Andrew Gustave Johnson And His Wife Charlotte Christina Albertina Anderson Johnson

Andrew Gustave was born November 1, 1847, at Brevek, Skaraborg, Sweden, the son of Jonas and Anna Marla Larson. Sweden ls a lovely country with many lakes and forests. The people are of sturdy stock, being descendants of the ten tribes from whom many of our Latter-day Saint families have descended, especially from the lien of Ephraim.

As a child, Andrew Gustave had little time to attend school. He had only a few weeks of public schooling and a short time under a private teacher at home. Later he read to the Priest so he could become a member of the Lutheran Church, and also to qualify for marriage as that was a requirement.

As a youth Andrew helped his father as a messenger and water boy, and learned his father's trade as house builder and cabinet maker. His father also did contract building, having a number of men working for him. Many of the homes built by Andrew and his father are still in good condition after one hundred years--a monument to their good workmanship and construction.

Andrew served in the army--requirement of every young man In Sweden. While on leave he became very interested in a young woman who also lived in Brevek, Charlotte Christina Albertina Anderson, born on the 24th of July, 1849 at Brevek and grew up there. Her father was a seafaring man, he also had much land and many cattle. He was a respected member of the community and a staunch Lutheran, which was the state religion in Sweden. Charlotte's mother died when she was eighteen years old, and she, being the oldest, assumed the responsibility of caring for the younger children. She also worked for a neighbor lady and earned a spinning wheel to help supply the needs of the home.

When Charlotte's father learned that she and Andrew were both interested in Mormonism, as well as each other, he was very angry. He was especially angry when he found Andrew's parents had joined the Mormons. He told her that unless she discontinued attending the Mormon meetings, and also seeing Andrew, he would disown her and she must leave the home. She felt that she could do neither, as she felt so strongly that the things she heard at the Mormon meetings had so much spiritual value she must learn more of the Gospel as explained to her there, also she loved Andrew and wanted to be his wife. Her father sent her from the home permitting her to take only the clothes she wore and her spinning wheel. She found refuge ln the home of a friend where she used her spinning wheel to earn money to meet her needs.

Andrew and Charlotte were married December 26, 1868 at Brevek, Skaraborg, Sweden, by priest Estergren. They found great comfort in their new found religion and tried faithfully to live the gospel as they learned more of it as time passed.

Their first child, a daughter whom they named Louisa Charlotta Emmereta, was born January 23, 1870. The second child, also a daughter, Anna Sophia, was born October 27, 1871. She died on November 7, so was with them only a few days. She was buried in Brevek.

Andrew and Charlotte were both baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 16, 1872, by A. C. Grue, at Brevek and were confirmed members of the church that same day, also by A. C Grue, who was a missionary in Sweden at that time.

They soon began making plans to emigrate to Utah. Although they had saved carefully to get the necessary finances they still did not have enough to be ready to leave with a group of converts. A friend promised to lend them the money they lacked. He lived across a lake from them, and the day he started to cross the lake to bring them the money a terrible storm capsized the boat, the man was drowned and the money lost. They then prayed that the way would be opened to them that they might go to Zion, as Utah was called at that time. In answer to their prayers Andrew was inspired to go to a man named John Anderson to ask for help. As Andrew walked toward Anderson's home he met him about half way, coming to offer financial assistance. He said he was told by a voice to go give some money to the Johnson's. This loan was made without any security being asked, and was repaid as soon as possible after Andrew got settled in Utah.

The Andrew G. Johnson family left Sweden on the 25th of August, 1872 for Utah and took passage on the steamship Minnesota, listed as Anders G. Johanson, Charlotta K., and Louisa C. They sailed September 4th from Liverpool, England, with 602 saints in charge of George W. Wilkins, arriving 1872 New York September 17th; and at Salt Lake City, Utah on September 26, 1872. This was a great experience for them, not being able to speak the English language, but they went to the home of William Bjork who had come to Utah a few years earlier.

On November 1, 1872, just six weeks after landing in Salt Lake, their first son and third child was born, Charles Gustave, a birthday present from Mother to Father on his twenty-fifth birthday.

On November 25th the family moved to Grantsville where they established a home. There Emma Christina was born October 10, 1874, Beda Augusta on September 5, 1876 and Andrew August on August 20, 1878.

On January 12, 1874 Father and Mother began their temple work by going to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City and receiving their endowments and being sealed together for eternity.

On July 15, 1874 Jonas Anderson and Anna Maria Larson, parents of Andrew Gustave, came to Grantsville, bringing with them Charlotta who was fourteen and Alfred who was ten. Their sons Charles and Adolph had come previously in September, 1873. I haven't been able to find just when their daughter, Louisa and son, Victor came to Utah, but think they must have come with the Sandgrens, as it seems they were all together in Grantsville on September 23, 1874.

