Erick Martin Larsen, Sr.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 17 2021, 5:17:42 UTC

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Biography information was provided by Ephraim, the youngest son of Erick & Christine Larsen. Erick Martin Larsen, Sr. was born 27 August 1851 near Solvesborg, Sweden in the southern tip, eastern side of the country near the sea. The 56th parallel line crosses the town. He was 2nd of the six children born to Martin Larsson and Ingrid Nordstrom. Siblings: Lars Martin Larsson (1849–?), ​​Laurentia Christina Larsson (1854–1855), Junius Martin Larsson (1856–1925), Hans Johan Zacharias Larsen (1859–1896) and Sofia Bendigte Christina Larsen (1861–1924). His parents were very poor and they did not have much in the way of worldly goods. His family were greatly blessed when the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints found the Larsson family and taught them and on August 13, 1855 his parents joined the church which made them very unpopular in that area, so around 1857 they left Sweden and moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. The family changed the spelling of their last name from Larsson to Larsen at that time. The Larsen family had a desire to immigrate to America and join with the Saints (members of the church) in Utah. According to Ephraim, "It was a challenge as well as a puzzling matter to figure out how they were going to get the financial means to make the trip and also obey the scripture where-in it said, "Come out of her, that you be not partakers of the punishment which I the Lord God shall pour out on the wicked who will not receive my glad tidings". My father, being the eldest of the surviving children, felt that the responsibility to get to Utah rested on his shoulders. In those days when the missionaries had fulfilled their callings, one or two of the Elders would gather up the Saints with all of their worldly goods that they could exchange for money and with what extra the church would send, would emigrate to the United States. My father received news one day that there was going to be an emigrant ship sailing for America and that most of the passengers were going to be L.D.S. Saints. Some of his close friends were going and those were anxious days and hours for him. The deepest wish in his heart was that some of his close friends would make it possible for him to make his fare to America but all he could do was yearn and sigh in his heart. The time was growing short and the ship was soon to sail and if he did not sail on that ship, it wold mean another long year of waiting and perhaps to no avail. My father felt that it was his duty to sail on that ship and some inner feeling kept telling him to go and that he would be delivered safely to Zion. So strong was his feeling that he went to his father and told him that he was going to sail on that ship. His father asked him how he was going to America without any money and he replied that he didn't know but that he was going! It was 1871 when Erick bade goodbye to his mother, father, brothers and sister and with youth's determination turned away from his past and looked with new hope towards his long journey across the ocean. In a few short hours, he found out that it would be quite a difficult task for him to get on board the ship but some of his friends helped him stow-away. Once aboard he had to be careful not to be found out. The captain and all the men had to count heads in order to keep track of the number on board. It wasn't to hard of a matter staying hidden away but my father told me sometimes he was a head pillow for one of the beds. He said that it was all in being careful to not let the ships crew get acquainted with you until the ship was a good three days out to sea from Liverpool, England." According to A Compilation of General Voyage Notes from "Saints by Sea". . . Another company of Scandinavian Saints emigrating to Utah (the second company of the season) sailed Sept. 1, 1871, from Copenhagen per steamship 'Humber.' The weather was ideal and the emigrants (170 in number) were made quite comfortable on board. Elder Anthon H. Lund accompanied the emigrants to Liverpool, to render necessary help to those who were unaccustomed to travel. The voyage across the North Sea was pleasant and the weather favorable during the whole passage , and scarcely any seasickness occurred. On Sunday, Sept. 3rd, a meeting was held on board, attended by all the Saints and some nonmembers of the Church. A splendid spirit was dominant and quietness and peace prevailed. The ship arrived safely at Hull, England, Monday afternoon, Sept. 4th. The next day (Tuesday, Sept. 5th,) the emigrants continued their journey [by train] to Liverpool. The emigrants sailed from Liverpool Sept. 6, 1871, under the presidency of John I. Hart, on the steamship 'Nevada.' After a successful voyage, the ship arrived in New York, Sept. 18th, and the emigrants immediately continued their journey westward by rail to Ogden, Utah, where they arrived Sept. 27th. Those of the emigrants who were going south continued their journey by the Utah Central Railway to Salt Lake City the same evening. . . .

