Nina Mikkelsen Rasmussen

 I found this Biography written by my Great Grandmother Anina Marie Mikkelsen not only wonderful to read but truly inspiring. I doubt I could have endured how they traveled by boat and train to Utah. She also relates traveling from Richfield, Utah to Draper to be back with her mother and father in mid winter.
  
   I hope you find this blog as interesting as I did. I want to thank my Daughter Julia and my wife Laural Lee for copying this onto the computer into a format I can share on this blog. I am sure my Grandma Lois Rasmussen Turner is very happy in Heaven today as she see's her favorite occupation and hobby in life being passed on to her grandchildren.

Anina Marie Mikkelsen 1877-1942

Autobiography of Anina Marie Mickelsen

    I was born on the 5^th of June 1877 Ugilt, Hjorring Co, Denmark, the 8^th child of a family of ten children, the daughter of Peter Mickelsen and Christine Nielson. My memory of Denmark is quite vague as I left Denmark on the 15^th of June, 10 days after my 6^th birthday, so I remember only some of the homes and a very little of the country in general.

      Emigrated to Utah at the age of 6 years together with my father and my brother Fred age 9 years, with Elder Lars P. Christensen of Richfield, Utah who was laboring in the Aalborg Conference Denmark during 1881 to 1883 part time as President, Elder Christensen converted and baptized my parents. We went by train to Copenhagen, and then we sailed from Copenhagen on the steams Pacific together with 18 returning missionaries and 503 immigrating saints.  Hans O Magleby of Monroe, Utah, was leader of the company, after a rough voyage across the North Sea. We arrived at Hill England, on the 18^th, where the Company went by train to Liverpool, here they were joined by 171 British Saints 84 returning missionaries making a company of 696 Saints. We left Liverpool on the 18^th on the Steamer Nevada which arrived in New York on July 1^st, this trip will never be forgotten.  Being small I passed for 4 years old and my fare was $40.00 or ¼ the fare.  My brother passed for 6 years old his fare was $60 or 1/3 fare, we traveled second class.  This steamer was rather crude; our sleeping quarters was 1 large room with three tiers of bunks all around the 3 sides. On the floor, as a remember it, was what we might term as a gutter.  When anyone became sea sick they just reached out over the edge of their bunk and vomited into this gutter, people unfortunate enough to be in the bunk below were often sprayed.  In the morning a man would come with buckets of water, which he would throw into this gutter, then sweep it out, each person or family had their own wash basin and ect, these were set on the steps or anywhere convenient then proceeded to wash.  Our dining room consisted of planks in long rows for tables also planks to sit on, all I remember of the food was the soup, that to me was like some hot water strongly seasoned with salt and pepper.  They had _____ of what they called sea biscuits all over, which anyone could help themselves to.  They were supposed to be good for you, but the smell was enough for me, I never ate any of them.  My brother or I were not sea sick.  I remember also when everybody had to roll up their sleeves and pass in line for the doctor inspection for vaccination for small pox, all who had not been vaccinated had to step in the office and be vaccinated.  We, fortunately, had been vaccinated.  I also remember landing in New York, how glad everyone was to be on land again.  Here I got my first pair of real shoes, up until then I had always worn wooden shoes.  In crossing the continent, there were a great many electrical storms that frightened me, also a great deal of rain, much prairie land, miles and miles of grain fields, large red barns, many of these having BARN printed in large letters across the gable. This caused a lot of curiosity among the Scandinavian people, as barn is the same thing as child in their language.  Finally, one of the missionaries explained this to them.  We arrived in Salt Lake City July 8^th and our trip had taken us 23 days.  Father remained in Salt Lake and obtained work as a section hand on the Alta R.R.  They were then hauling granite to the Salt Lake Temple from Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta was also a big mining center at that time.  My brother went to Redmond, Utah, to stay with an aunt.  I went to Richfield with Elder Christensen.  During my 5 months with his family, I was treated most kindly by all and I learned to speak and understand the American language quite well.  Elder C and wife were the only ones who conversed with me in Danish, so I just had to learn. 

            There were many Indians there at that time.  They would come in large groups, right into the house and squat on the floor always begging for food and clothing.  These people seemed to be able to converse with them, they were very friendly Indians, but I never lost my fear of them.  I was always afraid they would steal me.  Sister Christensen was an invalid and always sat in a big chair with a quilt over the back of it.  I would always try to get back of this chair so they couldn’t see me.

            My baby brother died 29 July in Denmark, just three weeks after we arrived in Salt Lake.  Mother and my brother Peter, age 11 years, arrived in Salt Lake City November 15^th the same year.  About the 10^th December a man from Richfield was going to Salt Lake City in a covered wagon for supplies, so I with my few belonging, among this a rag doll that I thought a lot of, were put in the back of the wagon.  The bottom of the wagon was covered with hay for the horses so it was quite comfortable.  We stayed over night at my aunts in Redmond, left the next morning taking my brother with us.

