A Christmas Surprise: The Danish Missionary

For Christmas this year, my husband had a print framed that I purchased many years ago and have been storing ever since. This picture is now on the wall of our living room. The Ovesens were carpenters before and after coming to America, so they would have been familiar with scenes such as this one.

The picture is an Arnold Friberg copy of a painting by the Danish Romantic painter, Christen Dalsgaard. The painting is called Mormoner på besøg hos en tømrer på landet [Mormons visit a country carpenter] (1856). The original is in the Danish National Gallery.

Copy of the picture from Wikipedia. Cross-posted at The Diary of Ove C. Oveson.

A Family History Mystery: Who is the Man in This Tintype?

My father sent a picture of this image, which was in the Eva Overson Tanner collection:

This appears to be a tintype. My father notes that it is about 2 inches by 1.5 inches. Here is an image of another tintype from the 1860s in a similar frame:

 From www.flickr.com/photos/john-pa/325317259/.

Tintypes were an interesting technology. They were not made with tin, but were created by making a positive image on a sheet of blackened iron. Another name for a tintype is ferrotype.

There is a tintype in the following link that is presented in the same sort of case as our family tintype, and there is also some good information about identifying and caring for a tintype:

Ohio Historical Society: What Do You Know About Tintypes?

If I had to guess the subject of this family tintype, which I do, since there was no identification included with it,  I would say it is probably Jens Christensen, an ancestor in both the Tanner and Morgan lines. His style of dress looks more Danish than English or American.

Here is a picture of Jens' wife, Karen Johannesen. This image also appears to be a tintype, though it could also be a daguerreotype or ambrotype. This is scanned from Margaret Overson's book:

Here is a picture of Jens and Karen's daughter, Mary Christensen Oveson:

The next picture is of a younger Mary and her sister, Christine, and their adopted brother, Marinus, who, according to family legend, was the son of one of the two girls. The style of this picture is similar to the first tintype, and isn't it lovely, with both girls in their native Danish costumes?

Here is a picture of Marinus Christensen as an adult, the blacksmith of St. Johns, Arizona:

And the tintype again:

And Mary Oveson again:

I think there's a pretty clear family resemblance, especially between the tintype and the picture of Mary Christensen Oveson as an adult. Look at the broad forehead, the droopy eyelids, the wide nose, the wide mouth, the deep lines running down from the nose. (Is there an actual term for those lines?)

Here is a picture of Mary's son, Henry Overson:

There are those droopy eyelids again. (For lack of a better way to describe it.)

There are probably just two more options for a memento that was kept in the family for so many years. The first is not really an option: Jens' father, Christen C. Jensen, died in 1862, but during the time that the technology was available, he would have been older than the man in the image. And a tintype of him would have been kept by his wife, who died in 1896 in Brigham City, Utah.

The second alternate option is Mary Oveson's father-in-law Jens Ovesen. Here's his picture:

Although there may be a superficial resemblance between Jens Ovesen and the man in the tintype since the two were from the same rural corner of Denmark, I think they're clearly two different people. ("The noses are different," said my daughter.) (Apart from the droopy Christensen eyes and the nose, there is more of a resemblance between Henry Overson and his grandfather Jens Ovesen than to the Christensen family.)

So here, once again, is the mysterious tintype:

I think we can clearly label this picture "Probably Jens Christensen (1819 Denmark - 1866 Nebraska)." What do you think?

* * *

If this is a tintype of Jens Christensen, it would have been taken in Denmark, Hamburg, or America, slightly after the Christensens arrived there in 1866. It would have been a good thing that these family pictures were taken, because Jens and daughter Christine both died and were buried on the plains.

If this is a picture of Jens, it would have been kept by his wife, Karen, and then passed down to daughter Mary Oveson, and then to her son and daughter-in-law, Henry and Margaret Jarvis Overson (our family historian), and then to their daughter, Eva Overson Tanner, and then it remained, unlabeled, with her photos and family memorabilia.

