In New York they stopped at Castle Garden. After staying there a week they left by train for points west and arrived in Burlington, Iowa March 1st. They could not speak English which made it rather difficult to get along. They crossed the Mississippi River on the ice, pulling their boxes with the bedding piled on top.
After arriving in Burlington they began looking for work. Their father found work in a blacksmith shop and the rest did any work that could be found. After getting steady employment they were able to save money to come to Utah. At this time another brother, Mads Peter, died and was buried in a cemetary in the forest.
Using the family history I quote "We started the firt part of may for our trip across the plains in Jim Brown's independent ox team company. we had four oxen and a covered wagon. There were ten persons with our wagon; a young girl and an old man who paid father to bring them to Utah. On the 8th of May we left Burlington along with a few other teams on the road. We traveled 50 miles and came to a place named Fairfield where more teams were ready to join the company. Our oxen were wild and often ran away so we had to walk and look for things which spilled out of the wagon. We traveled slowly for 300 miles. When we reached Council Bluff we crossed the Missouri River on a ferry boat. We drove the oxen and the wagons on the ferry and all of us got in the wagons, all was well. On arriving at Omaha we got something good to eat; new potatoes and strawberries and cream. Next day we went six miles up to Florence, nebraska where a large company were camped. They were loading up with provisions for the journey across the plains, 1000 miles to Salt lake City. We have to have 100 pounds of lour for each person along with other things: sugar, coffee, tea, salt, soap and matches and everything we could think of for camping outfit, as we could not get any more supplies till we reached Salt Lake. We left Florence, Nebraska sometime in June with 70 wagons in our company. A few had horse teams and their people could ride every day. Some of them had cows and riding horses but we had to walk because we were heavily loaded and the poor oxen got sore shoulders. After a while we came to a small settlement where we obtained some potatoes and butter that tasted mighty good. Here we were just 100 miles from Omaha and we were very tired, but we went on. We passed several Indian camps. The Indians would sit by the road and spread their blankets and beg for us to lay something on them. They wanted flour, sugar, tea, coffee, salt, matches and tobacco and shirts and they ran up to every wagon. If we didn't give them something they would get angry. We often gave them of our supplies although we felt we could hardly spare them.
When we came to Platte River there were quicksand bottoms, we had a serious time crossing. We had to hurry and not stop for the oxen's feet and the wagon wheels would sink in the sand. All of the women had to wade, they too had to hurry so they wouldn't sink. At last we all got across and started further west. We jogged along till we could see Chimney Rock. It looked like a chimney a long way off, and it took us several days to reach it. (you can read about it in the June, 1919 issue of the relief Society Magazine) There were no settlements, only Indian camps until we came to Fort Laramie. This fort had only a few houses with a wall around them to protect them from the Indians.
Our company had two deaths on the road, a baby and an old man. they were buried by the roadside. At last we came to Green River; that was a big stream of water and very dangerous to cross. It took us several days before all the teams got over. Here there was good feed for the cattle also wood to burn. The women could not wade across the river so they rode in wagons. One Irish woman wouldn't ride, she got out in the stream and nearly went under so several of the men had to get out to help her to the shore. We had bad roads all the way and poor feed for the cattle. Many of them died from alkali water. My father lost an ox. We waded many streams of water and had to sit down and dry our feet before putting our shoes and stockings on again. The roads were full of sand, prickley pears and snakes, sometimes we nearly stepped on them.
On the 21st day of August, we were out of flour and had nothing to eat. We had coffee that tasted good; so we got a pan full of flour from a family, a boy had killed a rabbit and gave that to mother so we had rabbit soup that night. Mother made dumplings of flour and wter and soda and it tasted very good. Next morning we had biscuits, just one for each person, and the same at noon and evening. After a day or two we got enought flour to last us for bread until we reached Salt Lake City on the 29th of August 1859. The last days before we got there we had a hard struggle up the big mountain. We had to stop every few minutes and put rocks behind the wagon wheels so they wouldn't roll back. The mountain was so steep the oxen couldn't hold them. That mountain was five miles up hill. When we reached the top we rested a while. I don't remember how far it was across the top, but we had to get down the other side to camp where there was food and water. It was dangerous to go down too. It took all the men to help so the wagons wouldn't tip over. Then there was the ittle mountain; it was steep too, but no so high. We came through Echo Canyon and Emigration Canyon and arrived safely on the camping place in Salt lake, here people came to look for old friends and brought watermelons and molasses cookies. We camped here for some days and the oxen were driven away to feed. At this time emigrants to Utah were advised and directed where to settle by the church authorities at Salt lake City. Those from Scandinavia were mostly settling in Sanpete County, hence my father and mother with their family were sent to Fort Ephraim where we arrived September 10, 1859. here the general work of clearing land of sage brush and digging canals together with getting out timber from teh mountains was the only forms of labor followed.