While living in Grantsville Grandfather changed his name to Johnson. Inasmuch as his name was Anderson, yet his children were called Jonason according to Swedish tradition, he gained permission from the government in Salt Lake City to change the family name to Johnson, and it has thus remained.

Our grandparents Jonas and Anna Maria began their temple work by going with their son Charles and daughter Louisa to the Endowment House at Salt Lake City on August 31, 1875, to receive their endowments. At the same time Charles received his endowments and Victor Sandgren married Louisa as his second wife. The Sandgrens settled in Northern Pleasant Grove where many other Scandinavians made their homes. They visited in Pleasant Grove with relatives. I think that is how Father, Andrew Gustave, became interested in Provo Bench, as that was the great talk at that time. The land was mostly homesteading and plans were under way to bring water to that part of the Bench, but the canal had yet to be dug. Father learned of a man, George Pickup, who was willing to sell his homestead interests, so Father traded a cow and other valuables for the first forty acres of sagebrush land with a small shack on it. The folks moved to Pleasant Grove about the first of October, 1878, and lived at Little Andrew Larson's that winter, making preparations to move out to the little lumber shack in the sagebrush among the coyotes, jack rabbits, skunks and snakes. The roving Indians came to beg for biscuits. (Some combination to start out in with a family of five Children?) Water had to be hauled or carried two or three miles for house use and animals while the canal was being dug. Father worked on the canal for water shares, and on the railroad for money to help care for the family. They pasted paper over the cracks between the boards of the walls to keep out some of the wind, dust and snakes until adobes could be had to make the place warmer for winter. Mother did her part well caring for the family and helping clear some of the sagebrush off the land where meager crops were planted. The grasshoppers and rabbits did most of the harvesting for the first few years.

Soon after coming on the Bench Father traded his span of mules, a shotgun and other valuables to George Pickup for more land, making approximately 119 acres in all.

The seventh child in our family, John Victor, came to our home on the third of July 1880.

Grandfather moved his family from Grantsville and located on thirty-three acres across the road from our house. Grandfather built a log house with a dirt roof and a floor. They lived there while the four room log house was built.

Deeds that are recorded are: Deed by George Pickup to A. G. Johnson for 119 and a fraction acres, July 7, 1885; U. S. Patent to A. G. Johnson 1895; A. G. Johnson deed to Jonas Johnson for thirty-three acres September 18, 1889; to Carl Johnson twenty-five acres October 7, 1890.

Louisa tells two stories of great faith and prayer. One time while Father was away working on the railroad, Mother was very ill. A man came to our door and asked if someone was sick. On being told it was Mother he came in, placed his hands on her head and gave a blessing and then disappeared just as suddenly as he had come. We never knew who he was or where he came from or where he went, but Mother received the needed blessing. About a year later Father was again working away from home. The family was all out of bread, with no flour and hungry. Mother called the children around her and all united in prayer for something to eat. That day a man in a big wagon drove into the yard and said he owed Father some money but had none at present. He said he had a sack of flour if they could use it instead. Few know the great joy of a happy family and their faith in God in the answer of that prayer.

A brother, Joseph Leonard, the eighth child, was born on April 1, 1882. Three log rooms were added to the little home. The farm developed rapidly. The main highway went through our farm, and our place became quite a campground for friends and travelers; even gypsies with dancing bears would camp overnight.

Hyrum Edward, the ninth child, was born March 18, 1884 and this helped to make our home a very busy place. Father was busy with quorum and missionary work, Mother with her Relief Society teaching and family to care for. This too, she did very well. Sometimes she would shear the sheep, wash and card the wool, spin it into yarn, knit the stockings and weave the cloth on a hand loom bought from Little Andrew when the folks first came to Pleasant Grove. Thus Mother provided the cloth to make clothes for her family. As I became old enough I helped Mother card wool at night as she was spinning the yarn. This spinning wheel was the one Mother had earned as a girl and brought from Sweden.

Alonzo Hooley, Cornelius Baxter and Father hauled the first lumber from American Fork canyon to start the building of the State Tabernacle in Provo. This building is still in use at the present time (1957).

Father had a tinner make a mold for about eight candles at a time. We would thread string or yarn for a wick, pour in the warm tallow saved from mutton or beef fat, let them cool, and they were ready to give us light at night. Other bits of fat were saved to make soap. Everyone learned to work. Cows were kept to make butter for market and to exchange for other commodities. Sometimes Father bought fish from Utah Lake fisherman and peddled them in the wintertime to help make a living.