Morgan 12 & 13: Jens Christensen and Karen Marie Johannesen Christensen

Some of the next ancestors in the Morgan line are Jens and Karen Marie Johannesen Christensen. However, I will not be posting biographies here for the simple reason that they are also ancestors on the Tanner line and I have already posted a short biography of them and a note about their emigration to the United States.

Their daughter Mary Kjerstine Christensen married Ove Oveson and shared many of his adventures in Ephraim, Utah, and St. Johns, Arizona. They were my grandfather's great-grandparents.

Their adopted son Marinus Christensen married Fanny Thomas. They were my grandmother's grandparents.


Picture of Lonely Dell Ranch at Lee's Ferry from www.flickr.com/photos/7202153@N03/2477559604/. Lee's Ferry is where these pioneers would have crossed the Colorado River into the region of Arizona that would be their home and eventually, their final resting place.

Tanner 26: Jens Christensen

New Information on the Life and Death of Jens Christensen, Brickmaker

The Mormon Overland Pioneer Travel information and Ancestral File information on Jens Christensen was not accurate. It took a few tries to get the information corrected, but now better information on this family is available in the pioneer database.

Information in the family’s genealogy (Margaret Overson book, Ancestral File) also did not agree with the primary sources (Ove Overson and Andrew Jenson).


Proposed Revisions to the Genealogy
Jens’ Current Death Information: 12 June 1866 Omaha, Nebraska
Jens’ Revised Death Information: 10 August 1866 Outside Wyoming, Nebraska*

Christine Death Information: 28 August 1866 On the plains, Nebraska

*Wyoming (now Nebraska City), Nebraska is about 50 miles south of Omaha. I would like to update this information in New Family Search, but I have not learned yet whether it was in Holt or Otoe County at the time. [10.24.10 It was Otoe County.]


What Margaret Overson Says

At Ephraim [Ove Oveson] worked, saved and prospered. Two years after his arrival a young girl whom he had known before leaving Denmark, Mary K. Christensen and her mother came to town. She had buried her father at Omaha and her sister on the plains, and they had lost their means, or rather, her father had loaned it to help other emigrants, and at his death the mother knew nothing about his business affairs. Now they were in a strange land without home, a provider, or means, although among many of their own people.


What the New York Passenger Lists Say

Name: Jens Christensen
Arrival Date: 16 Jul 1866
Estimated birth year: abt 1819
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Hamburg, Germany
Destination: United States of America
Place of Origin: Denmark
Ethnicity/ Nationality: Danish
Ship Name: Kenilworth
Port of Arrival: New York

Kenilworth Ships Register. See lines 10-15 for Jens, Karen, Maren (Mary), Christen, and Marinus.

(By the way, who is “Christian Christensen” who traveled to Utah with this family? The age is not right for it being Jens’ brother or father.)


