Tonette Poulsen Larson

Hundred Fold

Tonette Poulsen                                    

20 Jun 1819- 14 Jan 1895

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.   Matt 19:29

Thinking of her family in far off Norway and weary from the weeks at sea Antonette read Matt 19:29 one last time. She closed her bible and tucked it safely into the wagon box before she attended the Sunday Meeting out on the open plain. 

“In captain Scott’s wagon train on Sunday evenings they always held religious services. Isaac Shaw was asked to speak on one of these occasions. Dressed in a blue jumper and trousers tucked in the top of his long boots, he mounted the dry goods box and did the best he could.

After the meeting an elderly lady came up to him with tears in her eyes, "Dear brother, God bless you," she said, "I left a boy home, a boy about your age. He could not understand so I had to leave him." She clung to his hands and looked the young man in the face while tears slowly trickled down the care worn furrows in her cheeks. "And you left a mother?" she asked 

"I left a father, my mother died years ago." She still clung to his hands and a big lump rose in his throat. If he had ever seen a saintly face, he thought this must be one before him now….

She slowly loosed her hands and said, "God bless you and keep you always." And with her blessing he went to bed.” Hammer, Mary Lenora Shaw, The Story of the Life of Isaac F. Shaw [1926], 6-14.

In Antonette’s mind she saw the beautiful Nes Headmark, Norway where her 4 sons Johan (25), Poul, (23); Mathias, (20) and Gulbrand who was only12 years old were left to care for themselves.  

The fire of the restored gospel burned in her heart, faith that all would work for good were her hope as she answered the call to go to Zion.  She traveled with her sister Johanne and her 20 year old daughter Randine and Lars Olson Randine’s husband. 

Tonette Poulsen was born on Sunday 20 June 1819 in Nes Hedmark, Norway. She was the daughter of Poul Johnsen and Ragnild Torgersen. Her father was a farmer. She received education in the Lutheran schools and attended the Lutheran Church or State Church. 

Tonette was the fifth of eight children, she had 3 older sisters. (We know that she was especially close with Johanne the sister she came to Ut with, who was 6 years older.   One brother died before she was born.  A baby brother and sister died when Tonette was young.  She grew up with a brother Christian, 5 years younger.

In the Nes Headmark region of Norway there was a very dynamic and respected man by the name of Gunder Larsen.  His wife Johanna died in May of 1839. He had two living children, a son Lars 27 and a daughter Ragnild 25.  

Antonette Poulsen and Gunder Larsen struck up a relationship and were married on Saturday the 4^thof April 1840. Tonette was 20.  Gunder was 37 years older than Tonette.   

We have no record of any of Tonette’s siblings getting married.  We know that her sister Johanna who joined the church and traveled to the US never married.  

It was an exciting occasion for Tonette to marry and have a family.  

Tonette and Gunder made their home on the farm Gielthilteie in Nes, Hedmark. They were tenant workers on the farm and did not own it.  It was here that their five children were born.

Their first child was born just 10 months after they married. 

It was a very cold Thursday the 28^thof January 1841 when Johan was born.  Wednesday Jan. 11 two years later another son Poul came screaming his way into the world.  One more son Mathias, was born also in the dead of winter on December 4, 1845.  

When Tonette was only 27 her mother passed away.  She was a young wife with 3 small children. 

Tonette dearly missed her mother and was blessed the next year with a beautiful little daughter.  Her little angel was born on Sunday Sept. 10, 1848. Having a daughter was a great comfort to her. Although her joy was full her life was hard.  As time went on Tonette's burdens became heavier because of the ill health of her husband.  For the next 5 years Tonette cared for her husband, her children and worked the farm, producing and selling all she could to make ends meet.  

Six weeks before her fifth child was born Gunder died on 1 November 1853, at the age of 73.  Tonette was 34 years old with 4 children and one on the way.  

Six weeks later, again in the dead of winter when the average temperature is 32 degrees.  Gulbrand Gundersen was born. (Thursday 15 December.)

Working hard and with the help of family when they could Tonette was able to provide for herself and her children.

Tonette was 43 when her father passed away.  By now her older sons were old enough to run the farm and her daughter was great help with the household chores and making rag rugs to sell. Even her baby who was 8 was determined to keep up with the big boys trying to do a man's share of the work.  

One of the first to join the church in Headmark, Norway was Lars Larsen Olson. He came from Sweden as a salesman when he was around 27 and purchased a farm in Headmark Norway.  For the next four years he assisted in missionary work and served as the branch president.  Lars must have been a great influence and missionary to the youth in the area.  

Tonette’s daughter, Randine Gunderson was mature, at age 14, she heard and accepted the gospel. She was baptized into the LDS Church. (Sunday 2 November 1862 in Hedmark, Norway.)

Being a member of this new church was not easy.   Many early missionaries were arrested and imprisoned for their preaching.

The new scripture, the book of Mormon had been translated into Danish but not yet into Norwegian.

Tonette Larsen, the poor widow with the blood of Israel in her veins, and a firm testimony of the Gospel in her heart, was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to join the saints. Tonette was baptized on the 6th of Jan 1864.  

Randine Gunderson, Tonette’s daughter and Lars Larson Olson Sr. were married Wednesday the 9^thof May 1866 in Christiania, (Oslo) Norway as they started their trek to join the saints in Utah.  

The newlyweds, along with Tonette Poulsen Larsen and her sister Johanne age 53 sailed from Hamburg, Germany on June 2, 1866 on the ship HUMBOLT with 328 Scandinavian Saints under the direction of George M. Brown.  (They arrived in New York July 18, 1866).  

Tonette left her 4 boys, Johan 25, Poul, 23; Mathias, 20; and Gulbrand only 12 years old in Norway. Johan her oldest would pass away shortly after her departure. 

