived there. These trips stand out vividly in my mind because I enjoyed them so much. Sometimes I was able to prevail upon father and mother to let me stay longer than a week.
Some of my happiest boyhood days were spent at Grandfather Steffensen’s ranch. One time I went with Aunt Ellen for a day’s visit to the school near
Murray where she taught school. We went in a single buggy and I enjoyed the day very much. I used to like to strum Aunt Ellen’s guitar and enjoyed listening to Uncle Kearney play on his mouth organ. I also took
pleasure in going through Uncle Kearney’s and Uncle Han’s folding metal lunch boxes when they came home each day from school. Sometimes I would find a piece of coconut cake or a piece of cheese, but there would always be something which somehow tasted better than at the table.
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On Grandfather Steffensen’s farm were the usual varieties of cows, horses, chickens, fruit tree’s, gardens, grain fields, etc. I loved them all. And how interesting were those days when the thrashers came! The bustling and activities and the good things to eat will never be forgotten. And how I used to like to find the hen’s nests which they made in the new straw piles which were piled up on the horse and cow sheds. It was a great sport gathering the eggs each evening.
During “Hay Time” I enjoyed watching all the activities of mowing, raking, piling, and gathering and stacking the hay. Later they cut it with the peculiar type of hay knife which is something like a huge saw with irregular teeth. My special activity during this period was riding the horse which pulled the hay fork loaded with hay from the hayrack to the haystack. As I grew older I participated in other of the activities and could load hay on the hayrack in the field as well as distribute it on the haystack when it was dumped from the hay-tongs.
I remember one clear fourth of July when we all climbed up on the straw roof which covered the stables. We lay on the blankets while we watched the twinkling lights on the hills north of Salt Lake city and saw the beautiful fireworks arch up over the city.
I enjoyed so much my associations with uncles and aunts and cousins in South Cottonwood. I enjoyed them so much because I was there so much. I also liked those of father’s side of the family. I spent most of my time in Murray at Uncle Orson and Aunt Rose’s place. My favorite uncle was Kearney. He took considerable delight in scaring me. I often wondered if a person ever outgrew being scared at night and in lonely places.
Many things come to my mind when I think of my experiences at Grandfather Steffensen’s farm. The old type of woodworking tools which he had, the tool house, the saddle and leather repair equipment, the old muzzle loading rifle, and the equipment for making the lead bullets for the rifle. The powder pouch was always a source of interest to me. The old
granary full of wheat was a delightful place to play in bare footed. But, I always experienced difficulty in getting accustomed to the thick feather mattress and feather quilts in which the beds were equipped. It seems as if we had more snow those days during the wintertime and I enjoyed the bright red sled which I received for Christmas and used so much sliding down the hill behind the stables. Back of the adobe home ran a creek clear across the homestead. There was always clear water in it which came down the high mountains near by. On the other side of the creek was a deep well which supplied the family with clear cold water. It was necessary to draw the water to the surface with a long rope wrapped around a windless. When the old wooden bucket came to the surface we would sometimes find a frog or toad in it. Grandmother had a lot of milk which she would place in large tin pans so that the cream would rise to the top and be skimmed off. And such thick cream! We had so many good things to eat, both American and Norwegian style, that we didn’t mind kneeling around the table morning and night while our grandfather gave long prayers in Norwegian. During Christmas and New Year’s holidays the Norwegians in the community would gather at Grandfather’s to discuss old and present times. This is the only time of the year when the little wine glasses which Grandfather brought from Norway were used. After the company left I used to smell the glasses, but was not attracted to even taste the little bit that had drained to the bottom of the glass.
