An Ancestral History or Two

Bertha Marie Hansen

                Bertha Marie Hansen is my great-great grandmother. She is an incredible woman. She was born in Denmark is 1862 and was raised by her strong Lutheran parents. They were kind to her and her siblings, but Denmark was in an era of war and poverty. Times were very hard for them. The boys in her family went off to earn their keep at the age of seven, and the girls were raised to learn homemaking skills like cooking, baking, knitting, weaving, spinning, and needlework, as well as clothing construction as an early age. When Bertha was fourteen she heard the message of the restored gospel from the Elders in Denmark and became converted.

                Upon discovering this, her parents and family disowned her and kicked her out. When talking to my grandmother, she remembers Bertha talking about the disgrace she had felt and the sorrow. She never saw them again. She lived with her sister and was there baptized and confirmed a member. She moved to Copenhagen where she rented a room and set up a dressmaking business in order to earn passage to America. She traveled by sea with a twelve-year-old companion named Wilhelmina Maria Dreyer in 1883. They boarded the train going west to the Utah Territory. They were picked up in the city of Nephi by Parley Rogers Young who was headed to Fairview. When they got there, Parley took them to the home of L.P. Anderson. Bertha was supposed to marry him, but found him married with his wife dying of tuberculosis and him living in a horrible condition.

                During the next year Parley hired Bertha to help out at his home where his wife was dying of cancer. They eventually were married in 1884 in the Salt Lake Temple. Parley built their own little stone home. A year into their marriage, Bertha had a dream that Parley was going to marry Eliza Jane Briggs as a plural wife. Eliza was a crippled young woman from England. They were married just as Bertha has her first child, Parley Absalom. Later in the next year Bertha had another son, Jesse Leroy who is my great-grandfather, at the same time that Eliza had her first daughter Hannah.

                Parley was sent to jail a few years later for unlawful cohabitation, which was rough for the two families. After he returned, one of his daughters from his previous marriage died of typhoid fever. During the next five years Bertha gave birth to five more children and Eliza had two.

                When I was interviewing my grandmother, she remembered her father, Jesse Leroy, talking about Bertha. He fondly remembered her as a good woman who made a good home for her family. She was very capable and talented. She would sing and dance and talk in Danish. She loved to gather wildflowers and put them in vases to beautify her home. She was a woman of short stature and full figure. She wore her light brown hair parted in the middle and pulled back in a bun. She had a quiet, calm disposition.

                In the summer of 1895 Bertha was expecting her seventh child. She worked very hard that year, helping Parley lift heavy grain sacks. The night before her baby was born she scrubbed the floors on her hands and knees. This particular birth was very difficult for her, although the rest had always been difficult, but Bertha died from the ordeal as did her infant son. Parley named and blessed him that very day. None of the children heard Bertha die that night. Some contributed the death to the hard work she did prior to delivering, but others suspect it was a breech birth. She was only 33. My grandmother recalled Jesse telling them the story of her death. He had said that the light went out in their world when Mother died. They were left with Eliza. She was not nearly as kind, generous, calm, talented, and capable as Bertha. It was difficult for all of the children to lose her. Even though she died when my great-grandfather was young, he remembered her for her valiance and her kindness despite the many difficult things she went through. She was a good woman and a great mother.

Works Cited:

-          Personal phone call interview with my Grandmother

-          The Ancestors and Pioneers of Jesse Leroy Young and Alice Dorthea Tucker

Compiled by: Ruth Young Baum

George James Tucker

                George James Tucker is my great-great-great-grandfather. He was born December 1, 1861 in Mt. Pleasant in Utah. He was the son of George Tucker and Jorgine Dorthea Svendsen who had traveled over from Denmark. The Tucker home was a happy one, though it had been full of trials. Each parent had endured the trials of crossing the plains. They finally settled in their home in Mt. Pleasant. George James was their first born child, and sadly their only child to grow to maturity.

                Soon after George came his younger sister Sophia. When George was only six, his mother died after giving birth to two beautiful twin boys, Amasa and Louis. The twins lived only a few short months after her because they were so tiny and immature. They were difficult to feed and take care of. Not long after, Sophia followed them in death at only fourteen months old. This was a very trying time for George and his father, who were left to carry on alone.

                Some beloved relatives of the Tucker’s, the P.M. Peels, invited George and his father to live with them. They lived there until 1868, when George Sr. married his second wife Emma Hurst. When George was eight years old, his step-mother gave birth to a boy named Travers. Although they were several years apart, a close bond grew between the two. They had many travels together. My grandmother can remember her relatives talking about George James. She remembered them describing him as being very mild natured, of an affectionate disposition, and very easy to get along with. Many people, especially his family, looked up to him with pride.

