ANDREW RASMUS ANDERSON was born near the city of Aalborg, Denmark, March 9, 1844. He was the only child of Jens and Ane C. Anderson, people of considerable means and influence.
The family became converts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Andrew R. was baptized a member when sixteen years of age, and before six months had elapsed, he be-came a missionary of the gospel, preaching in his own land with great success. Through his efforts he organized a branch of the church in the city of Belum.
In the year 1862 the family emigrated to Utah. His father was buried in the North Sea, but he and his mother arrived in October of that year. Mr. Anderson settled in Ephraim, Utah, where he was married to Mary Ann Pederson, January 1, 1863. Six children were born of this marriage. Later he married a second wife, Nelsina M Anderson, by whom eight children were born.
While in Ephraim he was active in defending the homes and property of the people against the Indians. He took part in all the engagements and expeditions in the Black Hawk War in that section.
Mr. Anderson moved to Lehi in the year 1870, where he has since resided. He procured some of the choice lands of Utah valley, which he tilled with profit.
He at once became active in the civic development of the community. He served for a short time as marshal of Lehi and one term as mayor of the city. Through earnest effort he brought about the entry of the western half of section 16. which now forms a part of Eastern Lehi. He was a director on the Lehi City water board during the early years of its organization. He has been identified with many leading interests of the city. For years he was a director in the Lehi Bank and later the Utah Banking Company, also a director in the People's Co-operative Institution, which position he holds at the present time. He was one of the leading promoters in the erection of the Lehi Tabernacle which adorns our city.
Not only in civic, but in a religious way, has Mr. Anderson been active. From the beginning he was a devout believer in the faith of the Latter-day Saints. As a church worker he filled many positions with credit. From 1874 to 1877 he filled a mission to his native land. He was selected as counselor to Bishop David Evans, and later as counselor to Bishop T. R. Cutler, thus acting in the Bishopric more than 30 years. After the division of the wards, he served as a high councilor in the stake. He was chosen counselor to William Bromley, president of the High Priests' Quorum of the Alpine Stake. Since the death of President Bromley, Mr. Anderson has been chosen president of that quorum.
All who know Mr. Anderson know him as a man of his word. He has led a useful life, administering to the needy, helping the distressed, and giving counsel to his fellowmen. By his straight forward and honorable career he has drawn around him a host of friends, and has the entire confidence of all who know him.
MARY ANN PEDERSON ANDERSON was born at Vedum, Denmark, September 29. 1837. She is the third child of a family of nine children. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints November 9, 1855. The spirit of gathering soon found Mrs. Anderson a disciple, and she emigrated to Utah in 1862 with C. A. Madsen's ox team company. She was married New Year's day, 1862, to Andrew R. Anderson, at Ephraim, Sanpete County, Utah. In 1870 conditions made it possible for her husband to move to Lehi, the place of her death, September 23, 1912, at the age of 74 years, 11 months, and 24 days. Mrs. Anderson was an active worker in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was an earnest laborer in the Primary Association from the time of its organization until the incorporation in the Lehi Ward of the Relief Society in 1882. At this date she was appointed to the position of treasurer of the Relief Society, acting in this capacity for the following eighteen years. From 1900 to 1903 she filled the position of counselor, and from 1903 to 1907 the position of president. She is the mother of six children, three boys and three girls.
NELSINA ANDERSON was born in the city of Stann, Denmark, in the year 1854. She was the youngest but one of nine children. Her parents, Andres and Dorothy Anderson, were the admiration of the community in which they lived.
Nelsina was one of those who left a comfortable home for the gospel's sake. In company with her parents, three sisters, and the youngest brother, she emigrated to Utah in the year 1868. She is one of those who shared in the sad experiences connected with such emigrations. A sister was buried in the ocean, a father and a sister on the way, and mother and a brother died a few days after reaching Utah. Thus only she and her one sister remained. Fortunately they were among friends. They were offered inducements to return to their native land by a well-to-do relative, but the girls were already firmly planted in Utah, and here they remained.