            This trip was uneventful, as far as we could tell there was no trail whatever to guide the driver, the whole earth as far as we could see was a white blanket of unbroken snow. The next place I remember was at Pleasant Grove; about 10 o’clock at night the driver stopped and gave a long whistle this frightened us terribly as we were asleep in the back of the wagon. We were sure it was Indians so we peeked out and saw light from a hole in the ground and black forms coming up, as the man we were with never talked to us, we just knew it was Indians that they were going to get us. We were soon happy to know they were friends and we were taken into their Dug Out and given something warm to eat and drink, of course we had to go back to our wagon to sleep, but we at least felt safe that night. We arrived in Salt Lake safely and found Mother and soon forgot fears. I had learned the language well enough that I could act as interpreter for mother, in those days the Saints were all expected to do their buying at the Tithing yard (where the Hotel Utah now stands (Joseph Smith Building). They had big planks for counters; everything from notions, yardage, greeneries, and meats, to hardware was all strung along these counters. I was not tall enough to see the things, so Mother would lift me up so I could understand what she wanted so I could tell the clerk. Our first home was in the 10^th Ward here Mothers 10^th was born. We never moved to the 2^nd Ward, from there to Draper. This was in the fall of 1884. Our ride from Salt Lake to Draper was a dreary one, much rain had made the roads very muddy; there were very few houses along State Street at that time, was not graded as it is now.

            In December my eldest brother died at Salt Lake, Father was at Alta. The only way to get word to him was by horseback. Finally, Mother had a man take the message, he brought no answer back, so all she could do was to wait to hear from Father. When he came home a couple of days later he had been to Salt Lake, attended the funeral, buried him in the City Cemetery.  It never entered his head that Mother might have liked to see him or attend the funeral. After renting for 2 years in Draper, father bought 2 acres of land and built a 2 room brick house; to this they later added another room and a summer kitchen. We planted shade and fruit trees, to keep these alive we carried water for them from the canal a block away. The well in the northern part of Draper is Salty so we also carried all our drinking water from a well over 2 blocks away. The family emigrated in 5 different groups. My elder brother Martinus who was 19 at that time came in the first group in the spring of 1883. Father, brother Fred (9 years old), and I (6 years old)came in the second group in July. Mother, my brother Peter came in the third group in November. Fourth, Andrew, Miller (16 years old) came in the fourth group in 1885, and Chris, (21 years old) came in the fifth group in 1887.

Mothers 1^st child a girl died when only 3 weeks old. I was baptized on the 26^th of July 1886 by P. N. Garff in Joseph Smith’s Pond. I was confirmed by Jas. Jorgensen. I received my education in Draper schools under the following teachers, Eliza Stewart, Oliver Boberg, Barnard Stewart, Chas Stewart, Jno W Smith, J.R. Rawlins and C.C. Crapo. At this time children went to school when they could afford it, the parents paid I think every 3 months so I sometimes had to take time off to work and get some clothes, or someone would need a girl then of course it was my duty to help then out, the primary grades were held in the Ward house and Rideouts dance hall the Park School (so called in honor of John Park, the first teacher in Draper) consisted of one large room, a small heater in each end of the room, where when very cold we would take turn warming up. This school also had 2 dressing rooms and a Library. I think 3 grades were held in each building. I liked school very much and we had lots of fun. At my 1^st year at school I tasted my 1^st tomato. I thought they looked so good so ripe and juicy so one day a little girl asked me if I would like one.  Of course, I was thrilled but when I bit into it I was sadly disappointed, tomatoes are something Scandinavians don’t know anything about and have to learn to eat them.

            Children in those days were rather ignorant.  I remember one day someone all excited came running saying there were some gypsies over at the store.  All the children were curious and rushed into the store, looking all around, when one shouted, “Where are they, what do they look like?”  When they discovered they were standing right by some of them, they lost no time in getting out of the store again. We also used to think any house run down and not occupied was haunted; children are really superstitious. 

            In church work I acted as Sunday school teacher in Draper for many years, was Choir Sec. for Brother Morris, acted as a teacher in M.I.A., worked on the Old Folks Committee for years in Draper, was called on often to sit up with the sick and the dead often helped sewing for the dead. In June 5, 1928 I was chosen as a first counselor to Sophie Bateman in Midvale 2^nd ward Relief Society, was set apart as President September 14, 1930, released April 1, 1934,  acted as magazine agent for 3 years, have acted as class leader in theology since September 1938.  I have been an active worker in Genealogy Committee since 1926 and was a class leader for 1 year.  I have had charge of Jr. baptismal asst with temple record work and have helped several families get their records in order and anything in general under Genealogy work.  I have worked on old folks committee for 10 years.  In missionary work I have had 1 brother Fred fill a 2 yr mission in Den. & Norway in the year 1911-1913.  While in Norway he was president of the Trondhyem Conference, his wife Hulda Garff joined him and spent 3 months in the mission.  My daughter Gen. filled a short term mission in the Eastern States of 3 months in 1938.