In the book “Saints and the Seas” we read the following: Aboard the Humboldt during her second voyage with Mormon emigrants in 1866. The food was simple but poor in quality. According to Olof Jensen, a steerage passenger, the diet consisted of soup, potatoes, fish, bread, and hardtack biscuits. Cooking was done in huge iron pots, so large the cook could get inside. No bread was baked, and the biscuits became extremely hard and dry. The potatoes were sour and soggy. Drinking water had been taken from the River Elbe in Germany and stored in wooden barrels. These barrels had been burned black on the inside, causing the water to become black as coal. Some water had been placed in large iron barrels that rusted and turned it red. Pigs would object to the food and water. Bunks were made of common lumber with space for four across in two tiers.

In America they took the train and boats for twelve days to arrive at the Missouri River. They crossed the plains in Captain Andrew H. Scott's company. About 300 individuals and 49 wagons were in the company when it began its journey August 8th and 9^thfrom the outfitting post on the west bank of the Missouri River about 40 miles south of Omaha, NE. Thirty of the company died crossing the plains.  They encountered a severe snow storm on the Sweetwater September 18th.  They arrived in Salt Lake City October 8, 1866.

From Our Pioneer Heritage we read that Captain A. H. Scott's train of 49 wagons and about 300 people were mostly from Norway.  They were a highly respected class of society and had a choir of 26 singers.  Most of Captain Scott's teamsters were from Utah County, and their passengers, having no other place to go, went along with these men to make their homes in the towns of that area.

Tonette and Randine and Lars settled in Provo and lived there a year and a half before they moved down to Santaquin where many fellow Norwegians were living.  

Mrs. Jason Wall supplies the information, that Tonette tried to live in polygamy and married Mr. Ekelund in Santaquin.  However, this marriage did not work out.  The first wife was so jealous that Tonette simply picked up her dolls and dishes and went to her own home to live.

Later she was courted by Mr. Jorgensen, whom she married.  He was a kind, good man and they were happy together, but he did not live long.  

Tonette’s heart burst with joy the day 2 of her sons came to Santaquin.  

In May of 1876 her son, Mathias Gundersen and his wife, Marie, and their three children, along with Tonette's youngest son, 23 year old Gulbrand, came to Santaquin.  

The 3 boys had come to America about 1872, residing in Cambridge, Wisconsin. Poul stayed in Wisconsin with his wife and children where he died in 1905. Gulbrand moved to Minesota where he married a little Norwegian girl and raised a large family but Mathias stayed in Santaquin.

Mathias’s daughter Clara writes, “As the climate in Wisconsin did not agree with Father they came to Utah, where Father's Mother lived, in May 1876. Mother and the children lived with Mathias's mother.  Father found work as a blacksmith in the Grizzly Mine in Cottonwood Canyon.  He worked at the Alta Mine for 17 years. Nine of Mathias's twelve children were born in Santaquin.”

Ten years after coming to Santaquin in 1886 Mathias, and his wife Marie were converted to the gospel and baptized.  

Tonette felt she had been blessed one hundred fold as she lived in Santaquin surrounded by friends, family and dozens of grandchildren.  Tonette herself died at age 75 in Santaquin, the little town which had been her home for some 26 years. (14 January 1894)

Those who have even a trace of the blood of Tonette Poulsen Larsen in their veins can be justly proud.  Had it not been for her acceptance of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ so many years ago, in far off Norway, the lives of all her posterity would have been entirely different.  Indeed, it is a challenge to all her posterity to live worthy of the heritage they bear.

“And everyone that forsakes houses, or brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” 

The Gathering of Zion http://www.norwayheritage.com/articles/templates/voyages.asp?articleid=29&zoneid=6

Dean Olson History of Thonette Poulsen

Lars Larson Olson

The Right Track

Lars Larson Olson

1832-1913

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers

It is said that Lars Larson Olson and his wife Randine arrived in UT by wagon train 3 days before the railroad entered UT.  It may have really been 3 years but in any case, Lars was not one to just sit there and wait for the train.  He made things happen.  

                                               

Lars Larson Olson was born June 18, 1832 in Yttermalung, Sweden.  He did not stay in Sweden long.  Lars the 3^rdof 4 Children left home at age 19 soon after his father died. His older sister had passed away and leaving the farm to his oldest brother he went to find his own way.  He traveled to Norway as a young salesman.  Little is known about what he sold, but his job took him to the central-eastern part of Norway, to a beautiful peninsula jutting out in the middle of Lake Mjøsa, the largest lake in Norway.  The area is called Nes, Hedmark.

A few years later his mother died in Sweden. (Dec. of 1858). This is when Lars purchased a farm in Norway.  The bill of sale says he purchased the farm from a Mr. Monsen in 1859.  Lars became a Norwegian citizen.  Maybe he had to be a citizen to buy property in Norway.  In any case he was on the right track when the Mormon Elders came preaching in Norway. He was baptized a member of the restored church in Aug. of 1862.  For the next four years Lars was a great influence and missionary in the area.  

The branches of the Mormon church swelled although they were not without persecutions by their enemies.  The Elders were mobbed, put in jail on false charges, and the homes of the newly converted Saints were broken into and property destroyed.  Still, the work of the Lord went forward. As the missionaries went about converting the people. In spite of the opposition Lars was strong in the church. There are several references to Lars Larsen being the Branch President from 1863 through 1866.  

Randine Gunderson a young girl of 14 also accepted the gospel in Nes, Hedmark, Norway, in 1862. Her mother accepted the gospel in 1864. Her family became good friends with Lars.  

On May 9, 1866 Lars 33 and Randine 17,were married in Christiana, now Oslo, on their way to set sail for America aboard the ship “Humboldt” from Hamburg, Germany.  The newlyweds, along with Randina’s mother, Tonette and Tonette’s sister Johanne traveled together. 

