May 24, 1959 – Today is Cathy’s birthday.
I have been going to start my life history for such a long time. So today I thought I would get started.
I was born Feb 18, 1893 at Monroe, Seveir Co., Utah. Of all the months in the year, why should it be February? Never could have a birthday party. It was always too cold or too much snow. We had a lot of snow then.
My Father and Mother were both converts to the Latter-Day Saint Church. They were both born in Denmark. My Father was born Feburary 2, 1839 at Fjellerup, Fjelsted, Denmark. My Mother was born Feb. 11, 1853, at Galtad, Jutland, Denmark.
I am the seventh child in the Family. There were 3 boys and 6 girls. From what I was told, I was a beautiful baby, my father called me his little “black bird,” because I had such long, black hair. When I was a baby I had red measles and my eyes were closed for over a week, my Mother was very worried about me, because I had a cousin, Savannah Anderson (Lundgreen) had red measles, her eyes were closed over a week and when they opened, one eye had popped out and looked so awful, so no wonder my Mother worried about me.
At the age of 3 or 4 I went out to the coral and an old Buck lamb came after me and I was told he bunted 14 holes in my head. The lamb was killed and the head was placed on a pole – every time I saw that head I would cry and run to the house. I was a very happy child but I guess I had a mean streak in me to. We had a very happy childhood.
When I was six years old I started to school I did not want to go, so for two weeks my mother took me to school every morning with a stick. After that they could never get me to stay home. I always had 100% attendance. I received merrit cards for good attendance. I always liked to walk home with the teachers. I always liked the teachers, but I don’t remember if I was ever the teachers pet. I had a lot of very good teachers. I always liked Miss Jacobsen first grade teacher, Nora Clauson – Then Jacob Magleby 4th grade teacher. He was kind and considerate. He always had a dew drop on his nose. One teacher A. V. Jones would spend all day reading stories to us. A Mr. Ralph Cloward was one I did not care for much so very hot headed. He would really shake the kids up. I was not fortunate to get a shaking up from him.
I the 8th grade I had the best teacher, he was A. J. Ashman, I learned so much from him, we all just loved him even the boys. We would even go to the school room on Saturday’s, just to be around him. In 1909 my Father died when I was in the eighth grade. A cousin came from Kamas to live with us, there was mother with 5 girls so we needed a man to help us. His name was Edward Simpson, then another cousin Erastus Nielson came also and spent the winter with us. Father died Jan. 12, 1909. James my brother was away on a mission to Denmark when Father died. We had so many cows to milk. So it was up to us girls to help with the farm work. The only thing I never did anything about was plowing. I cut hay, raked hay, hauled the hay – it was my job to run the unloading fork. W ehad to milk then run the separator. I sure loved cream, I would sometimes put my mouth on the cream spout and let the cream run down. We had to thin beets, hoe the beets, I used to ride the horse to guide him while they run the cultivator through the beets to make furrows. I would get so sleepy riding that at times I would go to sleep on the horse. We also helped dig the beets and cut the tops off. Enoch Larsen also worked fro us, he never liked to milk. He was a very good hired man. We also had a half brothers boy work for us when he did something he was not supposed to do he would talk so nice to our Father and complain to Father and tell him we did things we did not do. We were not permitted to stay out later than 9:00. If we heard the curfew ring before we got home, we would be afraid the cop would get us and put us in the jail. (I wish the children were like that now.) I believe I did everything there was on a farm to do – milk cows, cut hay – rake hay, haul hay then unload it from the wagon, haul grain – well everything. Oh was fun it was when we had the thrashers. Mother up so early in the morning to get breakfast for the thrashers. Then a big meal at noon – they just cooked everything – how I did like to eat after the thrashers had left the table. Of course we helped with the dishes. Sometimes they would stay on the job of thrashing for 3 or 4 days. That was a lot of hard work for Mother. The thrashers would take everything around the place. We would always pick our fruit so they would not eat them all. Our watermelons would sure suffer. Then if they found any chicken nests with eggs in they would suck them, that is swallow the raw eggs. But oh it was fun to have them come. Like I told my oldest sister’s beau. “We always had more to eat when the thrashers came – it was just because there was so much of it” Kistie sure gave me a push in the ribs.
I do not know when my time to return to my Heavenly Father will be. I am not afraid to die – but I wish I had spent more time in my younger days in serving the Lord. I have been doing a lot. We cannot do too much. Every spare hour should be put into doing something – Read a lot help one a lot.
I do not know which would go first Arnon or I. He could get along better than I. – but I would hate to leave him. He needs me around to boss him around and keep him clean.
By Adell Christensen Brown
Notes from Arnon
Adell was born 18 Feb. 1893 at Monroe, Sevier Co., Utah. She was the daughter of Christian Christensen Brown and Anna Johansen Nielsen Brown. Her Father’s name Brown is an adopted name, taken from a man he worked for otherwise it would have been Christensen.
Adell’s Father and Mother came from Denmark. They were both converts to the Church. Her father was born the 2nd of February 1839 and her mother 11 of February 1853.
Her Mother was left a widow at the age of 53. She raised her family and educated them and gave them the advantages that she didn’t have.
Her father came to America in 1863. Settled in Sanpete County and later in Sevier. He was one of the first settlers of Monroe. Adell was born and raised in Monroe.
Early life in separate book
Occupation
Addell completed the elementary school and went two years to high school in Monroe and completed her High School at the Snow Academy. She attended the University of Utah to prepare herself to be an elementary teacher.
She taught school three years, one in Joseph and two years in Elsinore. She was a marvelous seamstress. She clerked in Monroe Mercantile Store. She worked in the Lab at the Sugar Factory. This is where she met Arnon.
Church
She was the Secretary in the Relief Society Second Ward in Richfield. Max was a baby at the time. She would take him with her and lay him on the bench. He was called Relief Society Baby. This was in 1921. She was secretary until the ward was divided.
Then she worked in the Primary for years. Being President for one year.
Notes from Arnon: Temple Work – Fishing
Same Presidnet Cannon married her parents, my parents and also us. Lilly Moe Begody lived with us three years. Indian work in the Church. Wonderul wife and mother of seven children. Garden and flower work. Married in St. George Temple Sept. 10, 1919 by Pres. Cannon. He also married Adell’s parents and mine. Met Adell while working at the Sugar Factory. I had to go to Monroe and haul Adell and two other girls to work. We had many trips togther in camper and planes.
We were making plans for fishing trip just four days before she died. Always had some of the Navajo boys or girls come stay with us when they would come up from the Reservation during the summer. They all felt right at home at all times.