Nelsina Anderson came to Lehi in the year 1870, where she was married to Andrew R. Anderson, a well-known resident of Lehi. She has reared a family of children of whom she may justly be proud. All who have been her neighbors know full well that she has kept the commandment: "Love thy neighbor as thyself." For fifteen years she labored as a teacher in the Relief Society, and holds such a position at the present time. Through her warm sympathy, kind consideration of others, and her willing devotion, she has left remembrances that will never die.
ANDREW BJRRING ANDERSON is the son of Andrew R. Anderson and Mary Ann Pederson Anderson. He was born in Ephraim. Sanpete County, Utah, on the 14th day of September, 1866. When he was three years old, his parents moved to Lehi, the place of his home up to the present time, excepting the years spent in teaching at Vernal and Beaver.
Mr. Andersons early life was occupied on the farm, which afforded a most excellent opportunity for attending school during the winter months. In the spring of 1884 he graduated from the public schools, and the following two winters attended the B. Y. Academy at Provo, graduating at the head of his class in 1886 from the preparatory normal course. The ambition of becoming a teacher, which had been created under the splendid instructions of Dr. Maeser, were for a period of six years not realized. It was during these years that he was employed by the Lehi Co-op. as clerk, serving two years in the Branch store and four years at the main building, in Lehi. During the summer of 1892. while acting as a grand juror in Provo, the influences of Dr. Maeser's early teachings moved him to make arrangements for attending school the following winter. During the commencement exercises of the spring of 1895, the B. Y. University conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy (B. Pd.), also a diploma from the commercial department of the same institution. Two years later the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as recognition of meritorious work in the Uintah Stake Academy, conferred upon him the degree of D. B. In the spring of 1912, he filed credits from the most noted summer schools of the University of Utah, the B. Y. University, and the Agricultural College with the State Board of Education, receiving from it a State High School Diploma. He served as teacher and principal from 1895 to 1901, in the Uintah Stake Academy, and from 1901 to 1907 as principal of the Beaver Branch of the B. Y. University, and from 1908 to the present writing, he has occupied the position of district principal of the Lehi schools.
Mr. Anderson has been a consistent Democrat all of his life. During his early manhood, he received from his party recognition in being sent as a delegate to attend the National Democratic Convention, held in Chicago, at which time and place Grover Cleveland received the nomination for his second term as President of the United States.
He has been a persistent worker in the church to which he belongs. In his early youth, he was placed in the position of counselor to the, president of the Y. M. M. I. A., and later became president. For three years, from 1998 to 1901, he was counselor to Bishop John N. Davis, of the Vernal Ward, and from 1901 to 1907, was presiding elder of the Academy Branch of the Beaver Ward. At this writing he holds, in the Alpine Stake, the position of alternate to the high council, member of the stake board of education, and superintendent of the religion classes.
Wherever he has lived, he has been a producer and a home builder, a lover of the soil, and a producer of its .products. Hannah Evans and Andrew B Anderson were married in the Manti Temple, September 12, 1888. To them have been born Vernon A., Leland D.. Maesa L., and Mary M. Hannah Evans is the daughter of David Evans and Margaret Christina Holm Evans. She was born in Lehi, February 4, 1870.
Hannah Evans Anderson
JOHANAH JOHNSON JACOBS ANDERSON, the daughter of John and Anna Johnson, was born in 1792, in Tyrsfors, Soken, Norway. The family were farmers, so her early life was spent on the farm. Her education was limited to the amount prescribed by law, which was very little. She married Swen Jacobs, with whom she had two sons, Swen and John.
In 1830, the family emigrated to the New World, being among the first to leave Norway for America. Two years after their arrival, the husband died, leaving Mrs. Jacobs a widow, in the state of New York. A few years later she married Andrew Anderson, and together they moved to La Salle County, Illinois. While here they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the instrumentality of Elder George P. Dykes and others. Mrs. Anderson and her two sons, Swen and John, were baptized August 12, 1842.
May 18, 1849, the family started on the perilous trip across the plains for Utah, with ox teams, arriving in Salt Lake City, October 31, 1849. On the Sweetwater they were over-taken by a raging snow storm, and lost a great number of their cattle, and but for the timely arrival of help from the valley, they would have been unable to continue the journey. The next two and a half years were spent in Session Settlement, and in the spring of 1852 the family moved to Lehi.