Liverpool to New York 6 Sep 1871 - 18 Sep 1871 "Wed. 6. [Sep. 1871] -- The steamship Nevada sailed from Liverpool, England, with 263 Saints, under the direction of John I. Hart. The company arrived at New York Sept . 18th, and at Ogden Sep. 27th." CC, p.86" "FOR ZION. -- The sixth company of this season, in charge of Elder John I. Hart, left Liverpool in the Guion and Co.'s steamship Nevada, Captain Forsyth, on the 6th instant, and we were favored with very pleasant weather from the time of going on board to latest date heard from at leaving Queenstown [Ireland] at 1 p.m. of the 7th. The company numbered 256, besides 7 returning elders, viz., John I. Hart, W. M. Bromley, C. W. West, C. Willardson, S. C. Tura, F. Oberheinsley and E. M. Caste, and have the faith and prayers of the Saints that their journey may continue as prosperous and pleasant as it commenced, that they may safely and joyfully arrive in goodly time at their longed for homes in Utah." MS, 33:37 (Sep. 12, 1871), p.585 Erick Martin's luck soon ran out though and his secret was found out and he was put to work for the remainder of the voyage. Again from Ephraim, "The Captain put him to work and some days, he was really hard on him and gave him odd jobs to do that were not at all pleasant but Erick did not mind a few discomforts as long as he got to his long sought after destination. News aboard ship spread that they were soon to reach port and the hurry scurry grew with everyone anticipating great things. All had gone well with Erick Martin until he was preparing to leave the ship when the Captain saw him and said, "Not yet son". He waited with his heart in his mouth until all of the emigrants had left the ship."

 According to the story, at that point, the Captain and the crew lined up on the gangplank in two lines facing each other and Erick had to make his way through the middle while each sailor bid him farewell with a swift kick to his behind.  So young Erick was literally "kicked" into the United States.  Quoting Ephraim again, "Bruised and sore but not discouraged, he stood up and was happy to be on his way towards a new life.  Utah was to be his new goal in life and here he would worship the true and living God with the rest of the freedom loving people.  He heard that the saints were to travel to Utah by railroad and that disturbed him greatly because he again was without funds to purchase a ticket.  His new found friends rallied around him and thought up a very clever scheme.  They hid him under their seats and the women carefully spread their long skirts over him in an effort to hide him from the conductor.  This was the way that he journeyed across the country to Utah."  After his arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah, Erick started to work and establish himself in this new land.  He learned to speak the new language quite well.  2 years later, a young woman by the name of Christina Dorthea Nielsen and her sister Brighamina also immigrated from Denmark to Utah.  Christine was working for Brigham Young when she and Erick Martin met.  They had a short courtship and on 15 February 1875 they were married in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Endowment House.  The young couple made their first home in Salt Lake City and it was there that Emelia Ingrid (Millie) was born on 16 December 1876.  Erick worked as a harness-maker in the area.  Again, Ephraim tells us, "Shortly after Mille was born, my father was called to fulfill a mission to Norway, without purse or script.  He honored this calling from Brigham Young and he was instrumental in bringing 140 Saints to Utah.  Among those were his father and siblings."  Erick's mother, Ingrid had passed away shortly after he left Denmark.  October 1875–Unknown Age Called: 24 Scandinavia Set Apart: 11 October 1875 Priesthood office: Seventy Priesthood: Seventies Called From: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Set apart by: Orson Pratt He labored in the northern tip of the country and as he completed his mission the time was at hand for the converts to immigrate to the United States so they all gathered in Denmark in 1877 in preparation for the trip. All in all, there were 140 converts. Erick's father, his brother's Junius and Johan and his sister Sophia traveled with him to America at this time.  The church paid the fares for all those without the means so when they arrived in Salt Lake City, they worked to pay back the money so that others could have a chance to come to America as well.  This time Erick sailed to America, he was not a stow-a-way.  Some details on his journey were available on "Saints by Sea"  Liverpool to New York 27 Jun 1877 - 7 Jul 1877 A Compilation of General Voyage Notes "DEPARTURE. -- The S. S. Wisconsin left Liverpool on the 27th ultimo, with quite a company of emigration, including from Scandinavia, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and England, some 714 souls, with the returning elders as follows: Bishop J. Rowberry, who had charge of the whole, Brother E. F. Branting in charge of the Scandinavians, Brother Martin Lenzi in charge of the Swiss and German, Brother P. J. Lammers in charge of those from Holland, and Brother Rulon S. Wells as recorder; also Brothers L. Wirthlin, S. Nilsen, J. A. Andersen, C. Jensen, H. P. Iversen, H. Thunneson, C. Larsen and Jens Keller, who would aid after organization in securing the comfort and welfare of the traveling Saints. It was remarked by officers of the Guion Co. that they had never seen a company start with such precision before, there was no hitch anywhere; the inspection was passed successfully, and noted by the examining physician as including a remarkably healthy and extra proportion of children. The company have the hearty prayers of the Saints in Europe for their safe arrival in Zion; and for the returning elders, blessing for their labors in the gospel, and best wishes for pleasant renewal of the associations of family and friends." MS, 39:27 (July 2, 1877), p. 428