I had one experience that vividly remains in my mind. My sister, Winifred, and I, along with mother, Grandfather and Grandmother, were on our way back to Salt Lake City in the wagon drawn by “Dexter” and another horse whose name I do not remember. Near the Murray City Laundry on State Street there used to be a steep hill and at the bottom there was a mill pond. When we neared this hilltop the horse became frightened and got out of control. They raced to the bottom of the hill and over the west into the pond. The last thing I can remember was going down under the water. There were a number of persons living in a house near the pond who assisted in getting us out. They had some
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difficulty as somehow we got tangled in the harness. All these things, and a hundred more, make by boyhood days that I spent at my grandparents very happy and pleasant to remember. I must not neglect to mention my other uncles and aunts at South Cottonwood as I thought a great deal of them. There were Hans, Mary, Chris, Edna, Libby, and my favorite cousins Louis and Elma. Finally I can remember when Grandmother left us and how lonely grandfather was. He would sit in his rocking chair under the big apple tree in the back yard. He was crippled with rheumatic pains until he died about a year after grandmother.
One big event I will always remember was the soldier and Indian fight which was held on one July 14th on the large hilly field north of the South Cottonwood Meeting House. Kearney, Hans, Chris, and cousin Sun, (Uncle Orson’s boy named Orson, but called Sun), from Murray took part in this big pageant. It sure seemed realistic as all partaking in it were dressed up for their parts. After it was over, it took a while for the dust, smoke, and gunpowder smell to clear away. When we then had some fun going on the field and collecting empty gun and pistol car tridges and shotgun shells. There were a lot of them!
I experienced a feeling of loneliness, but also pleas ant memories, now when I pass through South Cottonwood by the old homestead which has changed so that I can hardly recognize it. The old adobe home is gone as well as most of the old landmarks. Old neighbors have also passed on or moved away. Their names however will long be remembered. There were the Thompson’s, Ottley’s, Labraum’s, Dr. Rausher, the Tipton’s, the Keich’s, and many others.
While living on Fifth Avenue in Waterloo, we had a Holstein cow which gave us tremendous quantities of milk. We sold some of it to neighbors for fifteen cents a gallon. We kept the cow in a large pasture at the end of our street which terminated at Fifth East Street. This pasture was on the east side of Fifth East and extended for several blocks north of our street to 12th South (now 21st South). It was a beautiful
field. It was covered with tall grass, a bit swampy in places, and had several ponds on it, as well as many types of pretty wild flowers and a few pear, plum, and apple trees. Our cow “Bossy” would come to the Fifth East fence when we called to her. Sometimes we would find her there waiting for us to milk her. Some of our interesting neighbors were the Prosser’s, the Eiseley’s, the Collett’s, the Crow’s with their funny pug dog, the Simond’s with their talking parrot, the Sudheimersand’s, and the Harrison’s who operated the grocery store two blocks north of our place. I spent many pennies at the Harrison Store buying chocolate hands in the fingers of which were many marbles of various sorts, including flints once-in-awhile. There was another kind of candy which was one of my favorites. It was a roll of semi hard candy. The bulge in the middle of each piece also contained a marble which sometimes included a flint.
It was a long walk each day from our Fifth Avenue home to the Waterloo School which was located on Third East and York Street (now called Bryan Av enue). This old square three story brick building is now replaced by the Whittier School. I can remem ber only two of the school officials there. One, my favorite teacher was Miss Minnie Margetts whom I will always remember with gratitude for the many things which she taught me and for her patience in doing so. The other was Principal McCorkle who gave my friend Eddie Shackleford a thrashing for walking along the top of the rail fence bordering the south side of the school. We were distracted when Mr. McCorkle ran after Eddie and had a time catching him. He gave Eddie a good thrashing, but nearly got licked himself in doing it. Eddie was not allowed to come to school for some time, but eventu ally did return. Some of the school pals whom I can remember are: George Hunt with two thumbs, and Vash Young who was one of the leader of the school. Vash had a big pocket knife which I admired very much and I finally got it by trading him flint marbles which I had won from him and the other boys.
When we moved to 363 Bryan Avenue (York Street)
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I made additional friends among which were Eddie and Jennie Weir. It was an exciting day when Jennie caught a ten pound trout in her apron in the irriga tion ditch in front of their place. They taught us to
make Easter Baskets using moss and flowers. We would go up to the hills on East Eleventh South (now 13th South) and gather wild flowers and other materials for the baskets. At that time this area seemed a long way from any civilization. Now it is covered with beautiful homes.