Grandma Jacobs, as she was affectionately called, spent the remainder of her days in Lehi, administering cheer and comfort to the sick and bereaved. She was eminently successful as a midwife, and a great deal of her time was taken up with this work. She died at the home of her son, John, December 17, 1878, aged 86 years.
MONS ANDERSON was born February 8, 1829, at Ringsager, Hedemarken, Norway. He emigrated to America in 1848, locating in Wisconsin. In 1852 he started for the gold fields of California, but while passing through Salt Lake City, he was converted to Mormonism through hearing Orson Pratt preach, and was baptized by Robert T. Burton, July 9, 1852. He remained in Salt Lake City, and married Christine Bensen July 3, 1854. Before leaving Salt Lake City, he was called to go and meet Johnston's army in Echo canyon.
He moved to Lehi in April, 1858. He filled a mission to Norway in 1870-1872. laboring as traveling elder and as president of the Christiania Conference. In 1882-1883, he filled another mission to Wisconsin and Minnesota.
He married Hanna Gulbrandson in October, 1875. He was the father of seven sons and two daughters. He was one of the first men in Lehi to raise flax, hemp, and broom corn, and to manufacture from these products rough linen, rope, and brooms. For many years he was president of the Scandinavians of Lehi. He also filled other ecclesiastical positions. Mr. Anderson took part in all the activities and withstood all the hardships of early Lehi, and was among the most ardent of pioneer town builders. He was a prominent and progressive citizen to the time of his death, September 18. 1908.
CHRISTINE BENSEN ANDERSON, wife of Mons Anderson, was born June 11, 1826, at Aarnage, Island of Bornholm, Denmark. She accepted the gospel from the first missionaries sent to Denmark, and was baptized by Elder George P. Dykes, August 24, 1850. She was living in Copenhagen at the time of her conversion. She gave the elders financial aid, and took great pleasure in helping to teach the Danish language to Erastus Snow. Soon after her conversion, she was asked to accompany the elders to Bornholm her native island, to do missionary work. Her parents, Yeppe and Maren Bensen, gave them a home, and she helped to support the elders, and assisted them in their missionary work. She was the second convert from Bornholm to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She left her native land for Utah, December 24, 1852, on the sailing vessel, "Forest Monarch" in Elder John Forsgren's company. They were ten weeks crossing the ocean, arriving in Salt Lake City, October 3, 1853. The overland journey was made by ox team, and Miss Bensen walked all the way, besides caring for an invalid, and cooking for eight people.
She was married to Mons Anderson, July 3, 1854. They endured all the hardships of that early day; making their home in Salt Lake City till the spring of 1858, when they moved to Lehi. Their first home here was a dugout, and later two small adobe rooms. She engaged in pioneer industries, such as carding, spinning, and weaving. She was the mother of five sons and one daughter, and an active Relief Society worker for over twenty years. She endured the hardships of early days with cheerfulness and patience. Lehi was her home till the time of her death, December 28, 1909.
THOMAS ASHTON, the son of Joseph and Catherine Sedden Ashton, was born in the township of Parr, Lancashire, England, November 7, 1813. At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed for six years to the trade of wheelwright, carriage builder, and ship-carpenter. At the expiration of his apprenticeship, he went to work on the Liverpool and London railway, which was being built at that time.
November 20, 1836, he married Mary Howard. He and his wife were the first citizens of St. Ellens to be baptized members of the Mormon Church. They were baptized by Samuel Cryer at St. Ellens, Lancashire, England.
They emigrated to America in 1841, and made their home at Skunk River, Iowa. The family were driven away by the mob and went to Nauvoo. He returned to Skunk River to sell his property, but the mob had possession, and compelled him to sign a deed to the property. His wife died August 26, 1849, at Pottawattamie, Iowa. She was the mother of five children.
He was ordained a priest January, 1841, by Theodore Curtis; ordained at seventy at Nauvoo, 1844, ordained a high priest by Daniel S. Thomas, August 22, 1875, at Lehi, Utah, and received his endowments May 23, 1856, at Salt Lake City, Utah.