"Wed. 27. [June 1877] -- The steamship Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool, England, with 714 Saints, in charge of John Rowberry. The company arrived at New York July 7th, and at Salt Lake City July 14th." CC, pp.98-9

". . . The first company of the season's emigration from Scandinavia sailed from Copenhagen, June 21, 1877, in two steamships, namely, the 'Argo' and the 'Pacific.' There were 471 souls of emigrants and eight returning missionaries, namely, Erik F. Branting, John A. Anderson, Sven Nilsson, Christen Jensen, Hans Peter Iversen, Eric M. Larsen, Hans Thunnesen and Jens Keller. For several days prior to the departure the emigrating Saints had gathered in Copenhagen from the different conferences, and the elders who had the emigration affairs in hand were very busy at the mission office, making their arrangements. The emigrating Saints seemed very satisfied and happy in saying goodbye to the lands of their nativity, to gather with the people of God in the valleys of the mountains. The embarkation of the Saints took place without accident or the least disturbance. The greater part of the emigrants went on board the 'Argo,' while a small company, mostly emigrants from the Christiania and Goteborg Conferences, took passage on the 'Pacific.' About 6:30 p.m. the 'Argo' steamed out of the harbor and was soon afterwards followed by the 'Pacific.' After a successful voyage across the North Sea, both ships arrived safely in Hull, England, on Sunday, June 24th, the 'Argo' at 9 o'clock a.m. and the 'Pacific' at 8 o'clock p.m. The emigrants landed the following day (June 25th) and proceeded at once by railroad to Liverpool, where they boarded the steamship 'Wisconsin,' together with a number of British, German, Swiss, and Dutch Saints. Bishop John Rowberry was appointed captain of the whole company, while Elder Erik F. Branting was continued as captain of the Scandinavian emigrants. The 'Wyoming' [Wisconsin] sailed from Liverpool, June 27th, and arrived in New York, July 7th. From New York the journey was continued by rail westward the same day and the emigrants arrived safe and well in Ogden and Salt Lake City, July 1 4th. Three Scandinavian couples were married en route and a hour after the arrival in Salt Lake City, the wife of Martin Christensen, from the Aalborg Conference, gave birth to a daughter. . . ." HSM, pp.229-30 After Erick returned home from his mission he moved his family to Brigham City, Utah where a son Erick Martin Jr. was born on 7 May 1878. Erick and Christine were called by the prophet, along with others, including his father Martin, to settle in an area of southern Utah. Polygamy was being practiced in the church at that time and Erick was asked to take another wife. On 2 January 1879 he married Josephine Christine Johansen and then Erick moved his family "off to the last place that the Lord had forgotten about" first to Joseph and then to Monroe, Sevier County, Utah. Erick was a harness-maker and the new settlement needed his services. The Larsen family had a little farm where they could have a cow, chickens, pigs and a team of horses. Christina took over the farm duties and Josephine was the cook and as was normal in those days, they both had children as fast as possible. Josephine gave birth to Mahonry on 26 December 1879 and Christina gave birth to Jared 26 February 1880. Jared died 12 days later. Josephine gave birth to Ellinora Josephine (Nora) on 9 January 1882, but she never fully recovered after the birth and she died on 15 January 1882. 7 weeks later, on 27 February 1882 Christina gave birth to Joseph but they did not have him in this world for long as he died one week short of his 1st birthday on 20 February 1883. The family made the decision to move back to Brigham City at this time and that is where Jennie Sophia was born on 10 August 1884. Erick's father, Martin and his 2nd wife, Julia lived in that area at the time. The family then moved to Malad City, Idaho where Annie Elizabeth was born 23 March 1886, Nephi was born and he died in 1888 and then Ephraim was born on 17 November 1890. While at Malad, Erick got into debt, mortgaging their home and 40 acres of land. When the mortgage came due, he could not pay and lost it all. A friend let them live in a house at Portage, Utah but then Erick decided to homestead 160 acres of land up the northern part of Mink Creek that was called Klondike, because of the deep snow and very cold winters. These 160 acres are north of the road up through Klondike where the road goes over to the Hot Springs road. In the spring of 1892 the family moved to Mink Creek, Idaho. At the time, Millie was 15 years of age and Eric Jr. and Mahonry were 11 years of age. Eric Jr. drove the 2nd wagon and Mahonry had the responsibility to herd the cow and her calf the entire distance. The family lived in a dugout for most of the summer while they built a home out of the birch trees that surrounded them. It was a wild place to live and the family was never lonesome thanks to blow snakes and gophers by the hundreds, skunks and porcupines. The family was penniless the first winter on the ranch and endured many hardships. There was 6 feet of snow all around and they spent most of the winter "snowed in". They lost all the horses but one team and all the cows but one. They managed to keep the cow alive by feeding her old straw and syrup and the old hay out of the bed ticks. The family faired a little better on a diet of lumpdick flower mush and molasses. They had no milk because the cow was going to have a calf. They did have a few wild chickens from time to time that gave them the necessary strength they needed to survive the harsh conditions. It was a winter never to be forgotten but somehow they made it through to spring and that is when Leone Christina was born on 21 Mar 1893 on their ranch in the Strawberry area. In 1909, Erick traded Mahonry the ranch for Mahonry and Adelle's house and 8 acres in town. Erick and Christina moved down into Mink Creek to live in a little two-room cabin which stood below the old school house hill. Christina's health was failing her and she passed away on 8 July 1909. Erick passed away on 15 Feb 1918 in Preston, Idaho.