What Ove Overson Says

15 August 1859 I was Babtised by Elder Lars Peter Christensan and confirmed by Hans C S Hogsted as a Member of the Church of Jesus Crist of L.D. Saint in Taars Branch Vensyssel Conference Danmark.………
On the 27 Of Jan. 1861 ther was district meeting in my Fathers House, Elder C. A. Madson from Utah, was ther, and in the Evning my Father, Mother & Sister was Babtised … I was ordaned an Elder and sat apart as President of Taars Branch by J C A Viby in Vensyssel Conference.………
January 1867
Noting Particular our Naten was on gard by Bishop Edvard, the Soldorer wood Heart him if the coud get hol of Him Workt in town and a trip acros the River and got my Heffer hom on the 29 had a conversation with Mery Kjerstine Christenson (she is a datier og Jens Christensen Brickmaker fom Denmark she com from Denmark Last fall.
February 1867
Workt in Town an tendet, Miting & Danses and some sport in this month Mary Kjerstine Christensen & I was Promised
March 1867
Arbeedet [worked] in Town 1 Day I prepared to get Mariet to Mary Kjerstine on the 6 of March, the 6 com but the Bishop Knud Peterson vill have os go to Salt Lake City to the Indowment House To get mariet which we consented to due but Bishop Peterson com and we had a good Supper and sattisfied the Boys by given them Beear & Kigs.
This Week I plasterd & Whed Wast my House and Mowed ther, til den (I have boarded with my Parence til Den). We, Mary Kjerstine, Her Mother Karen Marie an a Boy Marinur (Karen Marie’s Hosbon & one Girl 19 year Chrestine Dide on the Planes.) & Myself moved to my House eller workt in Town for veges the 24...
May 1867
Tusday the 7 of May, Sevees Dorias, his entendet Wife Marie, I & Mery Kjerstine, my entendet Wife and Karen Marie my Wife’s Mother. (Her Hosban & one Dattr Dide on the Planes) we had some truple that Day Braked Dobeltre teier ran of & Kamped in Fountain Green that night the 8 went tru the Kannon and to Spring lakville, 9 tru Payson, Spannis Fort, Springville, Provo, American Fort to point of Mountain and Kamped. 10 to Salt Lake City. stoppet, at Franson——the 11 May 1867 went tru the Indowrnent House and had over Indowment and Mery Kjerstine Christianson and I was Mariet and her Sister Christine Christensen was Sealed to me as my Wife. (Oveson, Ove Christian, Journal 1860-1920, item 13, 23-24. Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.)


What the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847-1868, Records Said

Christensen, Jens
Birth Date: Unknown
Death Date: 10 Aug. 1866
Gender: Male
Age: Unknown
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)
Pioneer Information: brickmaker from Vendsyssel, Denmark; died en route 10 Aug.
http://lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneerdetails/0,15791,4018-1-33363,00.html

1866 Andrew H. Scott Company
Departure: 8-9 August 1866
Arrival in Salt Lake Valley: 8 October 1866
Company Information:
About 300 individuals and 49 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Wyoming, Nebraska (the west bank of the Missouri River about 40 miles south of Omaha) [Only 45 members of the company are listed by name.]


What the Overland Trail Information Says Now

Christensen, Jens
Birth Date: 31 July 1819
Death Date: 10 Aug. 1866
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)
Pioneer Information: brickmaker from Vendsyssel, Denmark; died en route

Christensen, Marie Karen Johannesen
Birth Date: 14 Feb. 1821
Death Date: 6 Sep. 1878
Gender: Female
Age: 45
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)

Christensen, Mary Kjirstine
Birth Date: 29 Mar. 1846
Death Date: 6 June 1922
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)

Christensen, Christine
Birth Date: 24 Dec. 1847
Death Date: 30 Aug. 1866
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)
Pioneer Information: She died en route.

Christensen, Marinus
Birth Date: 6 June 1863
Death Date: 23 July 1927
Gender: Male
Age: 3
Company: Andrew H. Scott Company (1866)



What Andrew Jenson Says

(Andrew Jenson was a fellow traveler on the wagon train and later Assistant Church Historian)

Friday 10. Owing to a rainstorm we broke up our encampment late, and after traveling about 15 miles through a hilly and sparcely settled country, we encamped about sun-down. Jens Christensen (a brickmaker) called "Teglbrander" from Vendasyssel, Denmark, died today and was buried on the plain without coffin.
………
Tues 28. In the forenoon we descended a very steep hill into a deep valley, known as "Deep Hollow" or "Ash Hollow," and after traveling a few miles further, we reached North Platte river. The junction of the two rivers North Platte and South Platt, some distance east of this point, makes the larger stream, Platte river, which again is a tributary of the Missouri. In the afternoon, we traveled 16 miles up the river, over a heavy and sandy road and emcamped for the might near the river. We passed a number of wagons from which, during the night previous, the Indians had stolen all the animals, and the company traveling with the wagons were consequently unable to move till help could be sent. The Indians in this locality were said to be very hostile, and those of us who walked were instructed to keep near the wagons. A number of the emigrants were sick from eating wild berries in Ash Hollow, and a young lady from Vendsyssel conference died.


The Trail Excerpt from Andrew Jenson’s Biography

(The entire link is fairly short and worth reading.)

