Saturday, November 12, 2011

MISSIONARY JOURNAL OF MARTIN WILFORD MANGELSON
Relationship:  Martin Wilford Mangelson is my Grand Uncle;
his parents are Carl and Emma Eliza Mangelson, my great grand parents;
he is a brother to Charles Adolph Mangelson, my grandfather;
Charles' daughter is Vera Mangelson Christensen, my mother
            Martin Wilford Mangelson was born in Levan, Utah, February 23, 1880 to Eliza Nielsen and Charles Frederick Mangelson.  In 1888, at the age of eight he was baptized by Eric Petersen, the father of his sister Millie’s husband.
He started school in Levan and completed eight grades.  As a grade school student he was diligent and serious in his studies.  He enjoyed figuring out different ways of doing things and quite often used the expression, “I think this is a good scheme.”  As time went by he was called “Schomer.”   Three years in school developed in him a love for reading and this was one of his enjoyments to almost the end of his life.
In September of 1899 he went to school in Salt Lake City.  The Social Hall and the Lion House were used for classrooms.  In order to help himself financially he milked cows, curried horses and kept up the carriages for his board and room.
After a few months of schooling he returned to Levan.  From here he went to Tintic to work in the mines.  He took a grub box with him and lived in a shack.  A tramp moved in with him and stayed until the food was gone.  Each day he went out to ask for a job and finally he did get one hauling ore.  He worked for Mr. Beck who owed the wagon.  The road was steep.  A heavy chain was secured to one wheel and this chain, boring into the ground, helped to check the speed of the loaded wagon.
One time, however, the chain broke, the wagon tipped over and was completely ruined.  Martin was thrown out and injured his back.  However, he felt he should work so he asked Mr. Dunn for a job.  This work consisted of breaking up the ore with huge hammers so that magnets could draw out the metals.  This was really hard work and more than Martin could do because of his injured back.  But rather than give up the job he gave his wages of $2.00 a day to another man who worked for him until his back could take this kind of labor.  Martin was 20 years old now.  During this time Charity married George Garrett.  Martin gave them a clock for a wedding present.  It was a square clock with a gold horse on top.  Still at Tintic, Martin now batched with a man from Santaquin who did a washing job at the tanks for $2.50 a day.  Here Martin also was employed.  Water was run over the crushed ore to wash out sand and dirt.
In the early spring of 1902 Martin was called to go on a mission to the Scandinavian Countries.  A Farewell Party was held in Levan of Friday, June 20, 1902.  Saturday he said goodbye to friends about town.  Sunday a farewell was held at Church.  (From this point on the writing will be in the First Person and for the most part will be Martin’s exact words taken from diaries he kept every day.)

Monday, June 23,1902, Father took me to Juab to catch the train for Salt Lake City.  I arrived at Salt Lake at 10 am and visited with Aunt Camilla, Uncle Fred’s wife.  Tuesday, June 24th  I was set apart for my mission.  This was done in the Temple Annex at 2 pm.  I received instructions, purchased a ticket for Liverpool from Pres. for $67.00.
Wednesday, I went through the Temple and at 8:20 pm; took the eastbound train, the DRG RR.  Saturday, June 28 arrived in Chicago at 11 am.  From here went on to Buffalo, N.Y. arriving at 7 am June 29, 1902.  Visited the sights at Niagara Falls.  Took train for Boston at 6:15 pm arriving Monday, June 30, at 9:30 a.m.  Here in Boston I visited Bunker Hill Monument, Old North Church on which lanterns were hung as a signal to Paul Revere.  I visited the ship I am to cross the ocean on, the S.S. New England.
July 1st I saw the training ship Wabash and Dewey’s flagship Olympia, our oldest warship Constitution built for the Revolutionary War.  I went out to Cambridge and visited the church where Washington worshipped in 1775, where the Constitutional Convention was held in 1779, and where Lafayette worshipped in 1824.  I stood under the old Elm Tree where Washington took command, July 3, 1775.  Also saw Longfellow’s home.
I took the steamship for Liverpool, England at 6 pm, July 2, 1902.  The first land we sighted at 5:30 pm, July 9th was the mainland of Ireland.  Arrived at Queens Town, Ireland the same day 11 pm.  Thursday, July 10th at Liverpool.  Met the mission president and attended an informative meeting at 8 pm.  Friday, July 11 purchased ticket to Hamburg, Germany, visited art museums and enjoyed many wonderful things on display.
Saturday, July 12, at 1:40 pm took the train for Grimsby, England., arriving at 6:30 pm and took the 8:30 pm steamer S S.  Leicester for Hamburg, Germany.  This was first class passage giving me a chance to see how they travel.  I was on the North Sea Sunday July 13th.  We arrived at the mouth of the Elbo River late at night.  At 5 a.m. Monday morning we pulled into the harbor of Hamburg.  It had been a very pleasant trip across the North Sea.  Now, my problems began.  No one spoke English. I wandered around for five hours finally finding some Mormon missionaries.  They helped me locate a hotel, then we went sightseeing – art galleries, zoological gardens, parks.  Here I saw my first stork.
Tuesday, July at 8:15 am and arrived at Keil, Germany at 11:15 am.  We went on a steamer immediately for Korsor, Denmark landing at 4:30 pm.  Took train here for Copenhagen, Denmark arriving at 7 pm.  Wednesday, July 16, met mission president and was assigned to labor in the Bergen, Norway Conference.  Changed money.  Visited museum and art gallery and left at 8 pm by steamer for Aalborg, Denmark.  We arrived at Aalborg at 8 am and reported to the mission home at Urbansgado no 26.
Thursday at 2:30 pm took the train for Fredrick shaven, Denmark and stayed overnight.  Friday, July 18 took steamer for Christiansand.  The trip from Fredrick shaven to Christiansand was difficult, rough seas.    Saturday, July 19 still feeling effect of rough sea through the night in hotel bed helped.  We took the steamer for Egersund, Norway arriving at midnight.
Sunday, July 20 took train for Stavanger.  Monday, July 21 visited about Stavanger.  (Tommy and I stayed overnight at Stavang and enjoyed this peaceful old town.  We stayed out in the country.  Huge rocks had been cleared from the land.  These rocks did not have to be very high for no cow could possibly walk over the slippery rocks. )  At 8 pm we took the steamer for Bergen.  After breakfast in Bergen we visited the Famous fish market.  Wednesday, July 23 preached or tried to in the Norak Sprog to about 100 saints and visitors.  Thursday, July 24 enjoyed strawberries and cream in remembrance of Pioneer Day.
First Sunday, July 27, 1902 attended Sabbath School in forenoon, 100 saints and visitors present.  This brought sweet memories of Levan.  Afternoon walked to mountain top for Bergen is surrounded by mountains and looked down on the city.  Bergen is beautiful.  (I, too have looked down upon the city.)
On the evening of July 28th large bonfires were kept burning on the peaks of all the surrounding mountains until 12 midnight.  All of this was done in honor of the day when Olaf introduced Christianity to Norway.
August 3rd tried again to speak in Norsk Sprog.  First time to partake of Sacrament since leaving home.  (Evidently the sacrament was not served every Sunday.)  August 4th a Monday was assigned my first companion, Joseph Jeppsen.  Together we sailed Sogn.  Sister Augusta Iversen gave each of us a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
From Ankvold began the tracting over hill and valley on foot.  Beginning August 6th Joseph Jeppsen and I walked many miles every day stopping at night with any people willing to give us an evening meal, bed, and breakfast for an agreed upon amount of money.  The food was mostly sour milk and potato cakes for supper and for breakfast flat bread, potato cakes, sour milk, molasses and butter.  The pans used in these country homes were made of wood 15 to 18 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep.  Spoons were made of animal horns.  Plates and saucers were also made of wood.  Some of these plates were 200 to 300 years old.
Even in August there was a great deal of rain and at times it was bitter cold.  In the evening at time we went to bed to keep warm.  August 22, 1902 the FIRST LETTER came from home.  We found a good deal of opportunities and were sent out of the house by one man we were trying to talk to.  His wife followed us out and apologized.  Every day except Sunday we tracted always in rough weather.  By September 1st we had crossed over the mountain to “Nausdal.”  What an experience, tracts in one hand and our lives in the other.  Elder Jeppsen had birthday August 31.  He is 33 years old.  This was our monthly report for August 1902.  Tracts – from door to door 130; sold 80, loaned 1, gave away 11, with first tract only 127, Gospel conversations 10.
We found only rough foot paths and consequently when it came to crossing mountains we were climbing from rock to rock.  At times, after snow falls, we had to retrace our steps and hope to get back where we started.  Always we walked unless a boat trip was necessary.  The miles we had to cover did not dismay us.  At times we separated, Jeppson going one road and I another, or each side of a stream.  At Lavik, on the shore of Sognofjord we stayed with an old couple who had a son living in Ogden, Utah.  These young people in America had embraced our faith.  The old folks were investigating the church and were very kind to us.  Monday, Sept. 29th we took a boat back to Begen.  October 1st I ordered a suit of clothes to be made.  Monday Oct. 6th Elder N. C. Mortensen and I baptized a new convert, Sophio Hendrickson.  At night we held a testimony meeting.  It was a great satisfaction, as well as a pleasure to me to hear the powerful testimonies that were borne.  The 9th of Oct. missionaries from Egersund, Stavanger, Haugosund and Aalasund, fourteen in all, came to Bergen for Conference which lasted several days.
President Skanchy gave us much valuable instruction.  Pres. Jensen assigned us to our new field of labor for the next half year.  Ernest Jorgensen became my new companion and Egersund our new place of labor.  Several sessions were held at the Conference.  The members were present as well as investigators.
Saturday, Oct. 18th, we took a boat for Stavanger arriving in the morning at 10 am.  Twelve hours on the water.  (By hydrofoil, July 1966 Tommy and I spent four hours on the water.)  There in Stavanger we attended church, Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting with five saints and eleven visitors present.  Monday we took the train for Egersund.  The Expressman at the station took us directly to the mission office for he was a member of our church.  The missionaries were replacing had been released to go home.  The people in the ars of Egersund are not very kindly toward us, mocking and shouting after us.  We took a boat for Flekkofjord on our way to Lesteland to do a bit of tracting.  The seas became so rough and the passengers so frightened the captain returned to port.  A notice by telegraph had been sent by a school teacher from Flekkofjord to the town warning them that the Mormons were coming.  But in spite of this the Priests previous meeting we had no undue difficulty.
At Egersund our meeting are quite well attended with 25 saints and visitors coming.  Some of our saints live out on farms so we walked out to visit them.  Sunday Nov. 23 we had an appointment to baptize a man.  After a long walk through a rain storm we arrived at the appointed place.  The convert was there but wet and cold and seemed to lack the required faith and there was ice on the water, so we returned without baptizing him.
December 1902 began very cold weather, so cold it’s almost impossible to keep warm and hugging the stove.  This could last several days.  Sunday 7th we held Sacrament Meeting in the forenoon, Priesthood at 12 noon and Sunday School at 3 pm and at 7 pm another regular meeting.  At one home we stopped  at there were lice which necessitated having our clothes boiled.  At a hotel we encountered fleas which kept us busy rubbing all night.  The weather again kept us at Egersund and kept our meetings shorter.  Here we together saw the first snow storm at Egersund and I wrote my first letter to Mother in Norwegian.  Monday, Dec. 22 received a letter from home with $7.00 enclosed as a Christmas present.
Next addition - December 5, 2011

Each Saturday I got a bath at the public bath house.  The times we would go out we spent reading, studying, writing letters, and taking care of necessities.  At times our saints out in the mountains invite their neighbors in to hear us explain the gospel.  And at times these saints that could get to each others homes meet together when we  come to visit.

My first Christmas in Norway was interesting and very much enjoyed.  Christmas Eve we spent at N. Petersen’s where we enjoyed supper, danced around the Christmas tree and sang Norwegian songs.  Elder Jorgensen and I received a nice linen pocket handkerchief.  Christmas Day we were invited to the “old folks” Albertsons for dinner.  We had an enjoyable time.  In the afternoon we were refreshed with chocolate, Christmas cakes, oranges, apples, etc. and at dinner we were served with the palatable Christmas dish of Norway “Smor Crot”  (butter mush).  At night we held a regular meeting devoting the time to Jesus Christ’s birth, mission, and its purpose and importance to us.  This stimulated a long, enjoyable discussion on authority.  Seven visitors and five saints were present.  On the second day of Christmas we visited with the Petersons and the Flaadens being treated to food again.  We held another meeting in the evening where we discussed Joseph Smith and his mission.  We have had a snow fall of 6 inches and rain shortly after that melted all the snow.  The next day thunder and lightening added to the variety.

At 2:30 a.m. December 29 a knock was heard at our window.  It was Olaf Olsen (a saint) who desired us to come and administer to his wife.  She had suddenly became very sick and he feared for her life.  We found her hollowing and crying in great agony.  Her teeth chattered as a result of the pain in her breast.  We administered to her and immediately after she changed for the better.  During the administration the spirit rested upon me to such an extent, and she, whom we administered to seemed as helpless condition.  I weakened in my legs, my throat seemed to be squeezed and the sweat ran off my face in large drops.  We stayed for some time after.  She continued to improve.  We went home to continue our sleep.  In the afternoon we visited Olsen’s again and found her almost well enough to get up.

On December 31st we took the road for Sogndal walking and coming to the Hammersmarks home.  The snow was from 6 to 8 inches deep.  Never before have I been so tired.  I ate a little supper which caused a pain in my stomach and this, added to my stiff and weak feeling made me feel miserable.  All the Sogndal saints, and Sister Tonnesen and son were to enjoy New Years Eve with us but I was too tired to enjoy it. 

January 1st I arose so still that I could hardly raise my feet from the floor and I ate nothing all day.  January 2nd I felt better but still stiff.  That evening we held a meeting at Hammersmarks where we were staying.  A rich flow of spirit was present.  January 3rd I was so much better that we undertook a walk down to Hotlands.  Here we stayed overnight and after dinner we fasted until the next evening for the deaf and dumb son of Pintor Tomench.  Sister Hotland was sick in bed when we arrived.  We administered to her.  The next day, Sunday, she was well and up as usual.  In our testimony meeting all the saints bore their testimonies.    We administered to Hans.  He seemed better immediately and next morning he had a voice and could say words we understood.  Before this he could hardly make a sound.  We feel if he continues to be faithful and tries to speak he will be normal.

Monday, January 5th we took the road for home, Egersund, arriving at 5:30 pm.  I was very tired but not as much as when we left.  A letter awaited me from Bishop J. E. Taylor, also cards from saints, a letter from Florentine Sorensen and Seymour Rosequist with $2.00 for Christmas.  A letter from Helma Beckman awaited us requesting that her name be drawn from the books as she was tired of being a Mormon.  She had asked for this before but we wanted her to be sure.  After our regular meeting on Sunday we held a special meeting for the purpose of excommunicating from the Church Helma Beckman and child Sidna Beckman.

The days were now mostly spent in contacting people in town on the streets, getting into discussions with them, and giving our tracks.  Sometimes we were favorably received but often rejected.  The saints living in this area we visited often and we did tracting to the homes.

Father sent a letter which I received January 23, 1903 enclosing $25.00.  When visiting Elders came through from other areas such as Stavanger our meetings were rich experiences and our discussions after the regular evening service often would last to midnight.  Other nights than Sunday were spent in discussions with Saints and visitors as well.  March 1st 1903 I was sent a new companion, Elder Soren Anderson of Centerfield, Sanpete County who had been in Aalasund.  He is to be with me the remainder of the winter.  Elder Ernest F. Jorgensen returned to Bergen from where he will shortly go home.  This is the Sunday, March 1st, 1903 schedule.  Fast meeting at 10 a.m.  Short Priesthood meeting after.  At 3 pm is Sunday School and at night regular meeting with saints and visitors.  President Jensen arrived on the night train from Bergen on his way to Denmark.  He has been released and is looking up relatives in Denmark before going home.

Often we were at the Hammeramark’s home or at Hotlands.  Always they invited the neighbors in for an evening of discussion.  We tracted up into the mountains with mixed results.  This time we planned to take the steamer back to Egersund but arrived too late so of necessity we used the Apostles horses (our feet).  Conference was held in Bergen with the first meeting Saturday April 18, 1903 at which President Skanchy presided, assisted by Brother Fjelsted.  This was the location of Elders and their partners.

Bergen --  President N. C. Mortensen and Amor Hansen

Hangersund – Jens C. Westergaard and Axel L. Fikotad

Stavanger – Soren Anderson and Niels P. Jeppsen

Egersund – Martin W. Mangelson and Andrew L. Thorpe

Many inspiring meetings were held at this conference in Bergen.  The missionaries enjoyed being together.  Two very pleasant walks were planned out into the countryside of Bergen and these gave us an opportunity to enjoy Norway itself.  The oldest Christian churches in Norway are the wooden Stave Churches.  These were created by an enthusiastic people inspired by the new Christian gospel.  One of these early wooden churches built in the 12th century was being sold for removal in the year 1879.  The village of Fortum wanted a new building.  A citizen of Bergen, Consul F. Gade bought the church and had it moved to an area known as Fantoft, 5 miles south of Bergen.  I visited this historic old Catholic Church Fantoft where sin forgiveness was sold.  (I, Helen, visited this same beautiful old Fantoft Church June 11, 1966.  It is now used only occasionally for weddings, and is not considered a Catholic Church.  I enjoyed this building with Mr. And Mrs. Karl Sovig of Pardis.  They took us for a short walk from their home to this church.  In memory of my mother and her native land I sang a short Norwegian song in this church.  Not until I read this diary of my father did I know he had even been in a stave church and especially this one.)

We were assigned to labor in Egersund.  We traveled by ship from Bergen to Stavanger.  Stavanger is rather flat and a very pretty place.  There is a certain picturesque about the countryside.  From Stavanger we took the train to Egorsund arriving May 4, 1903.  One of the Saints, Bro. Laurentson’s wife had just given birth to a baby girl.  Sister Laurentson was very sick.  The baby died.  We prepared a funeral service with appropriate songs and talk.  We walked to the cemetery.  Four small boys carried the coffin.  Elder Thorpe dedicated the grave.  Sister Laurentson remained very ill for many, many days.  In fact she is failing a little each day.  We have been asked by President Morenson to get permission from the Chief of Police to hold an open air meeting.  This permission was granted.  We wrote out a number of bills and posted them around town to advertize our meeting.  At 8 pm Tuesday, June 9, 1903 our meeting was held in the middle of the street.  We used a box to stand on.  At first only children came, then adults when we started singing.  In all we had 250.  They listened attentively up to the closing prayer.  President Mortensen spoke for 1 hour and 20 minutes.  Next night we held another meeting with 300 present.  Tracting into far away areas was done sometimes by boat.  We met many people with false ideas about us.  After explaining the right ways friendly feelings resulted but that was all.  Getting back to Egersund we found Sister Laurentson some better.  The doctors had lanced her in four places and now we hope she will pull through if her leg is not amputated.

June 23 is St Hanns Dage.  We went out on the fjord in a boat, we are one among countless boats, to see the force on the hills around town.  Also each family makes a large wreath of flowers and hangs it outside of the house.  (We, Tommy and I saw those same kind of fires and a large wreath of flowers in Oslo June 23, 1956.)

July 1, 1903 I helped carry Sister Laurentsen to the hospital where she will undergo an operation on her leg.  This was no small job getting her through several doors, down a narrow stairway, and through town as every little move was torture for her.  The doctors who operated cut out a piece of diseased bone in the knee.  This will leave her leg stiff.

July 7, 1903 I went to the doctor to have my ear examined for I was experiencing such a ringing.  The doctor told me I had a broken ear drum, that I should have the ear tied up for 5-6 days, and to inject a mixture of carbolic acid and glycerin prepared by the druggist, two or three times a day.  This I did with no improvement.  I was getting to where I could hardly hear myself speak or sing.  I went to Bergen to get medical help.  At first I was encouraged that my hearing would improve, but as the days went by I could see no real improvement.  Then the doctor told me he was going to Germany and suggested I go either to a doctor he recommended in Berlin or one in Copenhagen.  President Mortensen answered my letter saying I could go home or to Copenhagen to get medical attention for my ear.

August 8th eight to ten German Battleships arrived in the harbor at Bergen.  We hired a row boat and rowed out among the battleships.  There were torpedo boats, one was the Emperor’s ship on which he personally sailed, and the remainder were common gun boats.  Sunday August 9th we attended Sunday School in the forenoon.  In the afternoon we went to a Catholic service.  With all their formality and customs this was an uncommon sight.  On our way home we saw a great wedding marching toward the Lutheran Church.  There were three to be married.  Two were from the country and these were wearing country customs with silver crowns on their heads.  The third couple was from town.  We joined in the march bracing up and though we were relations, and a right to be there.  Thus we were right up to the front getting a commanding view of all the performances.

Monday August 10th.  In the evening I went to the circus on the sly.  It was good fro Norway.  Wednesday August 12 I preached my farewell sermon to Bergen.  I visited friends in their homes finding it difficult to say goodbye, realizing full well we would never see each other again in this life.  We met together at Bro. John Hansen whose life’s hour is soon to be ended.  Death’s expression now covers his brow.  We sang a song or two and united in prayer giving ourselves over in to the hands of our maker or until it was his desire that we should meet on the other side.  At 7 pm many saints and investigators were at the docks to bed me goodbye.  Although I had been in Bergen a short time I had many friends.

As the S.S. Dronningen steamed out of the harbor in my mind’s eye I seemed to see again all of the beautiful sights of this historic old city and my mind, like a phonograph, seemed to repeat the many conversations and things I had heard and said in past moments, yes in the one year I had been in Norway. 

I traveled by ship to Stavanger.  Here Elder Jeppsen was at the docks to meet me.  Together we visited the town water works which gave us a commanding view of the city.  Saturday, August 15th I left for Egersund.   Here I visited old friends that I had enjoyed when I labored here.  But time came for me to say farewell to Egersund and Bogndal and the travel by ship to Christiansund.  The Elders met me at the docks and arranged for me to stay over night with them.  It was pleasant talking with them which we did until 12 midnight.

The S S Nyland was to leave 4 a.m. for Fredrickshavn so I went aboard and went to bed before the ship was to sail.  This now was my last and final farewell to Norway.  At 2 pm I arrived in Fredrickshavn, found the LDS headquarters and made myself at home.  The two missionaries here were Don C. Sorensen, Ephraim, Utah and Rupert Olsen of Brigham, Utah.

The next day I took the train for Aalborg.  Here I met the Conference President Lars P. Christensen of Preston, Idaho and Cluff Petersen.  Elder Petersen suddenly remembered a man who had called at the office inquiring for me.  The address was taken so we went to the man’s home.  On the door was the name of G. Mangelson.  A young woman answered the door.  Her husband had just taken the train for Hjorring.  This was his occupation.  However, he would be back the next day.  I learned his father was Hjorren Mangelson so I knew we were cousins.  She extended an invitation to me to return the next day. 

Thursday August 27 I was back at Mangelsen’s door.  She answered the door and conducted me into the fine room.  Her husband soon appeared.  He was a man of 32 years, light in complexion, small mustache, about 5’6” tall, weighing about 165 lbs., light hair.  I told you it was a feeling of pleasure for both of us to meet.  We sat down and conversed on family affairs, mixed with Gospel.  They were very bitter toward the Mormons but I believe by explanation had some influence on them.  After enjoying her very nice dinner I left for he had to get back to his work.   He was the RR conductor.  Before we parted he did extend an invitation for me to return whenever I could for I was always welcome.  These folks had three children, two boys and a girl.

Friday I took the train for Copenhagen.  My first evening I accompanied two Elders to the amusement park Tivoli.  Everyone, almost for the past hundred years, visits Tivoli when in Copenhagen.  My first home was at Dagmars Gade No. 38 1sto. Sal.  The doctor whom I decided about was Dr. Schmegolow at Norregade No. 18.  He didn’t give me much encouragement.  The punctured ear drum he felt was of long duration possibly from childhood.  Nothing could really be done, that my hearing would never be as good in that ear as it had been, however, the hearing I had should last many, many years.

I have attended Sunday School, Sacrament Meeting, Mutual, Relief Society so I am getting acquainted.  I have tried tracting but I find it very difficult to get to talk to peop0le.  But one happy experience sort of made up for the disappointments.  In tracting I met an old lady who 33 years ago had been a Mormon when just a girl.  The men she married had not allowed her to attend but now he was dead she thought she would like to come again and be one with us.

The meetings here in Copenhagen are well attended and the saints often invite us home to eat with them.  Sometimes we get to share in the birthday parties.  Then we have a genuine good time.  The Elders here have administered to me asking that my hearing be saved.  Thursday, Sept. 17, 1903 I helped remodel the stand in the big room.  This is the first work I have performed since I left home.  Each day I do some tracting, meeting with the saints and attend all the Church meetings as well as write letters to friends and missionaries in Norway as well as writing letters home.  The saints are very good to us.  We meet in the homes often to discuss religion, sing songs, tell stories and generally enjoy ourselves.  It’s a good feeling we have.

I have had a tailor make a suit for me.  It cost me 60 kroner’s.

Wednesday Sept. 8 1903 we baptized five new members.  I have been going to see Dr. Lango.  Sept. 18th a special fast day was held for me and I was administered to by the brethren, President Fjeldsted being the voice.  When next day I saw the doctor he was very pleased and said the hold was much smaller.  However, as the days went by and the doctor continued to see my ear washing it out with warm water after the oil drops of previous days the ear appeared unchanged.  My concern became one of trying to avoid head colds for these congestions really made my hearing less effective.

Christmas is again with us.  We missionaries are surely treated royally.  The Scandinavians have their Christmas trees in the center of the room.  Dancing and singing while going around the tree is the custom.  We do enjoy the many delicious things to eat but Christmas time is special and many days of Christmas are celebrated.  The saints meet often, not waiting until the weekend or Sunday.  On New Years Eve, firecrackers are set off in the street.  I had been to Sister Speths for dinner.  I left in time to hear the clock on the Court House chime twelve.  The Court House grounds and all the streets were packed almost solid with people.  The thousands of Danish crows burned, you might say, on those firecrackers and rockets shot off made me feel these people were not too poor after all.  Police with clubs had to herd the people like animals to keep them from crowding each other under foot.  I managed to get out and on my way walking home.  No trolleys were running because the crowd had cut the power lines. 

New Years Day 1904 I received a picture from my brother Lorenzo showing his baby named LeGrande.

I do tracting for a few hours every day.  Sometimes I am asked to return and explain the Gospel more fully.  These are interesting times.  Many gospel subjects are brought up, even polygamy and though I do not convert always I do inform people of the truth and always I feel I have made a favorable impression.  One him I tracted I was invited in.  The woman was a widow having been deserted by a thoughtless husband to raise five children alone.  Lying in bed in this room was a very beautiful young woman with large brown eyes, face and lips each resembling a wax doll.  She looked pitifully up from the bed.  She had married a shiftless man unable to keep up a home, pay rent and soon they were put out on the street.  The daughter came home sick with an 18 month old child and another soon to be born.  The second child lived 6 weeks.  The father came to see the child, buried and then left never returning nor giving an ore to their support.  So here lay the daughter now paralyzed on one side.  This is the medical care one can expect in Denmark if one is poor.

The good people I have found while tracting have become my friends.  Mr. Omark is one of these.  Mr. Omark suggested that I might enjoy a visit to Rosenberg Palace.  We arranged to meet at the entrance and the two hours we were allowed to spend there went all too soon.  Later in the week we went again.  Such riches I have never seen before.  To actually see the personal property of these kings and queens dating back to 1449, to note the worn appearance from use made me feel this was the present that I was seeing not the past.  Charles IV built this palace.  Mr. Omark took me to the House of Congress, to the Royal Family Residences Amaliahberg and to the Fredricksborg Castle.  What an experience and one I will not so soon forget.

Another family I have met while tracting, the Nordins, have been especially kind of me and often I have enjoyed their home, their daughter’s piano playing and their general good company.  Mrs. Nordins father died on a Tuesday.  She sent me a written invitation to attend the funeral Sunday March 6, 1904.  This was a fast Sunday and I knew after the funeral there would be food but I felt I could not rightly refuse to be there.  These people had extended to me many kindnesses.  At the set time they awaited me with a hack which rattled us over the cobbled streets to Vester Kirkogaard (west Church Yard).  In the “Kapel” (chapel) where the funeral services are held, the coffin had stood since death, a custom here observed.  The Priest gave a very nice sermon, the family having paid for a first class sermon, therefore had reasons to expect such.  The dead man belonged to a Lodge and to do honor to him four lodges were out with their banners and members.  At the grave the Priest cast dirt on the coffin, and banners were waved over the grave three times and the services were over.  The hacks were awaiting us and we were soon back to Nordins home where we partook of delicacies prepared for the occasion.

April 8, 1904 I visited Carlsberg Brewery which next to St. Louis, Mo. Is the largest in the world.  They bottle 260,000 bottles daily.  This same day I saw a show displaying a large, strong woman.  She weighed 500 lbs.  She could bear 400 lbs on her bosoms.  Her breasts were so large that a piece of cord could be laid on them and a 200 lb. Man could be standing on this board with ease.

Still more to come.......................

Friday, September 16, 2011

Various photos submitted by Heidi Shuler (3rd cousin),
Alan Dalby (2nd cousin) and myself


~ ~ ~

Children of Carl (Charles) Frederik Mangelson and Emma Eliza Nielsen:


Emilie Marie Mangelson, born 6 August 1865, died 20 March 1866

Amelia Marie (Millie) Mangelson, born 28 Jan 1867, died 4 January 1940

Charles Adolph Mangelson, born 5 July 1870, died 12 December 1957

Lorenzo Mangelson, born 16 September 1872, died 22 September 1970

Mary Eliza (Molly) Mangelson, born 8 February 1875, died 2 April 1964

Charity Matilda Mangelson, born 23 September 1877, died 11 April 1948

Martin Wilford Mangelson, born 23 February 1880, died 2 October 1966

Dora Otilia Mangelson, born 6 July 1882, died 12 November 1973

Edna Christince Mangelson, born 12 December 1884, died 10 Dec. 1969

Frederick Vance Mangelson, born 3 March 1887, died 28 October 1935






                                                                                                                                                         Mangelson and Nielsen Families


(In the above photo is Stephen Stephensen and Othelia Nielsen.  Stephen is my Grand Uncle on my Dad's side.  His father is Jorgen Christian Stephensen and mother is Axeline Marie Pedersen, Von's Great Grandfather)



Carl Christian Nielsen and Maren Christensen, Emma Eliza Nielsen's parents


Mangelson Headstone in Levan, Utah Cemetery

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Miscellaneous photos submitted by Heidi Shuler (3rd cousin),
Alan Dalby (2nd cousin) and myself.  

    Charles Adolph and Emma Eliza Nielsen Mangelson  (my grandfather)


        Charles Adolph Mangelson (son of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)



                                Edna Christiner and John Egbert Hanson  
                               (daughter of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)

                       Edna Mangelson   (daughter of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)


                            Martin Mangelson  (son of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)

        Mary Molly Mangelson (daughter of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)

                                        Carl Mangelson (constable)


                                Death Certificate of Eliza Neilson Mangelson

                                                  Vance and Dora Mangelson
                                (son and daughter of Carl and Eliza Mangelson)


                                                      Mangelson Coat of Arms


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

EMMA ELISE (ELIZA) NIELSEN

1846 - 1942


Relationship: Emma Elise (Eliza) Nielsen is my Great Grandmother; her son, Charles Adolph Mangelson is my grandfather; his daughter, Vera Mangelson Christensen is my mother.
        
              Elisa was born March 27, 1846 in Oolt Sogon, Lindru, Hjorring, Denmark.  She was the first child of Carl Christian and Maren Christensen Nielsen.  She was born at the home of her grandmother, her mother’s mother.  Her parents had lived there since their marriage.  Because Eliza’s grandmother was a widow and lived in a large house, she urged Eliza’s parents to share it with her.


            When Eliza was three or four years of age, her parents were able to secure a home of their own, so they left the grandmother’s home.  Eliza’s grandmother was very good to her, but she didn’t believe in children being idle.  She had a large house and a good sized farm.  She owned quite a number of cattle, so there was plenty for all to do.  Since no fences separated the farms in Denmark, it was the responsibility of each farm owner to keep his cattle on his own land.


            Herding the cattle thus became the responsibility of the children.  The cows were milked at four o’clock in the morning.  The children then herded them until noon, when they were milked again and then herded all afternoon.  The cows were milked a third time just after dark.  When Eliza was six years of age, it became her job to herd the geese.


            Eliza’s grandmother was a devout Lutheran as were her uncles, so Eliza grew up in that religion.  Her grandmother really took her religion seriously.  She would not allow any of the children to work on Sundays or holidays.  The house and farm work had to be completely arranged for the day before.


            In spite of all the work that had to be done on the farm, Eliza’s early home life was very pleasant.  The home, located in the beautiful Danish countryside and known as “Horse Haven”, was always a scene of much fun and frolic on holidays.  New Years was the big celebration of the year in Denmark.  Dancing went on all during the night of New Years Eve. Young boys of the town would go around playing pranks on their neighbors and friends until they were finally invited into homes for beer and cake.


            Christmas was a time of feasting and visiting with old friends.  Eliza’s home was always a gathering place for the young folks of the town at this season.  Much emphasis was given to Christmas Eve in the celebration.  It is likely that Eliza’s traditional celebration of Christmas Eve in her home at Levan, Utah, later on found its origin in these celebrations of her childhood.


            At the age of seven she entered school.  She had to walk a mile to and from school every day.  Eliza attended school until she was fourteen.  The lat year of her schooling she took her lessons from the local priest and studied the Bible.


            Sometime just prior to 1860 Eliza met a young man by the name of Carl Frederick Mangelsen.  His birthplace was in Dronninglund, Hjorring, Denmark.  How long she kept company with Carl we do not know, but she had promised to wait for him until he could be released from the Danish army.  He served as a soldier in the Schleswig Holstein War for four years before he was released to return home.  In the meantime, Eliza remained on the farm with her grandmother and waited impatiently for his return.
                                                       Carl (Charles) Frederick Mangelson

            The young couple was married March 27, 1864 at Colt Sogon, Lindrum, Denmark.  Eliza’s grandmother gave them a big wedding that lasted for two days.  The bridal party rode to the church in carriages, and four horsemen rode by the carriage of the bride and groom.


            The marriage ceremony took place in the Lutheran Church.  People who were invited marched in couples up the center aisle of the Church to the alter where the priest and dean stood.  There they donated what money they could spare to the priest and dean for their services in performing the marriage and in furnishing the music.  After this was taken care of, they returned and took their places on the benches on each side of the center aisle.


            The bride was dressed in a black Damask dress.  She wore a wreath of orange blossoms over her head.  The bridegroom wore a dark suit.  Music for the occasion was provided by the dean, and the young couple was married by the Lutheran priest.  The ceremony took place in the morning.  Immediately afterwards, the company left the church for the bride’s home where the wedding supper was served.  On the way home the horsemen had a race to see who could reach there first.  The winner was to become the best man.


            The wedding supper took considerable time to serve because of the many courses.  A woman had been hired to cook for three days to help prepare the mean.  Many of the eatables were sent to the young couple before the marriage.  No wedding gifts were sent, so no doubt food took the place of gifts.


            After the supper was over everyone went into a room prepared for dancing.  Here they danced until about midnight; then tea, coffee and cake were served.  The dancing continued all night.  In the morning breakfast was served.  If by this time some were tired of dancing, they went into still another room and played cards.  In this manner the celebration lasted until the night of the second day.


            Eliza had many fine clothes, but she was especially proud of her beautiful wedding dress.  She treasured it all of her life; took it to America with her when items to be packed had to pass pretty stringent justification, and kept it for fifty or sixty years as a prized possession.


            Her husband’s uncle gave them a home for a wedding present, and her grandmother gave them a cow and plenty of furniture.  Carl had a good job, so they began their married life in relative comfort and security.


            Soon after their marriage, Eliza’s mother and father joined the Mormon Church.  Because their new religion meant very much to them, it was natural that they would want their daughter and new son-in-law to hear about it.  They were successful in persuading Carl and Eliza to sell their home and move in with them, where they could all study the Mormon religion together.  While living in her parent’s home, Eliza’s first child, a daughter was born August 5, 1865.  She was given the name of Amalie Marie.


            Thus far all had been rosy and happy for Eliza in her married life, but now on the eve of their making the important decision to join the Mormon Church, tragedy struck.  The baby had lived only four months when she was stricken with whooping cough.  Nothing they could do in any way seemed to give relief.  The child died.


            Soon after the little one’s death, Carl’s uncle also passed away and sorrow came to the young couple for a second time.


            In her loneliness, Carl’s aunt who had done so much for him, asked her nephew and his wife to come and live with her.  This they did.  While they were living in the aunt’s home, Eliza’s second child, again a daughter was born January 28, 1867.  They named her Emelia.

            The devotion of Carl’s aunt to her Lutheran religion caused her to be very bitter against the Mormon faith.  She saw it as a challenge to all she believed.  Continued study of the new religion in her home became extremely difficult for the young couple.  Nevertheless they did manage to go on with their search of the Mormon scriptures in spite of the opposition.


            Finally the time came when they were ready to join the new church.  Being baptized while still living in the aunt’s home was out of the question.  It was a difficult situation for them.  They were torn between their loyalty to Carl’s aunt and their determination to become Mormons.  After much soul searching, they moved from the aunt’s home to join again with Eliza’s parents in their home.  Here they would be free to follow their own desires concerning the new religion.  They were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on February 2, 1867.  One source indicates that Eliza was baptized February 2, 1863.  Anyhow, as soon as they actually became members of the church, the young couple began to think about immigration to America.  Their interest in such a hazardous project was partly due to the information they were receiving about the church and its headquarters in Utah.  But perhaps the desire was fed more by the bitterness of former neighbors and friends toward them.  At any rate, they made up their minds that they wanted to live with those of their new faith in far away Utah.


            As soon as the big decision had been made, Carl and Eliza lost no time in beginning preparations for the journey.  They had to sell their cow, furniture, household goods, and most of the little things that had come to mean so such to them for almost nothing to secure funds necessary for transportation.  With all they could raise, it was still not enough, so they went to Carl’s employer to ask for a loan.


            Eliza could thank this employer for her being enabled to make the move with her husband.  Their plan at first was for Carl to go alone to Utah and then send for Eliza and little Emelia when he had earned and saved enough money for their fare.  But the employer strongly advised against this plan.  To back up his objection, he offered to loan them enough money for the family to make the trip together.  It is likely that the young couple didn’t need much persuading to make this change.  Separating the family would have been extremely difficult and was accepted in the first plan only because there didn’t seem to be any possibility of securing sufficient funds for all to go at the same time.  They were to repay the debt to the employer out of the first money earned in the new country.


            Finally the family set sail for England in the middle of May of 1869.  Here they were to board a steamship for America.  In the little party to embark were Carl, Eliza, little Emelia, Eliza’s oldest brother, Frederick, and a young convert, Christian Fracult.  The first leg of the journey to England was made in a sail ship.  Weather conditions over the North Sea turned out to be extremely bad and after three days of buffeting a rough sea, they had to turn back to Denmark.  Everyone the ship was very ill.  When the weather was better, they finally made the crossing to England.


            The trip to America was a pleasant one.  The weather was good all of the way and one of the party suffered from sea sickness.  They were thirteen days crossing the ocean.


            The ship landed at New York City where Carl and Eliza spent a few days before starting west by train.  They accompanied the first train load of immigrants bound for Utah.  Eliza soon found that opposition to Mormonism was not just concentrated in Denmark and England.  On the trip from New York to Utah people all along the way mocked and jeered at them.  At one time men on horses rode along by the train shouting and cursing the Mormons.  One of the party shot at the train.  The bullet went through the window where Eliza was sitting with the baby in her arms.  The glass from the broken window fell on the seat to the side of them.


           
            Eliza and Carl were especially worried about their luggage.  That luggage represented all their earthly possessions.  Everything was new and strange to them, and they imagined all kinds of things that could happen to their luggage.


            Each time the train stopped they would rush out to get something to eat.  It was with one of such meals that Eliza tasted her first pie.  She thought it was terrible.


            The railroad journey across the continent ended at a place in Utah called Ogden Hole - - just a short distance from Ogden city.  Here they were met in July of 1869 by friends from Denmark who knew they were coming.  They rested in Ogden for a few days and then headed for Brigham City by team.  Their first job in their newly adopted country was for a man by the name of Jim Hansen.  They lived right in with the family and it was Eliza’s job to spin and weave while her husband worked on the farm.  At the end of one year of hard labor for both of them they received the sum of one hundred dollars which they promptly sent to Denmark in payment of the loan to Carl’s employer.


            All of the family dressed in home woven clothes.  Eliza had occasion to be especially thankful for the good home arts training she had received from her grandmother in Denmark.  This training was especially valuable to her now.  During the first year in America she wove over a hundred and fifty yards of cloth along with her numerous other duties.  She wasn’t feeling too well either during this time, because on July 5, 1870 another child, a son, was born to her.  He was given the name of Charles Adolph.
                                                            Charles Adolph Mangelson

            After the debt in Denmark was paid, the young couple had just enough money left from all they had accumulated to buy a stove and a homemade bed.  They rented a small place and for a time tried to support themselves by odd jobs.


            A man by the name of George Mason offered them a job in his ranch.  They felt confident the Lord was looking out for them.  Mason’s ranch was near the Idaho line, so Carl and Eliza moved again.  Here Eliza found still greater application for all she had learned while growing up with her grandmother.  Each day there was forty pounds of cheese and also butter to make.  The responsibilities were much the same as those encountered in dairy farm life in Denmark.  Good food was plentiful at the ranch and Eliza had a separate room in which she could care for her little family.  For their pay, they were to share in the produce of the ranch.  The big drawback to this arrangement came in turning their share of produce into cash which was always in short supply.


            During the two years Carl and Eliza worked at the Mason ranch another son was born to them on September 16, 1872.  They named him Lorenzo.


            Grandmother and Grandfather had been more satisfied with their work at the Mason ranch than they had been with their first assignment.  The reason they left it after two years was to accept a position at the Stage Coach Station located nearby.  This position offered them and provided a wage of sixty dollars per month; paid in actual money.  It was almost as much monthly as they had received in a whole year on their first job.


            Carl’s new work was to care for the stage horses and to exchange teams during the stage coach stops.  After they had worked at the station for about one year, the schedule changed, and the passengers were to stop at the station for lunch.  Now Eliza had a job too, in addition to caring for her family.  She was assigned to cook meals for the two to three passengers that usually came in on each stage coach as well as the driver.  The passengers were charged fifty cents for their dinner.  There was no fancy cooking.  It was meat, eggs, potatoes, hot biscuits, custard pie and coffee.  By this time Eliza had gotten ore her aversion for pie.  Cooking quarters at the station were rather cramped.  Meals had to be cooked and served in the same room.


            Most of the family’s clothing was home made, but securing articles of clothing such as shoes often presented a problem.  On one occasion Eliza sent to Corinne with a stage driver to get a pair of shoes for Emelia.  When the stage driver brought back the shoes, they were too small.  His comment:  “These damn Mormons, they never can get enough for their money.”


            In 1874 Eliza’s parents came to Utah from Denmark.   (Carl Christian Nielsen and Maren [Mary] Christensen).   They stopped at Sale Lake City to determine where they would try to set up their home.  Since Eliza had not seen her folks for six years, she was anxious to see them now.  Her parents had never seen her two boys.


            Carl and Eliza were fortunate in being able to get a week off from their regular duties, so it was decided the two families would meet together in Salt Lake City.  The young couple took with them the stove they had purchased since they were now using the one at the station.  They also took forty pounds of cheese and a quilt as presents for their parents.  It was a happy reunion and the parents were glad to get the stove, cheese and quilt as it was hard to get started in the new country.  The families visited together for one week before Carl and Eliza had to return to their work at the stage coach station.


            On February 8, 1875, a daughter, Mary Eliza was born.  Now there were four children for Eliza to love and care for in the cramped facilities of the stage coach station.  But she was proud of her fine family of two boys and two girls.


            That spring (1875) the railroad across the continent was completed, so the day of the stage coach was over.  Carl and Eliza were again out of work, but this time they had accumulated a savings account.  In fact they had saved nearly all the money they had earned at the stage coach station.  This money was intended for use in buying a home.


            In the meantime, the Nielsen’s, Eliza’s parents, had settled in Levan, Utah.  They wrote to Eliza and Carl urging them to come to Levan and make their home.  Grandmother and Grandfather wanted to be near their folks, so it was decided they would set up their home in Levan.


            To make the move they purchased a fine team of horses, harness and a wagon.  Then as they passed through Salt Lake City, they purchased as much furniture as they felt they could afford.

            Just across the street from Eliza’s parents in Levan they bought a four-acre lot and a log house.  Now Grandmother at last had a permanent home in the new country.

                                                   Carl and Eliza's Home in Levan, Utah


            But their savings were gone, and there was no work to be had.  The family’s needs for money was real and urgent.  This was a period of severe trial for the young couple, but in spite of their discouragement, they went on with plans to take up land in preparation for a permanent home in Levan.  Carl went back to the Brigham City area to secure temporary employment in order to supply family needs that had to be met.  Eliza stayed in the new home to care for the family during his absence.

            In spite of hard work and times of discouragement, Grandfather and Grandmother always looked upon their newly adopted country as a land of opportunity.  Carl wanted to be American all the way.  In keeping with this desire, he wanted to Americanize his name, so he changed the name Carl to Charles.  He felt this sounded more American.  He also changed the spelling of his last name to Mangelson from the German spelling of Mangelsen.


            The following children were born in Levan:  Charity Matilda, September 23, 1877; Martin Wilford, February 23, 1880; Dora Otilia, July 6, 1882; Edna Christince, December 12, 1884; Fred Vance, March 3, 1887.
                                                           Edna Christince Mangelson



                                                                     Martin Mangelson


            When Emelia or “Millie” as she was known, had the sad misfortune of losing her husband who was killed by lightening, she was left with two small children.  Millie was Eliza’s oldest daughter.  After a few years Millie married Peter Wankier, a man with seven children.  In order to help her, Grandmother took one of her children; a boy named Eric, and raised him in her home until he became a man along with her own nine children.


            Eliza spent most of her time in her home, especially while her children were young.  There was much work to be done in the home for a large family living under pioneer conditions.  She washed and carded wool, made quilts and wove much of the cloth she made into clothes for the family.  She even made suits for her husband and sons in the family’s early days.  There was a total absence of conveniences we know them now, and very few of the family’s needs could be met by purchase.  For the most part these needs were dependent on home production.


            In spite of these obstacles, Eliza was determined to do as well as her American neighbors.  She wanted her children just as neat and well dressed as other children.  Often she sewed most of the night to make this possible.


            During the years her family was at home, Eliza was parent, doctor, nurse, teacher, and counselor to her children.  Even though home duties of preparing food and clothing for a large family must have made heavy demands on her, she still found time and energy to assume these other duties.  The health of her family was a vital concern for Eliza.  It was not possible to hurry off to a specialist with every ailment that came to her children.  She was the family specialist, and in assuming this responsibility she developed all kinds of preventatives and cures to protect her family.  One of her favorite remedies for many ailments was a cup of hot ginger tea.  She justified its use by saying, “If you’re warm on the inside, you’ll be warm on the outside too.”


            Her children heeded and valued her counsel and teaching is attested to by their frequent visits back to the home after they had families of their own. 


            Grandmother was always supportive in the help she gave.  Her sons and daughters-in-law had full confidence in her.  They knew she would never stoop to undermine them in any way.  She was welcome in her children’s home, because she always left a wholesome influence each time she came.  Both Grandmother and Grandfather seemed to understand instinctively the differences between giving encouragement to their children and interfering in their lives.


            By the time Grandmother’s own children were gone and had families of their own, Eliza had become quite proficient as a nurse; although experience was her only teacher.  Her motherly instincts now began to extend into the new families as grandchildren were born.  The hours she spent in assisting at births, no one will ever know.  We do know that her devotion and nursing ability was relied upon and greatly appreciated by her children and their companions.  She assisted at the births of most of her older grandchildren and more than once was alone with the mother at that time, since doctors were often late.  It was a common sight to see Grandmother traveling to and from different parts of town with a shawl covering most of her face.  She had considerable trouble during these years with her eyes and could not stand direct contact of cold or wind on her eyes.


            It was truly a marvel the way she was able to extend herself into the lives of a growing number of grandchildren.  To this younger generation she was knows as “Little Grandma”.   There was a very good reason why she was such a favorite with her grandchildren.  Always interested in whatever they were doing, she was never too busy to spend time individually with each one whenever she was in their homes or when she met them else where.  She was especially concerned about their education and proud that so many of them were getting to college.


            Grandmother had always been a firm believer in education and had urged this need upon her children at a time when there was little concern for schooling among most of her friends and neighbors.  Her children attended school as much as was possible, and two of them became school teachers.


            Both Eliza and her husband, Charles, had mastered the English language to the extent that both wee able to speak the language and also to read and write if effectively.  This achievement opened up the world of learning to them, and they appreciated very much the resultant broadening of their abilities and activities.  Grandmother became a great reader and spent whatever time she could spare in her front room with a book or a magazine.  In later years when her eye sight became too impaired for much reading, she was able to get her granddaughter, Audrey Hansen, to do the reading for her.  After Grandfather’s death in 1923, Audrey spent the nights with her grandmother until finally her family moved into the home.  During this time Audrey did a considerable amount of reading aloud.  One of the books she read was the novel, “A Lantern in Her Hand” by Bess A. Aldrich.  Grandmother especially liked this story because many of the events pretty well paralleled those of her own life.


            She was very much involved in both the fortunes and misfortunes that came to her loved ones. 


“In 1917 when the flu epidemic swept the country, the Gardner families were all seriously ill except Dad.  He was doing his best to care for the stricken family, including Mother.  During this time Grandmother walked across town each day with cooked food planned and prepared to help us toward recovery.  Even more important was the counsel and encouragement she brought to Dad to help him in the difficult role he was trying to assume.  She would meet him at the gate to deliver the food, to learn first hand how we were getting along, and to give whatever help she could.  On each of these visits with Dad she would say, “I think I had better come in today and help,” but Dad would not hear of it.  He was afraid that she, too, would become afflicted.  I do not know how many other families she helped at this time, but many were ill.  It was characteristic of her to put the dangers to her own health in the background.  Her children needed help.  That was all that mattered to her.”

Grandmother’s desire to help others did not stop with her own kin.  For fifty years she served as a Relief Society teacher.  She was a counselor in the Relief Society for many years.  In assuming these responsibilities, she extended her labors of love to many beyond her children and their families.  Children all over town came into the world under her care.  This was no small service because if meant assuming control in the home for a period of ten days until the mother would be permitted to assume her duties.  And this service was almost entirely free.  Most people had no money to pay for the help they received.  When her children at home questioned her being away from home so much in this service, Grandmother’s only reply was, “Well, some one has to do it.”


Often she would be called out in the evening or would have to return home during the night hours.  Then, so she would not be alone in passing homes where dogs were kept, one of her boys was detailed to accompany her home.  It was Christ who said, “Let him who would be great among you be your servant.”  While this injunction was preached regularly from the pulpit, Grandmother lived the doctrine.


In the year 1910, Eliza and her husband completed the sealing of their four eldest children to the family unit for time and eternity.  The sealing took place in the Manti Temple.  All of the younger children were born in the covenant since their parent’s were sealed together in 1875.


            The Mangelson home, like Eliza’s childhood home, was a gathering place for relatives and friends on holiday occasions.  This was especially true at Christmas.  A modified version of old country observance of Christmas Eve was continued in Charles and Eliza’s home.  Their children grew up in this tradition with all it implied.  Gift giving that involved all members of the family, even in the most difficult time, was part of this heritage.  The Christmas Eve festivity continued in the Mangelson home even after the children had moved into homes of their own.


As a child I remember our family traveling to Grandmas in our large bob-sleigh.  In contrast to the bitter cold outside, the house always seemed warm and cozy as I remember.  When we arrived, Grandma’s living room would already be filled with relatives.  Warm Christmas greetings followed the entry of each family, with Grandma going among the guests in her charming way to make everyone welcome.  Great amounts of food, including loaves upon loaves of homemade bread and sweet rolls was always prepared for this occasion.  A delicious banquet was served to the large group that came each time.  After the Christmas meal was cleared away, Grandma would usher us into her parlor where a beautiful Christmas tree was loaded with gifts for all.  The families then enjoyed an evening together until it was time for them to return to their own homes for Christmas observance there.


Finally the time came when the family completely outgrew Grandmother’s home, and the big Christmas festivity had to be discontinued.  But the tradition had been established and the event was simply carried on in each of the children’s homes after the occasions had been adapted to needs of new family units.


Observance of anniversaries found an important place in Grandmother’s life.  She was nearly always present at birthdays of her children and their companions.  A record was kept of the birth dates of her grandchild, and she showed up at their homes on these days whenever she could.  When Grandma came, then each grandchild felt his day had been given its proper attention.


Her own birthday and that of her husband were occasions of considerable importance to Grandmother.  As soon as Christmas was over, she began giving thought to these coming events.  And her birthdays were something to remember.  Not only was the house filled with children and grandchildren; but many neighbors and friends came.  In her later years when each birthday was over, she liked to spend time recalling individually all of those who had come to honor her.
                                                                  Eliza's 95th Birthday

On her last birthday, her ninety-fifth, she met her guests, shook their hands and chatted with each one as they came in.  Then during the party she went among those present to make sure no one felt neglected.  To one she would show an album, to another she would ask a question concerning the health of a loved one.  She was genuinely happy in the love she felt for all present and at the same time secure in the knowledge that all loved and revered her too.


Grandmother had a real appreciation for beautiful things.  As her wedding dress was the pride of her younger days, so a brown dress she had made for herself was the pride of her later years.  This dress was the necklace she wore with it was well designed for her and became a favorite for dress up occasions.


She had always been a lover of flowers.  Geraniums were blooming the year round in the windows of her home and two large ferns added a homey touch to her front room.  Outside, flowers were planted to the north and west of the house.  Grandfather cared for this garden and kept the flowers blooming during most of the summer.


Grandmother enjoyed her trips to Salt Lake City for the purpose of visiting her daughter Dora and her son Martin.  Her youngest son, Vance, lived in Idaho, but that was too far away for her to visit.  She could, however, get to Salt Lake City even in her later years, and she availed herself of this opportunity as often as was possible.  Usually she came back from such trips with material for dresses to be given to her daughters.  It was characteristic of her to comment when she returned home, “It was good to get back, even though I have had a very good time.  I guess I enjoy my own home more than any other place.”


Over the years many gifts had been given to Eliza and Charles.  These gifts were prized possessions and Grandmother always enjoyed showing them to relatives and friends who visited her.  One of the oldest of such gifts was a set of silverware with the letter “M” engraved on each piece.  This gift was given them by the company when they left the stage coach station.


Grandmother enjoyed remarkably good health until she was ninety years of age.  After that there was a gradual breakdown in her body strength and endurance, but she remained active until just a few months before her death.


The only major accident of her long, active life came when she was 85 years of age.  She had opened the door that led to the cellar intending to go down for some materials.  However, something happened to keep her from doing as she had intended.  The door to the cellar was located on the floor of her small kitchen.  A few moments later, having completely forgotten the open door, she walked right into the opening.


Her leg was broken at the knee.   Dr. Beckstead instructed Aunt Edna, who was caring for her, to make Grandmother as comfortable as possible.  At the age of 85, he felt sure she would never walk again.  As the days passed Grandmother grew very tired of the chair to which she was confined, but she wouldn’t hear of getting a wheel chair.  That, she felt, would be an unnecessary expense.  Howe3ver, he son, Lorenzo, did rent a wheel chair for her.  She wasn’t too happy about this at first, but she soon learned it helped her to become much more comfortable.  Besides it made it possible for her to move about and thus pass time without so much difficulty.  Each day when weather permitted, she would get Aunt Edna to wheel her to the long porch at the south side of her living room where she could rest outside and enjoy the open air.

When Dr. Beckstead concluded that Grandmother would never walk again, he failed to take into consideration her particular brand of determination.  One day she said to her granddaughter, Audrey Hansen, “If you will hold to the back of my chair, I think I could stand up.”  The foot rests were moved to the side, and Grandmother did get to her feet.  Then after a moment she took a trembling step or two.  By her direction, the wheel chair was then moved out of the way, and with the help of her granddaughter, she held to the table and slowly worked her way around it.  In the days that followed, she repeated this painful action many times until she could get control of her legs. 


When the doctor came to see her later on, she greeted him from the wheel chair and then remarked, “Dr. Beckstead, I’ve got something to show you.”  She then repeated her routine of walking around the table for him.  He could hardly believe his eyes.  This event took place 11 years before her death.  Sometime after she had been walking again, she slipped on the same cellar steps and slid clear to the bottom.  This time she was not injured seriously.


When the time came that Grandmother could not care for herself, her youngest daughter, Edna and her family moved into the home to care for her.  Thus the desire of Grandmother’s heart was realized, and she was able to remain in the home that meant so much to her until the end.  Aunt Edna cared for her with a love and kindness that must have brought a deep sense of happiness and contentment to Grandmother after having devoted a life time to helping others.


In the fall of 1942, Grandmother began to lie down every day for several hours, something she had never done before.  During this time all of her children came in regularly to visit with her and to help in whatever way they could.  She still insisted upon walking about the home, inside and out.  She would also walk to the neighbors and ever to her daughter, Millie’s, who live a few blocks away.


On December 20, 1941, she became confined to her bed, and from that time on she was never left alone at night. Her daughters, daughters-in-law, and older granddaughters took turns staying with her at night.  Of course, the greatest respo9nsibility fell to Aunt Edna who was with her practically all of the time.  Grandmother knew that her time was ebbing out.  She spoke calmly of things she wanted done after she was gone, of personal belongings she wanted individual children to have.  Her bed was in her parlor, a room she particularly loved.  In one of her conversations with Aunt Edna, she reported to have said, “You will want to keep this as your front room.”  The thought that this room would be used by her daughter as she had used it, gave her an apparent sense of satisfaction.


During the last few days of her life the children living in Levan were with her practically all of the time.  Those from out of town all came to spend as much time with her as they could.  Grandmother passed away peacefully as she had lived, February 28, 1942.


All of her living children were at the funeral.  The chapel was a mass of beautiful flowers and packed to capacity with grandchildren, relatives and friends.  Services honoring her life of devotion to others were carried out as follows:


Invocation                               H. R. Francom

            Musical Selections                  Levan Ward Relief Society Chorus

            Tribute                                     G. Grant Gardner

            Speaker                                   Christian Christensen

            Instrumental Duet                   Elbert Gardner & Maynard Wankier

            Speaker                                   James Anderson

            Speaker                                   President Will L. Hoyt

            Closing Remarks                     Bishop Erastus Peterson

            Vocal Duet                              Willard Shepherd & Barbara Winter

                                                              Accompanied by Olive Taylor

            Benediction                             Niels Lundsteen

            Graveside Prayer                     LeGrande Mangelson



And so death came to Eliza Nielsen Mangelson as a period of rest after a busy, useful day.


The following history was written by George Grant Gardner, grandson in 1974.  Sources of information:  Histories prepared by Mary Eliza Mangelson Gardner and Audrey Hansen Dalby.  Taped and Written Tributes by:  Lorenzo Mangelson, Edna M. Hansen, Reuben Mangelson, Norma G. Bailey, Esther G. Connelly and Byron F. Christiansen.

Also, most of the photos were furnished by Heidi Shuler.  Thank you Heidi.