Gender: Male Birth date, place: 27 August 1851 in Skona, Sweden Death date: 15 February 1918 Baptism date: 14 September 1860 Baptism by: Hans Jensen Father's name: Martin Larsen Mother's name: Ingra Norstrom* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 17 2021, 4:05:47 UTC

Erick Martin Larsen, Sr. was born to Martin Larsson and Ingrid Nordstrom on 27 August 1851 near Solvesborg, Sweden in the southern tip, eastern side of the country near the sea. The 56th parallel line crosses the town. The missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints found the Larsen family and taught them and on August 13, 1855 his parents joined the church which made them very unpopular in that area, so around 1857 they left Sweden and moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. The family changed the spelling of their last name from Larsson to Larsen at that time. In 1871 Erick had a desire to join the saints in Zion, so he managed to get passage aboard a ship and sail to America and then on to Salt Lake City, Utah. Family lore suggests that he may have been a stowaway on the ship and that he was discovered by the crew. According to the story, at that point, he was put to work for the remainder of the voyage and when the ship docked in America, the crew lined up in two lines facing each other and Erick had to make his way through the middle while each sailor bid him farewell with a swift kick to his behind. After his arrival in Salt Lake City, Utah, Erick started to work and establish himself in this new land. 2 years later, a young woman by the name of Christina Dorthea Nielsen and her sister Brighamina were also traveling to Utah. Not long after their arrival, Erick and Christine met and on 15 Feb 1875 he and Christine were married in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Endowment House. The young couple made their first home in Salt Lake City and it was there that Emelia Ingrid (Millie) was born on 16 Dec 1875. Erick worked as a harness-maker in the area, but it was not long before he was called to serve in the Scandinavian mission.