(The Jenson family took the same route to Salt Lake City as the Christensen family.)

Their journey took them to Copenhagen, to Kiel, and then to Hamburg where they boarded the Kenilworth for the voyage to America on May 19th. Two other ships left Hamburg a few days later, the Humboldt and Cavour, also loaded with Scandinavian converts headed for Zion. A total of 1,213 Scandinavian converts left Hamburg on these three ships.

Unlike many of the ships going from Germany to America, the Kenilworth took the route north around Scotland and then headed west. The passage took nearly two months during which time 16 people died in Andrew’s group, seven couples were married, and two children were born. After landing in New York City Andrew’s group went by steam ship to New Haven, Connecticut, and then by train to Montreal and on to St. Joseph, Missouri. After spending two hot and humid days on a steamboat their group landed in Wyoming, Nebraska, the church’s staging place for immigrants to Utah.

The Jensens left Wyoming on August 8th in a wagon train captained by Andrew H. Scott. Their trek west involved experiences similar to those of tens of thousands of others who passed over this portion of the Oregon Trail. They were hungry part of the way, endured an early snowstorm at South Pass, and barely avoided the cholera that decimated groups that followed them. On October 7th they entered Salt Lake Valley.

The picture of the Danish farm is from creative commons with all uses allowed with attribution http://flickr.com/photos/zoned_dk/817769177/. The photo of the Nebraska prairie is also from creative commons with all uses allowed with attribution http://flickr.com/photos/jasminedelilah/2290085929/.

A Family History Mystery

I haven't posted for quite awhile and won't have anymore posts for several more weeks. Here is a little genealogy recreation, though.

Ove Oveson was married to Mary Kjirstine Christensen. Mary emigrated to the United States with her father and mother and sister and adopted brother. I assumed that this was the entire family unit. Her father and sister died on the plains.

A few days ago I was looking at some Danish Mormon emigration records and found that the family consisted of:

(Family.Person - Name - Age - Place of Origin - Relationship)
10.1 Jens Christensen 47 Graverhus Mand
2 Karen Marie Christensen 49 Bremsholt Wife
3 Maren Cathrine Christensen 20 Bremsholt Dau
4 Christine Christensen 18 Ulslev Dau
5 Marinus Christensen 2 Wraa Son (would mean Vrå)
6 Christiane Christensen 67 Flade Moder
7 Ane Lovise Christensen 24 Punkrog Pige (Girl)
(Oversigt Over Emigranterne Som Afreiste Fra Vensyssel 7 May 1866 Peder 534)

Christiane (6) was Jen's mother. The church records say that she died 5 Nov 1865 in Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, (half-way between Ogden and Logan) but if she emigrated in 1866, how could she have died the previous year?

Also, I cannot find any locations named "Graverhus" or "Bremsholt" or "Punkrog" or anything similar in Denmark.

As I look through the church genealogy records for this extended family, quite a number of related families joined the church and moved to Utah. Maybe my dad already has all of this information... I need to get a Macintosh genealogy program so I can look at his files and figure out what needs to be done on this family.

Photo credit: A little lake near the town Slagelse, Denmark. http://flickr.com/photos/euromagic/2565256471/

Tanner 13: Mary Kjerstine Christensen Oveson

13 MARY KJERSTINE CHRISTENSEN OVESON
b. 29 March 1846 Tolne Sogn, Hjørring, Denmark
d. 6 June 1922 St. Johns, Apache, Arizona
b. June 1922 St. Johns, Apache, Arizona
Husband: Ove Christian Oveson
Father: Jens Christensen; Mother: Karen Marie Johannesen

26 JENS CHRISTENSEN
b. 31 July 1819 Torslev, Hjørring, Denmark
c. 8 August 1819 Torslev, Hjørring, Denmark
m. 26 December 1845 Tolne, Hjørring, Denmark
d. 12 June 1866 Omaha, Nebraska
b. June 1866 Omaha, Nebraska
Wives: (1) Christine Huborn, (2) Karen Mary Johannesen
Father: Christen C. Jensen; Mother: Christiane Christensen