Father quit chewing tobacco, and both parents quit drinking coffee so we children never learned those habits or used strong drinks. Children came regularly Mary Elizabeth (number 10) was born March 23, 1886 and Alfred Wilford (11) was born Feb. 17, 1888.

Mother and Jane Walker were Relief Society teachers and their district was south from our home to the canyon road, up to the mouth of Provo Canyon then cutting through the sagebrush northerly to Dr. Rogers and down Baxter Street. Sometimes these trips were made on foot carrying a baby and commodities some of the sisters would donate, or some to be given the poorer families. Mother had charge of the Relief Society wheat and commodities, and Sister Walker would help Mother make out the reports and accounts. Mother gradually learned to read and speak English fairly well.

After a few years of irrigation on the bench it became possible to get well water there, so a well was dug, striking good water at fifty odd feet Streaks of loose gravel were encountered that had to be cribbed up to keep it from caving in as they continued digging, then we hauled rock from the foothills to rock up the well as a more permanent prevention from caving. The underground water was usually at its lowest ebb in February. This well was the first in our neighborhood, and was like a God send to us to have good, cool water to drink.

Pleasant Grove Ward was divided in 1890. James Cobbley was bishop of the Second Ward in which we lived.

On May 16, 1890, our baby sister, Clara Albertina came to town. This made an even dozen children for our parents, counting the ones who died in Sweden. We surely had a house full, but all had a job to do. Then Father received a call for a mission to Sweden. Mother said for him to go, that we would all do our part to round up the money, so Father was set apart September 3, 1890, for the mission to Sweden. He was sent to labor in the far north at Saundsvall where he met Christine Pearson's family. She was willing to come and live with our grandparents, so Grandfather Jonas sent the money. Christine came and lived with them, went to school and took part in church activities. She later married Joseph Ash.

While visiting my brother, Alfred, lately, I happened to see a book entitled "Scandinavian Jubilee Album", 1850 to 1900, which gave the following account:

"Andrew G. Johnson, born Nov. 1, 1847, in Brevik, Skaraborg, Sweden; son of Jonas Johnson and his wife Anna Marie Larson Grek; married Charlotta Christina Anderson in 1868 with whom he has had twelve children, eleven now living, six sons and five daughters; baptized April 16, 1872; emigrated to Utah in 1872, arriving in Salt Lake City September 26; Nov. 25, 1872 he located in Grantsville, Tooele Co., and in 1878 moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah County; Wa6 set apart September 3, 1890 for a mission to Sweden, was assigned to Stockholm conference and labored in the Sundsvall branch until in January when he took sick with pneumonia; afterwards he went to the Gothenburg conference and labored in Trollhatton branch where he baptized fifteen persons; was released September 1, 1892 and had charge of a company of saints emigrating to Utah."

While Father was in Sweden I think he baptized the Anderson family--the family which supplied the necessary money to make it possible for Father and Mother to come to Utah. The Anderson family emigrated to Utah and stayed at our home on Provo Bench while establishing a home of their own. They all became wonderful citizens.

While Father was on his mission Mother started to peddle berries to Salt Lake with the help of one of the smaller boys, but later teamed up with Mary Bjork to sell our berries and produce to get the money needed to keep Father on his mission and the family going at home. Charles, the oldest boy,' was eighteen and I was twelve. It wasn't long until emigrants from Sweden began coming to our home and they had to be cared for. Work and places to live had to be found for them. Mother was still actlve in church work as a Rellef Society teacher, and on September 14, 1890 was set apart as counselor of Melicia h. Harper by A. C. Keetch ln our Ward Primary, which work she continued several years.

In the late summer of 1892 Mother was on her way to the mill with a grist of grain when she lost control of the team at the bottom of the sandy hill. Mother was thrown from the wagon and injured quite badly. Her injury gave her trouble for sometime thereafter.

Father came home from his mission September 29, 1892 and this brought more emigrants to our home. This kept Mother very busy cooking besides her household duties, as sometimes whole families of eight or more would come and stay while being helped to find jobs and places to live. This brought an urgent need for more rooms in the house, so several more rooms were added.

Barns and sheds were built for hay and to care for all kinds of stock on the farm; also a new granary and a cellar for vegetables. At this time the farm consisted of about eighty acres and produced wonderful crops. Father and I went to the canyon to get much of the timber, and had the logs sawed to lumber for those new buildings. We also at that time furnished some of the logs that went into building the Lindon Ward amusement hall, one of the first such halls built as a Ward amusement place.

