DESCENDANTS OF JEF - John Heber Forsgren

 JOHN HEBER FORSGREN - Third child of John Erik and Sarah Bell Davis Forsgren

(born 7 Oct 1856, Carson City, Nevada;  died 4 Aug 1946, Salt Lake City, Utah)

 John Heber Forsgren and 2nd wife Cynthia Marie Thorne

  Married and sealed 16 Dec 1885 in the Logan, Utah Temple;  (His first wife, Ann Jane Evans had passed away shortly after the birth of their daughter Sarah Cleofa Forsgren just two days short of their 1st wedding anniversary 12 Aug. 1881.)   Marie died in 1900 after 15 years of marriage, leaving 6 children. 

I have no photo of his first wife, Ann Jane Evans.

 Lydia Walker Forsgren - Third wife of John Heber.  

They were married in 1903 and got to be together for 43 years when JH passed away.  Five children born to this marriage.  Lydia died in 1961.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN HEBER FORSGREN: Written by Maurine Guymon and delivered at the Forsgren Family Assn. Reunion 29 July 2006
     Sometime in the middle 1850's John Eric Forsgren and his wife Sara Belle Davis were sent by Brigham Young to Carson City, Nevada on a colonizing expedition.  At that time it was an unsettled area but considered part of Utah.  They traveled with two children:  Charles William and Sarah Alice.  After settling in this barren land John Heber was born on Oct. 7, 1856.  He is said to be the first white child born in [what is now] Nevada.  [I wish to interject at this point the following comments that are included in the blog post about Sarah Bell: "Shortly after their return from Carson, Sarah and John have separated. Niece Alice Mariah Forsgren makes a confusing statement in her written memories about John Heber's birth. . . . she states: 'Uncle John was born a few years later and Roy [Alice's brother Samuel Leroy] said they called him Johnny Crocker. She married John Crocker later.' This is a confusing statement on two accounts. She is not remembering the surname correctly. It would have been Clapper.... and is she suggesting that other people felt that John Heber was really the son of Joseph Clapper whom Sarah later married on 11 October 1859?  Or were people just speculating and being unkind if she was seen to be keeping company with Mr. Clapper??  I am inclined to believe that John Heber IS John Erik's actual son for two reasons. He is named John, probably after his father, and Heber, probably after Heber C. Kimball who was very important in John E's life. (It is possible, of course, that John Erik only thought he was the actual father of John Heber and would have named him accordingly). Another consideration is that a close examination of the photos of John Heber appear to show a genetic trait present in many of the Forsgren siblings and their descendants - a slight eye abnormality which I have seen in photos of Peter Adolph, Pehr Johan, Milda, Elias Peter and others.] Shortly after Brigham Young recalled them to Utah because Johnston's Army was approaching.  Soon after their return to Salt Lake, Sarah left John Eric and moved to Brigham City with the three children.  When John Heber was only seven years of age his mother  passed away.  He and his siblings were reared by his maternal grandmother, Sarah M. Davis whom they revered as a  "sainted mother."
     About the age of twelve John was hired by the co-op cabinet shop and learned the trade of cabinet making.  He worked for a number of years here until the shop went out of business.  The lumber mills operated by the Brigham City Cooperative Institution gave him employment and here he perfected his trade as a carpenter.
     On Aug 12, 1880, John married Ann Jane Evans.  Only one year after this union Jane Evans died, leaving an infant daughter, Sarah Cleofa, known as Cleo.  In June 1908 Cleo Forsgren married Victor Emmanuel Madsen.  After giving birth to three sons (one dying in infancy) Cleo lost her husband and had the difficulty of rearing two young boys.  These two sons grew up, married and presented John Heber with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
     In Dec. of 1885 John Heber married Cynthia Marie Thorn.  Their first child, a son, died at age two.  Only three months after his death Cynthia gave birth to a daughter, Annie.  When she was only two years of age her father departed for Sweden on a mission.  Annie lived only four years, her death taking place three months before her father arrived home from his mission.  After these many sad events Cynthia Marie and John had four children, 2 girls and 2 boys that all grew to be adults.  Another calamity befell John when Marie died in Nov. 1900, leaving him with four small children:  Ethleen 7, Eugene Richard 5, Virginia 3 and Charles Victor, 1.  These four children grew up and married.  Eugene had only one child before he perished in a hotel fire.  His son, Eugene Richard Jr. was killed in North Korea in Nov. 1950.  This death would have been a double tragedy for John Heber because this was the only child with the ability to carry on the Forsgren name.  However, the other three children have had large families and now his descendants number in the hundreds.
    Three years after the death of Cynthia Marie, John married Lydia Ann Walker.  She reared the four children mentioned above as well as five of her own.  None of the children from this marriage married so all of his posterity can be traced to his first two wives.
    The Forsgren family, now consisting of Lydia and their four adult children, moved to Salt Lake when John Heber retired.  He was a great gardener and his beautiful roses, along with other landscaping, were the talk of the neighborhood on 15th East and 18th South.  He lived a quiet life there with his family and the many children and grandchildren visiting  him.  He had a Bible written in Swedish and kept up his knowledge of the language by reading it.  He enjoyed his many visits to Brigham City and especially the cemetery on Memorial Day where he had laid to rest so many of his family.  He was buried there after his death, 4 Aug, 1946, in Salt Lake City.

NEWS ARTICLE: A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE:   Box Elder News Apr. 16, 1908  [

     John H. Forsgren, our former townsman, now residing at Elwood, had the misfortune last Saturday to lose his home and furnishings by fire. Mr. Forsgren and his little boys were working in the field near the house, sowing lucerne seed and as evening drew nigh one of the little fellows was sent to build a fire in the stove preparatory to the evening meal, as they were "batching it" Mrs. Forsgren and the little girls being up in Idaho [this would be a reference to Lyda Walker Forsgren, his third wife]. The lad made a good fire and returned to his father, who had a premonition that all was not right, but continued with his work and soon smoke began pouring out of the windows and the building, which was frame, burned like tinder. The heat from the stove must have ignited the wood box which stood close by. Only a few articles from the celler were saved.
     Mr. Forsgren considers his greatest loss that of his splendid library and valuable papers which money cannot replace.
     We sincerely sympathize with Mr. Forsgren in his misfortune. His experience has been that troubles do not come singly, and he has certainly had his share of them. As there was no insurance on the property, his loss in this case is a total one.  

BURIAL: Brigham City Cem. B-18-7-3

DEATH:  Certificate No. 1296, Registrar No 1413 (available through Utah Death Certificates 1904-1956 online)

John Heber Forsgren
died at age 89 yrs, 9 mo. 27 days, August 4th, 1946, Salt Lake City, S.L. County at his residence 1897 South 15th East of Coronary oclusion/ arteriosclerosis
Lenth of residence in community:  21 years
Not a veteran, no social security number
Male, white,married to Lydia Walker, age 73
Born October 7 1856, Carson City, Nevada
Usual occupation:  Retired, Lumber man in retail lumber
Father: John Eric Forsgren,  born Sweden
Mother, Sarah Bell Davis, birthplace unknown
Informant signature: [hard to read, could be C O Forsgren?)
Removal to Brigham City Cemetery 6-7-46;  Taylor memorial Mortuary

OBITUARY:  Salt Lake Tribune, Monday, August 5, 1947 (with photo); and funeral notice 8/6/1946 p. 10
                         EARLY BRIGHAM CITY LEADER, JOHN HEBER FORSGREN, DIES
     John Heber Forsgren 89, 1897 15th East, prominent early Utah businessman and active LDS church worker, died Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at his residence of causes incident to old age.
     He had been a resident of Salt Lake City for the past 21 years and previous to that time resided in Brigham City, where he was active in business, church and civic leadership.
      For many years he operated a lumber and hardware business in Brigham City.  He is credited with being instrumental in the establishment of the first public library in Brigham City.  During his lengthy and active career in the LDS church, he was superintendent of Brigham City Third LDS ward Sunday school; stake superintenedent of Religion classes, Bear River stake; member of the stake Mutual board, Box Elder Stake, and was former city councilman.
     He was born Oct. 7, 1856, in Carson City, Nev., a son of John Eric and Sarah Belle Davis Forsgren.  He moved with his family to Brigham City when he was one year old.  He married Lydia Walker.
     Surviving besides his widow are three sons and five daughters.  Donald E. and Waldo W. Forsgren, Bellingham, Wash.; C.V. Forsgren, Mrs. Cleo F. Madsen and Mrs. Virginia F. Larsen Brigham City; and Afton and Barbara Forsgren and Mrs. Ethleen F. Burnham, Salt Lake City; 13 grandchildren and two great- granchildren."
      JOHN HEBER FORSGREN
      Funeral Services for John Heber Forsgren 89, 1897 15th E. will be conducted Wed. at 12:15 p.m. in Edgehill LDS Ward Chapel, 15th E. & Blaine Ave.
      Friends may call at the family home Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. & Wed. from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.  Burial will be in Brigham City Cemetery.

An obituary and funeral notice was also published in the Deseret News Aug 5, 1946 p. 14 and Aug.6, 1946 p. 14.

WIFE #1 - Ann Jane Evans, born 6 Dec. 1859 in Genoa, Monroe Co., Nebraska.  Died 10 Aug 1881 in Brigham City.  Buried in the Brigham City Cemetery.   [Though the state is listed as Missouri in the Ancestral File, Elias Peter's FGS for her lists Geneva, Monroe Co, Nebraska; Brigham City Sexton's recs say Genoa, Nebraska; Nebraska is the birthplace of mother listed on Cleofa's entry in the 1900 Census ]
Her parents are John Evans (born Jan 1829, Utah) and Elizabeth Davies (born Feb 1825, Utah)
 
BURIAL: Brigham City Cem B-15-11-2   [I do not yet have a photos of either Ann Jane or of her headstone 8-2011]

John Heber and Ann Jane had only one child, Sarah Cleofa Forsgren (known as Cleo).  Cleo was born 11 May 1881 in Brigham City.  She died 25 Mar 1960 in Brigham City and was buried on 29 Mar, 1960 in the Brigham City Cemetery.  On 24 Jun 1908 Cleo married Victor Emmanuel Madsen in the S.L. LDS Temple.   I have no photo of  Cleo.

Victor Emmanuel was born 17 Mar 1879 in Brigham City, the son of Peter Fabricius Madsen and Emilia Cecilia Magdalena Dahlgren.

PIONEERS & PROMINENT MEN OF UTAH: (Photo, shown above, is on page 497)

     Married Beatrice Winnifrid Midgley April 23, 1902 Salt Lake City (daughter of Benjamin Midgley and Sarah J, Midgley, former pioneer May 1855, Milo Andrus company, latter of Nov. 2, 1864, Warren Snow company). She was born Aug. 28, 1877, at Nephi, Utah, died Oct. 6, 1902. Family home Brigham City, Utah. Married Sarah Cleofa Forsgren June 24, 1908, at Salt Lake City (daughter of John H. Forsgren and Annie Jane Evans of Brigham City, Utah). She was born May 11, 1881. Their children: Victor Earl Madsen b. April 14, 1909; Irwin Denton b. Dec. 16, 1910, died Dec. 18, 1910. Family home Brigham City, Utah. Missionary to Scandinavia 1905-07; high priest; chorister in 3d ward since 1900; leader of tabernacle choir. Manager of Box Elder creamery 1900-05. Editor Box Elder News, Member 32d ward bishopric.

