Biography of Hans Christion Davidson by Daughter, Sarah Davidson Wilcox

BIOGRAPHY OF HANS CHRISTIAN DAVIDSEN & WIFE By his daughter Sarah D. Wilcox Written by her daughter Vennes Jensen Father was the son of Hans Davidsen. He was born on the peninsula of Kechnes ,per Alsen Island in the Duchy of Schlesvig, Holsten in North Prusia on March 28th,1820. And was married to Annie Maria Jensen, November 2nd, 1852. Father was baptized into the Church of Latter Day Saints on November 18, 1857. Father lived in the same town of his wife in Momark for five years during which time 2 children were born to them, Mary and Hans. They were comfortably situated and had a nice little home of their own. Father was a draftsman and drew plots of land, Valleys and various buildings. After father and mother were baptised their folks all turned against them and felt vexed to think that they would leave their home and position to suffer hardships and go to a strange country far away and which they knew nothing about. Shortly afterward they made arrangements to leave with the first ship that carried emegrants to America and it was not until late fall that they learned of ship that would carry Scandanavian Emegrants. They sold as much of their property and things as they could and the rest they gave away or left. And made ready for departure to Liverpool, England, from which they were to sail. They carried with them only what food, clothing and bedding that would be necessary until they reached America. They soon reached Liverpool and set sail with about ninety Scandanavian emegrants in the ship John Bright and under the direction of Iven N. Iversen on March 22nd 1858. While on the water the emegrants suffered great hardships for the lack of drinking water. As their water was boiled and stored in 40 gal barrels before they left England gave out, and because of this many suffered and died. After 13 weeks on the dreary tossing water they arrived in New York on April 26, 1858 and then after another long and tedious journey they reached Iowa City on May 1st. From there they started on their long and toilsome journey to the West acrossthe Plains. Mother led Capt. Iversen's horse and cart while she herself walked the entire distance. Father took his turn along with other men at night herding. And also standing guard or sentinel every evening when they camped for the night. They drove the wagons and carts into a large circle each night and the people camped and cooked within this circle. After Supper they all turned out in praise of God for his guidance so far along the way. So passed many weeks of journey like this and they finally reached Salt Lake City on Monday September 20th 1858. After stopping for some time in Salt Lake City they traveled on with Mr. Iverson to Pleasant Grove (Battle Creek) where Mr. Iversen lived. Mr. Iversen owned a house and some land and had a cellar which he was not using and in this he let Father and Mother live the first winter. The next spring father worked and cut hay for the first cow they had. The next summer she was turned on the mountains and died. Four children were born to them while they lived in Pleasant Grove. Bell, Amasa, Lorenzo, and Sarah. Sarah a mere babe died at the age of 6 months. Father and Mother were very poor while they lived at Pleasant Grove. And when the fourth baby was born Mother had no clothes for him. A neighbor lady happened in and seeing these poor conditions, immediately sent down some of her daughter's baby clothes. Her daughter had recently lost her own baby. The Fall after the six months old baby died, Father borrowed Old Man Bacon's new wagon to haul hay to Salt Lake City to sell (or for tithing. It is not clear) Father had made several trips before this one. There were two roads at the Point of the Mountains and Father took the upper road. He had two yokes of oxen hitched to his wagon, the head team someway became unyoked and ran away. The other team became unruly so Father's wagon, hay and all went rolling off the dugway and landed at the foot of the Mountains near the Jordan River. Father was quite badly injured and 3 oxen were killed. The other ox walked home with a broken jaw. Father was picked up and carried home late that night (He too had a broken jaw). That year flax was raised quite extensively at American Fork. Father worked there and received flax for his pay. He brought it home and the rest of the family made ropes and kite lines out of it and Mother made thread to sew with. Also shoen [Shoe laces], A spers thread and candle wickem. [Candle wicks] Some time later Perry McArthur talked to Father and wanted him to sell out in Pleasant Grove and move to Mt. Pleasant in Sanpete County. Father did this and bought 27 acres of land of Peter Godfersen in the North Field (Birch Creek) and later bought