                In 1880 George James began courting a beautiful young woman by the name of Sarah Jane Brady. After a year or so of courting, they were married on April 28, 1881 by George’s uncle. They began a very happy home in Mt. Pleasant. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. A year later in 1882, George’s step-mother Emma Tucker died. Travers came to live with George and his wife, and Sarah Jane took the baby of Emma, Charles, to care for. She also had her own baby, George Warren Tucker, to care for. My grandmother remembers the stories of the two boys who were raised like twins.

                George took over the 180-acre farm in Oak Creek. My grandmother and grandfather told of the hard times in those days, especially for farmers. Crops were harvested the difficult way. They eventually moved to Fairview to a one-room log house. After they were situated George went to work at the Temple Sawmill in the canyon.

                That next year, in December of 183, George and Sarah had another baby girl whom they named Sarah Jane. She sadly passed away only a month or two later. At that time, George Sr. married again and took his young boy, Charles, to live with him. It is understandable that the family felt a double loss at the time. The next year they tried again, and were blessed with a baby boy they named Amasa in November of 1884. He lived only a short time and died. This was one of the roughest trials for the family. Their grandmother Nancy also passed away that November, and their Uncle passed away from a saw mill accident. That made four deaths within a year in the family. My grandparents talked about the strength of the family’s love for each other despite these challenges. They knew for certain where they would go, and when they would all see each other again.

                In March of 1885, George James came home from the Sawmill seriously ill. He suffered from a kidney ailment that killed him on March 24, 1885. He didn’t suffer long, but the family was crushed to lose him. It added a death to the four already suffered through. George James was only 24 years old. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery on the third birthday of his little son.  My grandmother talked about Sarah Jane after George’s death. It seemed as though the life had gone out of her. She felt crushing sorrow, but always said she was grateful for the faith and trust she had in the Lord. He sustained her through her trials.

Works Cited:

-              Personal phone call interview with my Grandmother

-              The Ancestors and Pioneers of Jesse Leroy Young and Alice Dorthea Tucker

              Compiled by: Ruth Young Baum 

A Cultural History

A Peek Into 19^th Century Norway

            I belong to five family names. I am a Grover, a Rogers, a Tanner, a Young, and a Roberts. These lines have come from many different places including Denmark, Scotland, England, and Ireland. Most of the Tanner line came from Norway. I have always been impressed with the stories I had heard growing up about my grandfather’s mother, who came from Norway. It seemed like a white and cold, yet magical place.

            Most of my ancestors in the Tanner line lived in Norway for generations and generations. I could not find exactly when they had settled there, or how long they had been there, but they lived in Norway up to the 19^th century. I learned that around 1912 my great-grandmother Tanner heard of the gospel as a young teenager. She was kicked out of that household, and within the next few years came to America. My grandfather was not sure of the time that she traveled over, but he guessed it was between 1912 and 1920. After she came to America, she married and started a family in the gospel in Utah. She still retained her Norwegian heritage, and kept many of the customs and traditions. Norwegian meals were still served in her home as well.

            Besides wanting to go to America to join the Saints, there were other reasons my great-grandmother wanted to leave Norway. Although the country is a beautiful landscape, the 1900-1920’s time period was rough for Norway. It has just reached independence in 1905, and was struggling to get back up and running after the Swedish rule. The majority of Norwegians voted for a monarchy as their new government. They chose Prince Carl of Denmark, who became King Haakon VII. Soon after the formation of their country and their government, Norway began to prosper. Women’s rights to vote in local and national elections were given in 1907 and 1913. The economy of Norway boomed with the introduction of the ten-hour workday, and hydroelectricity became one of the top industries of the nation.

            Then came WWI. My great-grandmother was still in Norway for part of this war. Although Norway remained neutral and stayed out of the war, casualties still occurred. Because of German naval warfare, the Norwegian fleet was half destroyed and thousands of sailors died. During WWI and after, unemployment skyrocketed in Norway. During these years, Norway had its own depression, though it was not as severe as the Great Depression. Combined with her family disowning her, it is no surprise my great-grandmother Tanner left Norway for America.

            As a country, Norway is situated on the west side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders the North Sea and the Barent Sea. Most of the country lies above the Arctic Circle. There is a large mountain range that extends down the entire range of Norway, with many fjords (large inlets of water).  There is only a small percentage of land that is suitable for growing crops. Fishing has been the dominant industry of Norway for centuries.

            My grandfather remembered much of Norwegian culture and food that my great-grandmother brought with her. I talked to him for a while and discovered many things about Norwegian lifestyles.

            Norwegian food is simple and natural. Breads are a staple. My grandfather remembers a lot of rye bread, flatbread, and crisp bread. Norwegians liked dairy foods such as cheese, sour milk, yogurt, and butter. They loved their meats as well. Their beef, chicken, pork, and fish were all cooked in very different and unique ways. Each had a specific and certain method to it. They loved their smoked fish. They added in potatoes and other vegetables when they desired, or when they had them available. My grandfather recalled the special Norwegian cookies his mother would make. Those recipes have been passed down, and my own mother will make them occasionally.

            I learned that Norwegians have a very deep sense of belonging to nature. They love everything natural and down-to-earth. Norway as a country has resisted urbanization because of its deep relationship to the earth. In the summer, all Norwegians do is hike. During the winter, all they do is ski. They also love to hunt, and they love to show off their prized kills in their homes.

            One cultural tradition of Norway that my great-grandmother carried over is a Norwegian Christmas celebration. This was my favorite tradition that I encountered as I researched. Norwegians celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Not only do they celebrate a day early, and all day, but also they celebrate for at least two weeks before Christmas Eve! My grandfather and grandmother told me that the two weeks before Christmas are full of dancing, singing, celebrating in general, and food. Norwegians cook meats, fish, vegetables, and many desserts over the course of the two weeks. They cook them slowly for long periods of time, with rich, creamy, sugary ingredients. My grandfather mentioned how good Norwegian food is many times. They also put out boots instead of stockings for Christmas. They did not get presents, but they did get hard tack candy and other treats and tinker toys.

            Even though my great-grandmother left Norway a little less than 100 years ago, and even though she has passed away, that Norwegian influence and culture still remains in my family today. My grandfather upholds some of those little traditions and beliefs, and Norwegian food is still made at family get-togethers. All in all, Norway is a beautiful country with a deep rich heritage that stretches through the generations to touch the lives of descendants around the world.

           

Works Cited:

1. Personal phone call with my Grandfather and Grandmother Tanner.

2. http://www.localhistories.org/norway.html

3. http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Norway.html#b

A Personal History

            I was born early in the morning on March 19, 1993 in Orlando, Florida. My father was a psychiatrist at the time, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom with my two older sisters Amanda and Natalie. I do not remember much of living in Florida, because about a year later my family moved from that big tropical state to Pocatello, Idaho. There my younger brother Jacob was born not too much later. Almost two years later, we moved to Blackfoot, Idaho. There my youngest sister, Rachel, was born. All of my siblings are about two years apart. It was in Blackfoot that my memories of childhood begin.
            We lived in a quaint yellow house, with a large backyard with a swing set, a trampoline, an irrigation ditch, a rope swing, a sandbox, a garden, and many trees and bushes. It was a child’s dream. My earliest memories consist of playing in the irrigation water and in the sandbox, or pretending to be animals in the bushes and on the swing set. We had a lovely neighborhood. We also had many animals including goats, dogs, cats, bunnies, and birds. We spent five years in that house, and my favorite memories are associated with it.
            After those blissful five years, we moved to Snake River. My siblings and I were devastated. My father was getting into the education world as a career, and he went to Snake River to become a principal. The house that we rented was huge. It had two floors and a basement, and it was beautiful and white. It had a very large, green yard, with a field in the back and a large shed in front. There was a big jungle gym in the back and irrigation ditches as well, our favorite. This house came to be one of my favorites as well. We called it our petting zoo house. We had dogs, cats, goats, chickens, pigs, peacocks, llamas, bunnies, birds, and we even got two horses. This was a huge monumental period of my life. Horses were my obsession, my dream, and it was in this house I received my first horse, a sorrel horse named Captain, as a gift on my birthday. That is a cherished memory. We also got another white horse named Buddy not too long after. It was my dream come true. In that house I really began to grow. I was old enough that I remember most of my experiences there. I really began to develop into myself. I had many precious and fun experiences with my family and my siblings, most of them associated with our animals. Our stories and experiences of animals is one of the biggest things that makes my family, my family.
            I was also baptized in Snake River. Though my memory is clouded, I will never forget the feeling right before, during, and immediately after my baptism. It is similar to what a lot of people say. I remember feeling lightweight, bright, shiny, very happy, and I felt a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart. I was so excited to be a member of the church. Not long after that birthday, my family moved again. This was a difficult move for us, as we were all starting to gain close friends in school. We packed up and headed to Arco, Idaho. At that age, Arco felt like the most isolated place in the world. My father was going to be the superintendent there. We lived in a fun, small house for a year or so, but had to move to a trailer home later. I do not remember why. In Arco I was able to participate in more things with my horses, like 4-H and the Fourth of July parade. We also tried new and fun things like a homemade ice skating rink and snowmobiles. It was in Arco my first horse died, and my second horse was sold. That was rough for me, as I was still young and very attached.
            After two or so years of living in Arco, my father wanted to apply for a superintendent position in Rexburg, Idaho. He was confident he would get the job, and sot the rest of us moved to Rexburg in anticipation. He did not get the job though, and so he remained in Arco while we lived in Rexburg for about a year and a half. On the weekends he would come up to visit. That was difficult on us, especially my father. Our home in Rexburg was situated next to a lovely field and a large canal, which provided the source of our entertainment whenever the weather permitted. We explored and played all day in the water and in the forest and field behind it. I was in my teens, and the pressures of middle school had begun. It was a transitioning stage.
            Finally my father gained a job in Rupert, Idaho as the superintendent. While I was excited that our family would be together, I was sad to move yet again and leave the friendships I was just barely beginning to develop, along with my first few crushes. I was scared to move. The only thing that made we willing to go was our new home. It was a big house, and we each had our own room! That was a novelty compared to our last few houses. We had a nice yard with a trampoline and a nice hot tub, and later on a pool as well. We also had pasture for another horse. That was what really got me through another move. My next horse we bought not long after we settled into Rupert. She was an Appaloosa named Shadow, and she was my world.
            Rupert changed me as an individual. I learned harsh realities about school, society, and other people, especially teenage girls and the idea of popularity. I was not popular. It did not bother me at first, but one can only last for so long. Those two years of school in Rupert were full of tears, struggles, and loneliness. I was still trying to adjust to being the “new girl” all over again, and it was rough trying to make friends when the kids of that area had been friends with their group ever since kindergarten. I learned many valuable lessons about friendship, reading body language, being kind, and respecting others.
            About two years into living in Rupert, tensions began to rise in the family. I had always known that my parents fought, but I thought that was what parents did. This year though, it worsened rapidly. It did not worry me as much as it should have. But soon, it was announced that we were moving again to Salem, Utah. As much as I had struggled with school, I was upset by the idea of moving again. The only comfort I found was that my grandparents and close cousins lived in Salem, Utah. I did not know why we were moving, but we were, and my father wasn’t coming with. He said he had not been able to find a job in time, and that he would, and he would be back with us. It seemed similar to the Arco to Rexburg move. This time though, something was different. I could not put my finger on it, but part of it came from the way my father sobbed almost hysterically when we left that day to drive down to Utah with the moving van, and he stayed behind.
            Later that year, as I was a young freshman in High School, I learned that my parents had divorced. That was, once again, a rough time for me because my home life was stressful and full of trials, and I was struggling to make friends and feel normal again in school. Since an entire paper could be devoted to that one trial of my parents divorcing, I will summarize. We stayed for two years in Utah, going through so many ups and downs with my parent’s divorce. It seemed as though my life was collapsing, and yet the world was revolving around me like nothing had ever happened. We traveled back and forth between Salem and Rupert on the weekends to visit my dad. Yet, I changed through that experience, and through my own personal spiritual journey. I fell in love with that area, and developed the closest friendships and enjoyed my year of school more immensely than I ever had.
            It was in those years that I blossomed. I became who I really wanted to be. I grew out of the shy “new girl” character I had been before. I did sports, was in a play or two, joined choir, had my first kiss, my first school dance, a job at a horse ranch, and took English riding lessons. It was heaven for me. My dreams were flying sky high. Eventually, things with my parent’s relationship worsened even more. Just when I felt like I couldn’t take it, something changed. I do not know what, but my mother and father started dating again. In a short period of time, they remarried, and we headed back to Rupert, Idaho.
            That move was a crushing mix of sadness and anger for leaving a place I had come to love and fit in so well, and feelings of happiness for a family put back together. Although it was yet another harsh trial, I followed my family back to Rupert. I was so scared to go back. The memories of my experience there threatened me. I was stunned by the change in me and in others. My last two years of high school were wonderful. I developed the best friends that I still talk to, and I had the greatest array of experiences ranging from choir trips, to working for the Idaho State Senate, to volunteering for a Youth Ranch, to crazy, wild, teenage fun with huge groups of friends at proms and other activities, especially graduation. I watched my siblings grow and leave the house, and my relationship with them and my parents deepened as I grew to understand and appreciate them and life more.
            And so currently, I am two years out of that High School and recently married to the sweetest man I could ever hope for. College has been a great, but hard, journey. It is rewarding and challenging, but it teaches a person things you would never learn otherwise. I am now an adult, and I understand my role in this life and the importance of my actions. I am going to complete college with a degree in Recreation Management with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation. I am going to help others through my passion, horses. And as I look back I realize that my life, with all the trials of moving and divorcing, and the experiences with friends, family, and animals, has helped me become the person I am today. It has also prepared in the best way possible to be able to look forward to the future with bright eyes of hope and a heart of gladness. I know who I was and who I am today, and because of my personal history I know I can be someone great!

Olivia M. Grover

- love family