Information concerning my father's ancestors is very meager. We have been able to get only those bits which accompanied genealogical data gathered by the genealogist, Mr. Seesten, from parish and other records at the archives in Odense. Record of grandfather's military service was obtained from the War Department at Copenhagen.
Frederik Christian Nielsen, my grandfather, was born October 1, 1821 in Tommerup, or according to his own statement to the war department, in Fraugde about one mile (4 English Miles) from Tommerup, Odense County, Denmark. Be was the only child of Niels Mouritzen and Anne Jorgensen. His parents had moved from Glamsborg to Tommerup earlier the same year. This no doubt was the family home for the next 30 or more years for in 1851 both father and son were residents of Tommerup. Niels Mouritzen was a maker of wooden shoes, but his son turned to other employment-principally farming.
Of when or where he met my grandmother, Dorthea Petersen, we have no information, but on the 1st of December 1849 they were married in Marslev, the parish in which she lived. Marslev is in Odense County.
For seven years they lived in Tommerup, and there the first three children were born. The first two died in infancy. The third being Carl. Anton, my father. He was later to have a strong influence on their lives, turning them to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and emigration to America. In 1856 the family moved to Brylle a short distance from Tommerup. Here two children were born, Mouritz Christian, and their only daughter Annesine Vilhelmine. In 1859 they moved northward in the same county to Varberg in the parish of Brenerup where he was owner of a house. There Niels Christian was born. They lived here only a short time however, traveling next to Jylland-Aarhus county. Peter Bentzen their 7th child was born in Torring (or Tyrrild) March 2, 1861. According to Seesten they next went to Holland Mark in Odsted, Vejle County where he got a farm. Father remembered and has talked of a farm where they lived as being about four or five acres, and beside grandfather's family there were two renters. Thru some debt which grandfather had incurred he lost the farm when father was about 12 years old making the time about 1866. Just where they lived next is uncertain. Frederik Theodors, the youngest child was born in Fredericia, Vejle County 26 June 1868. Later we know the family returned to Fyen. In 1876 he lived in the Sanderer House, Bellinge Mark, Bellinge, Odense County. He was then a weaver. Frederik Christian Nielsen next became gatekeeper for the Danish States Railways in Svenstrup, Kauslunde, Odense. It was here he lived when he emigrated to Utah, U. S. A.
Uncle Niels tells the story of his father being Postman in a rural district (He thinks they lived in Middlefart) and how he (Niels) when about 10 years old helped him deliver the mail. They had a light wagon or some such conveyance drawn by a horse. A bell with a string was some where attached, and when they approached a house it was Niel's job to pull the string and ring the bell to let people know they were at hand.
Grandfather had been a soldier and been in the war of 1848-1850. He was enrolled from Odense County, District 12, and first reported to the Sharpshooters Company 3 at Nyborg 31 May 1844. On the 2nd of October 1845 he was given a home furlough. He continued in army service till September 15, 1852 then he was transferred to the Reserve Corps. He was a valiant soldier and many times in dangerous battle as the following record shows.
With his division he fought in the battle at Dyboll June 5, 1848, and on the 16th of November same year he was recommended to receive the "Tapperhedsmedaille" Medal for Valor.
In 1849 he was in the following battles; at Adsbol, Dybol, Kolding, Gudso, and Fredericia: in 1850 at Isted, Stentenmuhle, and on the 12th of September at Mysunde where he was seriously wounded. After being transferred to Copenhagen he was placed in "Lasarettet paa Husarkasernen," a military emergency hospital September 17, 1850. After 4 months he was released from the hospital as cured and sent home January 21, 1851.
The medal for Valor above mentioned was never given out by the government, but upon application grandfather was found entitled to, and did receive the Memorial Medal for service during the war of 1848-1850.
Father has related this incident of war time-probably the war of 1864. A high embankment had been thrown up between the German and Danish armies. The citizens of the town crowded close to the base of this wall for protection while the shells from the German guns fell thick and fast just beyond them. As the night of terror wore on the people became so familiar with the sight and sound of bursting shells that by morning they took no notice except to comment on an extra bright one. Grandfather was nearly "Picked Off" while patrolling this fortication. He was not in service at this time, but may have been a volunteer for the occasion.
In 1876 Carl Anton joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and in 1878 emigrated to Utah. He no doubt led the family for later his three youngest brothers were baptized, and also his parents. In 1881 Peter B. came to Salt Lake City. Niels Christian emigrated in 1882, but stopped in Bloomingprairie, Minnesota. Two years later he settled in St. Paul, Minn. which has since been his home. George Vilhelm followed in August 1883 having been baptized in 1877. He was taken ill and died very soon after arriving in Castle Dale, Utah.