On the 15th of March 1864 Christian started on an expedition under the direction of August Canfield for the Wyoming landing on the Missouri River for emigrants. These expeditions were called out by the church leaders and fitted out by the saints, the teamsters thus filling a sort of mission. Eight yoke of cattle made a team going, but on the return four were attached to a new outfit. The most difficult part of the trip was the crossing of the South Platt which was flooded. Two rafts or ferries were put to work by lashing together six wagonbeds each. The beds were made water tight by patching. The captain would permit no one to cross on the rafts as raftsmen unless he could swim or said he could from mid stream to shore. The cattle were swum across. This with an occasional Indian scare or stampede of the cattle was all that broke the "Gee Haw" monotony of oxology. The middle of October found the company safely returned to the "Valleys". End of Quote.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
LARS CHRISTIAN LARSEN by his daughter Zina
Lars Christian Larsen, son of Christian S. Larsen and Johannah M. Christensen was born at Albeck Allborg, Denmark, December 4, 1844. His father was a farmer and blacksmith, which occupation the son also followed.
After the family was converted to mormonism, through the Mormon Elders who presented the gospel to them, preparations were begun for their voyage across the Atlantic to America. In October 1855, the family consisting of the parents and the following brothers and sisters: Mary, Peter, Margret, Christian, Mads Peter, James, John, and Michael, left their home and started for Allborg which was their first step. It was necessary to remain here for a few weeks until all the emigrants from that part of the cuontry were ready to leave.
On November 29, 1855 they set sail for Keil, Germany and landed there at midnight. From there they took a train for Gluckstadt, Germany and arrived there at 2 P.M. the following day. They then boarded a vessel for England and were four days and four nights on the North Sea. They landed at Grimsby, December 4th; from there they went by train to Liverpool, arriving December 5th.
Being very tired and hungry, a dinner was prepared for them. It consisted of some kind of soup with bits of meat in it. It was so highly seasoned with salt, pepper, and ginger they could scarcely eat it, however, there were plenty of potatoes.
The people were on board ship several days before they sailed for America. They were being examined by doctors. If there were any sick among them they were left behind.
On December 12, 1855 they set sail from Liverpool harbor on the sail vessel The John J. Boyd. Canute Peterson was chosen president over the Mormon emigrants in the vessel.
Just before they sailed, Apostle Franklin D. Richards came on the vessel and gave many encouraging thoughts and bade them farewell, after which they set sail and were soon lost from all sight of land.
Many became very sea sick. The voyage was not a pleasant one. The vessel was not equipped for so many people, and being overcrowded they suffered many disadvantages. There were tiers of bunks around the sides and boxes in the center to sit upon. These boxes were also used for tables.
On December 19, a terrible storm came up and the vessel along with boxes etc., were rocked from side to side. The storm continued for sometime and on Christmas Eve there was a tornado which was so severe the boxes were all torn loose from where they had been tied and the people had to climb up on the bunks to keep from getting hurt. On January 1st the storm became so terrific that one of the masts was split and was wrapped with the chains. All the sails were taken down. The captain became so discouraged and wrought up over conditions that he treated the sailors very badly. He also forbade the emigrants to sing or pray on the vessel but this did not prevent them from fasting and praying in secret as President Peterson told them to do. It was not long before the storm abated and better weather prevailed.
A few days after the heavy storm had ceased, they came upon a vessel with broken masts and sails, drifting about on the sea. They almost had a collision with it. Life boats were lowered and the sailors from the John J. Boyd rescued those on the other vessel. About forty men were rescued, together with some valuables, and the large wrecked vessel was left to its fate upon the broad ocean. The sailors taken on board were of great assistance, since those of the Boyd were almost exhausted with the strain they had undergone.