October 1875–Unknown Age Called: 24 Scandinavia Set Apart: 11 October 1875 Priesthood office: Seventy Priesthood: Seventies Called From: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Set apart by: Orson Pratt He labored in the northern tip of the country and as he completed his mission the time was at hand for the converts to immigrate to the United States so they all gathered in Denmark in 1877 in preparation for the trip. All in all, there were 140 converts. Erick's father, his brother's Junius and Johan and his sister Sophia traveled with him to America at this time. The church paid the fares for all those without the means so when they arrived in Salt Lake City, they worked to pay back the money so that others could have a chance to come to America as well. After Erick returned home from his mission he moved his family to Brigham City, Utah where a son Erick Martin Jr. was born on 7 May 1878. Erick and Christina were called by the prophet, along with others, including his father Martin, to settle in an area of southern Utah. Polygamy was being practiced in the church at that time and Erick was asked to take another wife. On 2 January 1879 he married Josephine Christine Johansen and then Erick moved his family "off to the last place that the Lord had forgotten about" first to Joseph and then to Monroe, Sevier County, Utah. Erick was a harness-maker and the new settlement needed his services. The Larsen family had a little farm where they could have a cow, chickens, pigs and a team of horses. Christina took over the farm duties and Josephine was the cook and as was normal in those days, they both had children as fast as possible. Josephine gave birth to Mahonry 26 December 1879 and Christina gave birth to Jared 26 Feb 1880. Jared died 12 days later. Josephine gave birth to Ellinora Josephine (Nora) on 9 Jan 1882, but she never fully recovered after the birth and she died on 15 Jan 1882. 7 weeks later, on 27 Feb 1882 Christina gave birth to Joseph but they did not have him in this world for long as he died one week short of his 1st birthday on 20 Feb 1883. The family made the decision to move back to Brigham City at this time and that is where Jennie Sophia was born on 10 Aug 1884. The family then moved to Malad City, Idaho where Annie Elizabeth was born 23 Mar 1886, Nephi was born and he died in 1888 and then Ephraim was born on 17 Nov 1890. While at Malad, Erick got into debt, mortgaging their home and 40 acres of land. When the mortgage came due, he could not pay and lost it all. A friend let them live in a house at Portage, Utah but then Erick decided to homestead 160 acres of land up the northern part of Mink Creek that was called Klondike, because of the deep snow and very cold winters. These 160 acres are north of the road up through Klondike where the road goes over to the Hot Springs road. In the spring of 1892 the family moved to Mink Creek, Idaho. It was a wild place to live and the family was never lonesome thanks to blow snakes and gophers by the hundreds, skunks and porcupines. The family was penniless the first winter on the ranch and endured many hardships. There was 6 feet of snow all around and they spent most of the winter "snowed in". They lost all the horses but one team and all the cows but one. They managed to keep the cow alive by feeding her old straw and syrup and the old hay out of the bed ticks. The family faired a little better on a diet of lumpdick flower mush and molasses. They had no milk because the cow was going to have a calf. They did have a few wild chickens from time to time that gave them the necessary strength they needed to survive the harsh conditions. It was a winter never to be forgotten but somehow they made it through to spring and that is when Leone Christina was born on 21 Mar 1893 on their ranch in the Strawberry area. In 1909, Erick traded Mahonry the ranch for Mahonry and Adelle's house and 8 acres in town. Erick and Christina moved down into Mink Creek to live in a little two-room cabin which stood below the old school house hill. Christina's health was failing her and she passed away on 8 July 1909. Erick passed away on 15 Feb 1918 in Preston, Idaho. (Biography information provided by Ephraim Larsen)

Gender Male Birth date, place 27 August 1851, Skona, Sweden Death date 15 February 1918 Baptism date 14 September 1860 Baptism by Hans Jensen Father's name Martin Larsen Mother's name Ingra Norstrom

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 14 2018, 11:07:36 UTC