There were three ships sailing within a week from Hamburg – (Humboldt,Kennelworth, and Cavour) - all with LDS emigrants aboard.

After arriving in America, they took the train and boats for twelve days to arrive at the Missouri River. There they joined an ox-team company under the direction of Captain Andrew H. Scott. 

From Pioneer Trek journals we learn that rations consisted of 1 1/2 pounds of flour and one pound of bacon each day besides sugar, molasses, and dried fruit.      

One young man wrote. “We generally broke camp at 8:00 o'clock in the morning and traveled from 12 to 20 miles a day. As a rule, we stopped about two hours at noon to rest and feed ourselves and animals…. At night, first, we pitched our tents and gathered fuel and fetched water, then we made fires, baked bread, cooked food, and finally ate our meals around the camp fires, sitting on the grass or rocks…. Often, we had to cook our meals when the rain poured down in torrents and drenched us to the skin and put out our fires. At other times the wind blew so hard that our tents fell, and our food in course of preparation became spiced with sand.”

They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 8, 1866. Lars and Randine walked all the way across the plains to Utah. 

In the spring of 1868 they made Santaquin their permanent home. Lars’s son, relates that Lars went to Meadow where he heard there was plenty of farm land. Randine stopped half way there in Santaquin where there were old friends from Norway. She wanted to go back to Provo, he wanted to move to Meadow, so they stayed in Santaquin.  

One of Lars’s hobbies was raising chickens and experimenting with different kinds of chicken feed.  He would grind bones and make various kinds of mash, something you could not buy.  He said his chickens netted him a dollar per year per hen.  They also had a large fruit orchard where they raised apples, peaches and plums which were taken to Sanpete Valley where they were traded for grain to feed the family and farm animals. When the boys were old enough to help, Lars started a molasses mill.  They raised their own cane and processed it for themselves and for others.

Each fall a three-day trip was made to the canyon to bring down the winter’s supply of wood which was used for cooking and heating.  The men of the community went in caravans to the canyon and helped each other until all had their winter’s supply.  On one of these occasions two men were killed, which saddened all. 

In 1880 they received the sad news that Lars’ older brother had passed away in Sweden.  

In later years when all of the children were married, and Randine was gone their oldest son, Joseph, and his wife, Mina, moved down from Mammoth to care for Lars Olson. 

A granddaughter of Lars, Lucille Olson King, says, “I can vividly recall Grandfather’s appearance, especially his beard, and seeing him walk with his cane. He sat in his rocking chair and did a great deal of reading in his room which was just off the kitchen at Aunt Mina’s. His rheumatism prevented him from much activity in his later years. On one occasion while visiting I did not want to eat what had been placed on my plate. He just looked at me and then kindly, but firmly said, ‘Little girl, you must eat everything and not waste food.’ It was years later before I realized the significance of this statement. He had known how hard it was to work and raise food in this desert country.” 

Lars Larson Olson was always strong in the gospel and proactive in making things happen along the tracks of life. He died on the 23^rdof December in 1913 at eighty-one years of age.

Note: (In Sweden Lars was christened Lars Larsson because his dad’s name was Lars. When 

Lars arrived in America, he Americanized his name by taking his father’s last name. His father was the son of Olaf so the family name became Olson.

Randine Gunderson Olson

Scandinavian Sandbuckle Cookies 

Randine Gundersdatter

1848-1906

We imagine that Randine will never forget the Christmas she turned 5 years old. Her father had died a month before and her little brother was only 10 days old.  But the smell and delight of Scandinavian Christmas Sanbuckle Cookies made everything seem alright.  Randine helped her mother make the cookies and she and her 3 older brothers savored every bite. 

It was hard working the farm without a father.  Randine helped with the work and made homemade rag rugs to sell. 

Randine was baptized into the LDS church.(Nov. of 1862). She was 14 and had a sure knowledge of the truth.  She tried to help her mother and brothers believe. They were finally baptized in 1864, except her brother Mathias he was the most stubborn of them all.  

Randine was born and raised on the farm “Gielthelteie” in Nez, Hedmark. Norway.  

She was born September 6, 1848 to her parents, Gunder Larsen and Tonetta Poulsdatter. (Females in Norway are listed as (father’s first name -dotter). 

Randine enjoyed her society with the saints.  She especially was impressed with the young branch president Lars Larson. When she grew up she wanted to marry a man just like him.  

Randine and Lars became close. The family all loved Lars and looked up to him and relied on his help. Lars and Randine both wanted to go with the saints to Utah.  When Randine was 17 they made a plan to emigrate.

They set out with Randine’s mother and Aunt Johanne. Lars and Randine were married May 9, 1866 in Christina, or Oslo Norway as they made their way to Germany and then they boarded a ship and sailed to America.  

They were with other Scandinavian saints who were also emigrating to Utah.  

Lars and Randine lived a year and a half in Provo before they moved down to Santaquin where many fellow Norwegians were living.  When Randine was 19, their first child, Lauritz, was born in Provo on November 30, 1867.  He died at 6 months of age. 

Shortly after his death Randine and her husband Lars had the privilege of being sealed in the endowment house in SLC.  (30 Nov 1868).What a blessing to be endowed and sealed as a family for time and all eternity. 

Lars and Randine made their permanent home in Santaquin, UT. 

The rest of their 11 children were born in Santaquin.  They all lived to adulthood except Dena Louisa, who died at age 14.  

Exciting things were happening in the church.  The Relief Society was reorganized by Brigham Young in 1867, the Young Ladies retrenchment was organized in 1869. 

Each of Randine’s children were baptized as they turned 8 years old. 