A day or so later, a fire broke out under the captain's cabinet. The smoke poured in upon the emigrants in the lower deck almost sufficating them. Many became panic stricken and they intended to jump overboard, but their leader Brother Peterson said to stay on the ship, the fire would be extinguished and they would reach New york safely.
The fire was extinguished after much difficulty, and the saints were most greatful that they had been preserved.
Their rations were very course and simple and due to the long time taken on the journey, the water supply became very low.
There were six grown people and about fifty children who died on this voyage and were buried at sea in the watery grave, among them were the two small boys John and Michael of the Larsen family. One died on January 30th and the other a week later. The principal cause of death among children was measles, very little could be done for them. There was much sorrowing among the people.
After a long and tiresome voyage of eleven weeks and three days they arrived in New York, February 16, 1856. There was a great rejoycing among the emigrants when they left the vessel and were again on land.
After the family was converted to mormonism, through the Mormon Elders who presented the gospel to them, preparations were begun for their voyage across the Atlantic to America. In October 1855, the family consisting of the parents and the following brothers and sisters: Mary, Peter, Margret, Christian, Mads Peter, James, John, and Michael, left their home and started for Allborg which was their first step. It was necessary to remain here for a few weeks until all the emigrants from that part of the cuontry were ready to leave.
On November 29, 1855 they set sail for Keil, Germany and landed there at midnight. From there they took a train for Gluckstadt, Germany and arrived there at 2 P.M. the following day. They then boarded a vessel for England and were four days and four nights on the North Sea. They landed at Grimsby, December 4th; from there they went by train to Liverpool, arriving December 5th.
Being very tired and hungry, a dinner was prepared for them. It consisted of some kind of soup with bits of meat in it. It was so highly seasoned with salt, pepper, and ginger they could scarcely eat it, however, there were plenty of potatoes.
The people were on board ship several days before they sailed for America. They were being examined by doctors. If there were any sick among them they were left behind.
On December 12, 1855 they set sail from Liverpool harbor on the sail vessel The John J. Boyd. Canute Peterson was chosen president over the Mormon emigrants in the vessel.
Just before they sailed, Apostle Franklin D. Richards came on the vessel and gave many encouraging thoughts and bade them farewell, after which they set sail and were soon lost from all sight of land.
Many became very sea sick. The voyage was not a pleasant one. The vessel was not equipped for so many people, and being overcrowded they suffered many disadvantages. There were tiers of bunks around the sides and boxes in the center to sit upon. These boxes were also used for tables.
On December 19, a terrible storm came up and the vessel along with boxes etc., were rocked from side to side. The storm continued for sometime and on Christmas Eve there was a tornado which was so severe the boxes were all torn loose from where they had been tied and the people had to climb up on the bunks to keep from getting hurt. On January 1st the storm became so terrific that one of the masts was split and was wrapped with the chains. All the sails were taken down. The captain became so discouraged and wrought up over conditions that he treated the sailors very badly. He also forbade the emigrants to sing or pray on the vessel but this did not prevent them from fasting and praying in secret as President Peterson told them to do. It was not long before the storm abated and better weather prevailed.
A few days after the heavy storm had ceased, they came upon a vessel with broken masts and sails, drifting about on the sea. They almost had a collision with it. Life boats were lowered and the sailors from the John J. Boyd rescued those on the other vessel. About forty men were rescued, together with some valuables, and the large wrecked vessel was left to its fate upon the broad ocean. The sailors taken on board were of great assistance, since those of the Boyd were almost exhausted with the strain they had undergone.
A day or so later, a fire broke out under the captain's cabinet. The smoke poured in upon the emigrants in the lower deck almost sufficating them. Many became panic stricken and they intended to jump overboard, but their leader Brother Peterson said to stay on the ship, the fire would be extinguished and they would reach New york safely.
The fire was extinguished after much difficulty, and the saints were most greatful that they had been preserved.
Their rations were very course and simple and due to the long time taken on the journey, the water supply became very low.
There were six grown people and about fifty children who died on this voyage and were buried at sea in the watery grave, among them were the two small boys John and Michael of the Larsen family. One died on January 30th and the other a week later. The principal cause of death among children was measles, very little could be done for them. There was much sorrowing among the people.
After a long and tiresome voyage of eleven weeks and three days they arrived in New York, February 16, 1856. There was a great rejoycing among the emigrants when they left the vessel and were again on land.
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