On September 25, 1849, he married Sarah E. Mills. She died September 3, 1850, leaving one child. On February 17, 1851, he married Araminta Lawrence, at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa. They had eleven children.
Before his final move to Nauvoo, he went to work under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith on the Nauvoo Temple. He assisted to build the noted Mormon boat, the "Maid of Iowa." The family moved to Nauvoo after the death of the Prophet. He took part in all the events of the trying times until the final expulsion. He worked in the wagon shops where the wagons were made for the trip westward. He assisted in the last defense of Nauvoo against the mob, and helped to work the cannon that was made out of a steamboat shaft. The family left Nauvoo at the final expulsion, and went to Winter Quarters, passing through the events that happened there until the breaking up of Winter Quarters. Not having means enough to come to Utah, they moved back across the Missouri River to Council Bluffs. Here they raised crops until the spring of 1851, when the family moved to Utah, traveling in the company of Captain Morris Phelps. The company arrived in Salt Lake City, September 27, 1851, and came to Lehi, arriving October 6, 1851.
He took a very active part in planning and making our first water ditches, and was one of our first water masters when there was no salary attached to the office. He was also very active in planning and building our first bridges across Jordan River, and other bridges, also our first meeting and school house. He was a member of the Lehi City Council from 1854 to 1866 inclusive, and was always prominent in adding his means to the outfits of our boys going on Indian raids. He died in Lehi, Utah, January 22, 1903, at the age of 89 years, 2 months, and 15 days.
ARAMINTA LAWRENCE ASHTON, the daughter of John and Rhoda Sanford Lawrence, was born in upper Canada, December 5, 1831. With her parents she went to Missouri in 1838, and was there to share in the mob troubles and the expulsion of the Mormons in 1839, and they settled at Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, where they remained until the expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo on account of their religion, in 1846.
She married Thomas Ashton, February 17, 1851, at Council Bluffs, and they emigrated to Utah the same year, settling in Lehi. She was the mother of eleven children, three of whom preceded her to the Great Beyond. She raised and cared for fourteen children, two of her husband's first wife's and one grand daughter.
She would take her family and glean wool from the bushes, wash, card, spin, and weave it into cloth to clothe her family. She also wove cloth and carpets for others. She burned grease wood, gathered the ashes, leached, and used them to make soap in the place of lye. She helped in the cricket and grasshopper war.
She was an active member of the Mormon Church, and held the office of teacher in the Relief society, also in the Sabbath School. She also labored in the Mutual Improvement Association.
Being of a charitable disposition, she was always ready to help the poor and nurse the sick. She died in Lehi, Utah, June 10, 1891, at the age of 59 years, 6 months, and 5 days.
JOHN AUSTIN was a grandson of James Austin, who was born about 1748, in Bedfordshire, England. His wife, Mary, was born in 1752, in the same shire. James Austin was fairly well to do, being very industrious, and had a respectable family of eight children. One Sunday afternoon, on his way home from visiting a friend, he broke a blood vessel while crossing a stile, and died soon after. The family was now dependent on the mother, and the children, who were going to school, were kept out and set to work. The mother died in 1835, being 83 years of age.
Joseph Austin was the seventh child of James and Mary Austin, and was born May 17, 1791, in Studham, Bedfordshire, England, where he lived all his days, and where he died September 14, 1870. He married Ann Mills about the year 1814, and to them were born eight children..
John Austin was the third child of Joseph and Ann Mills Austin, he was born December 3, 1822, in Studham, Bedfordshire, England, where he spent his youth and early manhood. He married Emma Grace March 20, 1847, on her twentieth birthday. She was a daughter of Thomas Grace and Mary Jayce Grace, and was born in Whipsnade, Bedfordshire, England, March 20, 1827. Soon after their marriage, this couple moved to Kinsmouth, Hartfordshire, where they resided for about one year, when they returned to Studham. While in Kinsmouth, Mrs. Austin was converted to the Mormon faith and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, January 5, 1848, by Elder Benjamin Johnson, and two years from that day Mr. Austin was immersed in the waters of baptism.
