| Description |
Hand-written diary of James Miller Christensen (name changed from Jens Moller Christensen). Document contains memoirs from 1846 to 1904 and diary entries from 1904 to 1914. Christensen provides information about his childhood in Denmark, conversion to Mormonism, mission service, emigration to the United States, and overland migration to Utah with the Leonard G. Rice Company in 1867. Later memoirs contain information about his experience with plural marriage and advice he received from Brigham Young regarding the practice of the United Order in Moroni, Utah, and handling business affairs. Throughout the account, he provides information detailing his farming and ranching enterprises. In 1904, Christensen records his travel east to preside over the Scandinavian Mission, and, while en-route, he describes his stops at the Louisiana Fair Exposition and Nauvoo, Illiniois. Thereafter, the bulk of the diary contains information pertaining to the day-to-day affairs of presiding over the Scandinavian Mission. |
| Biographical/Historical Note |
James Miller Christensen was born in Denmark, converted to Mormonism, and migrated to Utah with the Leonard G. Rice Company in 1867. He settled in Moroni, Utah, where he farmed, ranched, practiced polygamy, and participated in a failed attempt at the United Order. By 1893, Christensen and both of his wives had moved to Salt Lake City. He served three missions to Scandinavia and, during the final, presided over the Scandinavian Mission. |
| OCR Text |
Show 11, 1867, High Prices on commodities, Rent House, Join’s militia, Join S. School & work I have written the forgoing, not to find fault. but that my Children may learn of our hardships in coming to & starting life here. I will here name a few prices of comodities fall of 1867 I am told they have been much higer, Sugar n # 50 c. Flour 6 c Meat 20 @ 25 pork 35, Butter 40 @ 50, Sheething 50 @ 60 fr yard lalies 33 @ 35, Dennims 75, nails 35 @ #, maches 25 @ box. & other things is proportion a mans wages 1 Buck. Wheat a day, werth $1.50, was 8 months ere I got a 1 Dol. in cash. In a few days I got from a brother Christian Arnolders (who had House with 2 rooms,) 1 of them, he living in the other, with his Wife & several children, most of the people were poor, only 1 small brick house in town, others adobies & Logs. The Indian War of 1865 was not yet over and I inlisted in the Nauvo Ligion & took part in town defences guards, & People in general were Kind and I never was out of work. doing anything I could get to do, I soon joined the Sunday School wich I never quit until 1881 when I was called on Mission, acting in the capon city as Scholer, teacher, Secretary, Assistant Supt. & at last Superintendent which I resigned in 81. 12, Eclesiastreal, Labor, Industrial, before 1881 In Eclesiastreal matters, I have labored as Teacher, assistant head Teacher, councilor in the Elders quorum, and on the 28th May 1874 I was ordained a Heigh priest under the hands of Apostles John Taylor, Orson Prat, and Orson Hyde, Orson Hyde being mouth. Also set apart a member of the High council of North Sanpete, wich place I held to 1877 when the council was discontinued caused by Stakes being organized and all members for the new council being chosen in the South part. of Stake, I latter acted as counciler to President Arrnoz Bradly in the local High priest quorum, until my removal to Salt Lake City in 1892. In Moroni I was for several years a member of the Choir & Brass band. In the industrial World I started as a green hand, a stranger in a new land, not understanding English Language nor customs of the country & an even $300.00 debt. I took what labor I could get of every Kind, generaly in Winter working at my Trade and in Summer going off. I tried farming & in 2 years lost all Labor, The Grasshopers eating all. in June of 1868 went out & Worked on Railroad in Echo & Weeber Canyon. in 1869. |