When Father came home from his first mission he brought a number of things home with him, among which were some very fine Swedish sleigh bells of varied sizes and shapes. When these were mounted and placed on the horses they could be heard for miles on a clear cool night and were the envy of the whole community. Father also brought home a Swedish cream separator which we used to separate the milk and cream and for making butter. The butter was sold to hotels and stores, which helped to increase our standard of living and make the farm more productive. The skim milk was fed to calves and hogs.

The first few years after Father's return from his mission he and I worked together very closely. Father started me hauling spuds to Salt Lake, which became one of my jobs. Potatoes were very cheap at that time, bringing only from twenty to thirty-five cents a bushel and at times there was no sale for them at any price. One spring we had thousands of bushels for which we could find no sale, so Father manufactured a large hand driven machine to grate the potatoes and make starch. This was a lot of work for the family, but he finally sold the starch at a profit.

About this time Father had bees and made a little extra business out of them by operating a honey extractor. He took care of the neighbors' bees and honey also, having one of the younger sons help him.

On January 1, 1898 Mother was appointed by Bishop James Cobbley as one of the standing committee for our Ward old folks. Mother had served on the cooking committee at old folks' parties held in the old rock school house annually on February 22, which job she continued many years. Her son, Charles, was appointed to take her place on the standing committee when she could no longer serve.

As the boys and girls were getting married Father and Mother were ready to help them get started in homes of their own. Many calls came for missionaries, and Mother and Father were ready to help out. I spent 27 months in the Northern States Mission, being set apart May 3, 1899 by J. Golden Kimball. I labored in the Indiana branch traveling north from Indianapolis to South Bend and returned home in August 1901. Others of the family followed short and fast. Thomas J. Russon, my brother-in-law, went on a mission to the Southern States on December 18, 1901 until 1904. My brother, Charles G. Went to Sweden in April, 1902 and returned in May, 1904. Otto J. Poulson, another brother-in-law went to Sweden on his mission July 22, 1902, returning Sept. 23, 1904. John Victor, another brother, went on a mission to Sweden December 13, 1902 to March 15, 1905. There were two sons and a son-in-law all in Sweden on missions at one time. Mother and Father both had a turn together as missionaries to Sweden; so they surely did their share. Everyone of their children were married in the Temple and started on the road to celestial state of man.

Our parents sold the old homestead house to their son, Charles and they built a new brick home on the southeast corner of the land. They were just getting settled down when they received their call to go on a mission to Sweden. This they accepted and were set apart April 26, 1907. They had children at home or in college to care for, but they went. While there they visited many old friends and relatives, and gathered genealogy. They also met many friends and relatives that their sons and son-in-law had visited a few years before, and were quite successful in their mission. While there they lived in a house that was infested with tuberculosis and Father contracted the disease. They had to return home sooner than they otherwise would have done, arriving home October 3, 1908. Father lingered on, suffering very much; but had Mother's constant loving care during his trying time. He passed to the Great Beyond October 28, 1909 and was laid to rest in the family plot at Pleasant Grove, Utah. Thus closed the life of a noble husband and father, and one who served mankind, his God and church.

Mother carried on and did Temple work and was a comfort to her family. She helped many emigrants as they came to her home. A number of people in the Ward tell me that when Lindon Ward was divided Mother was the first to donate seventy-five dollars toward building a new church house.

I here pass on a tribute to Mother by a granddaughter, Rosa Johnson Baxter:

"I remember my grandmother as she always welcomed her grandchildren into her home. After Grandpa died she kept a cow and some chickens and I have followed her while she did her chores many times, and tried to help her feed the cow and chickens. I was also interested in the weaving she did on a loom. She washed the wool, carded it, spun the yarn, and wove it into cloth and made some of her own clothing, sheets, blankets, etc. When it became hard for her to get around so much I liked to help her clean the house and work outside in her flowers. She talked to me about being good and worthy to go to the Temple when I was old enough to get married. Her own Temple endowment was very sacred to her and she instilled into my mind the sacredness and protection we can enjoy if we respect and live as we should after we have had our Temple endowments.

"Grandmother made very good bread and some Swedish rolls and buns. She always had some in a drawer in the pantry so she could give some to us grandchildren whenever we did any little errand or chore for her. She died just when I was planning my wedding day. When people told me I looked and was very much like my Grandmother Johnson. I would say, 'I hope I can live as good a life as I feel she has lived, because she was a lovely lady."'

Mother died May 1, 1922 at the home of her daughter, Louisa Ogden, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was laid to rest by the side of her husband on May 3, 1922 at Pleasant Grove. Thus closed the life of a devoted and loving wife and mother, one of God's choice women, one who loved and cherished her children and was loved by all who knew her. Many of the older people living in our community often pay a tribute to Mother, telling of the many nice things she did, what a lovely devoted lady she was, and how they liked to work with her in her many activities.