the home and lot that Andrew Norman is living on. When Father bought the place it had a small log house and a rock cellar out side. While they were living there two Indian Bucks came one Sunday and made an attempt to take my sister Bell. Mother sent for one of her neighbors, Rastus Mickelson, and in the meantime hid my sister until the indians left. This was my sister Bell. There were no dentists in those days here yet, and Father and Mother both took the place of one and pulled teeth with the turnkeys for people. Father was also the first printer here. Mother died on the 2nd of May 1886. Father did job printing up until the time of his death in 1891, making him 71 years old. He was the first dentist in Mt. Pleasant and in Sanpete County, and he read in German and Danish and kept 3 papers and he never went to school here in America. by their daughter, Sarah D[avidson]. Wilcox. These papers found by her daugher Vennes Jensen at the time of the mother's death. Note added by Vennes [Wilcox] Jensen Grandma & Grandfather were 13 weeks on the water crossing the ocean and suffered many hardships. Grandfather was the first to bring Alfalfa (hay) (Lucerne) to Utah. At first everybody was angry at him for it. It didn't turn out very good at first but later it grew good and everybody thought that it was wonderful. He made a perpetual (calendar) too. When they came to Utah they were very poor and had two children, Mary and Hans. At one time they had only 2 crusts of bread in the house; They gave these to the children and then sat down and cried when the children asked for more. They had nothing in the house to eat. The oxen that fell off the dugway when Grandfather was coming home from Salt Lake City. The ring broke in the yoke and the wagon tongue slipped out of the ring. Of the two head that run away, one was killed and the other walked home with his jaw broke. They fed him mush with a paddle and boiled potatoes.(Note Spelling and other things as found in old papers.) Note 2 Shoe laces Note 3 Candle Wicks HANS CHRISTIAN DAVIDSEN & FAMILY HISTORY by Sarah D. Wilcox Hans C. Davidson, our progenitor was the son of Hans Davidsen who was the son of Christen Davidson, who was the son of David Jorgensen. He was born March 28, 1820 on the Peninsula of Kechenes on Alsen Island in the Duchy of Schlesvig, Holstein in North Prussia. (Note: Denmark at that time) and was married to Miss Anne Maria Jensen, of Momark, Lysaple Church District, on November 2, 1852. They resided here for five years and he made a comfortable living as a Draftsman. Here two children, Mary and Hans Thomas were born. He and his wife were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on November 16, 1857. His parents and relatives turned against him and he was imprisoned for joining the Church. He was kept in Jail for a week living on bread and water. While here he asked for a Book of Mormon and was refused but he was allowed a hymn book. Not long after the Hans C. Davidsen's joined the Church they made plans to emigrate to the United States. In the fall they learned of a ship, the John Bright, which was to sail in the Spring from Liverpool, England, carrying Scandinavian emmigrants. Suffering the ridicule of relatives and friends they sold their nice little home and disposed of their household goods as they could, either selling or giving them away and taking only clothes and bedding and food enough for their immediate use, they set sail from Liverpool on March 22, 1858, in company with some eighty or ninety other emmigrants under the direction of Capt. Iven N. Iversen. They suffered many hardships while crossing the ocean. The most serious of which was the shortage of water. The drinking water was carried in 40 gal. barrels from Liverpool, but the supply gave out and sickness prevailed and some few deaths occurred. After six long weeks on the ocean they landed at New York on April 26th, 1858 and then took their Journey on to Iowa City. Arriving there in early May. Here they secured the equipage necessary for crossing the Plains and commenced their great trek. Mrs. Davidsen led Capt. Iversen's horses and cart across the plains, walking all the way, while Mr. Davidsen took his turn, with the other men, at night herding and also on sentinal duty. Every evening they formed in a circle as the first pioneers and hand cart companies had done before them and cooked within the circle. After the evening meal they sang and praised God for his blessings and mercies. They traveled their weary way for some five months and landed in Salt Lake City on September 20, 1858. We may get a personal glimpse of Hans C. Davidsen in the following story: Onone occasion he turned back on the trail and one whole day's journey, a possible 15 miles, to secure a hatchet that had been overlooked at the last