“Hannah gave Andrew to understand that her husband had to be worthy to take her to the temple. So he set about preparing himself…” At last the happy day arrived. He borrowed a team and sleigh and they drove from St. John, Idaho to Logan, Utah. Living near their extended family, “they had good land, flowing wells, excellent horses and fat cattle.” On urgings from “a sharp real estate salesman,” the large group sold-out and went to Canada to start a ranch with their “100 head of cattle and 14 sheep camps.” It was the coldest winter on record and, “they lost most of the herd.” In the spring, with much sorrow and homesickness, Andrew and Hannah returned to Idaho to homestead 160 acres at “the head of the Big Malad River.” The high sagebrush indicated good soil but required “long, tiresome work” to clear the land. In the summer, they lived in a log cabin; in the winter they lived in St. John where their five children attended school. In later years, he broke his ankle and also had a stroke but remained cheerful. Hannah learned to drive when he no longer could. When grandchildren, Ferril and Rex, came to visit, Hannah drove them around town to show them off. Before his death, Andrew said, “It is my advice to all young people to read and learn all they can about this wonderful church we have and never turn down an opportunity to labor in this great work that we as Latter-day Saints have accepted.” Andrew died on his 80th birthday. Hannah said, “We had a happy married life. We never had a quarrel… I am thankful I had such a good man and such good children.”
(By Kenneth R. Hardman, based on Losee, Ferril A., South, Betty, The Anderson and Josephson Family History – Ancestors and Descendants of Lars Anderson and Anna Andersdotter, Lars Charles and Anna Isaacson Josephson, 1999, pages 57-65, photo from same reference) #AncestorClips
In 1869, Andrew’s mother died before his 1st birthday. His father, Lars Anderson, with baby Andrew, made the trip from Sweden to Utah in just 30 days, on steamship and railroad. Andrew was left in the care of Lar’s sister, in St. Johns, Idaho, while Lars took work 150 miles south in the Utah Bingham mines. By 8 years of age Andrew was driving oxen and working the cornfields in Idaho. For the next 8 years, Andrew lived with or near his father in Utah who took him to his first store and bought him clothing and a suit. In Utah, Andrew earned meager wages herding sheep and cattle and working in the mines. He attended school for six months and learned to read the Bible. At age 17 he returned to Idaho continuing sheep herding. At age 23, his sick father asked him to come back to Utah. Shortly after Andrews arrival, Lars died of miner’s consumption, and Andrew paid for the burial. Andrew joined the LDS church at age 25 and had $800 from successful sheep herding. He was called to serve a mission, but declined indicating that “those better off should go,” wishing later, “that he had accepted the call.” Instead, he spent the $800 on more sheep, and he took a bank loan for horses and equipment. In a major spring snowstorm, after “the sheep were sheared and had lambs by their sides,” he lost them all in four feet of snow. He honorably reported to the bank, whereupon they took all his assets except for one saddle horse. Broke, and broken hearted, he returned to Idaho, obtained work shearing sheep, started over, and met the girl who would take him to the next level.
Lars Josephson came by train…to Brigham City. There he worked on the railroad…then drifted northward and took up a 160-acre farm at St. John, Idaho…He got a job in Star and Marsh valleys to pay for a yoke of black oxen…Crossing the Bear River, one of the oxen got stuck in quick sand and they were unable to save him, so he had to work some more…He married Anna Isaacson in 1871 in Salt Lake City in the Endowment House. They…had 12 children: 4 girls and 8 boys. He was quite a religious man and [rode] 15 miles to Portage to Priesthood meetings and went to Malad to conferences…They dug an 80-foot well and drew the water up in buckets. He was a shoemaker…and made all the…harnesses they used–also mended shoes for the neighbors. He helped build 2 reservoirs and had good water rights for his farm. His home, barns and sheds were all made of logs which he hauled…by ox team…He had to haul his crops long distances to Corrine to the railroad…very long cold trips of two and three days and they had to sleep by a campfire in all kinds of weather…They always had plenty of flour, cured meats, honey, fruits, and vegetables and large cheeses. He was generous and shared much with his neighbors…[On] December 2, 1902, their home burned to the ground. They saved a few things and the people turned out and helped build a two-roomed log house in a short time with some logs Charles had there. They lived in a tent until the house was finished…He was of normal temperament and seemed to have a good understanding of the gospel. He had a lot of friends, and his family was well behaved. He loved his horses and drove them on a trot and sang as he went.”
On April 8, 1921, the day after her 18th birthday, Ardella Anderson retired to her room where she boarded and worked, near the Malad, Idaho train depot. The caretakers, the Pecks, had gone out for the evening, the children were bathed and put to bed. Thinking she might not hear them when her hosts returned late, she went to the kitchen and uncharacteristically unlocked the kitchen door then returned to her bedroom. The spring night air was pleasant so she opened her window half way. At a quarter to twelve she awoke suddenly. A man stood in the bedroom doorway. Ardella had many friends and together they had frequent fun in the late hours dating, dancing, buggy and car riding. But this man’s dark shape, silhouetted by the dining room light, was not familiar. He stepped forward, staring down at her. She shuttered, gazing up at him. She tried to scream. He hit her in the jaw with his fist. She called for Mr. Peck, knowing he wasn’t home. The intruder stopped, backed away, ran through the door, turned out the light, and left the house. Ardella was shaken, but got the courage to run to the kitchen and lock the door. She returned to her bed. The Pecks finally came home, and learning of the intrusion, called the Sherriff who made an unsuccessful search for the man. Ardella, the friendly and smart school valedictorian, was never alone at night again. (By Kenneth R. Hardman, based on, “The Diary of Ardella Elizabeth Anderson Losee,” written from 1919 to 1929, transcribed by Jana Greenhalgh) #AncestorClips
AncestorClips 