Soon after their conversion, this couple had a strong desire to emigrate to Utah to the body of the Church, as the principle of gathering was preached considerably throughout England at this time. It seemed to be a hopeless undertaking, however, as it was about all they could do to get the bare necessities of life for their ever-increasing family. Mrs. Austin, who was a woman of great faith and determination, was very anxious to do something to increase their scanty income, that her family might at some time be permitted to gather with the Saints in the valleys of Utah. One day in 1854 a man came to her door selling straw for braiding. He persuaded her to buy a number of bundles to sell to her neighbors, offering her about one cent per bundle for profit. Mrs. Austin was quite successful in this venture, and bought more bundles of straw, which she also sold at a profit. From this small beginning, in the course of time, a business was built up and a small store was conducted, which helped materially to swell the coffers of the family. By 1866 sufficient means had been saved to send two of the children to Zion, accordingly the two oldest, Harriet and George, were sent. Two years later the father decided to emigrate, as perhaps the opportunities for making money were more plentiful in Utah than in England. Two weeks before the vessel sailed on which John expected to travel, one of their neighbors who also expected to emigrate to Utah at this time offered to lend the money for the entire family to go. This man was Bartle Turner, the father of the Turner families of Lehi, and it is needless to say that the offer was thankfully accepted, the necessary preparations hurriedly made, and the family, which at this time consisted of father, mother, and nine children, was soon on its way to the West.
They crossed the ocean on the sailing vessel, "John Bright" and the plains in Captain Joseph S. Rawlins' mule train, which left Laramie City July 25th, and arrived in Salt Lake City August 20, 1868. They came at once to Lehi, where their son and daughter, who had preceded them, were living, and have since made this place their home.
Soon after his arrival in Lehi Mr. Austin took up farming and in connection with his sons was among the first to take up land on the bench north of Lehi on the Bull River Ditch. The father and sons have been eminently successful as tillers of the soil and when the sugar factory was located at Lehi, the Austin brothers were among the foremost to bring about the successful cultivation of the sugar beet. As a consequence, a number of the sons of John Austin at the present time are superintendents of agriculture at some of the factories of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, George being the general superintendent of agriculture over all of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company factories.
After a well spent life of toil and devotion, having brought seventeen children into the world, twelve of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood.
Mrs. Austin died, November 30, 1893. In May, 1894, Mr. Austin married Elizabeth Pead, who preceded him just a few days to the Great Beyond. He died February 13, 1907. John Austin was a true and faithful Latter-day Saint, full of devotion to duty and true to every trust. At the time of his death he presided over the high priests of Lehi, and was dearly beloved and respected by all. His family has been active in many lines in the history, not only of Lehi, but of the intermountain region. They are noted for thrift, industry, and business sagacity, and are filling many positions of trust and honor both in church and state.
The names of John Austin's children are as follows: Harriet (Mrs. John Jacobs), George, Joseph, Hiram, Alfred, Parley, Heber, William, Sarah Emma (Mrs. Charles Allen), Juliet (Mrs. John Brown), Hector, Anne (Mrs. Charles Munns), Mark, Thomas, Herbert, John Ezra, Lettie (Mrs. Abraham Gudmundson), and Frank.
Mrs. John Austin
WILLIAM BALL, son of George and Harriet Noyes Ball, was born at Andover Hans, England, January 22, 1833. He received a common school education, and at the early age of 16 years left his home in the country and cast his lot in the city of London. Here he remained until he became 21 years old, when he joined the L, D. S. faith, and in the year 1855 married his first wife, Sarah Ann Markwick. On October 1st of the same year he set sail for America, arriving three weeks later in New York. His wife joined him there in February, 1856. Leaving New York in the spring of 1857, he and his wife set out for Council Bluffs, joined Israel Evans' hand cart company, and crossed the plains, walking a distance of thirteen hundred miles. They arrived in Salt Lake on the 12th day of September, 1857, where they remained a few days for rest, then journeyed on to Lehi. Here he followed the occupation of farming.