SKETCH: Utah Since Statehood Vol. II
     Victor E. Madsen, managing editor of the Box Elder News of Brigham, was born March 17, 1879, in the city which is still his home, a son of Peter F. and Emelia M. C. (Dahlgren) Madsen. The father was born in Sjaeland, Denmark, August 10, 1843, a son of Neis and Martha M. (Hansen) Madsen. He came to Utah in August, 1860, with an independent company. On the 10th of November, 1873, at Salt Lake City, he married Emelia M. C. Dahlgren, a daughter of Jacob Jorgen Ulrik and Anne Sophia (Basse) Dahigren. She was born June 16, 1848, in Skjelskor, Denmark. Peter F. Madsen became the first telegraph operator in Brigham and filled the position for eight years. He was also justice of the peace, county clerk and recorder and likewise filled the offices of county commissioner and probate judge. He was the first man to subscribe to the Edmunds-Tucker oath in Utah and voted in 1887. Actively interested in the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was a missionary to Europe for three years and also served as bishop's counselor and high councilor and for some time acted as bookkeeper in the tithing office. At the time of his death, which occurred July 16, 1913, he was a high councilman in the church. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter F. Madsen were born the following named: Waldemar P. F., born August 19, 1874, married Adah Nichols in November, 1901. One child, born January 9, 1876, died unnamed. Emelia Maria, born August 21, 1877, became the wife of Frank Welling in June, 1911. Victor Emmanuel is the next in order of birth. Roland Adolph, born October 2, 1880, married Abbie Reese on the 24th of January, 1906. Lillie May, born March 19, 1882, is the next of the family. Leo Dahlgren, born February 1, 1884, was married June 19, 1912, to Albertie West. Another child, born July 23, 1887, died in infancy. Sterling Dahlgren, born April 4, 1890, wedded Lois Peters, a resident of Brigham. Constance, born June 12, 1892, is the wife of Perry D. Peters also of Brigham.

     Victor Emmanuel Madsen was educated in the public schools of Brigham and for a year was a student in the Agricultural College at Logan. When fifteen years of age he started out to earn his own livelihood and was first employed in the Cache valley, where he engaged in the creamery business until 1905. During the period from 1900 until 1905 he worked his way steadily upward until he was made manager of the Blackman & Griffin creamery. In the latter year he was called on a mission to Denmark, where he served for thirty-three months and during the latter nineteen was secretary of the Scandinavian mission and had charge of the choir during the entire time. In his labors there he was very successful.
     Mr. Madsen has been married twice. In Salt Lake Temple, April 23, 1902, he wedded Miss Beatrice Winifred Midgley, a native of Nephi, Utah, and a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah J. (Jackson) Midgley, representatives of an old and prominent family of Nephi. Mrs. Madsen passed away October 6, 1902, at the age of twenty-five years. On the 24th of June, 1908, Mr. Madsen wedded Sarah Cleofa Forsgren, a daughter of John H. and Annie Jane (Evans) Forsgren, of Brigham, Utah. She was born May 11, 1881, and they have become parents of three children: Victor Earl, born April 14, 1909; Irwin Denton, who was born December 16, 1910, and died December 18, 1910; and Harold Lee, born July 26, 1913.
     Mr. Madsen has membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the third ward of Brigham and is first counselor in the stake presidency. He went on a mission to Scandinavia covering the years from 1905 to 1907 and for many years prior to going on the mission had charge of the music of the ward and also of the tabernacle choir of Brigham. He served in the third ward bishopric for two years and came into the stake presidency on the 18th of March, 1917. He has also been active in Sunday school work as a member of the board and is an ex-superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, while in other organizations directed by the church he has likewise been active. During the period of the war he was a member of the County Council of Defense and a member of the central committee on War Savings Stamps. He owns a pleasant residence at No. 116 North Second West, where he and his family reside. He is a progressive business man, taking the keenest interest in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of city and state, and has made the Box Elder News the exponent of all plans and projects which have for their object the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community at large.

[The information that Victor had a previous marriage was new to me. Winnifred's  death predates a lot of available on-line records so I do not know what the cause of death was. She is buried in Brigham City Cemetery in plot B-3-12-1. [I do not yet have a photo of that headstone]. There were, of course, no children born to this marriage. ]

CENSUS: 1910 U.S. Census of Brigham City, Box Elder, Ward 3; ED7 Sheet 3-B, Taken 25 & 26 April.
Madsen, Victor E, head, md, age 31, his 2nd marriage 2 yrs., newspaper manager born Utah Madsen, Cleopha, wife, md, age 28, her first marriage 2 yrs., mother of 1 child, 1 child living. Born Utah, father born Nevada, mother born Nebraska,
Madsen, Victor Earl, son, age 1, born Utah

Victor E. Madsen was editor of the Box Elder News and is given part credit for organizing the first "Peach Day."

HONOR: Ogden Standard Examiner, Wed Evening, Sept 20, 1922.

     "Brigham's First Peach Day staged 18 years ago". Many people ask the questions: "How was it started?" "Who originated the idea?" "When was the first one held?
     The honor of holding the city's first festival in great part is due to two men: S. Norman Lee and the late Victor E. Madsen.
      With the idea in mind of advertising the Brigham City country as an ideal fruit growing section and at the same time granting an oppotunity of staging a festival and carnival they staged the first Peach Day 18 years, ago in the fall of 1904. . . .
     . . . These two men worked hard and late at night to make the event a success and they accomplished their end. So successful were the first festivals that it was decided that the day should be made a community even and the celebration was then turned over to the city. For a year or so the fruit growers of the vicinity took charge and later, when the chamber of commerce was formed, was given into the hands of the organization. . . .

MISCELLANEOUS: Ogden Standard Examiner, Oct. 26, 1921
     Judgment was awarded Victor E. Madsen against the Utah-Idaho Central Railroad company in the sum of $15 with interest at 8 per cent from Nov. 19, 1921 for the killing of a milch cow by one of the railroad company's passenger trains at what is known as the Wilson cossing a mile north of this city. This case was heard in the city court during the summer, at which time the court found in favor of the plaintiff and the defense appealed to the district court.

DEATH: Ogden Standard Examiner, June 4, 1922
BRIGHAM CITY EDITOR EXPIRES
   Victor E. Madsen Succumbs to Complications Following Operation
Special Dispatch, Brigham, June 3 - Victor E. Madsen, editor and manager of the Box Elder News died at 11:30 o'clock Saturday morning. Mr. Madsen was operated on Tuesday noon for appendicitis and was apparently getting along as well as possible until Friday evening when he took a turn for the worse.
   Mr. Madsen had been the editor and manager of the Box Elder News since 1909. He had also held the position of first counselor to President Norman Lee of the Box Elder stake since 1917. He served a mission for the LDS church to Scandinavia, 1905-1907. He is survived by a widow, two children, 12 and eight years old. Funeral services have not been arranged.         

Ogden Standard Examiner, June 6, 1922
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CHURCH LEADER
   Brigham, June 6 - Memorial services for President Victor E. madsen, editor of the Box Elder News, who died Saturday, were held Sunday afternoon in the stake tabernacle. President Madsen died following an operation for acute appendicitis.
   The following speakers paid tribute to President Madsen: Jess W. Hoopes, Bishop Brigham Wright, Bishop H.W. Valentine, President Norman Lee of Brigham City and President Charles H. Hart and Apostle George A. Smith of Salt Lake City.   President Madsen was characterized as the "friend of humanity," the "man who loved." The choir rendered special numbers undert he direction of Professor Mann.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Deseret News, Tues June 6 1922, p. 3
CONFERENCE IS TURNED INTO MEMORIAL MEETING
Brigham City- June 6-At the quartrly stake conference Sunday only one session was held and that in the afternoon. After the opening exercises and sustaining the officers of the church and stake, the meeting was turned into a memorial meeting in honor the late Prest.Victor E. Madsen. The speakers were Elder Charles H. Hart, Elder George Albert Smith,Bishop Brigham Wright, Bishop H.W. Valentine and Prest. S. Norman Lee.   Beautiful tributes were paid to the character of Mr. Madsen and a special musical program was rendered.
BUSINESS HOUSES TO CLOSE DURING MADSEN FUNERAL
Brigham City, June 6- Announcement is made that funeral services for the late Victor E. Madsen, who died Saturday, will be held in the stake tabernacle Wednesday afternoon commencing at 2 o'clock. All business houses will close between the hours of 1:30 and 4:00 on Wednesday so that all who desire may attend the funeral.

BURIAL: Brigham City Cem B-3-12-2. Sexton's recs list d.o.d. as 5 June 1922

Sarah Cleofa Forsgren & Victor Emanuel Madsen were the parents of three children:
         
           #1) - Victor Earl Madsen, born 14 April 1909, Brigham City.  Died 30 Jan 1993 Brigham City and buried 3 Feb 1993 in Brigham City Cemetery plot B-3-12-6  Victor Earl (known mostly as Earl) married Elizabeth Romney 7 August 1939 in the Salt Lake Temple.  Elizabeth was born 3 Apr 1907 in Colonia Juarez, Mexico.  She died 9 Feb 1993 in Brigham City and was buried 13 Feb 1993 in the Brigham City Cemetery plot B-3-12-7

 DEATH: Social Security Death Index
   Name: Elizabeth R. Madsen
   Last Residence, Brigham City
   Born 3 April 1907; Died 9 Feb. 1993.
   SSN issued Calif, before 1951

BURIAL: Brigham City Cem B-3-12-7; Sexton's records list her parents as Miles Archibald Romney and Elizabeth Burrell; IGI lists Mile Romney and Elizabeth Burrell.

Victor Earl Forsgren is listed as part of the Family Tree of Kristin Glass 03-06-2011 on ancestry.com submitted by Douglas T. Anderson. No death information is listed

MILITARY: Utah Military Records, 1861-1970
Military Service Cards, ca. 1898-1975
Local Board No. 3
Madsen, Victor Earl (wh), Rank: Sgt. Ser. # 399 158 25 Army
Commissioned 6/5/43 Salt Lake City, Utah
Termination of Service 10/11/45, Ft. Bliss, Texas
Date of Birth 4/14/09, Brigham, Utah
Parents Victor E. Madsen, deceased; Cleo F. Madsen, 116 N. 2nd W., Brigham (also nearest kin)
Marital Status: Married. Wife Elizabeth Romney 22 E. 1st N. Brigham

MILITARY: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Victor E Madsen
Birth Year: 1909
Race: White, Citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Utah
State of Residence: Utah
County or City: Box Elder
Enlistment : 15 Jun 1943 Salt Lake City, Utah
Branch Code: Veterinary Corps or Service - For Officers of the Veterinary Corps and for Enlisted Men of the Veterinary Service Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 1 year of college
Civil Occupation: Retail managers
Marital Status: Married
Height: 89 ;  Weight: 104

APPOINTMENTS: Ogden Standard Examiner, April 28, 1946
V.E. MADSEN NEW C.C. SECRETARY
      Brigham City, April 27 - V. Earl Madsen, returned army veteran and Brigham City businessman, is the new secretary of the Box Elder chamber of commerce, it was learned today from the chamber's board of directors. Mr. Madsen replaces Carroll B. Williams who resigned to enter private business insurance.
Mr. Madsen will take office on May 3. He is a son of the late Victor E. Madssen and Cleo F. Madsen
       Before entering the army, Mr. Madsen was manager of a Brigham City clothing store. His wife is the former Elizabeth Romney, a former faculty member at Box Elder high school.
      Mr. Madsen's father was editdor of the Box Elder News for 14 years and served in the LDS Box Elder stake presidency for a number of years before his death.

DEATH: Social Security Death Index
Name: Victor E. Madsen
Last Residence, Brigham City, Utah
Born: 14 April 1909; Died 30 Jan 1993
SSCard issued Utah before 1951

BURIAL: Brigham City Cem B-3-12-6

Front and back of their headstone

Victor Earl Madsen and Elizabeth Romney had two sons:  #1 Richard Romney Madsen (born 30 Sep 1946, Ogden, Weber Co.  Died 20 July 2002 in Weber County.  Buried in Brigham City Cemetery plot B-26-15-6.  [I have no information if Richard married or not or how many children they might have had.  I also have no photo of him]

   #2) Alan Romney Madsen, born 2 Aug 1951, Oakland, Alameda Co., Calif.  Died 13 April 1987 in Garland, Box Elder County.  He is also buried in Brigham City Cemetery plot B-26-15-6W.  Alan Married Janet Johnson , and they have three children

From findagrave.com (submitted by Sarah Argyle)
ALAN ROMNEY MADSEN
Birth: Aug. 2, 1951
Oakland  Alameda County   California, USA
Death: Apr. 13, 1987
Garland, Box Elder County, Utah, USA
"Alan was the son of Victor Earl and Elizabeth Romney Madsen. He was married to Janet Johnson and had three loving children James, Alison and Sarah. He worked for many years for the Union Pacific Railroad. Alan was a kind and loving man. Everyone that met him loved him. He died too young to meet any of his six wonderful grandchildren. He has been dearly missed."