In front of our home and along the west side of the house we planted poplar trees when they were given to us by Grandfather Steffensen. From this home of
York Street I continued to go to the Waterloo School until I finished the seventh grade. It was necessary for me to finish the eighth grade at the Central School almost to 12th South (now 21st South) Street. We held our graduation exercise at the new Granite Stake House. My favorite teacher at the Central School was Principal Edwin Sheets. He and Minnie Margetts were “tops” in my opinion and are the only ones of my grade teachers I can remember.
At our York Street home, which was soon called Bryan Avenue, we had many happy as well as sorrow ful times. How we used to like to play “Kick The Can” and “Relieve-i-o”. Herb Anderson, Herb Long, Frank Stout, George Holmes, Jack and Earl Morgan, Eddie alien, Al Friedel, Earl and Fred Baker were the boys most out standing in our play activities. We organized the Iola Club and the Iola Orchestra and had some very good times amongst ourselves and playing at dances. Among the girls of the this period who were good acquaintances and participants in school activities were Eunice Barber, Bessie Morgan, Gladys Buckle, Ivy Allen, Bertha Anderson, and Margurite Eckert. The school fighters who had us all scared were Grant Turnbow and Frank Stout.
Upon graduation from the Central School I entered the Latter-day Saint University, which was in reality only a high school. Some of my closer acquaintances
while at the LDS were Charles Sperry, Earl Free, Clarence Evans, Gerard Lattimer, Frank Asper, Perry Erickson, Vern Stromberg, Vern Snyder, Arthur
Hatch, and Claude Mills. Here I also met Miss Myrtle Castleton whom I thought a great deal of, but who became only a good friend when I later re turned from my mission to Denmark.
I was enrolled in a class in trigonometry taught by my favorite uncle Kearney Steffensen. My outstand ing teachers at LDS were J.C. Thomas who taught my classes in physics and chemistry, John Home who taught me mechanical drawing which has been useful ever since, and Ara Kienke who taught me woodworking classes and through whose inspirations and assistance I got started on the career which I have closely followed to the present time.
Some of the things which are outstanding in my mind during grammar and high school days are the thrilling theatrical plays held at the Salt Lake The atre on the corner of First South and State Street, and at the Grand Theatre on Second South between State. and Second East. Wednesday matinees when we could “get away” from school were our favorite days for attending the exciting performances. Theodore Lorch, Willard Mack, and Marjorie Rambeau were my favorite on the stage. How thrilled I was when moving pictures first came into existence. The vocal songs illustrated with “still pictures” thrown on the screen between pictures were also very much enjoyed. I can dimly remember the horse drawn street cars in Salt Lake and much more clearly the electric ones which were heated with large wood (and later oil) burning stoves located at the end of the cars, or sometimes at one side in the middle of the car. On cold wintery nights they surely were welcome. Morisson’s Hot Scotch Meat Pies sold in their basement store on the southwest corner of First South and Main Street for five cents. They were well worth the usual wait in line to be served. The big five cent hot tamales with ketchup sold on the street corners and were also very tasty, especially during the winter months.
Father owned a fruit store at 66 West First South known as the Union Produce Company. Here for many years he earned a living for his good sized family and made sufficient to enable most all of us
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to complete our high school educations. While going to high school I used to help him at the store after school hours and on Saturdays. Church Confer ence in April and October was a time when the store was kept open for the benefit of conference visitors as well as the extra dollars the business brought in for our family. During these times quite a number of Maori’s from New Zealand visited father. They knew him from his mission to New Zealand. I liked them very much and was intrigued with the different kinds of tattooing on their faces. They also seemed to like me and made quite a fuss over me. How tired I would get working at the store. On Saturdays and “Market Days” during school vacations I had to take the street car early in the morning to the store and the last Street car at night would take me home. Sometimes I would have to go in the back room and lay down for awhile. On Saturday nights the “rush period” was from eight-thirty until about ten-thirty. It seemed as if everyone in town came down to Market Row to make their purchases for Sunday and the fore part of the week. Father’s store was one of about twenty on the street of about a half block long. The crowd milled back and forth shopping at these markets. There were so many that the street was jammed. We would be so busy that often we could not wait upon the people fast enough and they would stand with vegetables or fruit in their hands waiting for us to wrap up their purchases. Father worked untiringly at this store for many years and often said that he was not making expenses, let alone enough to keep us all in food and in clothing. Being able to buy many things at wholesale prices helped out considerably. Later he expanded the store activities to include the selling of groceries. When be became too tired to keep up this rapid pace, and his health bothered him, he sold out and secured a position in the Salt Lake City Engineer’s Office in the City and County Building.
