Born 29 March 1823 in Sweden to Anders Johnsson and Hanna LarsdotterMarried Anna Christina Olsdotter
Married Martha Olson
Married Mary Eliza Allred 1 August 1870
Andrew-Mary Eliza-Eudean-Earl
Died 10 May 1899 in Fountain Green
Buried in Fountain Green
1870 Census
1880 Census
This is from a life sketch of Anders/Andrew Anderson given in 1953 by Georgina Swensen.
Andrew Anderson, son of Anders Johansson and Hannah Larsdotter, was born March 29, 1823, at Hickeborg, Malmo, Sweden. He had blue eyes and black curly hair. He was a large man, over six feet tall and weighed about 218 lbs.
On November 29, 1855, the father sailed for the United States. While on the voyage the ship caught fire and burned. Another sailing vessel carried the survivors to New York City, arriving February 28, 1856.
(Note: From History of Scand. Mission: Four hundred forty-seven saints sailed from Copenhagen on November 29, 1855. They arrived in New York, February 15, 1856, having been 66 days from Liverpool, England. They landed on the 16th and after staying a few days at Castle Garden, the journey was continued by rail on February 21 and 22, to Chicago, where the company was divided into three groups, 150 went to Burlington, Iowa.)
The mother remained in Copenhagen and made the living for her family of four boys, Christian, Swain, Lewis and Andrew, by sewing, until the spring of 1857, when she received money for their passage to America. This was the first word from her husband who had sailed away nearly two years before. The oldest son, Christian, had died in Copenhagen and the father knew nothing of it until he met the mother and three sons in Philadelphia, June 24, 1857.
After landing in America, Andrew went with other converts to Iowa, where he found work. Here at Burlington and Fairfield, he earned the money for the immigration of his family. The family lived in Iowa two years where two more children were born, a girl and a boy, Hannah, born April 13, 1858 at Burlington. She only lived a few hours. (See Joseph’s poem below.) Erastus Willard was born May 9, 1859 at Fairfield.
In May 1859 they started their journey across the plains with one yoke of oxen and an old wooden axle wagon. They arrived in Salt Lake City 28 of August 1859.
The family first located at Big Cotton Wood, later moved to Payson (from Uncle Andrew’s letter), where they lived in a dug out. From Payson, they moved to Ephraim where Brigham was born December 5, 1863. Then back to Moroni where Anna Christina was born on May 22, 1866.
They finally moved to Fountain Green. Here their first home was a dug out, and in the fort as a protection from the Indians. He took an active part in the Black Hawk War. He was a messenger and carried messages between the towns of Fountain Green and Salina during the war. He was in a skirmish with the Indians in Salina Canyon where his horse was shot from under him.
On June 13, 1867, he married Mary Eliza Allred in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. To this union eight children were born: Wiley Payne, Mary Eliza, Andrew Parley, Elizabeth Ann, George Edward, James Sanford, Edna Loretta, and Eilson Warren.
One of His first homes in Fountain Green was a two roomed brick house. The foundation was high with small holes, where they would put guns through in case of Indian raids. The basement was entered through a trap door. He later started a little store in this basement. He was the first to sell coal oil in Fountain Green. He bought a lamp which was a great luxury, he also purchased a stove to cook on. He later helped start the first co-op store.
He built a home for each of his wives on the same block. It is now the main business block in Fountain Green. His first wife’s home was on the northeast corner, the second wife’s home was on the south east corner and the third wife’s home was on the southwest corner.
At one time he freighted food products to Salt Lake City. Later on he freighted to Eureka, which was then a thriving mining camp. He made trips regularly and most of his loads were ordered in advance. He bought chickens, all kinds of meats, fruits, fresh and dried, potatoes, eggs, and butter in three-pound rolls to sell. The chickens were always dressed by his wives and children, sometimes two and three hundred chickens at a time. He often loaded several wagons at a time and his sons would help deliver.
He always had good horses. They were cared for regularly. If he ever got a balky horse, he would soon have it converted into a good one. When he made his trips, they were fed at two a.m. and at four a.m.when he was ready to start. He made the trips in three days to Eureka and back.
He sold for cash and always paid cash for all he bought. People liked to trade with him because they always received cash for pay instead of scrip, which the stores paid for produce. He carried his money in a buckskin sack about a foot long and tied it with a string. This was usually put in the grub box. He also had a little six shooter that he took with him on his trips. When he came to Homersville Canyon, he’d always place this gun beside him on the seat so he could be prepared in case of a holdup. He was never held up.
He had three fields where he raised sugar cane, grains, and other foods for his families. Every fall the big flour boxes were filled and big pigs killed for each family. This with the cows and chickens, all were well fed.
When polygamy troubles came to spoil the family life, Mary Eliza (the 3rd wife) and her eight children were moved to Emery, Emery County. Martha (the 2nd wife) to Orangeville. She only stayed a short time and moved back to Fountain Green.
A friend who was an apostle fixed a room in his granary for Andrew, with a bed and stove in it. He slept here and took care of his business. He was finally arrested in 1890 by Rasmus Clawson of Ephraim. The trial was to have been held in Provo, but the witnesses failed to appear. He had to pay $300, and was turned loose. His wives and children worked hard and were healthy and happy. He died May 10, 1899, at the age of 79 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment