HISTORY OF
SOPHIA PETRONELLA JORGENSEN (JOHNSON) ANDREASEN (ANDERSEN)
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen was 05 August 1862 at Stege, Praesto, Copenhagen, Denmark, the third child and first daughter of Hans Jorgensen and Marie Dorthea Brink Jorgensen. Her mother was the first member of her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was baptized 17 August 1861. She worked hard to convert her husband and he was baptized 20 November 1861. After they joined the LDS Church, Hans lost his job, their friends and relatives turned against them. They worked for seven years, Hans doing whatever work he could find, and Marie taking in washings to save enough money to go to Zion.
The Jorgensen Family consisted of Sophias' parents Hans (40) and Marie (34 going on 35), brother Lars (9), Sophia (5) and baby sister Josephine Marie (4 months old), leaving behind three young brothers that had died and were buried in Copenhagen, on 13 June 1868 joined a group of 630 emigrating Scandinavian Saints on the steamer "Hansia" for Hull, England. They arrived in Hull on 16 June 1868 and traveled from there to Liverpool, England by train. The group stayed in Liverpool for three days in various locations and were for the most part, treated most unkindly by the hotel keepers. On 19 June 1868 they were able to board the sailing ship "Emerald Isle" and were again insulted in every way imaginable by the crew.
It was the intention of the Elders over the Scandinavian Mission that beginning this year (1868) that emigrating Saints would cross the Atlantic on steamers, but the high price demanded for steamship passage made the fare prohibitive for the Scandinavian Saints and the voyage had to be made on sailing vessels.
The "Emerald Isle" sailed from Liverpool on 20 June 1868. On 26 June 1868 the vessel sailed into Queenstown harbor to take fresh water on board since the machine that was used to distill seawater for culinary purposes was broken down and could not be repaired quickly. The ship left Queenstown, Ireland on 29 June 1868 to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the long trip the water taken on at Queenstown became very stagnant and was the cause of much illness among the Saints. There were 37 deaths occurred during the crossing. Many of these were caused by measles among the children but the stagnant water undoubtedly was the real cause of the heavy death rate. The mother of one little girl, that had died, gave Sophia her daughters' doll. While the gift came from a broken hearted mother, nevertheless it provided Sophia with a cherished toy to fill the hours during the long ocean voyage.
In a quote from the "History of the Scandinavian Mission" it states: "No other company of emigrating Saints from Scandinavia are known to have met with such bad treatment as this one on board any ship in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately, it was the last company of Scandinavian Saints, which crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel. From that time on steamers were employed in the transportation of the Saints."
The "Emerald Isle" arrived at the entrance to New York harbor on 11 August 1868. They were taken off the sailing vessel and put on a steamer that took them up the Hudson River to Castle Garden where they found shelter in a warehouse. They were held in quarantine for three days awaiting the arrival of their personal possessions.
The Jorgensen family was once again on dry land and had survived the difficult crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. But they were tired and hungry; the children cried for food, they were virtually penniless. Sophia's mother was trying to quiet the children when she found a paper bill. Not knowing what it was she was about to discard it when a young *girl traveling under the Jorgensen's care said, "That looks like what everybody else is using to buy bread." Sister Jorgensen could not believe this piece of paper was worth anything, nevertheless she sent the young girl to find a bakery. Soon she returned with her apron overflowing with buns and even had some change.
*(The identity of this young girl is not known but hopefully with more research her identity will be revealed. It is believed that she went to Sanpete County).
The Jorgensen family's journey was not over yet the hardest part still ahead. On 17 August 1868 the group left New York by Union Pacific Railroad and the emigrants went to Niagara Falls, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois and on to Council Bluffs, Iowa arriving here 21 August 1868. On 22 August 1868 the Saints were taken by steamboat across the Missouri River. Here the Church oxen teams, wagons and supplies met the emigrants and took them to their camp on the Platte River about six miles from Benton, Wyoming where they remained until 31 August 1868 when the Scandinavian Saints took up the journey across the mountains by ox train to Zion. Captain John G. Holman was the wagon master over this Scandinavian group of Saints that the Jorgensen family traveled with the 28th company. The crossing was made with oxen but the family walked the majority of the distance to lighten the load.
En route the emigrant group faced many hardships and dangers common to the pioneers. The journey across the vast, unsettled plains and mountains was long and tedious. To ensure safety against unfriendly Indians and natural dangers, leaders instructed those walking to stay close to the wagons.
Many of the company continued to be sick, raging among the Scandinavian emigrants, about thirty died between New York and Salt Lake City. Sophias' brother Lars was among the sick. The constant jolting of the wagon so nauseated him that his father had to carry him most of the way. It seemed unlikely, for some time, which he would live to reach Utah. Six month-old Josephine Marie was cross and tired all the time. Part of the time she had to be carried but mostly she rode in the wagon on the lap of the little girl traveling with the Jorgensens. Six-year-old Sophia walked most of the way tugging at her mother's skirt as they trudged over the dry, dusty miles. But the blessings of the Lord were with them and Sophia's mother's hopes and prayers were answered that she would have to have any of her family buried in a shallow grave before reaching Zion.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 25 September 1868. This was the last oxen company to arrive in the valley thus ending the emigration of Latter Day Saints from Europe by sailing vessels and oxen teams.
Hans had planned to take his family to Sanpete where he had a relative. But upon his arrival in Salt Lake City he met a Bishop Nelson who persuaded him to come with him to sparsely populated Bear River City. At this time this little City was populated primarily by Danish emigrant Saints.
Life here was not easy and it was early fall when they arrived. Their first winter home, in their new homeland, was a dugout along the banks of the Bear River. The following summer Hans built a two-room adobe house in Bear River City. This seemed wonderful to the family after spending a gloomy winter in a dugout.
Baby sister Josephine Marie never regained her strength from the long tedious journey to Utah. She was two years old when her condition worsened and in the dark of the night on 26 February 1870 Sophias' mother felt her little girl grow still, cold and her breathing ceased. She knew her baby was gone. There was no light in the home and Father Hans crossed the street to the Ipsens where he borrowed a light so his wife could wash and lay out the baby.
On 27 April 1870 a baby brother was born and named Hans Christian Jorgensen. He was eight days old when he passed away. In two short months the Jorgensen family buried two babies. Three more sisters were born to this union and lived to maturity. They were Caroline (Carrie) Matilda, Anina (Nina) and Mary Elvina (Maude or Aunt Mam).
Work was scarce in those early years. Father Hans worked for the Union Pacific Railroad to complete the transcontinental rail system at Promontory, Utah on 10 May 1869 the railroad was completed. Water was needed in Bear River City to help the crops and orchards survive. Hans helped dig a canal that brought water to the towns thirsty crops. This canal brought joy to the people of Bear River City. There joy was short lived as the Indians claimed the water in the canal was theirs. The government recognized their claim and returned the water to the Indians. Once again Bear River City was dry and the crops turned brown and the crops died. The settlers were ready to leave their land and search for new homes when President Brigham Young came to the little community and promised them that if they would stay they would once again see the water from the Bear River flow into their canals. The Jorgensen family stayed and President Young's promise came true. The irrigation water produced green fields, orchards, bounteous crops and plenty of shade trees to make Bear River City a lovely place to live.
Sophia grew up a happy child. She did her share of the work to help the family. Sophia had little formal education and never learned to read or write the English language. As she grew into her teens, she enjoyed the social life of the community: parties, dances, picnics and church activities. She also was a milkmaid milking cows at Hansen Dairy around Early Park. Which was one of the largest dairies in the west milking over 600 milk cows a day. As she enjoyed the sociability of those around her, she met a handsome young man and fell in love with Andrew Carl Andreasen. They were married 2 December 1880 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She was eighteen and he was twenty-one years of age.
Andrew was considered to be a fairly educated man for that day and age. He could read and write. He played the violin and was a drummer in the Bear River City Brass Band. He was a good singer and actor and took part in the community entertainments. He was an excellent athlete, sportsman and was a good shot with a gun.
For the first few years of their marriage they made their home in Bear River City. Andrew was a butcher and ran a butcher shop there. But the spirit of pioneering was strong in the hearts of Sophia and Andrew. In 1888 they started homesteading land in Roeville, three miles west of Tremonton. For three years they spent their summers here clearing the land of sagebrush and rocks to make it usable as farmland.
The spirit of pioneering was strong in there hearts. In 1891, after they had been married ten years, they made their home in Rowville in the Point Look Out area near Lone Rock. Point Look Out got it's name because it was here that the Scouts for the wagon trains going to California would come to "Look Out" over the Bear River Valley for any signs of Indians in the area. The Indians had also used Point Look Out to detect company. Here Andrew built a home for his family.
Here again Sophia knew the hardships of loneliness. She was the first white woman to settle in Roeville. Sophia, once again, experienced life without water for irrigating the crops, gardening or performing household chores. With the help of here children, she carried her washing down to Salt Creek, which was at the base of Point Look Out, about half of a mile from their home. Here they gathered sage to use for fuel, boiled the clothes to remove the germs and scrubbed the clothes on a boards before being hung to dry on the nearby sagebrush.
In the spring of 1888 there was great anticipation that a canal would be developed to bring water through Bear River Canyon to the farms of the Bear River Valley. This water was needed to irrigate crops and provide water for other uses. John R. Bothwell was the overseer of building the canal. Water was delivered to the farmers in 1892 in Rowville. The community formerly known as Rowville was changed to Bothwell in honor of the canal builder.
Shortly after the completion of the canal the Andrew Anderson family erected a log cabin on the south side of the canal, about one-half mile west from their first home. This became their permanent home. About 1903, part of the house burned. The children were scattered among the homes of neighbors and relatives until the men of the community could donate time from their chores to help add two more rooms to the damaged home. By this time two of Andrew's brothers had moved to Bothwell to homestead. They were Nels and Rasmus Anderson. After the damage was corrected the family was back together under one roof.
Even after the move closer to water, life was still not easy there were no comforts. Water had to be carried from the canal for household chores. Bare floors meant hard scrubbing; ironing required continually heating of the heavy irons on the woodstove; clothing was tediously stitched by hand, growing a garden and preparing for winter. She baked bread and cinnamon rolls, made her own butter and would trade extra eggs and butter for goods at the Foxley store. She had wild currents, cherry and peach trees. All illness was met with home remedies and faith. Sophia's fourteen children were born without a doctor, often without even the aid of a midwife.
In spite of heavy demands, Sophia made time to serve the church. She was called in 1899 to serve as the first President of the Bothwell Ward Relief Society, a position she held for about ten years. She loved the scriptures and having the Relief Society Magazine read to her. Her children would read her the scriptures and through them she learned to love Christ's teachings. She lived about two miles from the Meeting House and usually walked to the church carrying a small child in her arms and rest of her children walking by her side. In appreciation for her years of faithful service, the Relief Society following her release presented a rocking chair to her.
Sophia was true pioneer, but she was often afraid. Severe thunderstorms always frightened her, until she learned by self-will to conquer her fear. Sometimes when left alone with her little ones, the darkness of the night terrified her. Many times as the lonely night came on she would gather her small children and walk to a neighbors to await Andrew's return from work or a trip to Bear River City for supplies. But as the children became older they provided company for her and she gradually lost much of her fear.
For several years Andrew was the constable for the community. It was often his duty to apprehend some law-breaker and take him to Brigham City, the county seat. These were worried hours for Sophia. On one occasion, it was late when Andrew returned to Bothwell with his prisoner. There was of course, no jail so Andrew kept him at their home all night. Sophia couldn't sleep. A criminal was in her house and she feared that something might go wrong and harm come to some or all of them. A prayer of thankfulness came from her heart as the men left for Brigham City with their prisoner, the next morning.
As more people came to the community, social life increased and there were often friendly and happy events with neighbors and friends. Quilting bees were always happy affairs, dances and church socials were looked forward to with anticipation.
There were also many amusing incidents in their own family life that brought laughter and glad memories to all of them. One Sophia liked to tell quite often:
She and Andrew had gone to Bear River City for supplies and to visit relatives. They took a couple of the youngest children with them and left the other five at home with Frances, the oldest child, in charge. During the day a bee stung one of the children, Sophia couldn't remember which particular child. Naturally, the child cried loud and long. Frances decided that called for action. She put the four children on the old gray mare, climbed up herself and started for Bear River City.
Miles from home; they met their parents returning to Bothwell. How surprised they were to see the old horse plodding along the dusty road with five bedraggled children aboard. How glad the children were to see their parents and to ride back with them in the wagon.
They were a happy, friendly, hospitable family. Many travelers and strangers as well as friends and relatives stopped by their home. They were always made welcome with a place to sleep and food. The best they had was shared by all and no one left their home hungry.
Just before Christmas in 1908, Andrew had an attack of appendicitis. No doctors were available and after several days of suffering it was thought the appendix had ruptured and he developed peritonitis. He passed away 19 December 1908 at the early age of forty-nine leaving Sophia with nine children still at home. The four oldest were married.
Sophia was forty-six when Andrew died and she felt her husband's death keenly and at times the responsibility seemed more than she could bear. The youngest child, Nina was but five years old. She faced trying to earn a living for her little family. For several years, after Andrew's death, she and the children worked as janitors at the Ward Meeting House.
The summer after Andrew died, her daughter Ella Cleophia Stokes who was expecting became very ill. Ella and her family lived in Canada. Sophia left her children and went to the bedside of her child with the intention to bring Ella back with her as soon as she was well enough to travel.
When she was stronger, Sophia, Ella, and daughter, Ruby made the trip to Bothwell. Ella's baby, Lydia was born but Ella didn't regain her health. In July, only seven months following her husband's death, Sophia faced a second tragedy. In spite of a mother's tender care, Ella died. She left an infant daughter, but shortly after Ella's death, the baby, Lydia died too. Sophia's strong faith sustained her during this second sorrow.
She faced her burdens with resourcefulness, hard work and economy. There was no other course open to her. She had to meet each with the knowledge that she had much to do and that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father. She fought fear alone, as she stood by the bedside of a sick little one and watched some illness fight to take that child's life. God bless her and she won. She reared her children to sturdy adulthood and they loved her for it. She also taught her grandchildren to swim in the canal by letting them hold on to her skirts and yet she never learned to swim.
She was a woman rich in life's experiences. She had never known luxury; she had never known want; and usually she had sufficient for her immediate needs. She had seen the drab, lonely country yield green fields and rich harvests. She had seen the barren wilderness give way to town and city. But best of all, she had seen her own life grow into a complete fulfillment of her mission here upon the earth. In the glorious sunset of her own life, she saw her own line of posterity marching ever onward.
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen Andreasen was a pioneer--a woman who walked across the plains, settled a new territory and raised thirteen children. Her lifetime spanned part of two centuries - from a Danish childhood wherein she experienced the persecution that accompanied the families' conversion to the LDS Church. She experienced the coming of electricity with its many wonders, including the radio. She loved to listen to the radio through which she could hear what was going on in the world and the soap operas of the day. The telephone arrived and she could converse with others without having to go to their homes. The automobile was invented so she no longer had to walk to get where she wanted to go. The development of so many things that made life easier. She lived to send sons and grandsons go war to defend the very freedoms she came to this land to embrace. Sophia met each day with the knowledge that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father and that faith would sustain her. She was known for her kind nature, innocence, faithfulness and never complained. Her legs were very large which didn't prevent her from doing anything she needed to accomplish. She was a great example of humanity. She and Andrew had a happy, loving marriage. Sophia's life spanned over eight decades. She died 3 October 1944 and is buried in the Bothwell Valley View Cemetery.
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH
Mary Frances Andersen 16 August 1881
Andrew Moroni Andersen 27 September 1882
Eli Carl Andersen 6 June 1884
Ella Cleopha Andersen 29 October 1884
Alice Sophia Andersen (died in infancy) 11 April 1887
Lawerence LeRoy Andersen 27 July 1888
Hans Leo Andersen 27 February 1890
John Earl Andersen 4 December 1891
Fred Homer Andersen 27 January 1893
Edwin Ursel Andersen 25 October 1894
Hazel Caroline Andersen 6 April 1896
Richard David Andersen 25 May 1897
Annie Laura Andersen 17 October 1899
Nina Dorthea Andersen 10 June 1903
DANISH PANCAKES (recipe taken from her daughter Mary Francis Stokes)
6 eggs well beaten dash nutmeg
3 cups milk ½ tsp salt
1 TBS sugar
• Add enough flour to make think batter.
• Cook on hot greased skillet.
• Spread thin.
• Turn when golden brown
SOPHIA PETRONELLA JORGENSEN (JOHNSON) ANDREASEN (ANDERSEN)
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen was 05 August 1862 at Stege, Praesto, Copenhagen, Denmark, the third child and first daughter of Hans Jorgensen and Marie Dorthea Brink Jorgensen. Her mother was the first member of her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was baptized 17 August 1861. She worked hard to convert her husband and he was baptized 20 November 1861. After they joined the LDS Church, Hans lost his job, their friends and relatives turned against them. They worked for seven years, Hans doing whatever work he could find, and Marie taking in washings to save enough money to go to Zion.
The Jorgensen Family consisted of Sophias' parents Hans (40) and Marie (34 going on 35), brother Lars (9), Sophia (5) and baby sister Josephine Marie (4 months old), leaving behind three young brothers that had died and were buried in Copenhagen, on 13 June 1868 joined a group of 630 emigrating Scandinavian Saints on the steamer "Hansia" for Hull, England. They arrived in Hull on 16 June 1868 and traveled from there to Liverpool, England by train. The group stayed in Liverpool for three days in various locations and were for the most part, treated most unkindly by the hotel keepers. On 19 June 1868 they were able to board the sailing ship "Emerald Isle" and were again insulted in every way imaginable by the crew.
It was the intention of the Elders over the Scandinavian Mission that beginning this year (1868) that emigrating Saints would cross the Atlantic on steamers, but the high price demanded for steamship passage made the fare prohibitive for the Scandinavian Saints and the voyage had to be made on sailing vessels.
The "Emerald Isle" sailed from Liverpool on 20 June 1868. On 26 June 1868 the vessel sailed into Queenstown harbor to take fresh water on board since the machine that was used to distill seawater for culinary purposes was broken down and could not be repaired quickly. The ship left Queenstown, Ireland on 29 June 1868 to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the long trip the water taken on at Queenstown became very stagnant and was the cause of much illness among the Saints. There were 37 deaths occurred during the crossing. Many of these were caused by measles among the children but the stagnant water undoubtedly was the real cause of the heavy death rate. The mother of one little girl, that had died, gave Sophia her daughters' doll. While the gift came from a broken hearted mother, nevertheless it provided Sophia with a cherished toy to fill the hours during the long ocean voyage.
In a quote from the "History of the Scandinavian Mission" it states: "No other company of emigrating Saints from Scandinavia are known to have met with such bad treatment as this one on board any ship in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately, it was the last company of Scandinavian Saints, which crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel. From that time on steamers were employed in the transportation of the Saints."
The "Emerald Isle" arrived at the entrance to New York harbor on 11 August 1868. They were taken off the sailing vessel and put on a steamer that took them up the Hudson River to Castle Garden where they found shelter in a warehouse. They were held in quarantine for three days awaiting the arrival of their personal possessions.
The Jorgensen family was once again on dry land and had survived the difficult crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. But they were tired and hungry; the children cried for food, they were virtually penniless. Sophia's mother was trying to quiet the children when she found a paper bill. Not knowing what it was she was about to discard it when a young *girl traveling under the Jorgensen's care said, "That looks like what everybody else is using to buy bread." Sister Jorgensen could not believe this piece of paper was worth anything, nevertheless she sent the young girl to find a bakery. Soon she returned with her apron overflowing with buns and even had some change.
*(The identity of this young girl is not known but hopefully with more research her identity will be revealed. It is believed that she went to Sanpete County).
The Jorgensen family's journey was not over yet the hardest part still ahead. On 17 August 1868 the group left New York by Union Pacific Railroad and the emigrants went to Niagara Falls, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois and on to Council Bluffs, Iowa arriving here 21 August 1868. On 22 August 1868 the Saints were taken by steamboat across the Missouri River. Here the Church oxen teams, wagons and supplies met the emigrants and took them to their camp on the Platte River about six miles from Benton, Wyoming where they remained until 31 August 1868 when the Scandinavian Saints took up the journey across the mountains by ox train to Zion. Captain John G. Holman was the wagon master over this Scandinavian group of Saints that the Jorgensen family traveled with the 28th company. The crossing was made with oxen but the family walked the majority of the distance to lighten the load.
En route the emigrant group faced many hardships and dangers common to the pioneers. The journey across the vast, unsettled plains and mountains was long and tedious. To ensure safety against unfriendly Indians and natural dangers, leaders instructed those walking to stay close to the wagons.
Many of the company continued to be sick, raging among the Scandinavian emigrants, about thirty died between New York and Salt Lake City. Sophias' brother Lars was among the sick. The constant jolting of the wagon so nauseated him that his father had to carry him most of the way. It seemed unlikely, for some time, which he would live to reach Utah. Six month-old Josephine Marie was cross and tired all the time. Part of the time she had to be carried but mostly she rode in the wagon on the lap of the little girl traveling with the Jorgensens. Six-year-old Sophia walked most of the way tugging at her mother's skirt as they trudged over the dry, dusty miles. But the blessings of the Lord were with them and Sophia's mother's hopes and prayers were answered that she would have to have any of her family buried in a shallow grave before reaching Zion.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 25 September 1868. This was the last oxen company to arrive in the valley thus ending the emigration of Latter Day Saints from Europe by sailing vessels and oxen teams.
Hans had planned to take his family to Sanpete where he had a relative. But upon his arrival in Salt Lake City he met a Bishop Nelson who persuaded him to come with him to sparsely populated Bear River City. At this time this little City was populated primarily by Danish emigrant Saints.
Life here was not easy and it was early fall when they arrived. Their first winter home, in their new homeland, was a dugout along the banks of the Bear River. The following summer Hans built a two-room adobe house in Bear River City. This seemed wonderful to the family after spending a gloomy winter in a dugout.
Baby sister Josephine Marie never regained her strength from the long tedious journey to Utah. She was two years old when her condition worsened and in the dark of the night on 26 February 1870 Sophias' mother felt her little girl grow still, cold and her breathing ceased. She knew her baby was gone. There was no light in the home and Father Hans crossed the street to the Ipsens where he borrowed a light so his wife could wash and lay out the baby.
On 27 April 1870 a baby brother was born and named Hans Christian Jorgensen. He was eight days old when he passed away. In two short months the Jorgensen family buried two babies. Three more sisters were born to this union and lived to maturity. They were Caroline (Carrie) Matilda, Anina (Nina) and Mary Elvina (Maude or Aunt Mam).
Work was scarce in those early years. Father Hans worked for the Union Pacific Railroad to complete the transcontinental rail system at Promontory, Utah on 10 May 1869 the railroad was completed. Water was needed in Bear River City to help the crops and orchards survive. Hans helped dig a canal that brought water to the towns thirsty crops. This canal brought joy to the people of Bear River City. There joy was short lived as the Indians claimed the water in the canal was theirs. The government recognized their claim and returned the water to the Indians. Once again Bear River City was dry and the crops turned brown and the crops died. The settlers were ready to leave their land and search for new homes when President Brigham Young came to the little community and promised them that if they would stay they would once again see the water from the Bear River flow into their canals. The Jorgensen family stayed and President Young's promise came true. The irrigation water produced green fields, orchards, bounteous crops and plenty of shade trees to make Bear River City a lovely place to live.
Sophia grew up a happy child. She did her share of the work to help the family. Sophia had little formal education and never learned to read or write the English language. As she grew into her teens, she enjoyed the social life of the community: parties, dances, picnics and church activities. She also was a milkmaid milking cows at Hansen Dairy around Early Park. Which was one of the largest dairies in the west milking over 600 milk cows a day. As she enjoyed the sociability of those around her, she met a handsome young man and fell in love with Andrew Carl Andreasen. They were married 2 December 1880 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She was eighteen and he was twenty-one years of age.
Andrew was considered to be a fairly educated man for that day and age. He could read and write. He played the violin and was a drummer in the Bear River City Brass Band. He was a good singer and actor and took part in the community entertainments. He was an excellent athlete, sportsman and was a good shot with a gun.
For the first few years of their marriage they made their home in Bear River City. Andrew was a butcher and ran a butcher shop there. But the spirit of pioneering was strong in the hearts of Sophia and Andrew. In 1888 they started homesteading land in Roeville, three miles west of Tremonton. For three years they spent their summers here clearing the land of sagebrush and rocks to make it usable as farmland.
The spirit of pioneering was strong in there hearts. In 1891, after they had been married ten years, they made their home in Rowville in the Point Look Out area near Lone Rock. Point Look Out got it's name because it was here that the Scouts for the wagon trains going to California would come to "Look Out" over the Bear River Valley for any signs of Indians in the area. The Indians had also used Point Look Out to detect company. Here Andrew built a home for his family.
Here again Sophia knew the hardships of loneliness. She was the first white woman to settle in Roeville. Sophia, once again, experienced life without water for irrigating the crops, gardening or performing household chores. With the help of here children, she carried her washing down to Salt Creek, which was at the base of Point Look Out, about half of a mile from their home. Here they gathered sage to use for fuel, boiled the clothes to remove the germs and scrubbed the clothes on a boards before being hung to dry on the nearby sagebrush.
In the spring of 1888 there was great anticipation that a canal would be developed to bring water through Bear River Canyon to the farms of the Bear River Valley. This water was needed to irrigate crops and provide water for other uses. John R. Bothwell was the overseer of building the canal. Water was delivered to the farmers in 1892 in Rowville. The community formerly known as Rowville was changed to Bothwell in honor of the canal builder.
Shortly after the completion of the canal the Andrew Anderson family erected a log cabin on the south side of the canal, about one-half mile west from their first home. This became their permanent home. About 1903, part of the house burned. The children were scattered among the homes of neighbors and relatives until the men of the community could donate time from their chores to help add two more rooms to the damaged home. By this time two of Andrew's brothers had moved to Bothwell to homestead. They were Nels and Rasmus Anderson. After the damage was corrected the family was back together under one roof.
Even after the move closer to water, life was still not easy there were no comforts. Water had to be carried from the canal for household chores. Bare floors meant hard scrubbing; ironing required continually heating of the heavy irons on the woodstove; clothing was tediously stitched by hand, growing a garden and preparing for winter. She baked bread and cinnamon rolls, made her own butter and would trade extra eggs and butter for goods at the Foxley store. She had wild currents, cherry and peach trees. All illness was met with home remedies and faith. Sophia's fourteen children were born without a doctor, often without even the aid of a midwife.
In spite of heavy demands, Sophia made time to serve the church. She was called in 1899 to serve as the first President of the Bothwell Ward Relief Society, a position she held for about ten years. She loved the scriptures and having the Relief Society Magazine read to her. Her children would read her the scriptures and through them she learned to love Christ's teachings. She lived about two miles from the Meeting House and usually walked to the church carrying a small child in her arms and rest of her children walking by her side. In appreciation for her years of faithful service, the Relief Society following her release presented a rocking chair to her.
Sophia was true pioneer, but she was often afraid. Severe thunderstorms always frightened her, until she learned by self-will to conquer her fear. Sometimes when left alone with her little ones, the darkness of the night terrified her. Many times as the lonely night came on she would gather her small children and walk to a neighbors to await Andrew's return from work or a trip to Bear River City for supplies. But as the children became older they provided company for her and she gradually lost much of her fear.
For several years Andrew was the constable for the community. It was often his duty to apprehend some law-breaker and take him to Brigham City, the county seat. These were worried hours for Sophia. On one occasion, it was late when Andrew returned to Bothwell with his prisoner. There was of course, no jail so Andrew kept him at their home all night. Sophia couldn't sleep. A criminal was in her house and she feared that something might go wrong and harm come to some or all of them. A prayer of thankfulness came from her heart as the men left for Brigham City with their prisoner, the next morning.
As more people came to the community, social life increased and there were often friendly and happy events with neighbors and friends. Quilting bees were always happy affairs, dances and church socials were looked forward to with anticipation.
There were also many amusing incidents in their own family life that brought laughter and glad memories to all of them. One Sophia liked to tell quite often:
She and Andrew had gone to Bear River City for supplies and to visit relatives. They took a couple of the youngest children with them and left the other five at home with Frances, the oldest child, in charge. During the day a bee stung one of the children, Sophia couldn't remember which particular child. Naturally, the child cried loud and long. Frances decided that called for action. She put the four children on the old gray mare, climbed up herself and started for Bear River City.
Miles from home; they met their parents returning to Bothwell. How surprised they were to see the old horse plodding along the dusty road with five bedraggled children aboard. How glad the children were to see their parents and to ride back with them in the wagon.
They were a happy, friendly, hospitable family. Many travelers and strangers as well as friends and relatives stopped by their home. They were always made welcome with a place to sleep and food. The best they had was shared by all and no one left their home hungry.
Just before Christmas in 1908, Andrew had an attack of appendicitis. No doctors were available and after several days of suffering it was thought the appendix had ruptured and he developed peritonitis. He passed away 19 December 1908 at the early age of forty-nine leaving Sophia with nine children still at home. The four oldest were married.
Sophia was forty-six when Andrew died and she felt her husband's death keenly and at times the responsibility seemed more than she could bear. The youngest child, Nina was but five years old. She faced trying to earn a living for her little family. For several years, after Andrew's death, she and the children worked as janitors at the Ward Meeting House.
The summer after Andrew died, her daughter Ella Cleophia Stokes who was expecting became very ill. Ella and her family lived in Canada. Sophia left her children and went to the bedside of her child with the intention to bring Ella back with her as soon as she was well enough to travel.
When she was stronger, Sophia, Ella, and daughter, Ruby made the trip to Bothwell. Ella's baby, Lydia was born but Ella didn't regain her health. In July, only seven months following her husband's death, Sophia faced a second tragedy. In spite of a mother's tender care, Ella died. She left an infant daughter, but shortly after Ella's death, the baby, Lydia died too. Sophia's strong faith sustained her during this second sorrow.
She faced her burdens with resourcefulness, hard work and economy. There was no other course open to her. She had to meet each with the knowledge that she had much to do and that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father. She fought fear alone, as she stood by the bedside of a sick little one and watched some illness fight to take that child's life. God bless her and she won. She reared her children to sturdy adulthood and they loved her for it. She also taught her grandchildren to swim in the canal by letting them hold on to her skirts and yet she never learned to swim.
She was a woman rich in life's experiences. She had never known luxury; she had never known want; and usually she had sufficient for her immediate needs. She had seen the drab, lonely country yield green fields and rich harvests. She had seen the barren wilderness give way to town and city. But best of all, she had seen her own life grow into a complete fulfillment of her mission here upon the earth. In the glorious sunset of her own life, she saw her own line of posterity marching ever onward.
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen Andreasen was a pioneer--a woman who walked across the plains, settled a new territory and raised thirteen children. Her lifetime spanned part of two centuries - from a Danish childhood wherein she experienced the persecution that accompanied the families' conversion to the LDS Church. She experienced the coming of electricity with its many wonders, including the radio. She loved to listen to the radio through which she could hear what was going on in the world and the soap operas of the day. The telephone arrived and she could converse with others without having to go to their homes. The automobile was invented so she no longer had to walk to get where she wanted to go. The development of so many things that made life easier. She lived to send sons and grandsons go war to defend the very freedoms she came to this land to embrace. Sophia met each day with the knowledge that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father and that faith would sustain her. She was known for her kind nature, innocence, faithfulness and never complained. Her legs were very large which didn't prevent her from doing anything she needed to accomplish. She was a great example of humanity. She and Andrew had a happy, loving marriage. Sophia's life spanned over eight decades. She died 3 October 1944 and is buried in the Bothwell Valley View Cemetery.
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH
Mary Frances Andersen 16 August 1881
Andrew Moroni Andersen 27 September 1882
Eli Carl Andersen 6 June 1884
Ella Cleopha Andersen 29 October 1884
Alice Sophia Andersen (died in infancy) 11 April 1887
Lawerence LeRoy Andersen 27 July 1888
Hans Leo Andersen 27 February 1890
John Earl Andersen 4 December 1891
Fred Homer Andersen 27 January 1893
Edwin Ursel Andersen 25 October 1894
Hazel Caroline Andersen 6 April 1896
Richard David Andersen 25 May 1897
Annie Laura Andersen 17 October 1899
Nina Dorthea Andersen 10 June 1903
DANISH PANCAKES (recipe taken from her daughter Mary Francis Stokes)
6 eggs well beaten dash nutmeg
3 cups milk ½ tsp salt
1 TBS sugar
• Add enough flour to make think batter.
• Cook on hot greased skillet.
• Spread thin.
• Turn when golden brown
HISTORY OF
SOPHIA PETRONELLA JORGENSEN (JOHNSON) ANDREASEN (ANDERSEN)
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen was 05 August 1862 at Stege, Praesto, Copenhagen, Denmark, the third child and first daughter of Hans Jorgensen and Marie Dorthea Brink Jorgensen. Her mother was the first member of her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was baptized 17 August 1861. She worked hard to convert her husband and he was baptized 20 November 1861. After they joined the LDS Church, Hans lost his job, their friends and relatives turned against them. They worked for seven years, Hans doing whatever work he could find, and Marie taking in washings to save enough money to go to Zion.
The Jorgensen Family consisted of Sophias' parents Hans (40) and Marie (34 going on 35), brother Lars (9), Sophia (5) and baby sister Josephine Marie (4 months old), leaving behind three young brothers that had died and were buried in Copenhagen, on 13 June 1868 joined a group of 630 emigrating Scandinavian Saints on the steamer "Hansia" for Hull, England. They arrived in Hull on 16 June 1868 and traveled from there to Liverpool, England by train. The group stayed in Liverpool for three days in various locations and were for the most part, treated most unkindly by the hotel keepers. On 19 June 1868 they were able to board the sailing ship "Emerald Isle" and were again insulted in every way imaginable by the crew.
It was the intention of the Elders over the Scandinavian Mission that beginning this year (1868) that emigrating Saints would cross the Atlantic on steamers, but the high price demanded for steamship passage made the fare prohibitive for the Scandinavian Saints and the voyage had to be made on sailing vessels.
The "Emerald Isle" sailed from Liverpool on 20 June 1868. On 26 June 1868 the vessel sailed into Queenstown harbor to take fresh water on board since the machine that was used to distill seawater for culinary purposes was broken down and could not be repaired quickly. The ship left Queenstown, Ireland on 29 June 1868 to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the long trip the water taken on at Queenstown became very stagnant and was the cause of much illness among the Saints. There were 37 deaths occurred during the crossing. Many of these were caused by measles among the children but the stagnant water undoubtedly was the real cause of the heavy death rate. The mother of one little girl, that had died, gave Sophia her daughters' doll. While the gift came from a broken hearted mother, nevertheless it provided Sophia with a cherished toy to fill the hours during the long ocean voyage.
In a quote from the "History of the Scandinavian Mission" it states: "No other company of emigrating Saints from Scandinavia are known to have met with such bad treatment as this one on board any ship in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately, it was the last company of Scandinavian Saints, which crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel. From that time on steamers were employed in the transportation of the Saints."
The "Emerald Isle" arrived at the entrance to New York harbor on 11 August 1868. They were taken off the sailing vessel and put on a steamer that took them up the Hudson River to Castle Garden where they found shelter in a warehouse. They were held in quarantine for three days awaiting the arrival of their personal possessions.
The Jorgensen family was once again on dry land and had survived the difficult crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. But they were tired and hungry; the children cried for food, they were virtually penniless. Sophia's mother was trying to quiet the children when she found a paper bill. Not knowing what it was she was about to discard it when a young *girl traveling under the Jorgensen's care said, "That looks like what everybody else is using to buy bread." Sister Jorgensen could not believe this piece of paper was worth anything, nevertheless she sent the young girl to find a bakery. Soon she returned with her apron overflowing with buns and even had some change.
*(The identity of this young girl is not known but hopefully with more research her identity will be revealed. It is believed that she went to Sanpete County).
The Jorgensen family's journey was not over yet the hardest part still ahead. On 17 August 1868 the group left New York by Union Pacific Railroad and the emigrants went to Niagara Falls, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois and on to Council Bluffs, Iowa arriving here 21 August 1868. On 22 August 1868 the Saints were taken by steamboat across the Missouri River. Here the Church oxen teams, wagons and supplies met the emigrants and took them to their camp on the Platte River about six miles from Benton, Wyoming where they remained until 31 August 1868 when the Scandinavian Saints took up the journey across the mountains by ox train to Zion. Captain John G. Holman was the wagon master over this Scandinavian group of Saints that the Jorgensen family traveled with the 28th company. The crossing was made with oxen but the family walked the majority of the distance to lighten the load.
En route the emigrant group faced many hardships and dangers common to the pioneers. The journey across the vast, unsettled plains and mountains was long and tedious. To ensure safety against unfriendly Indians and natural dangers, leaders instructed those walking to stay close to the wagons.
Many of the company continued to be sick, raging among the Scandinavian emigrants, about thirty died between New York and Salt Lake City. Sophias' brother Lars was among the sick. The constant jolting of the wagon so nauseated him that his father had to carry him most of the way. It seemed unlikely, for some time, which he would live to reach Utah. Six month-old Josephine Marie was cross and tired all the time. Part of the time she had to be carried but mostly she rode in the wagon on the lap of the little girl traveling with the Jorgensens. Six-year-old Sophia walked most of the way tugging at her mother's skirt as they trudged over the dry, dusty miles. But the blessings of the Lord were with them and Sophia's mother's hopes and prayers were answered that she would have to have any of her family buried in a shallow grave before reaching Zion.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 25 September 1868. This was the last oxen company to arrive in the valley thus ending the emigration of Latter Day Saints from Europe by sailing vessels and oxen teams.
Hans had planned to take his family to Sanpete where he had a relative. But upon his arrival in Salt Lake City he met a Bishop Nelson who persuaded him to come with him to sparsely populated Bear River City. At this time this little City was populated primarily by Danish emigrant Saints.
Life here was not easy and it was early fall when they arrived. Their first winter home, in their new homeland, was a dugout along the banks of the Bear River. The following summer Hans built a two-room adobe house in Bear River City. This seemed wonderful to the family after spending a gloomy winter in a dugout.
Baby sister Josephine Marie never regained her strength from the long tedious journey to Utah. She was two years old when her condition worsened and in the dark of the night on 26 February 1870 Sophias' mother felt her little girl grow still, cold and her breathing ceased. She knew her baby was gone. There was no light in the home and Father Hans crossed the street to the Ipsens where he borrowed a light so his wife could wash and lay out the baby.
On 27 April 1870 a baby brother was born and named Hans Christian Jorgensen. He was eight days old when he passed away. In two short months the Jorgensen family buried two babies. Three more sisters were born to this union and lived to maturity. They were Caroline (Carrie) Matilda, Anina (Nina) and Mary Elvina (Maude or Aunt Mam).
Work was scarce in those early years. Father Hans worked for the Union Pacific Railroad to complete the transcontinental rail system at Promontory, Utah on 10 May 1869 the railroad was completed. Water was needed in Bear River City to help the crops and orchards survive. Hans helped dig a canal that brought water to the towns thirsty crops. This canal brought joy to the people of Bear River City. There joy was short lived as the Indians claimed the water in the canal was theirs. The government recognized their claim and returned the water to the Indians. Once again Bear River City was dry and the crops turned brown and the crops died. The settlers were ready to leave their land and search for new homes when President Brigham Young came to the little community and promised them that if they would stay they would once again see the water from the Bear River flow into their canals. The Jorgensen family stayed and President Young's promise came true. The irrigation water produced green fields, orchards, bounteous crops and plenty of shade trees to make Bear River City a lovely place to live.
Sophia grew up a happy child. She did her share of the work to help the family. Sophia had little formal education and never learned to read or write the English language. As she grew into her teens, she enjoyed the social life of the community: parties, dances, picnics and church activities. She also was a milkmaid milking cows at Hansen Dairy around Early Park. Which was one of the largest dairies in the west milking over 600 milk cows a day. As she enjoyed the sociability of those around her, she met a handsome young man and fell in love with Andrew Carl Andreasen. They were married 2 December 1880 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She was eighteen and he was twenty-one years of age.
Andrew was considered to be a fairly educated man for that day and age. He could read and write. He played the violin and was a drummer in the Bear River City Brass Band. He was a good singer and actor and took part in the community entertainments. He was an excellent athlete, sportsman and was a good shot with a gun.
For the first few years of their marriage they made their home in Bear River City. Andrew was a butcher and ran a butcher shop there. But the spirit of pioneering was strong in the hearts of Sophia and Andrew. In 1888 they started homesteading land in Roeville, three miles west of Tremonton. For three years they spent their summers here clearing the land of sagebrush and rocks to make it usable as farmland.
The spirit of pioneering was strong in there hearts. In 1891, after they had been married ten years, they made their home in Rowville in the Point Look Out area near Lone Rock. Point Look Out got it's name because it was here that the Scouts for the wagon trains going to California would come to "Look Out" over the Bear River Valley for any signs of Indians in the area. The Indians had also used Point Look Out to detect company. Here Andrew built a home for his family.
Here again Sophia knew the hardships of loneliness. She was the first white woman to settle in Roeville. Sophia, once again, experienced life without water for irrigating the crops, gardening or performing household chores. With the help of here children, she carried her washing down to Salt Creek, which was at the base of Point Look Out, about half of a mile from their home. Here they gathered sage to use for fuel, boiled the clothes to remove the germs and scrubbed the clothes on a boards before being hung to dry on the nearby sagebrush.
In the spring of 1888 there was great anticipation that a canal would be developed to bring water through Bear River Canyon to the farms of the Bear River Valley. This water was needed to irrigate crops and provide water for other uses. John R. Bothwell was the overseer of building the canal. Water was delivered to the farmers in 1892 in Rowville. The community formerly known as Rowville was changed to Bothwell in honor of the canal builder.
Shortly after the completion of the canal the Andrew Anderson family erected a log cabin on the south side of the canal, about one-half mile west from their first home. This became their permanent home. About 1903, part of the house burned. The children were scattered among the homes of neighbors and relatives until the men of the community could donate time from their chores to help add two more rooms to the damaged home. By this time two of Andrew's brothers had moved to Bothwell to homestead. They were Nels and Rasmus Anderson. After the damage was corrected the family was back together under one roof.
Even after the move closer to water, life was still not easy there were no comforts. Water had to be carried from the canal for household chores. Bare floors meant hard scrubbing; ironing required continually heating of the heavy irons on the woodstove; clothing was tediously stitched by hand, growing a garden and preparing for winter. She baked bread and cinnamon rolls, made her own butter and would trade extra eggs and butter for goods at the Foxley store. She had wild currents, cherry and peach trees. All illness was met with home remedies and faith. Sophia's fourteen children were born without a doctor, often without even the aid of a midwife.
In spite of heavy demands, Sophia made time to serve the church. She was called in 1899 to serve as the first President of the Bothwell Ward Relief Society, a position she held for about ten years. She loved the scriptures and having the Relief Society Magazine read to her. Her children would read her the scriptures and through them she learned to love Christ's teachings. She lived about two miles from the Meeting House and usually walked to the church carrying a small child in her arms and rest of her children walking by her side. In appreciation for her years of faithful service, the Relief Society following her release presented a rocking chair to her.
Sophia was true pioneer, but she was often afraid. Severe thunderstorms always frightened her, until she learned by self-will to conquer her fear. Sometimes when left alone with her little ones, the darkness of the night terrified her. Many times as the lonely night came on she would gather her small children and walk to a neighbors to await Andrew's return from work or a trip to Bear River City for supplies. But as the children became older they provided company for her and she gradually lost much of her fear.
For several years Andrew was the constable for the community. It was often his duty to apprehend some law-breaker and take him to Brigham City, the county seat. These were worried hours for Sophia. On one occasion, it was late when Andrew returned to Bothwell with his prisoner. There was of course, no jail so Andrew kept him at their home all night. Sophia couldn't sleep. A criminal was in her house and she feared that something might go wrong and harm come to some or all of them. A prayer of thankfulness came from her heart as the men left for Brigham City with their prisoner, the next morning.
As more people came to the community, social life increased and there were often friendly and happy events with neighbors and friends. Quilting bees were always happy affairs, dances and church socials were looked forward to with anticipation.
There were also many amusing incidents in their own family life that brought laughter and glad memories to all of them. One Sophia liked to tell quite often:
She and Andrew had gone to Bear River City for supplies and to visit relatives. They took a couple of the youngest children with them and left the other five at home with Frances, the oldest child, in charge. During the day a bee stung one of the children, Sophia couldn't remember which particular child. Naturally, the child cried loud and long. Frances decided that called for action. She put the four children on the old gray mare, climbed up herself and started for Bear River City.
Miles from home; they met their parents returning to Bothwell. How surprised they were to see the old horse plodding along the dusty road with five bedraggled children aboard. How glad the children were to see their parents and to ride back with them in the wagon.
They were a happy, friendly, hospitable family. Many travelers and strangers as well as friends and relatives stopped by their home. They were always made welcome with a place to sleep and food. The best they had was shared by all and no one left their home hungry.
Just before Christmas in 1908, Andrew had an attack of appendicitis. No doctors were available and after several days of suffering it was thought the appendix had ruptured and he developed peritonitis. He passed away 19 December 1908 at the early age of forty-nine leaving Sophia with nine children still at home. The four oldest were married.
Sophia was forty-six when Andrew died and she felt her husband's death keenly and at times the responsibility seemed more than she could bear. The youngest child, Nina was but five years old. She faced trying to earn a living for her little family. For several years, after Andrew's death, she and the children worked as janitors at the Ward Meeting House.
The summer after Andrew died, her daughter Ella Cleophia Stokes who was expecting became very ill. Ella and her family lived in Canada. Sophia left her children and went to the bedside of her child with the intention to bring Ella back with her as soon as she was well enough to travel.
When she was stronger, Sophia, Ella, and daughter, Ruby made the trip to Bothwell. Ella's baby, Lydia was born but Ella didn't regain her health. In July, only seven months following her husband's death, Sophia faced a second tragedy. In spite of a mother's tender care, Ella died. She left an infant daughter, but shortly after Ella's death, the baby, Lydia died too. Sophia's strong faith sustained her during this second sorrow.
She faced her burdens with resourcefulness, hard work and economy. There was no other course open to her. She had to meet each with the knowledge that she had much to do and that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father. She fought fear alone, as she stood by the bedside of a sick little one and watched some illness fight to take that child's life. God bless her and she won. She reared her children to sturdy adulthood and they loved her for it. She also taught her grandchildren to swim in the canal by letting them hold on to her skirts and yet she never learned to swim.
She was a woman rich in life's experiences. She had never known luxury; she had never known want; and usually she had sufficient for her immediate needs. She had seen the drab, lonely country yield green fields and rich harvests. She had seen the barren wilderness give way to town and city. But best of all, she had seen her own life grow into a complete fulfillment of her mission here upon the earth. In the glorious sunset of her own life, she saw her own line of posterity marching ever onward.
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen Andreasen was a pioneer--a woman who walked across the plains, settled a new territory and raised thirteen children. Her lifetime spanned part of two centuries - from a Danish childhood wherein she experienced the persecution that accompanied the families' conversion to the LDS Church. She experienced the coming of electricity with its many wonders, including the radio. She loved to listen to the radio through which she could hear what was going on in the world and the soap operas of the day. The telephone arrived and she could converse with others without having to go to their homes. The automobile was invented so she no longer had to walk to get where she wanted to go. The development of so many things that made life easier. She lived to send sons and grandsons go war to defend the very freedoms she came to this land to embrace. Sophia met each day with the knowledge that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father and that faith would sustain her. She was known for her kind nature, innocence, faithfulness and never complained. Her legs were very large which didn't prevent her from doing anything she needed to accomplish. She was a great example of humanity. She and Andrew had a happy, loving marriage. Sophia's life spanned over eight decades. She died 3 October 1944 and is buried in the Bothwell Valley View Cemetery.
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH
Mary Frances Andersen 16 August 1881
Andrew Moroni Andersen 27 September 1882
Eli Carl Andersen 6 June 1884
Ella Cleopha Andersen 29 October 1884
Alice Sophia Andersen (died in infancy) 11 April 1887
Lawerence LeRoy Andersen 27 July 1888
Hans Leo Andersen 27 February 1890
John Earl Andersen 4 December 1891
Fred Homer Andersen 27 January 1893
Edwin Ursel Andersen 25 October 1894
Hazel Caroline Andersen 6 April 1896
Richard David Andersen 25 May 1897
Annie Laura Andersen 17 October 1899
Nina Dorthea Andersen 10 June 1903
DANISH PANCAKES (recipe taken from her daughter Mary Francis Stokes)
6 eggs well beaten dash nutmeg
3 cups milk ½ tsp salt
1 TBS sugar
• Add enough flour to make think batter.
• Cook on hot greased skillet.
• Spread thin.
• Turn when golden brown
SOPHIA PETRONELLA JORGENSEN (JOHNSON) ANDREASEN (ANDERSEN)
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen was 05 August 1862 at Stege, Praesto, Copenhagen, Denmark, the third child and first daughter of Hans Jorgensen and Marie Dorthea Brink Jorgensen. Her mother was the first member of her family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was baptized 17 August 1861. She worked hard to convert her husband and he was baptized 20 November 1861. After they joined the LDS Church, Hans lost his job, their friends and relatives turned against them. They worked for seven years, Hans doing whatever work he could find, and Marie taking in washings to save enough money to go to Zion.
The Jorgensen Family consisted of Sophias' parents Hans (40) and Marie (34 going on 35), brother Lars (9), Sophia (5) and baby sister Josephine Marie (4 months old), leaving behind three young brothers that had died and were buried in Copenhagen, on 13 June 1868 joined a group of 630 emigrating Scandinavian Saints on the steamer "Hansia" for Hull, England. They arrived in Hull on 16 June 1868 and traveled from there to Liverpool, England by train. The group stayed in Liverpool for three days in various locations and were for the most part, treated most unkindly by the hotel keepers. On 19 June 1868 they were able to board the sailing ship "Emerald Isle" and were again insulted in every way imaginable by the crew.
It was the intention of the Elders over the Scandinavian Mission that beginning this year (1868) that emigrating Saints would cross the Atlantic on steamers, but the high price demanded for steamship passage made the fare prohibitive for the Scandinavian Saints and the voyage had to be made on sailing vessels.
The "Emerald Isle" sailed from Liverpool on 20 June 1868. On 26 June 1868 the vessel sailed into Queenstown harbor to take fresh water on board since the machine that was used to distill seawater for culinary purposes was broken down and could not be repaired quickly. The ship left Queenstown, Ireland on 29 June 1868 to cross the Atlantic Ocean. During the long trip the water taken on at Queenstown became very stagnant and was the cause of much illness among the Saints. There were 37 deaths occurred during the crossing. Many of these were caused by measles among the children but the stagnant water undoubtedly was the real cause of the heavy death rate. The mother of one little girl, that had died, gave Sophia her daughters' doll. While the gift came from a broken hearted mother, nevertheless it provided Sophia with a cherished toy to fill the hours during the long ocean voyage.
In a quote from the "History of the Scandinavian Mission" it states: "No other company of emigrating Saints from Scandinavia are known to have met with such bad treatment as this one on board any ship in crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Fortunately, it was the last company of Scandinavian Saints, which crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel. From that time on steamers were employed in the transportation of the Saints."
The "Emerald Isle" arrived at the entrance to New York harbor on 11 August 1868. They were taken off the sailing vessel and put on a steamer that took them up the Hudson River to Castle Garden where they found shelter in a warehouse. They were held in quarantine for three days awaiting the arrival of their personal possessions.
The Jorgensen family was once again on dry land and had survived the difficult crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. But they were tired and hungry; the children cried for food, they were virtually penniless. Sophia's mother was trying to quiet the children when she found a paper bill. Not knowing what it was she was about to discard it when a young *girl traveling under the Jorgensen's care said, "That looks like what everybody else is using to buy bread." Sister Jorgensen could not believe this piece of paper was worth anything, nevertheless she sent the young girl to find a bakery. Soon she returned with her apron overflowing with buns and even had some change.
*(The identity of this young girl is not known but hopefully with more research her identity will be revealed. It is believed that she went to Sanpete County).
The Jorgensen family's journey was not over yet the hardest part still ahead. On 17 August 1868 the group left New York by Union Pacific Railroad and the emigrants went to Niagara Falls, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois and on to Council Bluffs, Iowa arriving here 21 August 1868. On 22 August 1868 the Saints were taken by steamboat across the Missouri River. Here the Church oxen teams, wagons and supplies met the emigrants and took them to their camp on the Platte River about six miles from Benton, Wyoming where they remained until 31 August 1868 when the Scandinavian Saints took up the journey across the mountains by ox train to Zion. Captain John G. Holman was the wagon master over this Scandinavian group of Saints that the Jorgensen family traveled with the 28th company. The crossing was made with oxen but the family walked the majority of the distance to lighten the load.
En route the emigrant group faced many hardships and dangers common to the pioneers. The journey across the vast, unsettled plains and mountains was long and tedious. To ensure safety against unfriendly Indians and natural dangers, leaders instructed those walking to stay close to the wagons.
Many of the company continued to be sick, raging among the Scandinavian emigrants, about thirty died between New York and Salt Lake City. Sophias' brother Lars was among the sick. The constant jolting of the wagon so nauseated him that his father had to carry him most of the way. It seemed unlikely, for some time, which he would live to reach Utah. Six month-old Josephine Marie was cross and tired all the time. Part of the time she had to be carried but mostly she rode in the wagon on the lap of the little girl traveling with the Jorgensens. Six-year-old Sophia walked most of the way tugging at her mother's skirt as they trudged over the dry, dusty miles. But the blessings of the Lord were with them and Sophia's mother's hopes and prayers were answered that she would have to have any of her family buried in a shallow grave before reaching Zion.
They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 25 September 1868. This was the last oxen company to arrive in the valley thus ending the emigration of Latter Day Saints from Europe by sailing vessels and oxen teams.
Hans had planned to take his family to Sanpete where he had a relative. But upon his arrival in Salt Lake City he met a Bishop Nelson who persuaded him to come with him to sparsely populated Bear River City. At this time this little City was populated primarily by Danish emigrant Saints.
Life here was not easy and it was early fall when they arrived. Their first winter home, in their new homeland, was a dugout along the banks of the Bear River. The following summer Hans built a two-room adobe house in Bear River City. This seemed wonderful to the family after spending a gloomy winter in a dugout.
Baby sister Josephine Marie never regained her strength from the long tedious journey to Utah. She was two years old when her condition worsened and in the dark of the night on 26 February 1870 Sophias' mother felt her little girl grow still, cold and her breathing ceased. She knew her baby was gone. There was no light in the home and Father Hans crossed the street to the Ipsens where he borrowed a light so his wife could wash and lay out the baby.
On 27 April 1870 a baby brother was born and named Hans Christian Jorgensen. He was eight days old when he passed away. In two short months the Jorgensen family buried two babies. Three more sisters were born to this union and lived to maturity. They were Caroline (Carrie) Matilda, Anina (Nina) and Mary Elvina (Maude or Aunt Mam).
Work was scarce in those early years. Father Hans worked for the Union Pacific Railroad to complete the transcontinental rail system at Promontory, Utah on 10 May 1869 the railroad was completed. Water was needed in Bear River City to help the crops and orchards survive. Hans helped dig a canal that brought water to the towns thirsty crops. This canal brought joy to the people of Bear River City. There joy was short lived as the Indians claimed the water in the canal was theirs. The government recognized their claim and returned the water to the Indians. Once again Bear River City was dry and the crops turned brown and the crops died. The settlers were ready to leave their land and search for new homes when President Brigham Young came to the little community and promised them that if they would stay they would once again see the water from the Bear River flow into their canals. The Jorgensen family stayed and President Young's promise came true. The irrigation water produced green fields, orchards, bounteous crops and plenty of shade trees to make Bear River City a lovely place to live.
Sophia grew up a happy child. She did her share of the work to help the family. Sophia had little formal education and never learned to read or write the English language. As she grew into her teens, she enjoyed the social life of the community: parties, dances, picnics and church activities. She also was a milkmaid milking cows at Hansen Dairy around Early Park. Which was one of the largest dairies in the west milking over 600 milk cows a day. As she enjoyed the sociability of those around her, she met a handsome young man and fell in love with Andrew Carl Andreasen. They were married 2 December 1880 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. She was eighteen and he was twenty-one years of age.
Andrew was considered to be a fairly educated man for that day and age. He could read and write. He played the violin and was a drummer in the Bear River City Brass Band. He was a good singer and actor and took part in the community entertainments. He was an excellent athlete, sportsman and was a good shot with a gun.
For the first few years of their marriage they made their home in Bear River City. Andrew was a butcher and ran a butcher shop there. But the spirit of pioneering was strong in the hearts of Sophia and Andrew. In 1888 they started homesteading land in Roeville, three miles west of Tremonton. For three years they spent their summers here clearing the land of sagebrush and rocks to make it usable as farmland.
The spirit of pioneering was strong in there hearts. In 1891, after they had been married ten years, they made their home in Rowville in the Point Look Out area near Lone Rock. Point Look Out got it's name because it was here that the Scouts for the wagon trains going to California would come to "Look Out" over the Bear River Valley for any signs of Indians in the area. The Indians had also used Point Look Out to detect company. Here Andrew built a home for his family.
Here again Sophia knew the hardships of loneliness. She was the first white woman to settle in Roeville. Sophia, once again, experienced life without water for irrigating the crops, gardening or performing household chores. With the help of here children, she carried her washing down to Salt Creek, which was at the base of Point Look Out, about half of a mile from their home. Here they gathered sage to use for fuel, boiled the clothes to remove the germs and scrubbed the clothes on a boards before being hung to dry on the nearby sagebrush.