While going to high school I joined the high school band and played the big bass horn. I also played as substitute on the high school basketball team under the direction of Coach Milne. About three fourths of my summer vacations I worked as an electricians helper for Mr. Chase and for the Eardley Electric
Company. The sadness of death came into our family for the first time when on May 9, 1905 my sister, Lucy, died of a ruptured appendix. We all loved her so much and she was so good natured and sweet that we missed her so much. She looked forward to that day when she would be eight years old so that she could be baptized, but such was not to be as she left us a few days before her eighth birthday. A second sorrow came when my year-old brother, Lester, died on March 24, 1907. Both of these happenings sobered me very much and have accounted somewhat for me being considered quiet and not a very good mixer.
During the latter part of my high school days I worked as a die puncher with Arthur Hutchinson at the Silver Brothers Iron Works. During this time I worked a few days catching rivets and “bucking up” on the steel construction of the Hotel Utah. But I went back to the shop after men were killed when they fell from the steel structure. While at the iron works I was called on a mission to England which was later changed to Norway. The men at the shop took up a collection of $15.00 for me to purchase whatever I needed most. I got a gold watch and had an appropriate inscription engraved on it. This watch I used until the hinge on the case wore out and because of the guarantee it carried with it, the Elgin Watch Company replaced the case with a new one.
After a number of house parties and a farewell party and dance at the Waterloo Ward Meeting House, I left Salt Lake City via Union Pacific Railway on June 10, 1910 for my mission to Norway. My journey there and the experiences in Norway and Denmark are contained in my journals which I kept during my mission. While in Norway I visited Grandmother Steffensen’s brothers and sisters (the Krogh’s and Christensen’s) in Arendal on two occasions. I have maintained correspondence with Grandmother’s niece, Madcellie Krogh Gunderson ever since.
I spent most of my mission in Scandinavia in the cities of Aalgorg, Hjorring, and Aarhus in Denmark. On my way home after my mission I took a third
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class sight seeing trip through Holland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, and England. I arrived home in Salt Lake City on December 23, 1912.
I appreciated very much the financial aid given to me by my parents and my two sisters, Alice and Winifred, and from others who sent me money which made this mission as interesting a trip as possible.
Upon returning home I got work as an electrician at the Salt Lake Electric Company and had many interesting experiences. One experience was the wiring of the East High School Building.
I joined the Waterloo Ward Choir and there met a charming young lady, Miss Elda Draper, with whom I became well acquainted and liked very much. I also associated with a number of other young folks among who were: Horace Bond, Arthur Woods, George Woods, Harry Eccles, Hazel Vorking, Will iam Vorking, Marie Goodke, Art Burton, Eb Spen cer, and Harry and Fred Rohlfing.
During the summer of 1913 Mr. Asa Keinke, my woodworking instructor while I was attending LDS High School, asked me to teach summer school classes in woodworking for him.
I then returned, after teaching, to the Salt Lake Electric Company. While there Mr. Kienke inter ested me in a teaching job at the Tintic High School in Eureka, Utah. So I quit my electrical work and soon found myself in the middle of a real job at the High School in Eureka.
I taught woodwork, electrical work, mechanical drawing, and later I taught sheet metal work. I also taught a class of biology to a group of seniors and had my troubles with a period of “assembly”. I didn’t at first know what biology was, but I soon found out and managed, through necessity, to keep prepared a few lessons ahead of the class. I have an idea that some of the wise guys of the class knew of my situation, but I succeeded in bluffing my way
through that first year rather successfully, and I think that I earned my $80.00 per month.