Victor Emmanuel and Sarah Cleofa Forsgren Madsen's
          Child #2) - Irwin Denton Madsen, born 16 Dec 1910 in Brigham City;  Died 2 days later on 18 Dec. 1910 in Brigham.  Buried in Brigham City Cemetery plot B-3-12-8
 

Victor Emmanuel and Sarah Cleofa Forsgren Madsen's
          Child #3) -- Harold Lee Madsen , born 27 July 1913, Brigham City;  Died 7 April 2004, Salt Lake City.  Body returned to Brigham City Cemetery for burial on 14 Apr 2004.  Harold married LouVell Roberts on 5 Aept 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple.  LouVelle was born 21 Sep 1906 in Monroe, Sevier Co., Utah, the daughter of Walter Roberts and Millie Elizabeth Nebeker.  She died 28 Feb 1979 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Co., California and was buried 2 mar 1979 in Hayward, Alameda Co., California.  Harold and LouVell are the parents of two sons:  John David Madsen and Bard R. Madsen


(Harold's Obituary photo)
In 1960 Harold was living in San Lorenzo Calif

CENSUS: 1930 Census of Brigham, Box Elder, taken Apr 4, ED 2-7 Sheet 3-B, North 1st East, Family #69
Madsen, Cleofa G, head, age 48, own home, widow, age 27 when md, born Utah, father born Nevada, mother born Nebraska, stenographer for Farm Bureau
Madsen, V. Earl, age 20, born Utah, minister for Latterday Saints Church
Madsen, Harold L, age 16, born Utah, salesman at Shoe Store

MILITARY: Utah, Military Records, 1861-1970
Name: Harold Lee Madsen
Birth Date: 27 Jul 1913 Brigham City, Utah, age 29
Father: Victor E Madsen   Mother: Sarah Madsen
Military Service Year: 1942

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
Name: Harold L Madsen , white, citizen
Birth Year: 1913 Residence Box Elder Co., Utah
Enlistment Date: 2 Sep 1942 Salt Lake City, Utah
Branch: Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of college
Civil Occupation: Teachers (secondary school) and principals
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 68 /  Weight: 130

OBITUARY: Contra Costa Times, Apr. 19, 2004 (also published in Box Elder News, 19 Apr 2004, Deseret News Apr. 19, 2004 (with photo) Walnut Creek, CA paper, & S.L. Tribune -all on April 19)
     Harold Lee Madsen passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah from causes incident to age. Hal was born July 27, 1913 in Brigham City, Utah to Victor E. Madsen and Cleofa Forsgren Madsen. He was raised in Brigham City in the Third Ward. He graduated from Box Elder High School and was pleased to attend his 73rd class reunion last year. He graduated from the University of Utah and returned to Brigham City to teach art at the High School there. He married LouVell Roberts on September 5, 1942 in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were the parents of two sons, John David Madsen (Peggy) of Brigham City, Utah and Dr. Bard Roberts Madsen (Adele) of Salt Lake City, Utah. Hal served in World War II in the Air Force receiving special training at Yale University. After his honorable discharge, he and LouVell moved to California to pursue his career in apparel design. They lived most of their lives in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Lorenzo and Martinez. After his work in the apparel industry, Hal joined the faculty of Diablo Valley College teaching apparel design and history of design. He left a legacy of creativity and appreciation for his craft among his students via fashion shows, and trips to fashion centers in the U.S. and abroad. Among his avocations were painting landscape watercolors, gourmet cooking, gardening and landscaping, furniture building, stained glass work, attending the symphony and the opera as well as traveling home and abroad. Hal had a special talent in playing the piano which he enjoyed and shared with others most of his life. He his survived by his sons and their wives and grandchildren: Greg Madsen, Brigham City; Nate (Amy) Madsen, Chicago, Illinois; Joanna Siddoway (Lex) Bellevue, Washington; Josh (Jessy) Madsen, Boulder, Colorado; Kasey Later (Steve) Provo, Utah; Scott Madsen, Salt Lake City, Utah; Jane Madsen and Annie Madsen, Provo, Utah. Graveside services are Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at 3:00 P.M. At the Brigham City Cemetery under the direction of Gillies Funeral Chapel, Brigham City,UT.   [I do not yet have a photo of Harold Madsen's headstone]

JOHN HEBER FORSGREN'S WIFE #2 -  Cynthia Marie Thorne, born 4 Sep 1864, Three Mile Creek, Box Elder Co. Died 14 Nov 1900 in Brigham City;  buried 19 Nov  1900 in Brigham City Cemetery. She was known as Marie or Maria in her lifetime.

DEATH: There is no death certificate for her on the Utah Birth and Death Certificates online database
Obituary Deseret Evening News: Friday, Nov 16, 1900 p. 7
"DEMISE OF MRS. MARIA T. FORSGREN, A VICTIM OF TYPHOID
    Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Nov. 15- Mrs. Maria T. Forsgren, wife of John H. Forsgren of the Third Ward, died of typhoid fever last night at about 6:15. She was stricken down with the dread disease about two weeks ago and has suffered severely ever since until her death. Mrs. Forsgren is the daughter of Richard Thorn of Three Mile Creek and has been prominent in society in this city for some years. She leaves a husband and four small children to cherish her memory. This is the second time that Mr. Forsgren has been called upon to part with a young wife, his former wife having died suddenly about fifteen years ago leaving one child, a girl."

BURIAL: Brigham City Cemetery B-18-7-4 - listed as Maria Thorne Forsgren with death 16 Nov 1900

WIFE #3 - LYDIA ANN WALKER , born 27 Aug. 1872 in Perry, Box Elder Co.  Died 18 August 1961 in Salt Lake City; buried 22 Aug. 1961 in the Brigham City Cemetery

NEWS ARTICLES: Ogden Standard Examiner, 22 July 1928

      "Mrs. John H. Forsgren of Salt Lake is visiting relatives and friends in Brigham City. Mrs. Forsgren is compiling a history of Box Elder county and is here in the interest of same."

Ogden Standard Examiner, 7 April 1932
     ". . . Mrs. Ella Bingham, chairman of the Box Elder county history committee. She presented Mrs. Lydia W. Forsgren of Salt Lake City, wife of the late John Forsgren, a former hardware merchant of Brigham City, who has written and compiled a book of the history of Box Elder county. The plan of the book, which is now being published, was shown. It will be bound with a bronze leather covering, showing ox teams. Colored plates and pioneer pictures will be featured. This book when released will be of much interest to Box Elder people and the daughters were asked to pledge their support in co-operating with the history committee in the sale of these books. . . ."

Lydia Walker Forsgren was apparently a Democrat. She was a delegate to the state Democratic Convention in Sept of 1908 (Box Elder News)

Below is a sample of Lydia's handwriting.  Along with being the historian for the Box Elder County history she seemed to also have immersed herself in genealogy.  This letter would have been written probably to Olivia
Forsgren Lee who was also very interested in the family genealogy from the Peter Adolph Forsgren side.

OBITUARY:  Salt Lake Tribune Saturday, August 19, 1961 p. 29 (with photo) & funeral notice 8/20/1961 p. B-9
"FORMER UTAH EDUCATOR, 89, DIES AT S.L. HOME
     Mrs. Lydia Walker Forsgren, 89, 1897 15th East, former teacher and active church worker died Friday at 3:30 p.m. at her home of causes incident to age.
     Active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mrs. Forsgren taught in Utah schools shortly after 1900. She was also the author of a history of Box Elder County, sponsored by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, of which she was a member.
     Born Aug. 27, 1872, in Perry, Box Elder County, she was a daughter of Dan Wray and Barbara Ann Walker.  She was married to John Heber Forsgren July 1, 1903, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  Mr. Forsgren died Aug. 4, 1946.
     Survivors include sons and daughters, Waler W., Miss Barbara, Miss Afton and Donald W. Forsgren, all of Salt Lake City; step-children, Charles Victor Forsgren, Mrs. Leland Larsen, both of Brigham City, and Mrs. Ethleen F. Burnham, Salt Lake City, and two sisters, Mrs. Jack Davis, Ririe, Idaho, and Mrs. Wallace A. (Maude) Laury, Denver, Colo."

The home on the corner of 15th East & 18th South where John Heber and Lydia Walker Forsgren lived

LAST RITES SET FOR TEACHER
     Funeral services for Mrs Lydia Walker Forsgren, 89, 1897-15th East, who died Friday at 3:30 p.m. in her home of causes incident to age, are scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m., at 260 E. South Temple, where friends may call Monday, 6-8 p.m. and Tuesday prior.
     MRS. FORSGREN was a former teacher and was author of a history of Box Elder County.  Burial will be in Brigham City Cemetery Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

An obituary was also published in the Deseret News Aug. 19, 1961, p. B-5

BURIAL: Brigham City Cemetery : B-18-7-2

DESCENDANTS OF JEF - Sarah Alice Forsgren

SARAH ALICE FORSGREN
Second child of John Erik Forsgren and Sarah Bell Davis
born 12 July 1854, Brigham City, Utah;  Died 12 Mar 1935, Salt Lake City, Utah

     Sarah Alice Forsgren was known as Alice during her lifetime.  I do not believe that there is any written history of her life.  I have learned what I can and only wish I knew more detail.  She appears to have been a woman who had a successful career and was well-liked.  In this photo (which is taken with her two brothers) she is superbly dressed and stylish.  She was, in fact, an accomplished dressmaker and had parlors in Brigham City & Park City, Utah, and in Ashton, Idaho Falls, and St. Anthony, Idaho.  Though successful, her early life seems to have been one of insecurity.   Here is what I have gleaned and analyzed in timeline format: 

• 1854,  12 July   Brigham City, Utah         Sarah Alice is born to John Erik Forsgren and Sarah Bell Davis.  Five days later on 17 July 1854 her father marries Harriet Frances Noon Smith, the widow of David Smith.  This marriage is performed by Heber C. Kimball.
• 1858          Alice is four years old.  Her father and mother have divorced.  John E. has married or been sealed twice more:  to Christina Neilsen (about whom I know nothing) and to a woman named Ingeburg who is from Denmark - a widow with two sons.
• 1859, 11 Oct.   Box Elder Co.        Alice is five years old.  Her mother marries Joseph C. Clapper.
• 1860.          Alice is 5 and enumerated in the Moroni, Sanpete Co., Census with her father John E, his wife Ingeburg and her brothers and step-brothers.  Her mother, Sarah Bell Clapper,  is  several months pregnant with twins - a boy and a girl which she delivers in October.  (She is also enumerated with her mother and Mr. Clapper in Brigham City!)
• 1862, May 8.  Sanpete Co.         Ingeborg is granted a divorce from John Erik Forsgren based on her complaint that he has neglected her and has not provided for her.  It is not known who is caring for Alice and her two brothers - probably her grandparents, Sarah McKee and William B Davis.
• 1863,  17 Nov.        Alice is only 9 years old.  Her mother Sarah Bell passes away one month after delivering her 3rd child to Mr. Clapper.  Even more tragically ALL of Sarah Ann's children by Mr. Clapper pass away this same year.  
• 1870.         Alice is age 15.  She is enumerated in the 1870 Brigham City, Box Elder Co., Census with her grandmother, Sarah McKee Davis and her brother John H.  Sarah McKee is enumerated in the household next to William Davis, her husband, who is enumerated with Christina Erika [Forsgren] Davis.  Erika is Alice Forsgren's aunt, the sister to her father, John Erik Forsgren and plural wife of William Davis.
• 1870, 10 Oct.         Alice is 16.   She is sealed to Hyrum James Smith in the Endowment House.  Hyrum is 7 years older than she is.   There seems to be a deep connection between the Forsgren and Smith families of Brigham City which will be discussed further on.   Was this an arranged marriage to help care for Alice?  
• 1876, 4 Sept or Nov.       Alice, at age 22 and Hyrum have one child together, a girl, Imogene (referred to often as just "Gene" or "Jean").  She will be their only child together.
• 1878, 5 Aug.       The Probate Court of Box Elder Co. grants a divorce to Hyrum James Smith from Sarah Alice Forsgren Smith.  No cause is given in the proceedings. Hyrum is required to pay $6 per month child support to Alice who retains custody of their daughter.  (Interestingly it is Judge Samuel Smith, Hyrum's father, who signs the divorce decree).   Alice afterwards takes back her maiden name of Forsgren which she retains until her death.  On 30 Dec 1878 Howard James Smith  marries Cornelia Elvira Walker in Brigham City.