The first of Randine’s children to be endowed and married was Thea, in the Manti, Utah temple at age 18, in 1989. Randine was 41 and Lars was in his late 50’s. 

The year 1895 was a hard year. Randine lost her mother, Tonette and also lost Dena her 14 year old daughter.  

Randine kept busy with births, baptisms, marriages, and all the chores of keeping a large family clothed and fed.  Randine was a very industrious woman, up at 4:00 A.M. each morning to care for her family and home, do chores and weave. She was a faithful Relief Society worker all her life and was called on many times to sew clothes for the dead. 

Randine supplemented the family income by weaving rag carpets which were colorful in design. She always had standing orders. The women in the neighborhood always enjoyed and looked forward to the weekly “rag bees”

Randine made potato flour and starch to sell. This was an art that she taught to many and handed down to her daughters. There was no leavening to be bought, so they walked eight miles to scrape saluratus, a chemical leavening agent similar to baking soda,from the ground near Goshen. It was then washed and strained many times to purify it before it was usable as soda or lye. Bread was baked every day and the cookie jar was always full. There was always plenty of butter, whipping cream, and eggs, along with dried fruit of every kind and yummy preserves. Preserves, pickles, and mincemeat were put up in stone jars and kept in underground cellars along with vegetables and fruits for the winter. 

They were a strict, religious and exemplary family, and three of their sons returned to the Scandinavian countries to serve missions. Lars had once pledged a certain amount of corn for tithing. Their corn got blight during the summer and he was unable to fulfill his tithing commitment, so he took the family cow to Salt Lake City for his tithing. Randine was shocked when she heard of this because they had ten children who needed the milk. Arrangements were made with their neighbor, Brother Byland, to get milk for their family in exchange for the poor corn to feed his cows.

A granddaughter, Thora Christiansen Holliday, remembers Randine, “Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma’s was the highlight of the year and affords many fond memories. Lee, my older brother, and I vividly remember the excitement and fairy tale fantasy created by the big Christmas tree with its real candles. The cedar or pinion was brought down from the canyon. Uncle Dave dressed up and played Santa for all the grandchildren. We all went to sleep on the floor, which was covered with one of Grandma’s lovely handmade carpets with lots of straw underneath to make it a soft, heavenly bed. As morning arrived we opened our gifts, and then went home where our own Christmas tree awaited with more gifts in its boughs. Christmas was celebrated for a week, and when all the families were together, the air was filled with music. Aunt Clara was our music teacher and many of the Olsons were musically inclined. Of course, the table was filled with the many choice foods of the season.” 

Charlene Putnam told her memories of Randine: “…The Gundersen home was open to social gatherings and a festive table was always set with freshly baked bread, with homemade soup, and the cookie jar that was never empty. Randine's potato flour and starch was well-known as were her Scandinavian Christmas Sandbuckle Cookies.” 

In the spring of 1906, Randine was caught in a rain storm while doing her Visiting Teaching. That evening after doing her visiting teaching in the rain, and while rethreading her loom, she took a chill. was put to bed. Within a day or two her lungs were filled with pneumonia.Her son, Olof, went to Provo for the nearest doctor but pneumonia had already congested her lungs and there was very little he could do. She died four days later, 4 June 1906 at the age of 58. Much shock and grief were felt within the family.  Six of the children were still unmarried.  Olof, who was about 28, not yet married was so upset and angry he took an axe into the summer house and chopped the loom into little pieces. Her youngest daughter, Pearl, who was 16 said she had watched her mother work herself to death with very little happiness in her life. Her mother’s death had a great effect upon Pearl’s life. She left Utah soon after and never returned. The youngest son David was 15.

This was a hard time for the family. Hopefully someone was able to supply the family with Scandinavian Sandbuckle Cookies to make everything alright.  

When the going gets tough we always have Scandinavian Christmas Sandbuckle Cookies and just like life we can choose to fill them with good stuff.    

RECIPE

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar (white or brown)
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp almond extract

Press the dough into sandbakkel tins.

Bake at 350 degrees in sandbakkel tins placed on a cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. Eat sandbakkels plain, or as a bowl for puddings, fruit or cream.

James Hardy Jenkins

Beat But Not Beaten

James Hardy Jenkins

1822- 1898

We imagine it happened this way…. James lifted his throbbing head up off the crusty ground. He peered through the underbrush to be sure that no one was following him. He didn't know how long he had been laying there, all he knew was his body hurt, his head throbbed, and he felt like he was whirling. He knew he would never go back to that farm where he had been beaten. He liked working for Mr. Hardie but never wanted to see Mr. Hardie’s son again. James was a very conscientious young man and most always got along with everyone. But for some reason he and that vindictive son of farmer Hardie clashed. Maybe because Mr. Hardie trusted James and sot out advice from him instead of relying on his son.  Maybe his son just did not like him as he was assigned to feed James each day. The farmer’s son tormented James, beat him several times and this was the last time.  Today he had beaten James with a fury until James had barely gotten away. 

Back to Aunt Susan is where he made his way now. The last thing he wanted to do was be a burden, but he knew that aunt Susan and grandpa would help. 

Aunt Susan was furious when she saw his condition, she fed him, fixed him up and then went herself, to visit the farm of Mr. Hardie and demanded James’ earnings. After the beating, James’ head hurt especially in the evenings and he had trouble focusing his eyes.

(In James personal history he wrote, “I engaged with one by the name of James Hardie …for six months. It was an inn about half way between Falkirk and Stirling. …they had a farm….I did not stop my time out for one of the sons, even the one that fed me, he and I could not agree and he beat me. After one of the times that he gave me a beating, I left... My aunt Susan Hardie went and got the most of my fee from them. Although she had the same name of Hardie, they were not friends. After I came home, I took very sore eyes and did not work for about three months.”)

The Follies of Youth

James Hardy Jenkins was born in Laurieston, Falkirk, Scotland in 1822. 

[My father's name was John Jenkins and my mother's name was Helen Hardie. My father was a collier or underground worker. There were times he left it and labored above the ground, but mostly he wrought at the coal trade.  I did not stop much with my father and mother but was brought up by my grandfather and my aunt Susan. They were my mother's father and sister. My grandmother died when I was a young child and they took me and brought me up until I was able to work. The name of my grandfather was Henry Hardie….]

Some said his father spent time in the pubs when he was not working in the coal mines.

James was lucky he was not in the coal mines. Boys living in the coal miner’s housing begin working in the coal mines at age 8 or 9. Long days sometimes started at 2 am and ended at 5 pm, the work was grueling, with many accidents in the mines. 

James lived with his maternal Grandfather and his Aunt Susan in Louriston, he took his first job at a brick field for two summers. The next summer he worked for a farmer. Then he had the ill-fated job with Mr. Hardie.  

Back to work after the beating a farmer, named John Simpkins, hired him. James said, “They were very good to me. While I was there I herded the rye and stumped the boiler, bound sheaves…. I learned to cut hay with the servant man and many other things. I took a thought about being religious and would have liked to have been beside someone who would help me to follow it out. But it went away and after that I did many things that were unrighteous, for which I hope the Lord will forgive me.”

James was a hard worker and good farm hand. He had several more jobs working farms. By the time he was about to the end of teenage years he stayed again with Aunt Susan and her new husband Alexander Gibb for a few months, then he went to work in the mines with his father. James lived and moved around with his father from mine to mine as work permitted.  When theystayed in one place for about a year he met a very nice young lady and fell in love.  

His journal reads, “I married a young Lass by the name of Janet Laird. Her father and mother were both dead. She resided in Stellhall about three miles south of Falkirk, so I went and stopped there along with her. She had a child shortly after we were married. It was a girl but was dead and was buried in Falkirk in the old Churchyard. Also, January the 17th, 1844 she gave birth to a boy and I called him after my father, John Jenkins.”

His father moved in beside them and they lived by each other for the next three years They lived in places called Black Tongue and Stand.  He talked about the reverends of the church in those places as being servants of Satan.  It is at this time that James felt the power of the Holy Ghost working in his life and found religion again.  

Bullied for Being a Saint

When James believed the Latter-Day Saints, the bulling started at work.  From his journal we read.

“…there was one day while I was at my work… William Celton and William Howson, two oversemen came to see the place where I was working. After speaking about different things…they commenced to call down the Latter Day Saints. But I determined not to mind them for I knew I had been told the truth by the Saints…”

 I always thought when reading the scriptures that I would like to live in the days of Jesus Christ and his apostles for I thought there was something about them or that they had a power that the hired priest in this day had not. And when I grew to manhood, I did not attend the churches of the different sects very much. I rather inclined to stop at home on Sundays and read…

While I resided in the Stand, there was a good brother of mine the name of John Henderson who resided there also and we wrought both in one pit. He happened to be working next room to a man by the name of Alexander Wilson and he was a Latter-Day Saint. He began to teach John the doctrines…and told him to come up to Airdire to Church.... John promised to do so and he came and told me and wanted me to do also…IWhen Sabbath came we went up to the Church to hear them. They sang a hymn and then knelt down on their knees and called on the Lord in prayer. I thought this way of worshiping God to be very strange as 'it was different than the rest of the churches which I had been in. The man who preached was Matthew Crothers and he did speak to the point. He spoke very slowly but he was very sure. I never in all my life heard such a powerful sermon. I could not resist the powerful truths, which fell from his lips. I believed it as quickly as he spoke it. 

…We went in the afternoon and they took the bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's death.After that an opportunity was granted them to bear Testimony to the knowledge they had received since they had obeyed the gospel.

…A good number of them stood up and bore testimony that they knew it was the work of God they had engaged in and that it was true and a great deal more they testified of. Well, I thought they were all ministers…and I had a liking towards them. We went back on the next Sunday and heard them again. They taught us faith in the Lord, then repentance, then baptism by immersion for the gift of the Holy Ghost. And if we would obey these laws, we would receive a knowledge from God whether we were doing right or wrong….

We went to Church next Sunday to hear them again and were well pleased with them. It was on the Monday following that we were in Airdre when we saw two of the Latter-Day Saints. We… told them to come and baptize us…. They took a piece of money and threw it in the air for heads or tails to see whether they would come out to our place, so the night was set and Andrew Henderson, and Elder and Robert Grigton… came out that set night and we went down to the Camron Glen and Elder Andrew Henderson baptized us in the Burn. 

We came home to my house and a report of bread and oil was put down before them to partake of and after that they went home. This was done on the 5th day of May 1847. We went to Church Sunday which was the 9th day of May and we were confirmed. Elder Peter Moffet confirmed me by the laying on of hands and from that time forward I have had great joy. 

My wife Janet Laird …was baptized by Peter Moffet on the 27 day of May 1847 and confirmed on the 30th by James Wilson.”

James Jenkins spent the next few years preaching the gospel and serving as branch president. Every Sunday James went with other Elders and Teachers to preach to all the little villages around New Craig.  Places like Barleyside, Shieldhill, Burnrow, Ironloss, Russels Row, and Black Braes.

As they preached they shared the story of the restoration. They sometimes received a house to preach in and sometimes taught out in the open. Amidst the antagonistic spirit they found success, “…We had one for baptism out of Russels Row. This is the first in their row, while we were attending to the ordinance of baptism, one by the name of Alexander Wilson came and opposed us, calling the Prophet Joseph Smith everything that was bad and brailing out that we were imposters. But we left him. He was so full of the devil, he was frothing at the mouth…”

And a visit to Black Braes brought baptism. “I visited Black Braes and preached to the saints there… After I was done, I had two to baptize….I went back to them again and I confirmed the two I baptized the sabbath before. The distance of miles going and coming these times was about 32 miles…. June 23, 1849 I went along to Black Braes and preached to the saints again. The reason that I go to Black Braes is because I received the President of the same.”

Preaching every Sunday for many years James shared the gospel and warned everyone in his ability to warn.  Some were baptized but from his journal we see they did not always have success but they always had hope…One day he wrote: “We sowed the seed well but received none for baptism. There were some good hearers but bad obeyers so they are not justified in the sight of God as yet….”

Another entry reads, “They gave good attention unto what I did say. After I was done, I asked how they liked the doctrine. Some said they could say nothing against it yet would not obey it although it was true.” And later James records, “Brother Stephens, an elder and I… preached and testified unto them that our garments were clear of their blood for they had been well warned.”

James had 4 younger brothers. We don't know if they all lived to adulthood but the youngest one who was about 9 years younger than James was healed by the power of the priesthood. 

“My Brother Robert Jenkins on the 16th day of April, it being Monday, was afflicted with a pain in his side which made him cry for more than an hour…When we were coming home we was informed by a brother and we went strat on to my father's house where he was. When we came in, we shut the door and Brother Paterson and all united in prayer… We anointed him and rebuked the pain. When we were done, the pain left him and came back no more. I was eye witness along with William Paterson of that manifestation of the power of God.”

The Key to our Belly

James left Scotland for England in 1851. He was hoping to make it to America and send money for his wife and family to follow.  That did not happen. The integrity of James is shown by this journal entry.  

“After I landed in England for some weeks, I was grieved and dull in spirits for I thought I had grieved-the spirit of God in coming away from New Craig. My reason for thinking so is this. John Nismeth kept a store and I got a few shillings into his debt. Our work was not very good, and he would get all our money on pay day and if the pit did not go very well…they stopped the store and would give us no food. They held the key of our bellies and opened and locked when they pleased. There was one time we sent up for some things when my wife was bad. She having a child and they would… give us nothing… A man that was able to go to Falkirk with his money could get as much for 16 shillings as we would get from the store for one pound. So, this sort of tyranny I hated so I was a little in their debt when I left them. That was one thing that grieved me, but when I get it in my power I will pay them.”

When James left for England he was ill and sea sickness had made it worse. Upon arrival he found the saints and secured a job but was not able to do much for over 8 days.  It wasn’t long before he sent for his wife and family to join him, but they also arrived weak and sea sick. James did not let this sickness beat him.  Just three months after arriving in England a branch was organized in Camperdown and James was called as Branch President.  He again began proclaiming the gospel to all that would listen.  

The other preachers were not happy with the Mormons…James told about preaching in England, “So many came at times the room was not able to hold them all. This cheered our hearts greatly to think the Lord was calling the people to come in such numbers to hear us.”

This upset the preacher in Bellington who had several churches with a good number of hearers in each one.  James explains what this preacher did to keep people from the truth.  “He filled the Newspapers with lies for the purpose of stopping the progress of the work of God. Some crying when summer comes our blood will flow like water and many was the story that was told about the Prophet Brigham Young and other of the servants of God. But all they could say did not stop our progress in the least.”

Even the police got involved, “… one of the Police informed us that if we would preach anymore at the Cross, he would give us a summons… Every other night we was baptizing one, two and three at a time and this caused some of them to rage at us everything that was bad, but we still went ahead preaching and baptizing till we baptized 28 in the short time of about three months.”

Being a good teacher must run in the family. A story told about his son demonstrates what a great teacher James Jr. was, “… quite often--sometimes on a Sunday morning he would go as far as Bishop Okelberry's store, and there would be a group of boys sitting on the store steps, and he would tell them a story half-way through; then look at his silver watch, and then only half-way through he said he didn't have time to tell the rest of the story, but if they would come to Sunday School he would finish it.”

Twelve years after moving to England James and his family were able to emigrate to the US.  They crossed the plains with the Thomas E. Ricks wagon company. The journey began August 10, 1863 with James, his wife Janet, John 19, Jane 15, Helen 12, Janet 10, Henry 4, Elizabeth 2 and baby Agnes. Charles 18 must have hired out and come with another wagon train. They settled in Goshen, Ut. Near Utah lake. 

Once in Goshen James Taught in the newly organized Goshen school.  He built an adobe brick oven and he and Janet resumed their bakery business.  Two of James’ sons, John and Charles found work in the Bingham mines.  Gradually James and Janet collected swarms of bees and soon they were producing and selling honey.  James also began a tree and plant nursery, planted mulberry trees and had silk worms to produce silk.  He set up a shoe shop in his home. In addition to all of these activities, James taught music, made violins and was an active member of the church.  James possessed an unusual amount of musical ability as he played the violin, organ and accordion. He had an outstanding voice for singing and was chorister of the Goshen Ward until his declining years. His daughter wrote that James was a musician and taught music.  He was also a florist and a horticulturist of rare ability.  

The entire village of Goshen suffered near disaster in the late 1860’s when UT was again attacked by another grasshopper or locust invasion.  Seagulls again arrived to help end the deadly infestation.  

Prison

James and Janet were deeply devoted to each other.  He always called her "Jenny" and she called him "Jimmy" with their Scotch accent added which they never really outlived.

A granddaughter wrote, “After the children were all grown and had left the parental home seeking careers of their own, James and Janet mutually agreed that he should marry a second wife in accordance with the law of the Church which was being practiced at that time. So, James married another woman, the young beautiful Mariam Saunders. We all called her Aunt Mariam. 

Mariam was 18 when she crossed the plains. She came with her mother and 6 siblings.  Miriam was not married at age 28 and that is when James Hardy Jenkins took her to wife and made it possible for her to rear a family. She and Janet became very congenial companions more like mother and daughter. Aunt Mariam did the house work while grandmother managed affairs and cared for the second family, two boys and two girls. 

When the youngest child was less than a year old, the Manifesto came declaring that each man should have one wife. After fifty years of married life "Jimmy was not about to part with "Jenny", his Scotch Lassie, regardless of the Law's demands. Neither could he discard the young Mariam and four small children.  

During the polygamist trouble James had built a hiding place beneath the floor of one of the rooms in his home.  His wife, Janet Laird, kept a rug and her rocking chair over the trap door leading to the secret hiding place.  The house was searched a number of times with no one being detected.  However, one day one of the searching marshals tripped over the rug, saw the cut of the trap door in the floor and James Hardy Jenkins and his plural wife, Miriam, were discovered.  James Hardy Jenkins was taken to prison … for the cause of polygamy.  Hearing that James was ill and near death in prison, his son John, returned early from his mission in England. John got up a petition to have his sick father released from prison.  He was successful in doing so, but his father died before they could reach home.  When he arrived in Goshen, he said to Alice, his daughter, "Tell Grandma to have the bed ready but don't tell her Grandpa is dead."

James was beat but not beaten because he has a family sealed together for time and all eternity.

Father – “I Want to Go In There”

A grandson of James shares this story with us, “John Jenkins, (Father of James) would not accept the Gospel in Scotland.  He had the opportunity but felt he couldn't live it.  In those days they cut them off the Church if they did not live it They couldn't drink or fight in what we call saloons now or pubs…he would go and get a drink of Scotch whiskey, and somebody would say something about the Church, and he would get into a fight…

I made arrangements to seal husbands and wives together and children to the parents."  

I went on a particular day to do it.  I don't know whether you know the layout of the Logan Temple--the annex, where the people meet, goes straight out to the East Gate.  On the corner is a driveway--comes in from the north-west corner, and I came along that way.  As I came along I saw several men at the front gate looking back and forth, looking as if they were looking for someone.  I continued along the driveway half way between the Temple and the gate and attempted to walk hurriedly toward the door of the Temple, and they had to run to meet me there.  By the time I got to the door one said, "I want to go in there; I want to go in there."  I said, "You can't go in there."  He said, "I want to go in there anyhow."  I said, "You will have to change your ways if you go in there."

I went on in, and the last thing I heard was, "I want to go in there--I want to go in there."  I went in and had the sealings done, and as I came back out and turned the corner of the hallway to go out through the annex door--they have a waiting room there-and it was full of people.  I thought, "that's funny.  They don't have endowments on a Saturday--what are these people doing in there."  I went on out, and as quick as I opened the door and went out, the people all jumped up and rushed toward me, shook my hand and thanked me for what I had done.  I walked down the hall--they crowded in from both sides and thanked me for the things I had done that day, and how happy they looked and acted.

I have never had anyone describe Great-Grandpa Jenkins to me—but, I believe he was the man who wanted to get in there, he and his wife, Helen Hardy, were the first ones to shake my hand when I went out into the room.  I am sure they accepted the work that I have done.  I am convinced the work is divine, and is being carried on, and that the family relationship will be carried on."

Notes: Inspite of all the bullying James taught and baptized over 25 people.  [baptized, Helen Burt, Mary Walker, Elizabeth Fru, Robert Watson, Andrew Arable, Robert Mcloude, Helen Graham Wilson, David and Elizabeth Duncan, George Noble, Mary Noble, Marion Anderson, George Archable, Isabell Archable, Margaret Smith, Thomas Smith, Jane Sowell, Isable Gladson, James Archbold, Joseph Archbole, Elisabeth Archbold, Thomas Archbold, Thomas Thomson, Kirk Archbald, and Robert Scott]

Janet Laird Jenkins

Wear Out But Never Rust

Janet Laird

 1822-1896

Janet at age 20 worked as a domestic at a farm residence near Barleside in Scotland when she met and married James Jenkins. Their first baby girl was born dead. Less than a year later she had a little boy, John named after her husband’s father. And a second boy, Charles named after her father came 18 months later.  It was while these boys were young that Janett came to believe in the restored gospel.  Her husband was baptized first and 3 weeks later she was baptized

Little ones seemed to come about every 18 months as James and Janett lived the gospel and worked to provide for their growing family.  Janett did not see much of her sweet husband as he had gone to work in the coal mines and spent much time underground, and Sundays were spent proclaiming the restored gospel in the nearby towns.    

Two days after their oldest son John turned 8 years old, he was baptized. Each of the children were taught and baptized as they turned 8 years old.  

It was in 1851 when Janett was pregnant with Helen that times were really tough.  She was sick, and mining was down, and the store would not give them any more food. They suffered because of this and prayed to God that they would know how to feed and care for their growing family. 

The family had a hard time making ends meet and wanting to follow the saints to Zion they decided to let James go ahead so he could get money for all of them to follow.  In Jan. of 1851 James left for England, leaving Janet with John, Charles, Jane, James and baby Helen who was not more than two weeks old.  

Most assuredly their two sons John and Charles at the tender ages of 5 and 8, if not already working in the mines were just about to be sent to work in the mines.  

James was not able to make it all the way to America and so he sent for Janet and the kids to come and join him in England. Sea sickness was bad as they sailed to the far side of England to meet James.  

In England is most likely where the family started the Bakery business. Never wanting to be without food again, they built a brick oven and began baking and selling all kinds of baked goods. Janet continued to have little ones and had many household chores to care for. James did most of the baking.  

In England they had another little girl they named Janette after her mother. The baby was born in Feb. It was in March, on a cold, damp, bone chilling night that three-year-old James got up from his bed to sit by the fire with his brothers to get warm.  Somehow his night gown caught fire. The brothers called for their mother, she rescued the little child from this horrible nightmare, rolling and ripping at his clothes but the damage had been done.  He cried in terrible pain and died two days later just a couple of months before his 4^thbirthday.  

The next child they had was a boy and they named him James after the little boy who died.  But his life was cut short also, he too passing away just a couple of month before his 4^thbirthday.  

Two months after this tragedy they had another little boy. They named him Henry.

James served as the Branch President and also as a missionary.  Janet surely served right along with him in their little branch.  They worked and saved and prayed that they would be able to go to Zion. They had many happy occasions in their family as each of the children turned 8 years old they were baptized into the Latter-Day Saint Church.  

In 1860 sadness again struck the Jenkins household when little Margaret age 4 died.  Shortly after that another little girl was born.  They named her Elizabeth.  

Their long-awaited dream finally came true most likely with the help of the perpetual education fund.  They boarded the ship, Cyncure May 30^th, 1863 with 8 children and lots of other happy saints.  

As they sailed they endured many hardships and made many friends.  Measles were on the ship and we do not know how many of the Jenkins family were stricken with the disease.  The ship got lost, food ran short. 

They arrived in New York July 19, 1863.   When they arrived, they pulled in next to the ship, Amazon, that had left after them and arrived before them.  There was a brass band playing, greeting them with the song Home, Sweet, Home! Everyone placed their feet on solid ground and let the tears fall from their eyes.  

They had to make their way to Quincy Ill. where they took the steamer to Omaha Nebraska to join a wagon train to Utah.  By August 10, they were traveling with the Thomas E. Ricks company. There were 400 saints in the company. Many friends they had made on the ship and the entire brass band that played for them upon arrival traveled with the company to settle in Ogden.

This whirlwind trip by ship, rail, steamer and land had left everyone somewhat worn out.  

Agnes, 10 months old, little and frail died just 17 days after starting across the plains.  She was buried along the Platte River near a campground over the second ridge of Big Mountain not far from Cedar Bluffs.

Much singing cheered the pioneers. Some people wrote about this trek, “At night we would sing songs around the campfire to cheer us on our way. Two of our favorite songs were "Do They Miss Me at Home" and "The Handcart Song." O how our voices would ring out on the night air.”

James and Janet pulled together and trusted in the Lord.  William Stuart leader of the company became a good friend. He was also from Scotland and had buried a wife and baby on the trail 5 years previous. Impressed with the Jenkins family he encouraged them to settle in Goshen, Ut.  Little did they know that 2 years later the Jenkins daughter Jane would marry William Stuart.  

After a brief stay in Gardeville just north of Salt Lake, and after the loss of 10 year old Janette, William Stewart traveled to Salt Lake and helped the Jenkins move to Goshen. William and his second wife Ruth invited the Jenkins family to live with them while a dugout home was being prepared.  

This move must have been a challenge. Here is a poem written by their son Charles.  

The peas and beans

When they come up,

They take a curious notion

And all go back to Mother earth 

As soon as they see Goshen.

In Goshen James built a comfortable adobe house where they finished rearing their family. Janet gave birth to their last child a little girl named Isabell but before she was 2 years old she passed away.  

James was an excellent cook and baker having learned this art in earlier years. Janett kept a small shop of bakery, candy and gingerale. James did most of the baking on weekends. Their daughter Ellen remarks that she never ate meat pies which tasted as good as her father could make.

James contributed much to the social life of the young village. He taught school and took produce for his pay. When the "Black Hawk War" was declared about 1867, a part of it came close to Goshen. Those were unsettling times.  Janet was relieved when James was ordered to remain at home in protection of the women and children of the village. Most of the men were called to arms. Their son Charles fought in the war. 

In 1866 When John was 23 he went back to winter quarters to help a wagon company come to SLC.  He became an expert builder and finisher and helped build many of the buildings in Goshen. Charles became a freighter and then moved to Oakley Id in 1882.  They were always thankful for the life they had knowing that had they stayed in England they would have been coal miners working under ground.  As their children grew four of their 6 living children settled in Idaho.  John Laird Jenkins their oldest son and family were there in Goshen to comfort Janet in 1991 when she lost her husband. 

We learn of Janet’s gentle, unassertive nature in a granddaughter’s account of her visit to Idaho. “The year following Grandfather's death, Grandmother came to Idaho to visit her four children who had lived in Idaho since leaving the home of their parents. Grandmother Janet wrote her daughter, Lizzie Stanfield, of her expected arrival, which letter Lizzie never received. Grandmother arrived by train in the little town of Bellevue and no one was there to meet her. She was not accustomed to traveling alone by train and was as a stranger in a strange land. She went to the one and only hotel, and there she lived in her room for three days waiting, worrying, and fretting for someone to meet her. Finally, she explained the condition to the proprietor of the hotel, Mr. Mat McFall, a friend Lizzie’s husband. He notified Lizzy whose family soon came and relieved the situation. This was a sad as well as a happy family reunion. It was the first time and the only time we saw our Scotish Lassie Grandmother. She followed Grandfather five years later. Blanche Virginia Jenkins Naser.

A tribute to Janet at her funeral:

After losing her husband she doubled her energy in the gospel, doing everything she could to carry out his wishes, helping to care for his young family, (children form his second wife) and never tiring in performing her church duties. She has been a faithful member from the beginning, always loving the Relief Society, always loving to attend her meetings better than anything else.

“As a teacher she faithfully guarded that trust. Her motto was, ‘Wear out but never Rust’. The last work she did was in filling this call. As an angel of Mercy with blessings for all.” 

Janet died in Goshen in 1896 at 75 years of age.