camp. He was obliged to swim a river to secure it and to swim again on his return carrying the hatchet in his teeth and then he was obliged to double his efforts in order to catch up with the moving caravan. After resting in Salt Lake City for a while the Davidsen family went to the home of Capt. Iversen in Pleasant Grove and lived the first winter in an old rock cellar. The next spring Mr. Davidsen worked hard and began to accumulate the makings of a home. He secured a cow also and worked to cut hay for winter feed, but alas the cow died when turned out on summer range. Thru the many trials of making a new home in a strange country they remained faithful and five children were born to them in Pleasant Grove, Isabel, Lorenzo, Amasa, and Sarah (who died at the age of six months) and Sarah (Now Mrs. Wilcox. Note:Ephraim should have been listed as he was a twin of Sarah). They were very poor and had a hard time to make a living. When one new babe arrived they had no clothes for it. A neighbor woman happened in and seeing these poor conditions, Immediately sent some of her grandchild's clothes and thus the baby was provided for. Mr. Davidsen borrowed a wagon of Mr. Bacon to haul hay into Salt Lake City for sale. He had made several trips before but on this occasion as he rounded the Point of the Mountains on a high grade his oxen ran away. Possibly the pressure (weight) of the loaded wagon was to blame but the lead team came unhooked and the others rolled down the dugway, taking wagon and all and landing on the banks of the Jordan River. One ox was killed, another had a broken jaw. Mr. Davidsen was carried home late that night. He suffered intensely for weeks. This year flax was raised quite extensively at American Fork. Mr. Davidsenworked in the flax fields and received flax as pay. He invented a machine to break the flax and the family made it up into ropes, Kite lines, thread for sewing and shoe thread. Also candle wicking. Later at the instigation of Peter Godferson, Sr., Mr. Davidsen sold out at Pleasant Grove and moved to Mt. Pleasant in San Pete County, buying 27 acres of land from Mr. Godferson; later on he bought the home and lot that Andrew Normon now owns. At that time the 27 acres had a small log house and a rock cellar. One time two indian bucks came one Sunday while Mr. Davidsen was away and attempted to carry Isobel off. A neighbor, Rastus Mickelson, came to help at her call and frightened them off. Then the children were taken from their hiding places. Both Mr. & Mrs. Davidsen took the place of dentists and pulled many teeth for neighbors. Also for the indians. He was the first printer in Mt. Pleasant and did much job printing. He invented a perpetual Calendar, which is still to be found in several of our homes. Also a sorghum mill and a player piano. After the death of his wife on May 2nd 1886. He did printing till the end of his life on Aug. 23, 1892. Mr. Davidsen wrote and spoke fluently three languages, American, Danish, and German. He gave lectures on science and especially in Astrology. [astronomy?] He was a great student, caring more for studying than the more material comforts of life. We are told on good authority that he was a professor in the University of Copenhogan but have no positive proof. However we know several prominent men of Utah who tell us that it was Hans C. Davidsen's lectures that inspired them to make great efforts for success. It remains for us as his progeny to carry on the work that he started, honoring and revering him for his high faith and courage to battle against big odds. May we not be found wanting. COPY OF "FAMILY RECORD OF HANS CHRISTIAN DAVIDSEN" Of Mount Pleasant Sanpete County, Utah Ter.born in Kekenes a Peninsula to Alsen Schleswig, Germany, on March 28, 1820. Married Anne Maria Jensen, Daughter of Thomas Jenses and Catrine Margretha Jensen of Momark, Alsen, Sleswig Gr. emigrated to America in 1858. Located in Pleasant Grove, Utah County, came to Mount Pleasant in Sanpete co. in April, 1864. At the present writing, 1889, we have 9 living children, The two oldest Hans, and Maria was born in Alsen, before we came to America. SOLI DEO GLORIE.MY GENEALOGY AS FAR AS KNOWN TO MEI, Hans C. Davidsen, was the son of Hans Davidsen, who was the son of ChristenDavidsen, who was the son of David Jorgensen. I was born on the peninsula of Kecknes per Alsen Island in the Duchy of Schleswig Holstein in North Prussia, on March 28th, 1820. Was married to Miss Anne Maria Jensen of Momark, Lysaple Church District on November 2nd, 1852. Was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on November 16th, 1857. Emigrated to America and came to Utah in the year 1858.Besides the six children mentioned above, they also had the following children: 7. Sarah (twin) 8. Ephraim (twin) 9. Lucinda 10. Joseph