     It appears that Alice was very close to her brother John Heber.  It is possible that some day we could find some of HIS descendants who might have other photos or memories of Alice.   She and John H lived within a few blocks of each other in Salt Lake City when Alice was in her declining years.

 Alice Forsgren's obituary photo 1935

In the DUP's History of Box Elder County, the following is written in the millinery section in the chapter named "Industries in the Home", p. 103.

     "Miss Alice Forsgren was one of Brigham City's very efficient dressmakers.  Later she established a millinery shop on Main Street.  Miss Forsgren has also established successful millinery shops in different parts of Idaho."   [As of Sept. 2011 I have been unable to pinpoint where on Main street Alice's shop was located.  She lived in Bear Lake Co, Idaho for a while and also in Ashton, Idaho where she followed her daughter Imogene and her husband Edgar Cary.  Locations of some of her shops are listed in the following obituaries]

Census of 1930 Alice is listed among the residents of the Sarah Daft Home in Salt Lake City

OBIT:  Salt Lake Tribune - Wednesday March 13,1935 p.7
     PIONEER DRESSMAKER ANSWERS DEATH CALL
        Miss Alice Forsgren, 80, died Tuesday at 12:30 a.m. at her residence, 737 Thirteenth East street, of causes incident to age.
     Miss Forsgren was born in Salt Lake City on June 12, 1854, a daughter of John E. and Sarah Bell Davis Forsgren.  She established one of the first dressmaking establishments in Brigham City and later resided and conducted dressmaking parlors in Park City and Idaho Falls, St. Anthony and Ashton, Idaho.
     She retired about 12 years ago and entered the Sarah Daft home.
     Surviving is a brother, John H. Forsgren, Salt Lake City.
     Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 1 p.m. in the S.T. Ricketts funeral chapel.  Burial will take place in the family plot in Brigham City cemetery.

Deseret Evening News March 12,1935 p.9
     ALICE FORSGREN DIES AT AGE OF 80
       Alice Forsgren, 80, died today at 12:30 a.m. at her residence, 737 Thirteenth East street, of causes incident to age.
       She was born in Salt Lake City, June 12, 1854, daughter of John E. and Sarah Bell Davis Forsgren.  She was married at the early age of 15 to Hyrum Smith, from whom she later separated.  There was a daughter to the union, Imogene Smith, who died several years ago.
       Resuming her maiden name, Miss Forsgren established one of the first dressmaking businesses in Brigham City, and subsequently resided and conducted dressmaking parlors in Park City, Idaho Falls, St. Anthony and Ashton, Ida.
       She retired about 12 years ago and entered the Sarah Daft Home.  She was a member of the mother church of the Christian Scientist religion.
       Surviving is a brother, John H. Forsgren, Salt lake.
       Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 1 p.m. in the S.T. Ricketts mortuary, 344 East First South Street, under the direction of the Christian Scientist church.  Burial will be in the family plot in Brigham City cemetery.

Box Elder News, 15 March 1935 (front page)
     ALICE FORSGREN IS LAID AT REST;  Funeral Services for Former Brigham City Woman Held Thursday
     Impressive funeral services for Alice Forsgren, 80, who died in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, were held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the S.T. Ricketts Mortuary.  A number of local people attended the services.   Interment was made in the Brigham City cemetery.
     She was born in Salt Lake City, June 12, 1854, daughter of John E. and Sarah Bell Davis Forsgren.  She was married at the early age of 15 years to Hyrum Smith, from whom she later separated.  There was a daughter to this union, Immogene Smith Carey, who died several years ago.
     Resuming her maiden name, Miss Forsgren established one of the first dress making establishements in Brigham City, and subsequently resided and conducted dress-making parlors in Park City, Idaho Falls, St. Anthony andAshton, Idaho.   From Ashton she went to Hollywood, where she was employed for some time as designer and dress-maker in one of the large establishments there.  She retired about twelve years ago and upon returning to Brigham City made her home for about three years with her brother, the late C.W. Forsgren.  Soon after the death of her daughter she decided to enter the Sarah Daft Home in Salt Lake City, where she remained until her death.
     She is survived by one brother, John H. Forsgren of Salt Lake.

The Sarah Daft Home where Alice lived in her later years

737 S. 13th E., Salt Lake City, Utah

The home is just a few blocks from where her brother John Heber lived with his wife Lydia Walker

The Sarah Daft Home is the oldest continually operating assisted living facility in Utah. It was established in the name of Sarah Ann Daft in 1911 and began its operation at its present historical location in 1913. There are thirty-nine rooms available for residents to rent on a monthly basis. The philosophy of the Sarah Daft Home is to preserve the individuality and privacy of each resident while providing for their basic daily needs. This home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.   Alice is listed as living there as early in the 1930 Census.

Brigham City Cemetery E-1-6-2;   (Sexton's record lists d.o.b. 12 June 1854)

Alice Forsgren's Death Certificate

DEATH: Certificate #483 (Utah Death Certificates 1904-1956) online
Alice Forsgren
Died:  12 Mar 1935 age 80 yrs, 9 months, 0 days at the Sarah Daft Home, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah.  Cause Uraemia and chronic nephritis
Usual residence:  737 South 13th East [Sarah Daft Home] for 8 years
female, white, divorced from husband Hyrum Smith
born June 12 1854 Brigham City, Utah
Father:  John Eric Forsgren, born Sweden
Mother: Sarah Bell Davis, born Pennsylvania
Informant J.H. Forsgren 1897 15th East, S.L. City, Ut
Burial, Brigham City, Utah 3/14/1935;  undertaker S T Ricketts, 344 E. 1st So., SLC, Utah

COMMENTS :  [From my PAF notes on Sarah Alice Forsgren]
    I have wished I knew more details of the life of Alice Forsgren and her marriage to Hyrum James Smith.  It was't until I read the life history of Knud Eli Forsgren and Frances Mary Smith that I began to see the interesting interfamily connections. 
     The father of Frances Mary Smith was Samuel Smith who had five wives.
          The FIRST was Mary Ann Line who was the father of Hyrum James Smith who married Alice Forsgren (she was age 16).
         The SECOND wife was Sarah Jane Ingram or Ingraham who was the mother of Francis Mary Smith (wife of K. Eli Forsgren).
         The FIFTH wife was Francis Ann Ingram or Ingraham who was the mother of Esther Ann Smith who married Charles William Forsgren, Alice's older brother. 
     In addition the life sketch of Frances Ann Ingram it states that William Davis (who was the spouse of Christena Erika Forsgren) took in Sarah Jane and Frances' brother Richard when the three were left stranded by their uncle who went off in search of gold.   The two girls were given food and shelter by Sarah Wooding Smith - mother of Samuel who later married them both.
     There must have been a great deal of Forsgren/Smith inter-relations in Brigham City as the early settlement developed.  
     We do not know Alice's frame of mind.   Was she ever an "active" Latter-day Saint?    Did an early marriage sour her toward the church and polygamy  (tho she was not a polygamist's wife).   Did her split with Hyrum come about because she already differed in her feelings toward the Church? Hyrum is the one who initiated the divorce proceedings, not Alice.   (Hyrum Smith later becomes an important Church and Civic leader in Idaho with his second wife).  Did she become disenchanted because her father, John Erik Forsgren had become disenchanted with the Church and its leaders?  Or were there hurt and angry feelings projected by Alice's mother Sarah Bell Davis who had already separated from John Erick and had married Mr. Clapper by the time Alice was only 5 years old.  Alice  was only 9 years old when her mother died.  Was her early marriage to Hyrum Smith a means of "taking care of her" - an arrangement urged by caring brothers?
     All I know so far (Sept, 2004) is that she did not remain in the church and died as a practicing Christian Scientist.    I don't know if she and Mr. Smith remained "friends."    She lived in the Bear Lake area with her daughter (Imogene) and son-in-law at the same time that Hyrum Smith was in the Riverdale/Preston area with his second wife Cornelia Elvira.  Imogene seems also to have never been active in the LDS Church... at least after she married Edgar E. Carey.   When each of them died their funerals were conducted by Protestant ministers.  Perhaps understanding a little more of the difficult life she might have led as a child and young woman she should be greatly lauded for making such a success of herself as a single woman in the world.
      Eli and Francis Mary Smith Forsgren settled in Riverdale because her [half-] brother Hyrum was there.   (She would have felt very close to Hyrum since his mother took Frances into their home to raise after the early & unexpected death of her own mother).  The descendants of Eli/Francis Forsgren and of Hyrum / Elvira Smith populated the area for many years and most are buried in the Riverdale City Cemetery.

The only child born to Alice Forsgren and Hyrum Smith was Imogene Smith, born 14 Sept or Nov of 1876 in Brigham City, Box Elder Co.  Imogene was also known as "Jean" or "Gene" in her lifetime.  She died 8 Nov 1924 after a surgery for stomach cancer in Idaho Falls,  Bannock Co., Idaho.  She is buried by her mother in the Brigham City Cemetery.
     Gene married Edgar E. Carey (sometimes spelled Cary) the 21 Nov 1895 in Paris, Bear Lake Co., Idaho.  There were no children born to this marriage.  [I have no photos of either Imogene or Edgar Carey]

BURIAL: Brigham City Cem E-1-16-3; Sexton's records list Sept 14th as d.o.b.  [Her headstone photo is shown above with her mother's]

OBITUARY: Box Elder Journal, Thursday, Nov 13, 1924 p.1
     MRS CAREY DIED ASHTON, IDAHO - Leaves Many Friends in Brigham City Who Knew Her Years Ago
      The many girlhood friends of Imogene Smith Carey will be pained to learn that she passed to that better life Saturday, November 8, 1924, as the result of an operation for cancer of the stomach.
      She rallied from the anesthetic but grew gradually weaker until the end came four days later, Saturday noon. The operation was performed in an Idaho Falls hospital. The body was taken back to their home town - Ashton, Idaho, where all that loving friends could do was done to alleviate the sorrow of the bereaved husband.
      Funeral services were held in Ashton, Wednesday, November 12, under the direction of Rev. Meridith. After the services the body was shipped to Brigham City in care of Bishop Horace A. Hess of Ashton. A wealth of floral offerings accompanied the body from Idaho.
      Funeral services will be held this afternoon at the home of her uncle, Charles W. Forsgren. Interment will take place in the Brigham City cemetery.
      Mrs. Carey is survived by her husband, Edgar E. Carey; her mother Mrs. Alice Forsgren; her father, Hyrum Smith of Riverside, Idaho; her husband's mother, Mrs. Dr. Middelton of California, and a host of loving relatives in this city.
      Imogene Smith Carey was born in this city November 14, 1876 and grew to young womanhood here in the home of her uncle, J. H. Forsgren. Her loving, unselfish disposition endeared her to all that had the privilege of knowing her.
      When Gene was just blooming into womanhood she and her mother moved to Montpelier, Idaho, where she made the acquaintance of Edgar E. Carey, a splendid young man and a photographer by trade. They were married in Paris, Idaho, when Gene was about 23 years of age. They later moved to Ashton, their present home.
      No children came to bless their union, so now Mr. Carey is alone with the two mothers. The sympathy of many communities goes out to the bereaved ones for Gene was loved by all her friends in Brigham, Ashton, St. Anthony and Idaho Falls."