During the summer of 1884 Frederik Christian Nielsen, his wife and youngest son Theodore came to Castle Dale, Utah-then the home of Carl Anton. When notified of his parents' arrival in Utah, Carl Anton sent a man with team and wagon to Mount Pleasant to bring them over the mountains. When they reached Miller Flat about 30 miles from Castle Dale they got stuck in the mud, and were forced to camp out for two nights. This sleeping out under the open sky was a new experience to them, and not to their liking. Some man passing brought word of their plight, and father sent back another team to bring them in. John Y. Jensen was one of the first to greet them on the streets of Castle Dale. (He related this incident to me in 1932 when I visited my old home.)
Grandfather bought a small farm in the south east part of town on which he built a log house and log stable. He had a team of horses and some cows. As I remember he was always very kind and gentle with his animals. Often have I watched him curry and brush them to make them sleek and clean. Besides growing wheat and other grains, grandfather kept a garden. I sometimes helped grandmother pick peas, and gather gooseberries, and I liked to watch her skim the thick cream from the pans of milk down in the cellar. The cellar was not a basement of the house as we are likely to think today. It was dug out in the garden a short distance away. As I remember there were about a half dozen steps down. The walls and floor were of rock, and the roof was covered with dirt.
It was during my last winter in Castle Dale, when I was only five years old that I gathered impressions and memories of my grandparents. If any of my statements are inaccurate it is due to the slip of a child's memory rather than intentional wrong.
Frederik Christian Nielsen was 5 feet 8 inches tall, large framed and squarely built, rather angular features with a strong square chin. His blond hair was thin, or perhaps gone across the front of his head. The back and sides of his hair was rather long and curled about his ears. His face was clean shaven except for a strip of beard down the cheeks and back under the chin. His eyes were blue. Always I have carried a feeling that he was a stern and serious man, tho I can recall nothing but a kindly attitude when we children visited at his home. I remember Uncle Theodore liked to tease, and I was just a little afraid of him. I preferred to go to grandmother's when he was away. In build and looks Theodore resembled his father, while Carl Anton took after his mother, was small boned and finer featured.
Since my father had moved to Mexico in 1889 with part of his family, and my mother followed the next year my grandparents were alone when grandmother became ill and died the 29th December 1894. Having no family or kin she was attended and cared for by Sister Caroline Miller a kind and friendly neighbor. During her last illness one day when Stake President Christian Larsen, John Y. Jensen, and others called to offer their services and sympathy, President Larsen remarked, to grandfather, "It is too bad that you have never been to the temple and had your wife sealed to you". His answer was, "Oh, that's all right for those who believe in it". Seeming to indicate no faith nor regret in the matter. Yet as he stood beside the grave and watched the casket being lowered he said, "I have said goodbye now-it will be for a long while, but sometime I know we will meet again". This shows that in spite of his pretended indifference his faith in a life hereafter was really strong. Grandmother was buried in the Castle Dale cemetery beside her son George Vilhelm, and near the little grave of her infant twin granddaughters.
In his loneliness now the thought of his native country, his oid habits and customs had a stronger pull than church affiliation in a new country which still seemed strange to an old man. On July 11, 1895 he deeded his property in Castle Dale to his son Theodore. After visiting his son Niels in St. Paul, also perhaps Mouritz Christian in North Dakota he returned to Denmark. About a year later, June 20, 1896, Theodore deeded over the same property to Richard C. Miller. Theodore went east to North Dakota, and later to Claresholm, Canada. I saw the deeds still in the possession of Mr. Miller when I visited Castle Dale July 1932.
For a time after returning to Denmark, Frederik Christian Nielsen lived with his daughter Annesine Vilhelmine Christiansen in Aarhus. She was made a widow by the death of her husband 23 April 1898. Whether at this time or earlier I do not know, but he went back to his old job of gatekeeper for the States Railways. He lived alone in Vogterhuset, (Guard House) number 44 Skrillinge Gaardens, Kauslunde. Richard C. Miller visited him there the 20th October 1899 while on his mission. Brother Miller said grandfather was satisfied and contented there. He enjoyed his dram and his pipe, and his native language. His work was not hard. During the forenoon he worked on the Skrillinge farm for which he got his dinner. The rest of the time he spent in the guard house as railway gatekeeper. He died a poor man in "Skrillinge Gaardens Lejehus "July 7, 1901, probably of cancer.
Considerable time and effort have been spent in collecting and verifying the data of this sketch, and it is to the best of my knowledge true and accurate.