            I have had the privilege of doing work in the Logan and Manti temples in the Salt Lake Temple.  I have done sealing for the dead.  During the year 1898, I acted as post master in Draper.  My brother Fred being P.M. had sent in his resignation and had accepted another position so I was put in as Assistant, until he reported his release that took exactly one year before another PM was appointed and ready to take charge.  During the years 1900-1905, I worked as dress maker for Walker Bros. and Aurbachs, also as waist fitter for N.M.Hamilton a Ladies ready to wear shop, while working for Walkers, they gave me the credit of speaking and understanding my language, this came about by my overhearing a Swedish woman having trouble making herself understood, I went to her asst., the woman in charge of the dress making dept. watched me and was rather amused.  A few days later another woman who spoke quite broken was looking for a girl that worked in the alteration dept. was having trouble finding her, so they sent for me, after that if anyone had any trouble making themselves understood 1^st thing you’d hear would be get Miss Mickelsen she understands any language. 

            I was married the 26 September 1906 at Provo, Utah.  We had a tailor shop did cleaning and pressing at

89 North Academy Ave.

  During the winter my husband was laid up with rheumatism.  The doctor told him he would have to get away from indoor work if he wanted to regain his health, so we moved to Draper where we leased an acre and tried raising fruit, here our first child Lois was born.  In October 1908 we moved as the owners of this place decided to come back.  In February 1909 we bought the Chas. Peterson place at Draper, here four of our children were born, Erma, Gen, Harold, and Clara.  In September 1915 we moved to Midvale, the house where we now live here 3 more children were born, Arthur, Beatrice and Arvid.  Arthur died when 3 weeks of pneumonia, funeral services were held at the home and he was buried at the Draper cemetery.   Four of my daughters are married, all have been married in the temple and in the church work the girls have all been active. Lois was Relief Society Secretary for years, councilor in MIA Stake secretary in Genealogy. Erma married at 20 was not religious inclined but had acted as RR visiting teacher at Crescent, also in M.I.A. Gen has always worked full capacity in anything and everything, teacher in missionary class and others in S.S. President and counselor and teacher in M.I.A . Clara was a secretary in Genea in this ward when she went to California at Grass Valley where she lives, the bishop says he can’t keep house without her. Her husband is 1^st counselor to Bishop. Clare has been Relief Society President, Primary councilor, Y.L.P, ward Clerk, chorister, organist, Sunday school teacher. In fact whenever someone didn’t show up, Clara would get the job done with pleasure. Harold has drifted away he acted as Young Men secretary for one year, outside of that he hasn’t held any offices. Arvid is also not interested. Beatrice taught kindergarten class in Sunday school for many years. She had acted as dance instructor in M.I.A. I think this is her third year. For faith promoting incidents I know many my greatest have been answers to prayers healing of the sick ect. When Lois was 8 months old she had erysipelas all over her body. Dr. wouldn’t even come when we sent for him said it was impossible for her to live, faith the Elders and prayers saved her life. When Gen was 3 ½ years she had a ruptured appendix the Dr. said she couldn’t live. It was through faith Elders and prayers that God spared her life. When my husband was so ill in 1926 the Dr. said he couldn’t live, here again we knew that through faith administrations of the Elders and prayers his life was spared and many many times when illnesses and danger have overtaken us we have know that God has heard and answered our prayers. When I compare the life of Christ with that of Joseph Smith and study the life of the prophet I cannot question the truthfulness of the Gospel. My patriarchal blessing is a help and strength to me. I feel that is one thing every one should obtain and when you are in doubt or discouraged read it again. My parents accepted the Gospel, came to Zion gave me the opportunity and privilege of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and gave me the association of honorable Latter Day Saint people, gave up all they had; home, relatives, friends for the Gospel that they might bring their children to the Zion. Therefore, I feel it’s my duty to search out the records of my Fore Fathers, do their temple work baptize, endow, link them up by sealing wives to husbands and children to parents that we may all be united as one large family in the hereafter.

            My father, mother, and father’s sisters have done most of my father’s line temple ordinances in the Manti temple. My husband and I have done some in Salt Lake Temple. I have 3 lines of Genealogy that go back 8 generations one line goes back to 1595. My mother’s parents together with their children came from Vaarborg, a city on the coast of southern Sweden in 1856 as near as I have been able to find, my grandmother, mother, and one brother are the only one that came to America as far as I know. All my people older than I with the exception of 2 cousins are gone and they are on my fathers side so I have no one to go to for help, but I still hope to obtain a clue whereby I can find some of mother’s people for I feel the urge that their temple work must be done. I feel that God will yet answer my prayers and show me the way.