Person:Karen Larsen (4)

! 1. SOURCE 2. PERSONAL RECORDS 3. PERSONAL HISTORY -

- 1. Records of the Montpelier, Idaho 1st Ward 2. Came to Utah in 1859 3. FHL Salt Lake Temple records 4. Family records of Mrs Royal D Clark & Douglas C. Pearce families 5. Journal keept by Agnes Hogensen (Pearce)

  In the little town of Asker, In far away Norway, lived the smith, Lars Nielsen, and his wife Anne Pedersen Nielson and their two children, a boy and a girl.  On Dec. 20, 1830 a baby girl came to the home to make this family happy.
They named her patra.  She was a happy little soul and there was sunshine where ever she was.  When she was only about five or six years old her father had the misfortune of breaking his leg, it was not properly set and complications set in which resulted in his death, leaving his good wife to be both father and mother to there children.
  Due to circumstances the children were compeled to go out to work at an early age.  When Patra was about nine years old she went into the home of a farmer and his family, there to care for the children and perform other chores about the farm.
  She attended the public sschool and completed the course which was required at the time.  Due to her good work and diligence in the home in which she worked, she was recommended to a wealthy family living in Drammen.  The farmer was unable to hire her any longer so she went to Drammen to live in the home. Here she acted as nurse maid to the children. She had more priviliges than any of the other help for when the family traveled Patra accomponied them taking completer charge of the children.  Patra accompanied them on all trips.
  She was later promoted and became cook, but was also required to help with the family ironingt and had full charge of the childrens clothes.  In every way she was treated very will and with much respect.
  The Mormon Missionaries were loboring in Drammen, and out of curiosity some of the servent girls attended some of the mettings.  At the cottage mettings they always knelt in prayer, Patra was very much impressed while one of the other girls made fun of this mode of worship.  Never the less Patra incestigated it more fully and finally came to the conclusion that it was the truth and this was the religion with which she desired to become affiliated.

On April 4, 1858 she was baptized by Bro. Olaf Larsen. When her mistress learned of her baptism she became cery much concerned and feared for her, whatever could or should she do for Patra, the husband was not so concerned because he belived it made no difference what religion one belonged to. The lady wint to her Priest with her troubles because she did not like to discharge the girls unless absolutely necessary. The Priest told her it wiuld be alright to keep her but to keep close watch to see that she didn't influence any of the other servents, but Patra only remained about a year.

  One of the aquaintances she made at the Mormon mettings, was Christen Hogensen, also a convert.  In the spring of 1859 a company of saints were going to immigrate to America, and Patra did not have sufficient means to go with them, but Christen offered to loan her enough to immigrate if she wished to do so, possibly he had some other idea in mind when the offer was made.  She accipted very graciously however, and they lift with the company which lift Norway the latter part of March 1859.  This miant she was leaving her native land probably never to return, some thing very much more urgent seemed to be calling.
  The company sailed from Liverpool, England April 11th on board the ship William Tapsscott.  What a voyage this must have been.  But a voyage is not a voyage unless there is romance aboard.  Then this was a real one, for there was romance between Christian and Patra, and on the sixt of May while still on the Atlantic these two were married.  It is not known for sure but possibly by Elder Robert F. Neslen who was aboard.
  This company was made up  of 235 souls, 60 hand carts, and 6 wagons.  They left Florence June 9th and trudged forward with light hearts and great hopes for the future.  Many hardships were encountered during the wearysome journey. Patra held up her head and was as brave as any, taking her turn pushing and pulling.  One day she did not feel well and as was the custom, those who wee old or unable to push or pull, came along behind the rest.  Patra fainted and fell to the ground.  She must have been at the very rear for the compahy went on and left her unbekowns to anyone.  Some time later she was picked up by some horsemen who came that way and were traveling to California.  They took her into camp, where she was revived and ready to continue the journey the following morning.
  Later in the journey her life was again spared.  When they were fording the Green River she was swept down stream by a swift current of water.  She being very sleight of figure, a soldier who was on a horse on the opposit bank saw her go down and immediately urged his horse into thestream and by quick work on his part she was saved from what looked like certain death.
  The company arribed in Salt Lake, Sept. 4th.  They were in a rather weakened condition due to going on very small rations of food.  This had been necessary because their provisions were running short, yet they were thankful and rejoiced ober their safe arrival.
  On August 22nd, 1860, Patra and Christen went to the endowment house and received their endowments and those blessings that go with the same and were also sealed for time and eternity, which they must have been looking forward to for a long time.  They lived in Salt Lake for only about a year when they mobed to Logan, Utah.  July 26th 1861 a baby girl came to cheer their home.  She was their first child and they named her Caroline.
  The fall of 1863 they were called to go with a company of saints to settle Bear Lake Valley.  They arrived in Bear Lake, November 2nd and November 9th their second child was born in a dugout, Christen had hurriedly constructed. They named her Agnes.  She was the first white child born in the balley.  The spring of 1864 this family with others moved over to the east side of the balley and located, calling it Clover Creek.  The name was later changed to Montpelier.  Their home was located at east Montpelier and they were very prosperous and thrifty.
  Dec. 9th 1866 another baby girl came to this home, she was named Mary Jane.
  Two years later they moved back to Cache Valley living in Richmond, Utah. While living there the first son was born to them.  He was christened Charles Henery.  He was born August 12th, 1869.
  After living in Richmond about a year they returned to Montpelier, where they resided the remainder of their lives.  Decembeer 26th, 1874 another son was born, He was named Lorenzo and was their last child.
  Patra was a very diligent worker in the church.  She acted as president of the Relief Society for about 22 years.  She also taught in the sunday school.
  Dec. 15th, 1899 Christen passed away.  He was preceded by Carol in 1866 and Lorenzo in 1881.  The other children were married and in homes of their own so this left Patra alone.  Not long after Christens passing, his niece, Ingaborg Hansen immigrated from Norway and came to live with Patra.  Ingaborg was married in 1914 and then patra went ot live with her daughter, Mary Jane Swensen.
  She was very spry and active up to within a few weeks of her death which occoured October 2, 1917.
  The things I remember best about Patra, (my grand mother) were her father beds, one to go under and one to go pver, they were cozy andwarm in rooms with out heat. Then there was the nice little tea cakes that were similar to my own mothers.  Grandmother was always knitting and tried to teach me when I was only fout or five years old.  I'm afraid I wasn't too interested.
  We grandaughters, Adalila, Edna, Jennie and I had lots of fun making mud dishes out of the clay that grandfather had banked the house up with. We did this lots of happy afternoons while our mothers visited in the house.
                                        Irene Pearce Burgoyne