CARD OF THANKS - We take this means of expressing to our friends and neighbors, the deep appreciation we feel for the many acts of kindness shown to us in the laying away of our beloved daughter, Mrs. Imogene Smith Carey. MRS. ALICE FORSGREN AND THE FORSGREN FAMILIES.
(Box Elder Journal, Monday, Nov. 17, 1924)

Idaho Falls Daily Post, Wed, Nov 12, 1924 p. 5 Deaths
Mrs. Geane Cary
     Mrs Geane Cary, wife of Ed Cary, of Ashton, died Saturday morning at a local hospital, after several days illness. Mrs. Cary was about 48 years old and has been a resident of Idaho for many years, where she has a host of friends. The body was taken to Ashton, where the funeral services were held Wed. afternoon. Internment will be in the Ashton Cemetery. [This is wrong. The body was taken to Brigham City. A search was also made at BYU-Idaho library in the Fremont Co. News which likely would have had a more extensive obituary. However their microfilmed copy of that newspaper goes from 1922 to 1925, skipping 1923 and 1924.]
     
Note: A search of Brigham City 1st, 2nd & 3rd ward records and Ashton, Idaho wards show no listing for Imogene's baptism. In fact, neither she nor her mother Alice are mentioned anywhere in the membership records. Obit says she was reared in John Heber's home. He did not move to Salt Lake until abt. 1926 so she should have been listed with his family. Neither she nor Alice show up in the LDS Church Censuses under Smith or Carey. Given that her funeral (and Edgar's) were conducted by Protestant ministers I make the assumption she was NOT an active member of the LDS Church. The Bishop who accompanied her body to Utah may have been asked to do so by family members in Utah. (Adele Austin, Fors. Fam. Assn. Secy 7/30/ 2004)
 
Edgar E. Carey , born 15 Sep 1879 in Waite, Washington Co., Maine to George F. Carey and Adelia (Della or Delia) Ripley .  Died 30 Mar 1949 in St. anthony, Fremont Co., Idaho.  Buried 2 April 1949 in Riverview Cemetery, St. Anthony.  (Various records give alternate years of birth for Ed)

NAME NOTE: In not one of the many records I have searched on Edgar E. Carey have I yet seen anything that suggests what the middle Initial E. stands for.

AGE NOTE: Further research is needed to find an actual birth date since 1869, 1873, 1874, 1876 and 1879 are all estimated or given dates of birth in various records.
PEOPLE SUBMITTING INFORMATION TO ANCESTRY.COM
dmjamess@nsmt.org lists Edgar's birth as 1872
Jmansti359@comcast.net (lists Edgar as living)
arnie-krause@shaw.ca does not list Edgar

LAND RECORDS: A search of Fremont Co. land record books was made in July 2006 by Adele Austin in St. Anthony. Dr. Middleton acquired several plots of land on Block 37 of St. Anthony. It later passed into the hands of his wife Delia (Edgar's mother) and then was sold or given to Edgar... Portions of the land sold to others over a period of time and eventually Alice, Ed's second wife, then married to Mr. Percey sells it. The transactions also involve some farm land and the daughter of Dr.Middleton, Myrtle Kays of Eugene,Oregon. This block is the one situated directly across the street from the Fremont County Courthouse. Two buildings still standing may have been their home.

There are many transactions - the most pertinent are summarized here:
Misc Recs. Book D p. 440 Apr 13, 1912 No. 43813 Estate of W.J. Middleton - land goes to Delia.
Book 20 Deeds p. 326 #74367 24 June 1918 Delia Middleton, a widow sells to Edgar E. Carey of Ashton SW one quarter of Section 11 Twp (8) North, Range 42, East Boise Meridian w/ water rights
Book 25 p. 414, Oct. 31, 1922 Myrtle Kays of Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon - Quit Claim of above property
Book 52 p.. 348 # 264824 Warrenty dead 1 Oct 1948 E.E. Carey & Alice Carey sell part to M.N. & Thora Brisbane
Book 36 p. 636 Jan 15 1936 Delia Middleton deeds to Edgar E. Carey lots 1-6 of Block 37
Misc. Rec Book N p. 37 May 21 1951 Probate Court - in the matter of the estate of Edgar E.Carey, dec'd. "The petition of Alice Carey Percey, surviving widow of and heir-at-law of Edgar E. Carey, dec'd.
Said Edgar E. Carey, dec'd, died on or abt. March 30, 1949 at Fremont Co., Idaho and at the time of the death was a ressident of said County and State and left an estate consisting of an undivided 1/2 community interest in lots 8 & 10 of Block 37 ... & 1/2 interest in lot 20, block 37... (three properties total)
...Alice Carey Percey inherits the whole of the estate of said dec'd by virtue of survivorship. E.E. Carey died intestate. Date May 21, 1951."
Book 76 p. 333 (Warrenty Deed No. 306216) Nov. 1, 1965 "Indenture made this 1 June 1953 by and between Alice Carey Percey of Idaho Falls, Bonneville Co., Idaho and Emmit and Leona W. Hunter of St. Anthony - $12,600. Lots 9 & 10 of Block 27

CENSUS: 1880 Federal Census of Fort Collins, Larimer, Colorado lists Edgar below Della Carey, age 7 <1873>. She is age 27 (married- they appear to be living in a boarding house or hotel, her occupation is Dining room waiter; She is listed under the name of the lady who is "Keeping Hotel") p. 27A (SL film # 1254092)

1920 Census of Ashton, Fremont Idaho, Ed 159 sheet 1A enum 2 & 3 Jan 1920 line 12
Carey, Edgar E, head, age 47, md, farmer (owns farm), he & both parents born Maine
Carey, Imogene, wife, age 42, md. she and both parents born Utah

1930 Fed. Census, Ashton, Fremont, Idaho ED22-3 Sheet 1 B enum. 29 Apr 1930
Carey, Edgar E, head, owns home, value 1285, age 54 <1876>, md, age at first marriage: 21 <1874>, farmer, he and both parents born Maine.
Carey, Alice M, wife, age 36, md, age at first marriage: 15, she and both parents born North Carolina
Bernard, Lynn A, age 19, born Idaho,a laborer is also living with them.
[Res. note: Was Alice M. Bell married previously? Age 15 at time of first marriage????]

DEATH: Idaho Death Index, 1911-1951 on Ancestry.Com. Death Certif #000964
(This reference lists date of birth as 15 Sept 1879 but previous census records confirm an earlier date 1873 or 1876)
Idaho Falls Reg FHC.,Eastern Idaho Death Records. gives 15 Sept 1869 birth to George Carey and Della Rupley. States Edgar died in a St. Anthony Hospital. Their sources are Post Register 1 Apr 1949 p. 2 & 4th p. 12.

OBITUARY: Salt Lake Tribune, Saturday, April 2, 1949 p. 26
ST. ANTHONY, Ida.--- Funeral services for Edgar (Ed) E. Carey, 69, who died Wednesday in a St. Anthony hospital, will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. in the St. Anthony Community church by Rev. Earl McConnelee, pastor.
    Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Park. Friends may call at the Hansen's mortuary chapel until time of services.
     Mr. Carey was born Sept. 15, 1879, at Waite, Me., son of George and Della Ripley Carey. He came to Idaho in 1886 with his parents who located at Montpelier. Later the family moved to Idaho Falls.
     He married Jean Smith at Idaho Falls in 1890. In 1898 they moved to St. Anthony and installed the first telephone here. In 1907 he purchased a farm near Ashton. Mrs. Carey died 25 years ago at Ashton.
     Mr. Carey married Alice Bell April 23, 1925. In 1936 they moved to St. Anthony where they have since resided.
     Mr. Carey is survived by his widow."

[This is a good example of an obituary providing good genealogical clues but also being full of inaccurate information. For example, age and year of birth of Edgar are wrong, wife's name is inaccurate as well as date and place of that marriage. But it is good to remember that obit information would have been provided by the SECOND wife, far removed from knowledge of earlier events).

An additional obituary is found in the Fremont Co. News, St. Anthony, Thurs. Apr. 7,1949 . Some basic facts differ. "He married Jean Smith at Idaho Falls in 1900." It also says that he and Alice Bell moved in 1926 to St. Anthony. There is additional great detail about the actual funeral services held at the St. Anthony Community Church, pallbearers, flower carriers, etc. with the addition of naming the cemetery: Riverview Memorial Park.

Another obituary published in the [Idaho Falls] Post-Register is found with the funeral records now in possession of the Flamm Funeral home in St. Anthony. One article gives date of birth as 1869. One gives 1879. One says he engaged in the phototherapy business. It adds that in 1907 he purchased a farm near Ashton where his first wife died. This obit. says that he came to Montpelier when 7 yrs. old

Record of Funeral p. 125 - Now in possession of Bert Flamm Funeral Home in St. Anthony, Idaho.No. 1881, Yearly No. 18, Date of Entry. Apr. 6, 1949 (photocopy in possess. of Fors. Fam. Assn.)
Edgar E. Carey White, married, Residence: St.Anthony, Idaho, Husband of Alice Bell Carey.
Occupation: retired Farmer
Date of Death: March 30 1949 5 p.m.
Date of Birth: September 15, 1879 69 years 6 mo. 15 days
Date of Funeral: Apr. 2, Sat, 2 p.m.
Services at Comunity Church; clergyman Rev. Earl C. McConnelee
Birthplace: Waite, Maine. Resided in the state since 1886
Place of death: St. Anthony, Idaho of Myocardial infarction, contributed to by cerebral thrombus, benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. attending physician Dr. Carl D. Lusty of St. Anthony.
Name of father: George Carey born Maine
Name of Mother: Delia Ripley, born Maine.
Intured in Riverview Cemetery, St. Anthony
Total costs: $777.00

TIMELINE FACTS:
1895 - Edgar and and Imogene both living in Montpelier, Idaho at time of their marriage in Paris, ID
1900 - They are living in Idaho Falls, Bingham Co, ID (1900 Census. She is "the mother of 0 children")
1910 - Cannot find them in censuses of Idaho, Utah or Wyoming
1920 - They are in Ashton, Fremont Co, Idaho (no children) (1920 Census)
1924 - Imogene dies in Idaho Falls, Bingham Co, Idaho
1925 - Edgar marries Alice M. Bell
1930 - He is in Ashland still but with wife Alice M. (no children)
1949 - Edgar dies in St. Anthony, Fremont Co. Idaho

Riverview Cemetery, St. Anthony, Idaho

The Community Church in St. Anthony where services were held for Edgar E Carey 

"DENMARK TO MANTI" - contains the most comprehensive biography of John Erik Forsgren

     Recognition should be paid to James L. Anderson who wrote and published a 257 page book called Denmark to Manti, The History of William Anderson and Family.  Jim is the great, great grandson of William Anderson.    Pages 239 thru 247 of this work include a very well written biography of John Eric Forsgren.  It is well footnoted and makes use of the Journal History of the Church, DUP files, existing biographical sketches, the History of the Scandinavian Mission and quotes extensively from the 100 or so pages of the depositions housed at the National Archives having to do with the petitions of Kiersten Johnson Forsgren and Mary Ann Snyder, wives of John E. who each sought compensation from the Bureau of Pensions (because of John E's service in the Mormon Battalion).
     I will not add his significant chapter to this blog because I do not have permission to do so and because I feel it would take away from the publishing done by Mr. Anderson.   The book is available at the SL Family History and BYU Libraries.  I do not know if there are still copies available for sale.  Mr. Anderson donated a copy to the Forsgren Family Archives which I currently "tend."  The book was printed by Paramount Press in Salt Lake City but bears no date of publication.
      Page 7 gives a short biography of of James L. Anderson (born 1939 in Centerfield, Sanpete County) and states:  "For additional copies of this book write/phone (801) 269-1501.  James L. Anderson  4161 South 530 East #20A, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107. Suggested price $25.00."    I do not know how current this information is in 2010.

     There are a few errors in his work which I have tried to correct or comment on in the various posts to this blog.  Still, it is an amazing feat to have added this biography when there is no Forsgren family connection to him.  We are all indebted to his research and original compilation.

