MOUTHS TO FEED, BABIES AND MISSIONS...

I've taken pictures of pictures in the book and thought I'd put some in this post.This one's a copy of a letter Canute wrote to Sarah while he was on his first mission. He had pretty handwriting. You can't really tell what all the words say, but you can read the end where he signs his name and then says he'll tell more when he gets home. This is the letter I remember Grama showing me years ago.

First page...

second page...


 I'll add a few more as I go along...

 CONTINUING.......



In the days and weeks that followed, two more rooms were added to the log house, a large room and a smaller bedroom. This helped relieve the crowding a bit. Children grew, went to school, and helped get crops in at harvest time.

Sarah was very kind and sympathetic to Marie. Although Marie had her mother and sister around, Sarah still knew she was in need of love and understanding from her. These two women, having journeyed across the plains and now wedded to the same man, knew there must never be anything but harmony between them. Maria was congenial most of the time, but whenever some little frustration arose, Sarah always took the initiative to erase any hard feelings that might result, and hastily restored peace and harmony.

Then the babies started coming into their lives, and more rooms were added to the house. One year after Canute returned from his mission, Sarah gave birth to a son they called Parley. That same year Marie gave birth to a little boy but he soon died. Sarah had lost a baby one year after Peter, a little boy named Canute who only lived two weeks. So she knew the sorrow Marie was experiencing and tried in every way to be kind to her, making her food and caring for her with kindness and love. Marie was so grateful to Sarah and they got along together very well.

In the year 1859, both Sarah and Marie again had babies. Sarah's a boy, which they named Canute and Marie's a boy also, named Lehi. In regular sequence, the two wives presented Canute with babies. Again in 1861, two more names were added to the list. Sarah's child, a son named Nels. Marie's a daughter named Gertrude (Marie's first name..). The following year Marie gave birth to another girl, Ellen.

This is a photo of Marie in her older years ...
Why did they pull their hair back so tight?

In April of 1863, little Martha Amelia was born to Sarah. She was a beautiful little girl who only lived 2 years. The motherheart of Sarah was torn when the little babe was laid to rest. All the other children loved her and mourned her passing and missed her greatly.  (note..there's no mention in the book of how Martha died..)

In January of 1864, Canute was called on a mission to Norway again. Four months later, Marie had another baby girl they called Mary. Four years later, death took this little one, and again the family knew grief and heartache. The similar experiences seemed to tie the bond of love and understanding between the two women even closer.

Canute's second mission was for two years. This time he had to leave two wives, and more mouths to feed. But the children were older and could help out with the farming. Peter and his best friend Jo had practically grown up together, he being Emma's son. They were the oldest sons and took on the responsibilities of the farms while their fathers were gone. In the fall, they helped in the harvesting. A few months of the year was all the schooling these two got. When they had free time, they would go help a man who had horses and mules. He paid them a small fee to ride the newly broke horses, something they enjoyed. Consequently they became expert horsemen and would snub and break the mules also.

The oldest boy of the adopted orphans, Able, began keeping company with a girl named Mary Lott. He eventually asked her to marry him, telling her he wanted his brothers and sisters to live with them. Mary thought that was alright, so Able started building a little home for them all. At first Sarah protested, but finally consented when she saw how much Able and Mary wanted for them to all be together.

The day came, and they all hugged and kissed Sarah in turn. She told them they weren't moving so far away that they couldn't run in to see her everyday. They told her even if they moved to another house, she'll always be their 'mommie'. To Sarah it was like losing her own, but she knew she would see them often. And the extra room in the house was nice, although it filled up fast.

The trials and hardships Canute had endured on his first mission to Christiana weren't as bad on the second. The way seemed to be more opened up for the work of conversion and preaching. And this time it was for only two years. In the time Canute was there, he and others had sufficient converts to form a company of immigrants. He helped bring another company across the plains in 1866.

The size of the family steadily increased until a new home was badly needed. Therefore, a large ten room, two story adobe home was built on the southeast corner of the Peterson block in Lehi. This is a picture from the book of that actual home, notice the trees ?

 I'm not sure who that is standing there, but it's either Sarah or Marie..

Here's another one to share...

My thoughts are, if the farm had been in the family for so long, what possessed Peter Johnson to leave it and come to America?

Maybe it had something to do with this namesake grandson's story....

The summer of the year Canute built the larger home, the Indeans were more restless and hostile. They resented this incoming horde of people to their happy hunting grounds. In spite of the kindness shown toward them, there was still a hatred and a resentment toward the white man. (*understandably so!) All the young and able bodied men and boys were called upon to help defend the settlements.

Peter and Joe were then sixteen years old, both strong and sturdy. They were sent out on a scouting expedition under a Colonel Allred and stood guard at night. One night as they were doing this, they told stories to pass the time away. Joe was getting sleepy so Peter was trying to think of something to keep him awake. This is the conversation...

"Hey Joe, did I ever tell you about my grandpa Peter Johnson, the one I'm named after?"

"I don't know if you did or not Peter, You've told me a lot of stories about him, how strong and brave he was. Start telling me and I'll see if it's one you've missed."

 "Well, ok Joe, if you really want to hear it.."
"I've told you what a great wrestler and athlete he was and how much strength he had"
"One time the King of Norway was traveling through the area and had heard about Grandpa's ability as a wrestler and wanted him to have a wrestling match with his son, the Prince, who had been trained as a wrestler. The news of the King's request spread rapidly and grandpa was summoned. A large crowd gathered on the public square to watch."

"Did your grandpa consent?" Joe was now fully awake.

"Of course he did. Who ever heard of anyone refusing a request from a King?"

"Did he throw him?" Joe was pretty excited now.

"Did who throw who?" asked the exasperated Peter. "Why don't you keep still and let me tell my story..."  "Well, the crowd was all excited. And so was grandpa. The Prince was a large, handsome, sturdy man, and like grandpa, was built from the ground up, but not as tall as he was."

"They shook hands and began sparring. Then they took hold and the Prince threw grandpa. The crowd was pretty disappointed but didn't show it much because of the Prince being who he was. Then the King spoke to grandpa and told him if he was able to throw the Prince, he commanded him to do so. Well, grandpa really hadn't tried to throw him, but if the King commanded it, well, in a few seconds he had the Prince on the ground. The crowd roared and applauded, since it was the Kings request. The Prince was a good sport and shook grandpa's hand, recognizing him as a better wrestler."

"Is that all Peter?"

"ALL! Isn't that enough?" How many boys have a grandpa who wrestled a Prince?"

"I don't mean that. I just meant is that all? You always make things sound so interesting, and I was hoping for more of the story is all."

The little settlement of Lehi was well guarded and protected this time. And although the Indians gave them several alarms, the settlers were learning how to combat them and settle the skirmishes, and they were soon over. Sarah was no longer alone to deal with her fears. Her sons were older and they were in a bigger, sturdier home now. And Marie was there with her. Life didn't seem so lonely anymore.

And Canute was on his way home again......



I'll be back with more soon.

See ya yesterday....