In the year 1858 he was called to take charge of the toll bridge over Jordan River, where he remained for a number of years. In 1862 he married his second wife, Caroline Simmons, who came in the same company across the plains. From this union came six sons and two daughters. In 1863 he was called on a mission to Omaha to help a company of Saints cross the plains with ox teams. In 1877 he filled a mission to England, spending nearly three more years of his time for the great cause of truth.
He labored as a block teacher for a period of 40 years, and was also connected with the Sunday School 30 years. He was beloved by all who knew him for his genial disposition, always looking on the bright side of life. He lived and died a faithful Latter-day Saint, being called to the Great Beyond April 10th, 1911.
His wives were certainly true to him, working hand in hand with him, suffering the trials of subduing a new land. They were faithful to the cause of truth. His wife Sarah Ann labored as a teacher in the Sunday School, and held the office of treasurer of the Relief Society for many years. Caroline was called as one of the first Sunday School teachers when it was re-organized in 1866. In 1878 the first Primary Association was organized in Lehi, and Caroline, with 13 others, was set apart to preside over this organization, which office she held for 13 years. Since she discontinued that work, she has labored as a teacher in the Relief Society.
Mrs. (Sarah) William Ball
SILAS PARKER BARNES was born in Deering, New Hampshire, March 7, 1805. His parents were natives of that state. His father having a large family to support, Silas, at the age of seventeen, decided to cope with life's battles alone; so bidding his family farewell, he made his way to Boston. With only a single dollar in his possession, he began what proved to be almost a fruitless search for work. Finally, at the great grain and coal wharves, he found a job shoveling coal, which he gratefully accepted. Being active, energetic, and willing, he succeeded in a few years, by untiring industry, in winning a partnership in the business and finally owned it himself.
With the advent of prosperity, Barnes decided to share his life, so on May 7, 1832, he married Miss Olive Chapman, then of Boston, but a native of Saco, Maine. From this union were born nine children, three daughters and six sons, of whom only three are now living: Ferdinand of Rhode Island, and Richard G. and Watson of California. The other children are Freeman, Sarah E. Carners, Marcellus, Pamelia, Leander, and Harriet.
In 1851 Mr. Barnes settled up his business and with a number of others who, like himself, had embraced the doctrines taught by Joseph Smith, started west. Traveling first by railway to New York and then by canal boat and steam boat, they finally reached Council Bluffs, Iowa. After a stay of six weeks here in preparation for the arduous journey ahead of them, the company finally set out. The party consisted of sixty wagons, two hundred men, and almost that many women and children. The journey through the trackless prairies, among ever present dangers from the untamed elements and wild savages, was a noteworthy one. After two and one-half months, the company reached Salt Lake City. Here the Barnes family remained a year, during which the father bought five acres of land and improved it and built a house and small barn. These preparations enabled the family to withstand with comparative comfort the severe winter which followed. Next spring Silas planted the five acres with peach pits, which later grew into a thriving orchard. The lot was situated near the present business center of Salt Lake City.
In the summer of 1852 the family again moved, this time to Dry Creek, where Barnes purchased a farm about three-quarters of a mile outside of the fort. He was quite successful in farming because of available irrigation water. After one year, the family was ordered to move into the fort because of threatened danger from the Indians. They had seen the redmen only once, when about three hundred of them camped a little distance from the farm, and stole some cattle belonging to the settlers.
In 1853 Silas P. Barnes was elected mayor of Lehi. He was the first incumbent of that office and filled it most successfully. Becoming dissatisfied with conditions in general in Utah, Mr. Barnes decided to remove, so in April, 1854, he started with his family to California. After a three months' journey they reached the Golden State, and settled in Yolo County. Here
Silas followed farming until his death, in April, 1888, Mrs. Barnes having passed to the Great Beyond April 5, 1885. During his later years, Silas became an adherent of the Adventist faith, and having been from his boyhood an earnest student of the Bible, but few men were so conversant with its teachings as he. Of strong religious convictions, imbued with, to him, right principles, energetic, active, stern, though just in all his dealings with his fellows, he built up not only a large worldly fortune, but also made for himself a place in the hearts of the people of the community as a good man and earnest friend to the interests of the public. May the good and charitable deeds of "Daddy" Barnes, as he was familiarly called, ever be remembered.
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