| 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 29, 1904 Oct., Nauvo continued of Lumber was in poor State, south of it was burned @ mother with 2 children, graves surrounded with Masonry & Marble slabs over with the inscription of Clifford. here also laid the remains of Emma Smith likewise surrounded by masonry covered by marble Slab. with the inscription Emma Smith Bidemann by her side was her husband Bideman, whose grave was neglected entirly, while acros the road in the Nauvo house lived his 2nd Wife. There were small piles of rocks said to indicate other Graves but unknown who, besides buildings mentioned were those of H.C. Kimbal, Parley Prat. Edw. Hunter, Sidney Rigdon, & a single room where G.Q Cannon lived once. Most were 2 Story Brick & 1 3 story owned by one Yersley. a feeling of desolation seemed to rest over the Coutry and where 60 years ago dweled 20,000 people there was now only 1400, & seemingly no life. Mr. Reinbold showed us many old time relics and some documents having the signatures of both Joseph & Emma Smith, at abt 6 pm. recrossed the River to Montrose & took Train to 7 Omaha done some buisness & took train for Denver where we arrived on the morning of the 8 to late for our train, so visited the Park, a very fine one containing 320 Acres Canvus, drives, walks, 30, 1904 Oct., Denver, Home again, 1905, buisness, B Youngs advice Pavilions & a Zoological depertment also lakes Statues &, in the afternoon found the L.D.S. headquarters, a fine brick structure with fine hall & cownchins rooms for Housekeeping, at 6 pm took train for Salt Lake. and arrived home on 9th 5 p.m. thus ending a very pleasant journey. Denver had many Statly buildings good Streets and as clean a City we had seen on the whole Trip, traveling through the States of Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin & Iowa. At the close of my buisness year Jan. 31 my buisness had increased so that instead of being alone in 1890. & doing a buisness of $8000.00 I had now for several years employed 4 men and with a steady increase in Volume so our last years Sale was over $94,500.00. I had in all these years Keept strict act of all net income and paid on honest Tithing I had prospered & had no great reverses until 92 &3. when as a result of being to sympathetic and trusting others I lost heavily, having to pay notes I had secured, with over $3000.00 my signature In 1877 on Brigham Youngs last trip South, in Manti he mentioned that to avoid friction between Capital & Labor. he adviced that after paying reasonable Wages to Labor and |