27 KAREN MARY JOHANNESEN CHRISTENSEN
b. 14 February 1821 Falget, Lendum, Hjørring, Denmark
c. 18 February 1821
d. 6 September 1878 Brigham City, Navajo, Arizona
b. September 1878 Brigham City, Navajo, Arizona
Husband: Jens Christensen
Father: Johannes Jensen; Mother: Maren Andersen

Mary’s father, Jens Christensen, was a well-to-do man in his native Denmark. He was a brickmaker, therefore employed men and had a thriving business. When he heard and accepted “Mormonism” so called, he had a similar desire as a majority of those early converts, to go to Utah and join the body of the Church.

The family consisted of the following:
Jens Christensen…
Karen Marie Johanneson…
Children:
Mary Kjerstine Christensen, born 29th March 1846, Tolne, Hjørring, Denmark
Christine Christensen, born 24th December 1847, Mydgal, Hjørring, Denmark
Marinus Christensen (adopted) born 6th June 1863, Toralev, Hjørring, Denmark

From the information I have, when the ship on which they had come from Denmark arrived at a United States port, the Emigrants were transferred to a boat and were taken up the Mississippi River. The outfitting place for the Saints to begin their journey across the Plains was at Omaha, Nebraska. By the time this Company reached that place, there was an epidemic of cholera in the camp, and Jens Christensen was stricken, died and was buried, without allowing his family to know of the condition, lest they, too, contract the dread disease.

[They were in the Andrew H. Scott 1866 Pioneer Company. Another member of the company was Andrew Jenson, later a church historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He kept a good diary for the trip which gives more details of Jens and Christine's deaths.

"Friday 10. Owing to a rainstorm we broke up our encampment late, and after traveling about 15 miles through a hilly and sparcely settled country, we encamped about sun-down. Jens Christensen (a brickmaker) called Teglbrander from Vendasyssel, Denmark, died today and was buried on the plain without coffin."

"Tues 28. In the forenoon we descended a very steep hill into a deep valley, known as "Deep Hollow" or "Ash Hollow," and after traveling a few miles further, we reached North Platte river. The junction of the two rivers North Platte and South Platt, some distance east of this point, makes the larger stream, Platte river, which again is a tributary of the Missouri. In the afternoon, we traveled 16 miles up the river, over a heavy and sandy road and encamped for the night near the river. We passed a number of wagons from which, during the night previous, the Indians had stolen all the animals, and the company traveling with the wagons were consequently unable to move till help could be sent. The Indians in this locality were said to be very hostile, and those of us who walked were instructed to keep near the wagons. A number of the emigrants were sick from eating wild berries in Ash Hollow, and a young lady from Vendsyssel conference died."]

Jens Christensen had reserved for himself sufficient means to make the trip and see the family to Utah, but his spare means had been loaned to people who were also emigrating, but were short of means, with the understanding that it would be repaid when needed, after they all arrived at their destination. His business affairs were not understood by his wife, neither did she know the parties to whom he had loaned money. And if papers had been made to show the debts, they did not come into her possession. Trouble and misfortune did not end with the death of the husband and father, but after they were part way along on their journey crossing the plains, the sister Christine was taken suddenly ill one night after the day’s travel, and died before morning, and had to be buried in a lonely grave by the wayside.

The widow and baby and daughter Mary, finished the journey to Utah, and were directed to Ephraim, Sanpete County, where they found friends and acquaintances, but soon found themselves without means to live upon, since the husband and father was gone, and the creditors did not reveal themselves. They never did receive any payment of the means loaned, and in time it was understood that the parties who had received it, never came to Utah, but remained in the East.