In the spring of 1888 there was great anticipation that a canal would be developed to bring water through Bear River Canyon to the farms of the Bear River Valley. This water was needed to irrigate crops and provide water for other uses. John R. Bothwell was the overseer of building the canal. Water was delivered to the farmers in 1892 in Rowville. The community formerly known as Rowville was changed to Bothwell in honor of the canal builder.
Shortly after the completion of the canal the Andrew Anderson family erected a log cabin on the south side of the canal, about one-half mile west from their first home. This became their permanent home. About 1903, part of the house burned. The children were scattered among the homes of neighbors and relatives until the men of the community could donate time from their chores to help add two more rooms to the damaged home. By this time two of Andrew's brothers had moved to Bothwell to homestead. They were Nels and Rasmus Anderson. After the damage was corrected the family was back together under one roof.
Even after the move closer to water, life was still not easy there were no comforts. Water had to be carried from the canal for household chores. Bare floors meant hard scrubbing; ironing required continually heating of the heavy irons on the woodstove; clothing was tediously stitched by hand, growing a garden and preparing for winter. She baked bread and cinnamon rolls, made her own butter and would trade extra eggs and butter for goods at the Foxley store. She had wild currents, cherry and peach trees. All illness was met with home remedies and faith. Sophia's fourteen children were born without a doctor, often without even the aid of a midwife.
In spite of heavy demands, Sophia made time to serve the church. She was called in 1899 to serve as the first President of the Bothwell Ward Relief Society, a position she held for about ten years. She loved the scriptures and having the Relief Society Magazine read to her. Her children would read her the scriptures and through them she learned to love Christ's teachings. She lived about two miles from the Meeting House and usually walked to the church carrying a small child in her arms and rest of her children walking by her side. In appreciation for her years of faithful service, the Relief Society following her release presented a rocking chair to her.
Sophia was true pioneer, but she was often afraid. Severe thunderstorms always frightened her, until she learned by self-will to conquer her fear. Sometimes when left alone with her little ones, the darkness of the night terrified her. Many times as the lonely night came on she would gather her small children and walk to a neighbors to await Andrew's return from work or a trip to Bear River City for supplies. But as the children became older they provided company for her and she gradually lost much of her fear.
For several years Andrew was the constable for the community. It was often his duty to apprehend some law-breaker and take him to Brigham City, the county seat. These were worried hours for Sophia. On one occasion, it was late when Andrew returned to Bothwell with his prisoner. There was of course, no jail so Andrew kept him at their home all night. Sophia couldn't sleep. A criminal was in her house and she feared that something might go wrong and harm come to some or all of them. A prayer of thankfulness came from her heart as the men left for Brigham City with their prisoner, the next morning.
As more people came to the community, social life increased and there were often friendly and happy events with neighbors and friends. Quilting bees were always happy affairs, dances and church socials were looked forward to with anticipation.
There were also many amusing incidents in their own family life that brought laughter and glad memories to all of them. One Sophia liked to tell quite often:
She and Andrew had gone to Bear River City for supplies and to visit relatives. They took a couple of the youngest children with them and left the other five at home with Frances, the oldest child, in charge. During the day a bee stung one of the children, Sophia couldn't remember which particular child. Naturally, the child cried loud and long. Frances decided that called for action. She put the four children on the old gray mare, climbed up herself and started for Bear River City.
Miles from home; they met their parents returning to Bothwell. How surprised they were to see the old horse plodding along the dusty road with five bedraggled children aboard. How glad the children were to see their parents and to ride back with them in the wagon.
They were a happy, friendly, hospitable family. Many travelers and strangers as well as friends and relatives stopped by their home. They were always made welcome with a place to sleep and food. The best they had was shared by all and no one left their home hungry.
Just before Christmas in 1908, Andrew had an attack of appendicitis. No doctors were available and after several days of suffering it was thought the appendix had ruptured and he developed peritonitis. He passed away 19 December 1908 at the early age of forty-nine leaving Sophia with nine children still at home. The four oldest were married.
Sophia was forty-six when Andrew died and she felt her husband's death keenly and at times the responsibility seemed more than she could bear. The youngest child, Nina was but five years old. She faced trying to earn a living for her little family. For several years, after Andrew's death, she and the children worked as janitors at the Ward Meeting House.
The summer after Andrew died, her daughter Ella Cleophia Stokes who was expecting became very ill. Ella and her family lived in Canada. Sophia left her children and went to the bedside of her child with the intention to bring Ella back with her as soon as she was well enough to travel.
When she was stronger, Sophia, Ella, and daughter, Ruby made the trip to Bothwell. Ella's baby, Lydia was born but Ella didn't regain her health. In July, only seven months following her husband's death, Sophia faced a second tragedy. In spite of a mother's tender care, Ella died. She left an infant daughter, but shortly after Ella's death, the baby, Lydia died too. Sophia's strong faith sustained her during this second sorrow.
She faced her burdens with resourcefulness, hard work and economy. There was no other course open to her. She had to meet each with the knowledge that she had much to do and that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father. She fought fear alone, as she stood by the bedside of a sick little one and watched some illness fight to take that child's life. God bless her and she won. She reared her children to sturdy adulthood and they loved her for it. She also taught her grandchildren to swim in the canal by letting them hold on to her skirts and yet she never learned to swim.
She was a woman rich in life's experiences. She had never known luxury; she had never known want; and usually she had sufficient for her immediate needs. She had seen the drab, lonely country yield green fields and rich harvests. She had seen the barren wilderness give way to town and city. But best of all, she had seen her own life grow into a complete fulfillment of her mission here upon the earth. In the glorious sunset of her own life, she saw her own line of posterity marching ever onward.
Sophia Petronella Jorgensen Andreasen was a pioneer--a woman who walked across the plains, settled a new territory and raised thirteen children. Her lifetime spanned part of two centuries - from a Danish childhood wherein she experienced the persecution that accompanied the families' conversion to the LDS Church. She experienced the coming of electricity with its many wonders, including the radio. She loved to listen to the radio through which she could hear what was going on in the world and the soap operas of the day. The telephone arrived and she could converse with others without having to go to their homes. The automobile was invented so she no longer had to walk to get where she wanted to go. The development of so many things that made life easier. She lived to send sons and grandsons go war to defend the very freedoms she came to this land to embrace. Sophia met each day with the knowledge that help and guidance would come from her Heavenly Father and that faith would sustain her. She was known for her kind nature, innocence, faithfulness and never complained. Her legs were very large which didn't prevent her from doing anything she needed to accomplish. She was a great example of humanity. She and Andrew had a happy, loving marriage. Sophia's life spanned over eight decades. She died 3 October 1944 and is buried in the Bothwell Valley View Cemetery.
CHILDREN DATE OF BIRTH
Mary Frances Andersen 16 August 1881
Andrew Moroni Andersen 27 September 1882
Eli Carl Andersen 6 June 1884
Ella Cleopha Andersen 29 October 1884
Alice Sophia Andersen (died in infancy) 11 April 1887
Lawerence LeRoy Andersen 27 July 1888
Hans Leo Andersen 27 February 1890
John Earl Andersen 4 December 1891
Fred Homer Andersen 27 January 1893
Edwin Ursel Andersen 25 October 1894
Hazel Caroline Andersen 6 April 1896
Richard David Andersen 25 May 1897
Annie Laura Andersen 17 October 1899
Nina Dorthea Andersen 10 June 1903
DANISH PANCAKES (recipe taken from her daughter Mary Francis Stokes)
6 eggs well beaten dash nutmeg
3 cups milk ½ tsp salt
1 TBS sugar
• Add enough flour to make think batter.
• Cook on hot greased skillet.
• Spread thin.
• Turn when golden brown
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Mary Frances Andersen Stokes
1881–1954
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Andrew Moroni Anderson
1882–1959
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Eli Carl Anderson
1884–1946
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Ella Cleophia Anderson Stokes
1885–1909
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Alice Sophia Andersen
1887–1887
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Laurence Leroy Andersen
1888–1975
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Hans Leo Anderson
1890–1981
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John Earl Anderson
1891–1952
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Fredrick Homer Andersen
1893–1981
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Edwin Ursel Anderson
1894–1973
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Hazel Caroline Anderson Miller
1896–1960
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Richard David "Dick" Anderson
1897–1984
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Annie Laura Andersen Smith
1899–1982
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Nina Dorthea Anderson Jenson
1903–1995