THE GAVLE FIRE

     The conversion stories of  John Erik,  Peter Adolph, and Christena Erika Forsgren often mention the incident of John E's arrest & appearance before a magistrate who asked him for a photo of Joseph Smith, who then snatched the photo and burned it.  John Erik is quoted as prophesying that the city of Gavle would in like manner be burned because of this action.    I have always had uncomfortable feelings about the story - for two reasons:

• Photographs were not a common thing yet in the 1850's.  Historian's tell us that there is only one known photograph of Joseph Smith which is the property of the Library of Congress.   That, of course, does not prove that John E did not have a print from that daguerreotype or that he might have had a portrait sketch of the Prophet.  I just don't know what he had, if anything, and if that part of the story is true.
• I wanted to know if the city really had suffered such a fire.   It did.  Quoting from the on-line Wikipedia:

     "Over the last 300 years Gävle has been ablaze on three different occasions. After the fire of 1776 the      town was rebuilt with straight streets and rectangular city blocks. The number of stone and brick houses also started to increase. The biggest town fire occurred 1869, when out of a population of around 10,000 approximately 8,000 inhabitants lost their homes, and about 350 farms were destroyed. Almost the whole town north of Gavleån was burnt down. All the buildings south of Gavleån were saved. An area of the old town between the museum and the library has been preserved to this day as a historic reserve."

     THAT, my friends, is what you can find in an instant through modern technology!   I first had my curiosity put to rest in Mar 1977 when I addressed a personal letter (with a typewriter, carbon paper and a stamp and using snail mail!) to Stads-och Lansbibliotek i Gavle  P.O.B. 801, S. Strandgatan 6, Gavle Sweden.    I quote:
    "Dear Sirs:
        I have family who emigrated from Gavle in the early part of the 1850's.  A story has been passed down from them that some nineteen years after they left the area, the town of Gefle was almost totally destroyed by fire.
        Since I have no immediate access to the "Gefle Posten" or any other newspaper that might have given an account of this fire, I would like very much to know if you can be of some help in proving or disproving this family tradition.
        Was there, in fact, such a fire about the year 1870 or 1871?  If so, what was the extent of the fire and can it be ascertained where it might have started and why? ...... "

On April 5, 1977 I received the following reply from Anna-Lisa Hillbom, 1st librarian at the Stadsbiblioteket of Gavle:
 "Dear Madam
        I write this to let you know immediately that there was in fact a great fire in Gavle 10-11 July 1869.  It destroyed the entire Northern part of the town, i.e. north of the river Gavlean.  Only the parish church was saved, and, miraculously, a big wooden building owned by the family Berggren.  This house was surrounded by trees and bushes that the fire could not get through.
        There are, of course, newspaper accounts of this disaster, and I will translate and send you a summary of what was written immediately and later on about the great fire. . . "

I never did hear any more from Ms. Hillbom as it turned out, but my curiosity on the matter was satisfied.  The fire did not reach the Forsgren family home which still stands among other structures of the era and is part of a historical district or artist's colony.   I find it interesting that the parish church was also preserved, probably allowing for the saving of  important vital record books for the town.

BIOGRAPHIES OF JOHN ERIK FORSGREN

The following comprises Chapter 12, pp. 56-61 of the Sons of Utah Pioneers publication, Box Elder Lore, Brigham City, 1951. (Some minor corrections have been made to punctuation and spelling from the original.) I have taken the liberty of inserting various quotations from articles in the 1967 Church News and Andrew Jensen's History of the Scandinavian Mission.

     [Inset Photo of J.E. Forsgren - the same as the one at the header of this blog]

     John Erick Forsgren is the son of John O. Forsgren and Anna Christina Olsen.  He was born in November 7, 1816 at Gefle, Sweden.  As a lad of 9 years of age he went to sea and for about 18 years most of his life was spent as a sailor on the mighty ocean.  He visited nearly every important seaport on the globe, visited America several times.  In the spring of 1843 while in Boston, Mass., he became acquainted with the Latter-day Saints, attended their meetings, was convinced that the elders preached the gospel as taught by the Savior, accepted the same and was baptized by Elder Wm. McGhen, July 16, 1843, and like Peter of old left the sea to accept the greater work of the Master.  He went to Nauvoo where he became acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, Brigham Young and other leaders of the Church.
     The westward move began February 4, 1846, and from that date on there was a continuous stream of wagons crossing the Mississippi river to the Iowa side.  In the spring, there was snow and cold, there was much suffering, but the Saints, leaving their possessions behind them, went, looking with sad hearts on their deserted homes; but they would rather face the winter storms than to live in constant dread of cruel mobs.  The main camp of this exiled band of co-religious people was Winter Quarters.
     February 15, 1849, John E. Forsgren married Miss Sarah Bell Davis, daughter of Wm. Davis and Sarah McKee, who came to Utah in 1848 in Lorenzo Snow's company.  In 1850 Wm. Davis was called to settle in Box Elder County.  He and his family, also James Brooks and family together with Thomas Pierce arrived at what is now known as Brigham City, March 11, 1851.
     In 1846 war broke out between the U.S. and Mexico.  What is now Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Idaho and parts of Colorado, belonged then to Mexico, and the President desired to get this large district of country for the U.S. he sent some soldiers westward on the Pacific Ocean.

MORMON BATTALION LEADERS WHO SETTLED HERE

     The Mormons traveling from Nauvoo had asked President Polk for assistance in their journey to the west.  They said they wanted to remain under the protection of the government and were willing to aid in holding the western country for the U.S.  The authorities at Washington, knowing that the Mormons were on their way to California or Oregon, determined to make use of them to win the country.  President Polk, accordingly instructed General Kearney to call five hundred of these people to his aid.  Brigham Young and the Twelve took an active part in getting volunteers.  The stars and stripes were hoisted to a tree top and the work of enrollment began.  Within three days the little army was organized and ready for the march.  There were 549 souls in the battalion, who, with Captain James Allen as the commander, started on their dreary march July 20, 1846.

     President Young gave them farewell blessings and advice.  They must be true to their country, he said, and true to their God.  "Not a single occasion," he added, prophetically, "should they be required to shed human blood."

     John E. Forsgren was the only Scandinavian represented in the battalion.  The boys reached Santa Fe, New Mexico, October 9, 1846, after much suffering and enduring many hardships.  Captain Allen had died enroute and Colonel Cook became the commanding officer.  They arrived at San Diego, California January 30, 1847 on which occasion the weary and half-clad battalion boys were heartily congratulated by their leaders.  Colonel Cook, their commander, gave a wonderful tribute to them.  Some of the boys stayed in California for some time, seeking employment in different ways, and these same Mormon battalion boys were successful in locating the first gold found in California.

     John E. Forsgren and other members of the battalion started out to find the pioneer Saints and arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley October 1, 1847.

      He was one of the missionaries called and set apart to Sweden.  they made all the preparations for leaving that their limited means would allow.  On the 19th of October, 1849, they gathered at the mouth of Emigration canyon where they were organized into a traveling company by Brigham Young.  There were 53 men in the party with twelve wagon and 42 horses.  Shadrach Roundy was appointed captain of the company.

     The party set out on their long journey and arrived at Fort Kearney December 7, 1849, and arrived a few days later at Kanesville where they were received by the Saints with tokens of love and joy.

     From Kanesville the missionaries took different routes to the coast and across the Atlantic.  Peter O. Hansen landed in Liverpool, April 8, 1850.  John E. Forsgren arrived on the 19th of the same month.  At this time there were about 3000 Saints in Great Britain, and those laboring in that mission were aided financially by them.

     Apostle Erastus Snow, Elders P.O. Hansen and George P. Dykes began at once their great work of preaching and teaching the gospel in Denmark.  Elder John E. Forsgren took an affectionate farewell of these brethren at Copenhagen, June 19, 1850, and proceeded to his native town, Gefle, Sweden.  ["Elder John E. Forsgren, who on June 19, 1850, had taken leave of his fellow-missionaries, Erastus Snow, Peter O. Hansen and George P. Dykes in Copenhagen, Denmark, proceeded to Gefle, a seaport town of Sweden, situated at the mouth of the Gafvel River and on the Bay of Bothnia. Near this city he found his brother, Peter Adolph Forsgren, and sister, Christina Erika Forsgren, sill living at the old homestead.  His father, Johan Olaf Forsgren, was absent on a sea voyage to America." Chap. 3 Hist of Scandinavian Mission p. 11]
     [Apostle Snow wrote:  "He took leave of us, though his eyes were full of tears and his heart ready to burst, he goes by steamboat to Gefle, high up on the Swedish shore of the Baltic.  In that vicinity he hopes to find his father from whom he has been absent nearly 10 years."]
 
     When Elder Forsgren arrived in his native town, he learned that his sister, Christina Erika Forsgren a short time previous, had the following remarkable vision, which made a deep impression on her, as well as on her brother, Peter A. Forsgren.  While she was sitting in the church one Sunday morning have previously engaged in devotional exercises, and as a hymn was sung she saw clearly a personage standing before her who said:  "On the fifth day of July a man will come to you with three books and all those that believe in the things written in those books shall be saved."  She did not for a moment think that that man would be her long lost brother John who went to sea when a young boy.  But when Elder Forsgren came, having with him the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, both Peter and Erika believed the gospel message which their brother presented to them.
     Peter was at that time afflicted with consumption and the doctors being agreed that he could not live; but he was completely healed through the ordinances of the gospel together with faith and prayer.  ["Elder Forsgren found his brother very sick with consumption and, by the physicians, declared past recovery.  (p. 11.)  Among the converts to the truth of his teachings was his brother, Peter A. Forsgren, who through faith and anointing with oil had been raised from his bed of sickness, and on the 26th day of July, 1850, he baptized him as the first fruit of preaching the gospel in its fulness in Sweden.  This baptism took place about three weeks earlier than the first immersion by Erastus Snow in Copenhagen, Denmark.  John E. Forsgren, consequently, performed the first baptism in the Scandinavian Mission." (p. 12)] 
     On July 26th of 1850, Elder Forsgren baptized his brother Peter A. Forsgren.  This was the first baptism by divine authority performed in Scandinavia in this dispensation.  He also baptized his sister Christina Erika Forsgren, August 4, 1850, she being the first woman baptized as a member of the Mormon Church in Scandinavia.  [" Soon after Elder John E. Forsgren had baptized his brother, he also baptized his sister and two other persons in Gefle, after which he concluded to go to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, in the hope of finding there more tolerance on the part of the officials and of the people, and, consequently, a better opening to introduce the gospel.  Accordingly he called for his passport on the 3rd of August, but he missed the steamer and was left at Gefle." (p. 12)]
     As soon as the work of Elder Forsgren became generally known, a storm of persecution arose against him.
     He was arrested and ill-treated many times and finally banished from the country.  One day he was summoned to the office of the public prosecutor and the latter asked him if he had in his possession a picture of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Having a picture, he showed it, and the officer snatched it and burned it.  While it was burning, Elder Forsgren had a vision in which he saw the city of Gefle destroyed by fire.  He told his relatives of this vision and also that they, his brother and sister would be in America, when this visitation took place.  Nineteen years from the date of the burning picture, the city of Gefle was almost totally destroyed by fire, the conflagration starting in the very house where the picture of the prophet had been sacrificed to the flames.
     While thus laboring in his native land Elder Forsgren heard of a large company of farmers who were preparing to emigrate to America.  He went and preached the gospel to them and had the great pleasure of baptizing 17 of them.  He organized them into a traveling company, ordained some of them to the Priesthood, and gave them instructions how to proceed to baptize others of their members, if they desired.[ ". . . he heard of a ship which was about to leave for New York with a company of emigrating farmers.  He sought them at once, finding them lodging temporarily in a warehouse, waiting for the vessel to get ready.  These emigrants were somewhat conversant with the Scriptures, and, being tired of the oppression and religious intolerance of their native country, had concluded to seek their fortunes in America.  Elder Forsgren preached the gospel to them, and they received him gladly; wherefore he visited them frequently and instructed them concerning the principles of the restored gospel.  On August 6th, the proposed a public meeting in a grove, a short distance out of town; and, after due deliberation, he decided to bar a public testimony and abide the consequences.  It was under these circumstance that the first public Latter-day Saint meeting was held in Sweden, on Tuesday, August 6, 1850.  Elder Forsgren on that day went to the water and baptized seventeen persons belonging to the emigrant company.  Everything passed off quietly and satisfactorily and the people, becoming interested, asked for a second meeting, which was held the following day.
     On Wednesday, Aug. 7th, Elder Forsgren organized the newly baptized converts into a branch of the Church and ordained two of them to the office of Elders.  He also ordained some Teachers among them, administered the Sacrament and instructed all the emigrants relative to their journey and their future proceedings.  He gave the ordained Elders instructions how to baptize and confirm their traveling companions, should any of them decide to join the Church on the voyage, or afterwards.
     At the appointed hour of the meeting, 6 o'clock p.m., the rumor of the first meeting had drawn a vast multitude both from the town and country to the place appointed.  Among the number were some Lutheran priests and "stadfiskalen" (city marshal) with members of the police force, ready to take Elder Forsgren into custody.  They however, took no steps to arrest him until he had finished his discourse, for the power of God rested upon him as well as upon the people.  'Some wept, others rejoiced, and nearly all seemed to feel that surely a prophet had come among them'.  As soon as he was through speaking, the marshal and priests, full of indignation, and boiling over with rage, came forward and arrested him, amid terrible threats and denunciations.  As he was marched into town, the vast multitude followed, and they were met by large crowds from the town and shipyards.  As the officer in charge, by way of introducing his prisoner to the crowd, called him 'dopparen' (the dipper), the multitude swung their hats and cried with deafening shouts:  'Hurra for profeten'  (Hurrah for the prophet).  (p. 12 & 13)]
     As a prisoner Elder Forsgren had many opportunities, as did the Apostle Paul formerly, to bear his testimony to many of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities ["The following day (August 8th) John E. Forsgren was brought before the chief officer of police at Gefle;  next he was taken before the chief officer of "landskansliet"; then before the chief priest and his associates, all of whom, in their turn, examined and questioned him, and made records of the proceedings.  he answered them as the spirit gave him utterance, until they became confounded and perplexed and knew not what to do with him.
     He was next ushered before "borgmasteren" (the city mayor of Gefle,  where all the before-mentioned dignitaries were assembled with the priests and police.  Here he had another opportunity of bearing witness to the truth, for as they proceeded with their accusations of what he had said and done, he explained and bore testimony.  Among other transgressions, which the marshal accused him of, was healing the sick.  The chief priest sent for Elder Forsgren's brother to have him examined, as it was believed he was still sick.  But when this brother came, he testified boldly that he was well and that he had been healed by the power of God, through the instrumentality of his brother.  The doctor was ordered to examine Brother Forsgren's head, as they would fain have sent him to the asylum; but the doctor very significantly told them that he (John E. Forsgren) knew well what he was about.  Everything increased their perplexity.  Elder Forsgren was well dressed and bore passports from Washington, D.C.  This, added to his bold indifference, made them feel dubious about imprisoning him.  They finally concluded to send him to Stockholm with a full account of his doings in Gefle.  The marshal suggested that for his bold, impudent demeanor he was worthy to go to Stockholm in irons; and the irons were produced for the purpose.  But, after a little further consultation, he was dismissed with the following endorsement upon his pass, which was suggested by the chief priest:  'The bearer of this pass received it and had it signed August 3rd for his departure to Stockholm, but was unable to leave at that time.  The North American consul, now present, rejects him, and leaves him without protection.  The bearer of the pass has, during the past few days, disturbed the general peace by illegal preaching in warehouses and in the open air before several hundred persons, and has even performed the act of baptizing several grown persons on the seashore.  For these offenses he will leave Gefle before 8 o'clock tomorrow morning for the above mentioned place of destination without fail. - Gefle Landsaknsli, 8th Aug., 1850 '
     When Elder Forsgren landed in Stockholm, he was again arrested, as the police officers had received from Gefle five or six pages of his sayings and doings there, and he was taken forthwith before the chief police officers of the kingdom for three successive days, where he again had an opportunity of expounding the principles of the gospel and bearing witness of its restoration to all in the court room. 
     During this time his fame spread through the city and notices appeared about him the different newspapers.  The officers of the law, after trying in vain to make him stop preaching, concluded to send him back to America.  But as there was no vessel in the harbor by which they could ship him immediately, and the American minister would not permit them to imprison him, he was set free with a strict charge not to preach his doctrines.  But the papers made known his whereabouts, and people from all quarters sought him; thus he received numerous invitations, visited many families in their private houses, and soon had a large circle of friends and acquaintances.  In this manner he continued his labors for about a month, and many began to believe his testimony.  
     Finally, the authorities in Stockholm heard that several persons had decided to be baptized by Elder Forsgren, notwithstanding the heavy penalty fixed by law for sun an offense.  So Elder Forsgren was arrested on the night between the 9th and 10th of September, 1850, and taken on board an American vessel, which was ready to sail for New York.  His passport was endorsed for that city and his passage paid.  (p. 13 & 14)]  who finally placed him on board a ship bound for America, paying his passage.  By the time this vessel was nearing the coast of Denmark, Elder Forsgren had gained favor with the captain who permitted him to leave the ship, so in company with the American minister who had assisted him in landing in Denmark, he arrived in Copenhagen on the 18th of September, 1850, after his wonderful mission of about 3 months duration, crowned with success in introducing the gospel in his native country.[" But, fortunately, the vessel on which he had involuntarily embarked, had to touch at Elsinore (Helsingor), on the coast of Denmark, to pay the so-called "Oresundstold" (Danish toll), before she could pass from the Baltic into the sea of Cattegat.  Elder Forsgren immediately took advantage of the opportunity of gaining his freedom, and as he, during the voyage from Stockholm, had won the friendship of the captain of the vessel, he had no difficulty in effecting a landing.  Elated at the prospect of soon joining his fellow missionaries in Copenhagen, about thirty miles distant from Elsinore, and as he was preparing to leave, he was arrested by the Danish police, at the instigation of the Swedish consul, who had received orders from his government to unite with the Danish police in having Forsgren re-shipped to New York, if he should attempt to land in Elsinore.  As a cause for his arrest, the Danish authorities alleged that as he was without sufficient means he was a vagrant.  Fortunately, however, Mr. Walter Forward, the American minister to Denmark, with whom Elder Erastus Snow had already formed a  a most friendly acquaintance, was visiting Elsinore at the time, and to him Elder Forsgren, as an American citizen, immediately applied for protection.  Mr. Forward, in answer to the Danish authorities, said that he would be responsible for Mr. Forsgren , and assured them that there was no danger of his becoming a burden to the Danish Government through lack of money, as he knew the prisoner had friends and means in Copenhagen.  This stand on the part of Mr. Forward had the desired effect;  Elder Forsgren was liberated and accompanied the minister to Copenhagen, where he arrived on the 18th of September 1850"   (p.14)]
     When Elder Forsgren arrived in Copenhagen he was given a hearty welcome by the elders, and was asked to assist them in their labors in Denmark.  ["Thus ended the first attempt to introduce the gospel into Sweden.  
     It may be remarked in this connection, that the company of farmers, of whom Elder Forsgren had baptized seventeen, sailed for America soon after his arrest, and nothing authentic has ever been heard of them since, though Elder Forsgren claimed that some of them, subsequently, became identified with the branches of the Church in the West. " (p. 15)] He was appointed to preside over the Copenhagen conference to succeed Elder George P. Dykes, who was sent to Aalborg, Denmark, to organize a branch of the church in that place.
     On Monday the 12th day of August, 1850, Apostle Erastus Snow performed the first baptism in this dispensation in Denmark.  Fifteen members joined the church.  The first man baptized was O.A.C. Monster and the first woman was Anna Backstrom, who later became the wife of Erastus Snow.
     On the 24th of February, 1852, a social farewell party in  honor of the so-called Danish Apostle Erastus Snow, was held in the large hall of Hotel Du Nora in Copenhagen.  It was the first of its kind in Scandinavia, about 300 Saints and friends had met on this occasion.  Elder Snow, who had successfully completed the mission assigned to him, appointed as his successor John E. Forsgren, who thus became the second president of the Scandinavian Mission.
     Many of the saints had expressed a desire to emigrate to Zion along with Elder Forsgren.  Many came to Copenhagen from all parts of the three Scandinavian countries ready to go with him.  John E. Forsgren was honorably released to return home in December, 1852.  Willard Snow had arrived and was appointed to succeed him as president of the mission.  On the 20th day of December, 1852, Elder Forsgren left Copenhagen on the steamer "Obotrit" with a company of 203 souls, including his brother Peter A. Forsgren and his sister Christina Erika Forsgren.  They arrived at Diel, Germany, on the evening of the 22nd.  An extra train took the company from there to Hamburg.  On the evening of December 24th the emigrants started for England.  The Saints enjoyed themselves Christmas Eve singing and engaging in all kinds of amusements on board the steamer, although compelled to go without Christmas supper.  In the morning when they started out a sharp breeze was blowing which afterwards became a fearful storm, the sailors stating they had never seen anything like it.   
     [Church News, December 23, 1967.  THIS WEEK IN CHURCH HISTORY: Converts Note Christmas Aboard Ship.  Dec. 20, 1852 - nearly 300 converts from Denmark, Sweden and Norway sailed from Copenhagen en route to Zion. The article was written by Arnold Irvine who used the Manuscript History of Church Emigration1849-1857 as his source.]
      If there was any homesickness aboard the steamship "Lion" on Christmas Eve, the malady was quickly cured with the enthusiastic singing of Christmas carols in the ship's crowded saloon.
      An impromptu program of readings, vocal solos, duets, instrumental numbers and games added to the gaiety.
      Out on deck, some of the passengers braved the chilly night air to watch the countryside, lighted by a bright moon, silently slide past the ship. 
     Small gifts were exchanged and children hopefully set out wooden shoes near their bunks in hopes that Jule Nissen, the Christmas elf, would fill them with goodies.
     Also helping to dispel any twinges of homesickness was the assurance that the converts were going to Zion where they could practice their religion free from the harassment and ridicule they had suffered in their homelands.

  This image accompanied the Church News article, Dec. 23, 1967

     Already, they were several days' journey from their port of embarkation, Copenhagen.  The "Lion" was gliding down Germany's Elbe River toward the North Sea. 

     The emigrants would not soon forget their departure from Copenhagen.  Along with the many well-wishers, who had come to bid fond and tearful farewells, there had been some scoffers who predicted nothing but bad luck for the followers of the "Swedish Mormon priest."  They were referring to Swedish-born John E. Forsgren, a missionary who had been appointed to lead the company to America. 

      From Copenhagen, the group had sailed to Kiel, taken the train to Hamburg where they had embarked on the "Lion" bound for England.  Thus far, everything had gone well in accordance with the carefully laid plans of the Scandinavian Mission leaders.

     Not in the plans was a wild storm - the sailors swore it was the worst they had seen - that threatened to tear the ship apart in the North Sea.  Bulldozing waves ripped off the bridge and pushed the deck cargo over the side, taking a section of the gunwale with it."]