The two women went to work to support themselves, the mother as a helper in homes, the daughter as a seamstress. As a girl in Denmark, Mary had the misfortune to break her ankle, and when she was nearly well from the accident, fell and broke it again, and she was always lame thereafter, and it was hard for her to be on her feet much. She was therefore apprenticed as a seamstress in Denmark. She was excellent at making all kinds of clothing, including men’s hats, boys’ and even mens’ suits, besides all sorts of women’s clothing, and did many kinds of fancy stitchery—made flowers in wool, did beautiful embroidery work, drawing her own designs—also knitting and crochet work. She found employment readily, and her skill was so much in demand, that after her marriage, she never had to do washing or even housework or cooking—she always had women around who would do these things, if she would help them with her sewing or knitting, or show them how to do fancy work. Her life was thereby eased of much rough work, because of her art. She kept her eyesight up to the last, and some pieces of beautiful embroidery work after she was seventy-five. She died June 6th, 1922 at St. Johns, Arizona.

Karen Marie Johanneson Christensen, mother of Mary K. Oveson, and the son Marinus, went with the Ove C. Oveson family to Brigham City (now Winslow, Arizona), in 1876, and were members of their household, as mentioned in the sketch of Ove C. Oveson, until the mother’s death there September 8th, 1878.

Overson, Margaret Jarvis. George Jarvis and Joseph George DeFriez Genealogy. Mesa, Arizona: Privately printed, 1957. The photos are from her book. The one of the two sisters is probably Christine, Marinus, and Mary from left to right.

Jenson, Andrew, Journal, in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8 Oct. 1866, 2-14.

Tanner 12: Ove Christian Oveson

OVE CHRISTIAN OVESON
b. 31 July 1840 Taars Sogn, Hjørring, Denmark
m. 11 May 1867 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
d. 4 October 1924 St. Johns, Apache, Arizona
b. October 1924 St. Johns, Apache, Arizona
Wives: (1) Mary Kjerstine Christensen (2) Christine Christensen
Father: Jens Oveson; Mother: Kjersten Pederson

The subject of this sketch was born in Hjørring, near the Northeast coast of Denmark, July 31, 1840. He was the first born child of Jens Andreas Oveson, and his wife Kjersten Maria Pederson.

As a child he was very frail, and many times was near death’s door. His poor health was a detriment in gaining what education was afforded, as he was unable to attend school much of the time.

When he was ten years of age, a wonderful thing occurred, which was destined to change the trend of thought and conditions of life of many thousands of people of his native country. Apostle Erastus Snow and his associates, came with the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and began the work of teaching and preaching, which in less than one year gave a harvest of over 500 converts to the church.

Young Ove was an interested listener to the many stories and incidents, and the excitement that prevailed concerning the “New Religion.” And very soon thereafter, a copy of the Book of Mormon came into his hands, which he read with great interest.
His father was a builder and hired several men, and at the age of 14 years, Ove was set to work with the men, among whom were two “Mormons.”His Lutheran Sunday School teacher had asked the class to find all they could in the Bible about the Baptism of Jesus. These Mormons helped Ove find passages which showed that baptism of children was not in accord with Bible teachings, and told him to ask his teacher why it was done now. The teacher turned white and did not asnwer, but the children were not allowed to read the Bible anymore.