(The final portion of this biography was written and prepared by Elda Draper Sanders and June Sanders Griner.)
After my first year of teaching in Eureka, I returned to Salt Lake and on July 27, 1914 I was married to Elda Draper in the L.D.S. Salt Lake Temple. We spent the next month on a honeymoon in Califor nia, then returned for a second year of teaching at Tintic High School. On May 12, 1915 our son George Draper was born. We were in Eureka three more years and my summers were spent in classes at Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, Illinois and at the Stout Institute at Menomonie, Wisconsin. This cost about $800.00 each summer but we were always in debt it seemed.
In 1917 I was ready to take a position in Hibbing, Minnesota and Eureka raise my salary to $125 per month. I used to attend classes in the evenings that were offered by the University of Utah so I could secure and maintain my teacher’s certificate. In 1918 I was happy to be appointed Supervisor of Industrial Arts in the Ogden City Schools and teacher of electrical work in the Ogden High School. After my summer school ended we moved to Ogden and began work in the Ogden schools in September. On December 31, 1918 we were again blessed with a baby, a girl this time. We named her Eldra June. George D. was very proud of her and always loved and took care of her.
We were in Ogden until 1921 and then was offered a position as State Supervisor of Industrial Education. My office was in the State Capitol Building in Salt Lake City. From then on for a number of years I continued to go to summer school at Berkeley, California, University of Utah, University of Wash ington at Seattle, and the Colorado A & M College in Fort Collins. In 1923 I was asked to go to Balti more, Maryland for one year. While there I took night classes at John Hopkins University. I taught Foreman Training to many industries, one of which
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was Kelly Springfield Tire Company in Cumberland, Maryland.
In 1924 I was asked to return to Cumberland and be Service Director at the Kelly Springfield Tire Com pany. We moved to Cumberland and on February 14, 1926 our second daughter was born. We named her Lois Pauline. It was a trying time however for us as our son George was in the hospital for surgery, a mastoid operation. It was so bad he had to be taken to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was in the hospital ten weeks. The doctors advised us to take him to a warm climate.
I was sent to Bridgeport, Connecticut for a few months to conduct a cooperative program of fore man training between the State of Connecticut and the U.S. Office of Education. We were asked to remain permanently with them but we felt that we should go to a warmer climate for the benefit of George D. so we went back to Washington and sold most of our furniture and moved the rest to Phoe nix, Arizona.
I was State Supervisor of Vocational Education in Arizona from 1927 to 1942. Attendance at summer school in Fort Collins, and at the University of Washington in Seattle, continued to be looked forward to as we could get out of the heat in Arizona and also visit our folks in Utah en route. In 1932 I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Science at the Colorado A& M in Fort Collins, Colorado. We had been working for this degree for many years and it was received with a great deal of satisfaction.
In 1935 I organized the Vocational School in Phoe nix, in addition to my State work, it was a heavy load. 1935 was very sad for us too. March 27th George D. was going to Los Angles with his debat ing team from Phoenix Junior College. A short time out on the road there was an accident and George was killed. This was a great loss for us.
In 1937 I was selected as a member of the Naval Reserve and commissioned a Lieutenant in prepara tion for possible war with Germany. I was called into
active service and conferences several times and later was commissioned a Lieutenant Commander.
In 1940 I was asked to return to Washington D.C. by the U.S. Office of Education to join their staff in the pre-war training program. In December I was sent to Hawaii to help with their Defense Training Program. Eldra went with me and we were away about six weeks. On my return I was assigned to check on the new Air Force Deport being built and to check on the different states. After completing this assignment which lasted almost two years, I returned to U.S.Office of Education and then to War Manpower Commission in Los Angeles. My territory included all the states west of the Missis sippi River. All during this time from April 1940 to April 1946 I was away from my family except for an occasional visit. In March 1943 we traded our home and citrus acreage for a twenty unit apartment house in Los Angeles. In 1945 I was sent to Panama and Puerto Rico for several weeks, then to Trinidad, so I was away four months. When I came home I was ill for sometime as my heart was giving me trouble.