      The ship was tossed about for several days and finally arrived at Hull England, on the evening of December 28th.
     ["The port authorities at Hull were surprised to see the wounded "Lion" escape after such a pounding.  They estimated that 150 vessels had gone down in the storm."]
     From Hull the company went by train to Liverpool, where they went on board the old sailing vessel, "Forest Monarch, leaving Liverpool January 2, 1853.
     ["Glad to be on land, the emigrants took a train to Liverpool where on New Year's Day, 1853, they boarded the packet, "Forest Monarch," for the longest part of their sea journey."]
     [This British square-rigger was skippered by Captain Edmund Brewer and hailed out of Liverpool. The Forest Monarch was carver-built with three masts, one deck, a round stern, a standing bowsprit, and a figurehead of a man.   It is described as weighing 977 tons: 149' x 31' x 23'.  Her owners had been Pierre Valin of Quebec, her builder, and De Novo at Liverpool. The vessel was not listed in Lloyd's Register after 1854.  Cited in  Scandinavian Emigrant Ship Descriptions and Voyage Narratives (1852-1868) from Ships, Saints, and Mariners by Conway B. Sonne and other sources. ]

      This company now consisted of 297 souls.  On account of storms and contrary winds the ship stopped in the river Mersey until January 16, when they left England for America.
     [Storms delayed the sailing for 16 days and even while the ship lay at anchor in the harbor it had two close calls because of the storms.  One night it became entangled with another vessel and the two bumped each other enough to cause some damage before they could be pulled apart.  In another gale, the "Forest Monarch" nearly drifted aground before tugs came to the rescue."]
Good food and fresh water became very scarce.  Four persons died and three children were born on the ocean.
     The company arrived at New Orleans, March 16, 1853.  By steamer they continued on up the Mississippi river to St. Louis where they arrived March 31st, and were transferred to another ship which took them 200 miles up the river to Keokuk, Iowa, where they remained for some time, making arrangements to make the long, weary trip across the plains.
      ["The crossing to New Orleans required almost two months.  The company took a riverboat to St. Louis where they bought tents and other equipment before continuing on to Keokuk, Iowa.  When their teams and wagons were brought into camp, they scorned the clumsy wood yokes devised by the Americans for harnessing the oxen to the wagons.  Instead, they made leather harnesses, Scandinavian style.
     But when they hitched up the oxen, the nervous animals, unused to such trappings, ran pell-mell across fields and gullies, wrecking some of the wagons.   Yokes were used in crossing the plains."] 
     At this place (Keokuk) Peter A. Forsgren married Anna Christina Knudson, May 8, 1853.  She was the daughter of Jens Knudson and Anna Marie Jensen, who were members of the company.  The company crossed the Missouri river on the 27th of June, 1853, and started for the west.  The trip was long and tiresome.  Several died on the way, Denmark Jensen, our fellow citizen, was born on the way, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mads C. Jensen.  Some of them got tired of the long journey, apostatized, and left the company.
     The company arrived at Salt Lake City on the 30th of September, 1853, and on the 4th of October they were all rebaptized by Apostle Erastus Snow.  [The company arrived in Salt Lake Valley at the end of September.  Most of them went on south to Sanpete Valley to establish their homes."]
     Brigham Young advised these sturdy Scandinavian saints to scatter to the different parts of the territory and thus help to speedily build up Zion.  John E. Forsgren, learning that his father-in-law, Wm. Davis had been called too, and had moved his family, including Mrs. Forsgren, to Box Elder, decided to go there and many of the Scandinavian emigrants went with him, arriving at their destination in the fall of 1853.  These were the first Scandinavian saints to settle north of Salt Lake City.  Box Elder was then the northern frontier settlement of the saints.  The Box Elder Valley, or Mantua, became their new home.
     With this first company of Scandinavian saints to Box Elder was John E., Peter A. Forsgren and wife and their sister Christine Erika Forsgren, Jens Knudson and family, James Olsen and August Valentine.
     Christina Erika Forsgren was married to Wm. Davis, the first bishop of Brigham City, February 20, 1854.
     John E. Forsgren expected to meet his aged father, Johan A. Forsgren when he arrived at his native town Gefle, Sweden, but was so dissapointed.  The old gentleman had become so uneasy about his son John, that he had started for America to hunt him up, leaving Sweden about the same time that John left Utah for Scandinavia.  He had traced his son to the valleys of the mountains where they met when John returned from his mission.  The old gentleman remained with his children in Brigham City until his death.
     Lorenzo Snow was called in 1853 to take 50 families and move to Box Elder.  A number of Scandinavians came with him.  This company arrived in the spring of 1855 and called Brigham City in honor of President Brigham Young.  The saints began to move out from the fort and build  houses on their city lots, the two first adobe houses were erected by H.P. Jensen and J.D. Rees.
     The Forsgren family and these early Scandinavian saints have done much towards building up this western country, going through all the hardships of pioneer life, doubting nothing.  They went on laboring hard, making the roads, building the bridges, killing the snakes and preparing Brigham City and Box Elder county to what it is today, the most favored locality for home seekers in      The Forsgren family and these early Scandinavian saints have done much towards building up this western country, going through all the hardships of pioneer life, doubting nothing.  They went on laboring hard, making the roads, building the bridges, killing the snakes and preparing Brigham City and Box Elder county to what it is today, the most favored locality for home seekers in the state of Utah.  Thus, one of the Battalion men became one of our early pioneers.                                                            [End of Chapter 12]

The following  manuscript adds yet another view of the emigration of the Scandinavian Saints.  It is taken from the Mormon Immigration Index - Personal Accounts  Forest Monarach (January 1853), a Compilation of General Voyage Notes  "Departures . . . the Forest Monarch sailed on the 16th of January, with 297 Danish Saints on board, under the presidency of Elder John Forsgren..." >MS, 14:6 (Feb. 5, 1853), p. 89>

"SIXTIETH COMPANY. –Forest Monarch, 297 souls. This company of emigrants was from the Scandinavian mission, being the first large company of Saints who emigrated from Denmark, Sweden and Norway. An earnest desire to emigrate to Zion had been manifested by many of the Scandinavian Saints since the first company had left for the mountains a few months previous; and the elders had been engaged for some time past in making preparations to send off a large company. About the beginning of December, 1852, the emigrants from the respective conferences in the mission began to gather in Copenhagen, Denmark, and on Monday Dec. 20, 1852, two hundred ninety-three Saints, including children, went on board the steamship Obotrit and sailed from Toldboden (the custom house) at 4 o’clock p.m., under the leadership of Elder John E. Forsgren, one of the elders who, in connection with Apostle Erastus Snow, first introduced the gospel into Scandinavia two years before. A great multitude of people had gathered on the wharf to witness the departure of the ‘Mormons’, and many of the rabble gave utterance to the most wicked and blasphemous language, while they cursed and swore, because so many of their countrymen were disgracing themselves by following ‘that Swedish Mormon priest’ (an appellation they gave Elder Forsgren) to America. No violence, however, was resorted to, and the ship got safely away. After a rather stormy and unpleasant passage the Obotrit arrived safely in Kiel, Holstein, on the evening of the twenty-second. The following day the journey was continued by rail to Hamburg, where a large hall had been hired, and supper prepared for the emigrants. In the afternoon of the twenty-fourth the Saints went on board the steamship Lion, which glided slowly with the tide down the river Elbe to Cuxhaven, where the captain cast anchor, owing to the heavy fog which prevailed. The emigrants now celebrated Christmas Eve on board, with songs and amusements of different kinds. In the morning of the twenty-fifth anchor was weighed, and the Lion sailed to the mouth of the river, where it was met by heavy headwinds, that made it impossible to reach the open sea until midnight. Finally, the passage from the river to the sea was made in the moonlight.

Early in the morning of the twenty-sixth, the ship passed Heligoland, soon after which a heavy gale blew up from the southwest, which increased in violence until the next day, when it assumed the character of a regular hurricane, the like of which old sailors declared they had never before experienced on the German Ocean. The ship’s bridge and part of the gunwale were destroyed, and some goods standing on the deck were broken to pieces and washed overboard; otherwise, neither the ship nor the emigrants were injured. On the twenty-eighth, in the evening, after the storm had spent its fury, the Lion steamed into the harbor of Hull, England. About one hundred and fifty vessels were lost on the German Ocean in the storm, and the people in Hull were greatly surprised when the Lion arrived in safety, as it was firmly believed that she had gone under like the other ships that were lost.

From Hull, the emigrating Saints continued the journey by rail to Liverpool, on the 29th, where lodging and meals previously ordered, were prepared for them, and on the first of January 1853, they went on board the packet ship Forest Monarch, which was hauled out of the dock and anchored in the river Mersey. There it lay until the 16th, because of storms and contrary winds. In the meantime three of the company died, two babies were born, and three fellow passengers were initiated into the Church by baptism. One man, who had been bitten by a dog, was left in Liverpool, to be forwarded with the next company of emigrating saints. One night the ship became entangled with another vessel and sustained some injuries: and a few days later, during a heavy storm, it got adrift, pulling up both anchors, and was just about to run aground, when two tug boats came to the rescue and saved it.

On the sixteenth of January, 1853, the Forest Monarch put out to sea. The emigrants now numbered two hundred and ninety-seven souls, who were placed under the direction of Elder John E. Forsgrean, in connection with who Elders Christian Christiansen and J. H. Christiansen acted as counselors. Elder Willard Snow and Peter O. Hansen who had accompanied the emigrating Saints to Liverpool, now returned to Copenhagen.

During the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean the Forest Monarch was favored with very pleasant weather, but for several days it was a perfect calm, and in many respects the emigrants, who nearly all were unaccustomed to seafaring life, found the voyage trying and tedious. The provisions were poor, and their fresh water supply gave out before the journey was ended. Four deaths also occurred, and three children were born during the voyage.

On the eighth of March, 1853, the ship arrived safely at the mouth of the Mississippi River, where five of the company died, and on the arrival at New Orleans, on the sixteenth, two others departed this life, and one family who had apostatized remained in that city.

From New Orleans the journey was continued by steamboat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Missouri, where the emigrants landed on the thirty-first. In that city, tents and other commodities needed for the journey, were purchased. After tarrying about a month, during which time six of the emigrants died and two couples were married,(one couple being Soren and Bertha) the company left St. Louis and proceeded by steamboat about two hundred miles further up the river to Keokuk, Iowa, where the emigrants pitched their tents for the first time, and lay in camp for several weeks before starting for the plains.

In the meantime the emigrants received their teams consisting of oxen and wagons. Some of the Scandinavian emigrants, who at first rejected the American way of driving oxen in yokes, went to work and manufactured harness in regular Danish fashion; but no sooner were these placed on the animals than they, frightened half to death struck out in a wild run, refusing to be guided at all by the lines in the hands of their new masters from the far north. Crossing ditches and gulches in their frenzy, parts of the wagons were strewn by the way side; but the oxen, (many of which had never been hitched up before) were at last stopped by men who understood how to manipulate the most important article of all teamsters outfits -- the whip; and the Danish emigrants, profiting by the experience they had gained, soon concluded that, although harness might do well enough for oxen in Denmark, the yoke and whip were preferable in America; and they readily accepted the method of their adopted country.

With thirty-four wagons and about one hundred and thirty oxen, the company rolled out from the camping ground near Keokuk on the twenty-first of May, and after three weeks rather difficult travel over prairies of Iowa, Council Bluffs, on the Missouri River, was reached. Here the company rested for several days, and on the twenty seventh of June resumed the journey by crossing the Missouri River, after which they were soon far out on the plains. On the overland journey a number of the emigrants died, more children were born, and few lost the faith in the midst of the hardships and trials of the long march.

Finally on the thirtieth of September, 1853 the company arrived in Salt Lake City; and on the fourth of October the emigrants were nearly all rebaptized by Apostle Erastus Snow. They were counseled by President Brigham Young to settle in different parts of the Territory, and mix up with people of other nationalities, so as to become useful in developing the resources of the new country. Most of them located in Sanpete Valley, whither other companies of from Scandinavia subsequently followed them, and that valley has ever since been know as the headquarters of the Scandinavians in Utah. Still President Young’s advice has not been unheeded, as the people from the three countries of the north (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) are represented, to a greater or less extent, in nearly ever town and settlement of the Saints in the Rocky Mountains. (Millennial Star, Vol. XV, pp. 89, 282, 368; Morgenstjernen, Vol. 1, page 180.) 

Previously I published a photo of a steamship named the HMS Lion which I felt very likely to be too modern a ship to be the actual Lion that carried the Scandinavian Saints.   I am indebted to Grant Hovey once again for coming through to correct and add to our blog.  Here is the photo of a painting and accompanying caption which best illustrates our narrative.

This pewter-looking goblet is located on the 2nd floor lobby of the SL Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum

Oliver F. Davis is the son of Christina Erika Forsgren Davis - John Erik's sister - who was also in the immigrating company led by John.

There are other biographical sketches in the Forsgren Family Association files.  One is written by Oluff Peterson.  Another is authorless, but seems to have been copied from Mr. Petersons and varies very little from the information we have already presented here. 

One of first attempts at re-doing and enlarging upon the well-known sketches was done by James B. Anderson as part of his work:  Denmark to Manti.   Please see the separate blog post that discusses that  research.

The most biography, finished in 2010, was researched and written by Laurie Bryant, a non-relative in Salt Lake City.  It is an unpublished manuscript and was donated by Ms Bryant to the Utah State Archives.  It is titled "A Rascal Among the Saints."  (I refer to it in more detail in another blog post as well).  It is meticulously researched and documented and is worth the time for you to ask for it at the archives and read it.  [As of Spring 2011 it had not yet been catalogued].