When he was nineteen Ove had a dream, in which he was impressed with the necessity of joining the Church, which he did a few days later. On finding that he had been baptized his father became angry and sent him from home. He said, “Father I will go, but you will yet become a ‘Mormon’.”He was soon ordained a Deacon and appointed to sell and distribute books and tracts. One day he was at a meeting where a mob gathered and broke it up and Ove was hit and knocked down because he would not answer their questions. There incidents show his fearlessness when he felt that he was right.
He was soon called to teach a Sunday School class, and a few months later was called on a Mission to the Southern part of Denmark. In starting on this mission he had to walk and was to meet a companion, where a meeting was to be held.
He went to the place, and the house was full of people, but his companion had not come. He asked a man to lead the congregation in singing to entertain them, until the leading elder should arrive, but they wanted him to speak. He got out of the room and went into the dark and prayed that the Lord would give him strength to speak to those people.He came back and opened the meeting by singing and prayer, then he arose an spoke for over an hour. He says he does not know what he said, but the people were very attentive, and after he had finished the man who had baptized him told the people, that this young man had never before spoken to an audience and had very little education. The words he had said had surely been given him by the spirit of God. Other said he had spoken the truth, and had given a wonderful discourse.Ove C. Oveson travelled and preached, presided over branches, and worked in the mionistry about four years, walking thousands of miles, through rain sleet and snow, sleeping in barns or wherever night overtook him. Meeting opposition, and also many friends; baptizing and confirming many into the church, until he was released to emigrate to Zion.
During his mission, his parents had been baptized, his father had presided in the branch for some time and the family had already gone to Utah—fulfilling the prediction he had made shortly after his own baptism—and in this he greatly rejoiced.For ten days just prior to receiving his release, he had been bedfast, and at the time the letter was handed to him, was in a weakened condition, entirely unable to stand alone. The letter of release gave him just two weeks time to be ready to sail with a company of emmigrants for America.It was necessary for him to travel on foot about 125 miles, and visit a number of places, in preparation of leaving Denmark.
Among other young men who had joined the “Mormons,” he had obtained a temporary release from the compulsory military service that was required of each young man whenever he was needed after the age of 22 years. And at this time the nation was at war and he knew that he might be drafted at any time, and especially that effort would be made to keep him from leaving the Country. These things passed quickly through his mind, and required an immediate plan of action.He called the man where he was staying and explained to him what the President’s letter contained, and told him he had to leave at once, in order to be ready to go according to the call, and asked this man to administer to him. The man was a recently ordained Elder, but had never officiated in an administration. He said he couldn’t, he didn’t know what to say. Ove said, “You must. I will tell you what to say.” So the man placed his hand on Brother Oveson’s head and repeated the words he told him.Brother Oveson then got up, put on his clothes, and by holding to a chair, began to walk around the room. In a short time he was able to walk, and soon left the house, walking to the next place he had to go.Brother Oveson lived to be 84 years old and he related this incident a month before his death, telling his children that he was immediately healed on that occasion and since that time had never to remain in bed a day because of sickness. He said, “My life mission was before me, and I had faith to be healed to enable me to perform it, but now my work is done.”Ove was a favorite with the ladies and told an amusing incident of the night just before leaving Denmark when he was at the dance and was sitting between two young ladies, when the recruiting officer appeared. One of the girls recognized him and told Ove, and said “let’s leave.” So they hurriedly spoke to the other girl, and they then put a ladies hat and shawl on Ove, and one on each side took him by the arm and they left the hall, passing by the officer, and he was not recognized.He emmigrated to America in 1864, and was hired at Omaha to drive an ox team loaded with nerchandise across the plains. When they had to cross the Platte River, the quicksand was bad, and the men had to stand in the river to guide the teams away from the bad sand beds.Ove stood in the cold water so long, that he was unable to walk and drive his oxen, as his legs stiffened. The Captain of the company died and a metallic coffin was procured, and placed in one of the wagons, and Ove was appointed to drive the team bcause he could not walk and drive the oxen. He had to sit on the coffin in the day and sleep on it at night the rest of the trip. He was a poor teamster when he started, but soon learned the art of driving horses.Arriving in Salt Lake City he proceeded to go to Ephraim, where his parents resided. He and two companions walked for two days and had only one loaf of bread between them.Then they got a meal and a night’s rest, and Ove was ready to go on the next day.At Ephraim he worked, saved and prospered. Two years after his arrival a young girl whom he had known before leaving Denmark, Mary K. Christensen and her mother came to town. She had buried her father at Omaha and her sister on the plains, and they had lost their means, or rather, her father had loaned it to help other emmigrants, and at his death the mother knew nothing about his business affairs. Now they were in a strange land without home, a providor, or means, although among many of their own people.Ove proposed marriage, was accepted, and immediately after the ceremony, took the mother and baby brother also into his home and cared for them until the mother’s death and the boy’s marriage.They were getting a nice start financially, also a nice young family of five children, when he was again given a call by his church. This time it was to help make a settlement on the Little Colorado River in Arizona. He made immediate preparations to go, greatly to the sorrow of his wife and family, at leaving a comfortable home and a good start. But it was a call from his leaders and Ove never wavered.They arrived in Brigham City, near the present site of Winslow, Arizona, in 1876 and took part in building the fort, and the various labors of the people there, exploring the country, surveying ditches, laying off land, planning and building dams, etc. Cleer Creek was named by him. He was appointed postmaster and held that position and kept the mail station until the summer of 1880, when he decided to withdraw from the United Order and move up the river to St. Johns, Arizona.Here he was active in fencing the field, staking off the land into ten and twenty acre plots, surveying the ditches, building reservoirs and dams, and building houses. Being a builder and cabinet maker of splendid workmanship, he built five homes for his family in St. Johns, which were all among the best of their time, and also helped each of his eight married children to get or build a home of their own. He was active in every community enterprise.Ove and Mary were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom, six sons and a daughter are still living, his posterity to date [1935] number 61 living descendants.He fought in the Black Hawk Indian War in Utah, and also had some exciting experiences with Indians and outlaws in early Arizona history.He was a member of the presidency of the high priests quorum, and a member of the high council of the St. Johns Stake for a number of years.He was known and admired for his thrift, business ability, honesty, resourcefulness, hospitality, and fine sense of humor. He always had a joke and a pleasant word.His home life was very congenial, and his children always had a happy and comfortable home.Ove C. Oveson and his brother Peter and their families have given over 35 years of missionary service to the church, besides the many local positions that have been held by the different members.Genealogy was the absorbing work of the last few years of his life. He sent to Denmark and obtained the records of his own and his wife’s lines, and left a very acceptable pedigree of near 400 names, besides a complete record of all his descendants.Will his posterity carry on the good work, and emulate the splendid example of their father? We Hope So.