During my vacation, the summer of 1946, I taught at the Colorado A&M College in Fort Collins, Colorado and also completed my Masters thesis. That fall in absentia, I was graduated and granted my Masters Degree in Education.
In 1946 I was asked to go to South America to work as Director of Progress in Inter American Affairs. Eldra and I were in all the South American coun tries, but the last five months of 1949 we spent in Asuncion, Paraguay. We lived at a German hotel. We left Asuncion October 1949 and traveled by river boat down the Parana River, a day and night trip. The scenery was grand but I had a heart attack during the night and the German doctor could not speak English so he thought I had been drinking too much as so many others had. We went to a hospital in Buenos Aires and in a week I was ready to go on with the trip we had planned. We went by train through to Santiago, Chile. After a few days we went to Valparaiso, Chile and sailed from there on a United Fruit ship to Lima, Peru. Spent a week there
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and went by plane to Cusco to see the ruins of Machu Picchu and many other spectacular things. Then took a Fruit Ship up the coast to Panama and through the Canal. I had some work there for a week.
We spent Thanksgiving with friends and then sailed on too other places and arrived in Los Angeles Harbor December 18th and found our Lois waiting with a good neighbor, Mr. Jackson.
We were glad to be home in Santa Monica but had promised to spend Christmas with June and family so we went by train to Ft. Collins, Colorado for the holidays.
In 1950 I was in Washington D.C. for a short time, then to Panama for a few months. When I came home I was ill in the hospital but in December 1950 I had a call to go to Okinawa.
I left Santa Monica on January 18, 1951 and was to be there six months or more. In April 1951 I was injured in a very rough ride and my back was so bad I was sent to Hawaii, then to San Francisco to the Letterman’s Hospital. Lois and Eldra came to San Francisco and had me released and Ï was sent by ambulance plane to Santa Monica and then to my home where I rested and worked on my reports. Lois typed them all for me and sent them to Washington D.C. on July 1, 1951.
On July 28, 1951 George Sondra Sanders died in his home with his dear wife Eldra by his side. He will be greatly missed by his family and his many friends. He lived a very full life in his short 60 years, and accom
plished much and was of service to his fellowmen.
ELLEN WINIFRED SANDERS BOWERS Written by Eugene Sanders Bowers, a son
My mother, Ellen Winifred Sanders, was born on December 1, 1892 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was the second child born to Sondra Sanders Jr. and Annie Caroline Steffensen Sanders. At the time of her birth the family were residing in the home
formerly owned and occupied by President John Taylor on 1st South and 1st West in Salt Lake City. Both mother, and her older brother George, were born while the family lived in this historic home.
When mother was only six weeks old the family moved to 5th Avenue (referred to as Redondo or Hollywood Street). They lived there for about seven years. While living in this home her grandfather, Sondra Sanders Sr., came to live with them as he was old and in poor health. In a short time he died, on September 21, 1894, after many problems associated with his illness.
About 1900 mother’s father, Sondra Sanders Jr., purchased a home at 363 Bryan Avenue in Salt Lake City. This home was to become the family abode for many years and mother and all of her siblings grew up and were raised in this home.
The Sanders family were originally members of the old Farmers Ward on South State Street, but in 1905 the new Waterloo Ward was built and they attended church in that ward. Their family sacrificed a great deal to assist in the building of this new church building. They contributed money and labor toward it’s completion.
My grandmother, Annie Caroline Steffensen Sand ers, was the first President of the Waterloo Ward Women’s Relief Society Organization. In this capacity she spent long hours tending to the needs of the sisters of the ward and in rendering compas sionate service to many people. She cared for her relatives as well as neighbors and ward members. In spite of this great responsibility she still found time to care for her family and give them the time and attention that a young family requires.
Mother first attended the Burton School and later went to the Waterloo School. Later the new Whittier School was constructed and the Waterloo was demolished to make way for the new one.
Mother grew up in a home where there was love and parental guidance in abundance. Her father was a hard working man. He owned and operated a
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