Note: When Ove C. Oveson lived in Brigham City (now Winslow), Arizona, he was Postmaster. He wrote his name “Oveson” and the government officials wrote it “Overson.” Because of that, he adopted the “r.” When his brother visited him, he persuaded Ove that was wrong to make the change, as their father’s name was “Oveson” and in changing they might eventually lose track of the family relationship. Ove then dropped the “r” in his name, and asked his boys to do the same. But all the boys were married and had families and businesses of their own, and all their records carried the “r” and they considered it bad to change. Only one son, David, was willing to make the change. So now, David’s posterity writes their name “Oveson,” and all the others “Overson.”

Ove Christian Oveson, was born 31st July 1840, Taars Sogn, Hjorring, Denmark. He married 11th May 1867, at Salt Lake City, Utah. (Endowment House).Mary Kjerstine Christensen, daughter of Jens Christensen and Karen Marie Johannesen, born 29th March 1846, Tolne Sogn, Hjorring, Denmark.Children:
1. Henry Christian Overson, b. 9th July 1868, Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah.
2. David Patten Oveson, b. 11th Oct. 1869, Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah.
3. Mary Sophia Overson, b. 8th Jan. 1872, Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah.
4. John Robert Overson, b. 19th Aug. 1873, Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah.
5. George Conrad Overson, b. 6th Feb. 1875, Ephraim, Sanpete Co., Utah.
6. Parker Adolphus Overson, b. 27th July 1877, Brigham City, Apache County, Arizona. Parker died 24th July 1878.
7. Ove Ephraim Overson, born 17th July 1879, Brigham City, Apache County, Arizona.
8. Leander Walter Overson, born 22nd Nov. 1881, St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona. Died June 23rd, 1883, at St. Johns, Apache Co., Arizona.
9. James Nephi Overson, born 26th Feb. 1884, St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona.
10. Lyman Marion Overson, born 26th Nov. 1887, St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona.
11. Leah Anetta Overson, born 14th May 1890, St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona. Died July 16th, 1892, at St. Johns, Apache Co., Arizona.
12. A boy who died at birth, unnamed born 1893 at St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona.Overson, Margaret Jarvis. "Biography of Ove C. Oveson," July 1935.