ANNIE MARIE CHRISTOPHERSEN HANCEY

Transcription

1 ANNIE MARIE CHRISTOPHERSEN HANCEY Written by herself. I was born in Aalborg, Denmark, 9 March My father, Christen Christophersen, was born 17 June 1814, in Hjardemaal, Thisted Denmark. He was baptized 24 Sep. 1859, died 29 May 1869, in Aalborg, Denmark. My mother, Maren Kjerstine Nielsen, was born in Agersted, Hjorring, Denmark, 4 Feb. 1826, baptized in 1855, died in Hyde Park, Utah 12 May My father died when I was 6 years of age leaving my mother with 3 small children besides my older sister, the oldest of these 3 being 8 years and the youngest 6 months. My older sister, being 15 years, was working away from home. Mother had no way to make a living, the baby being young she could not leave her with the small children to do any work. As soon as she could be left, I took care of her. When I was 7 years of age, I was left with her all day and sometimes nights while mother went out to work, which was mainly 6 month s washing all done by hand, washing day and night till done. When I began school at 8 years, mother would take the baby with her till school let out when I would get her and carry her home, at times more than a mile through the city. We had rented homes and moved often when mother could do better. As Pauline grew older, she would stay with mother all day and at the age of 10 I went to work in the forenoon and after school for a wealthy lady who had several servants. My work was running errands and washing dishes, keeping the silverware without a stain, scrubbing floors and stairways. The wage I received was very little, but I earned my meals which meant much. Later, I attended sewing school in the forenoon and regular school afternoons. Schools were free, but compulsory and parents were fined severely if children did not attend. So I found another job to work after school, which was delivering shoes for a shoemaker. He and his wife had only one little boy and they treated me like their own and paid me better. People always gave a child money when delivering anything. This was a big help. My brother, Peter, also earned a small amount working in a woolen factory between times going to school. The last year there he worked all the time which was a help to mother. In ways similar to these, nearly 7 years went by after my father s death. We were always hoping and praying that we might in some way get means to come to Utah. This was what we, and all Latter-day Saints, lived and hoped for. Our recreations were mainly attending Sunday School meetings and singing practice. I never remember such a thing as a show. To take our lunch and go out into one of the parks for a half-day was our greatest time, and before schools closed in the summer, the children were taken by train to a large park and had one big day, never to be forgotten. Childhood days I love to dwell upon them. Our conferences held in Aalborg for all the branches around our city was the great time for us all, always 2 or 3 days of meetings where some of the missionaries from Utah would attend. At one of these meetings I heard the first song in the English language sung by Elder Andrew Jensen (Church Historian). It was Hard Times, Come Again No More. I was then about 10 years of age. When I was 11 years old, I was baptized as the Saints in Europe were told and instructed not to have children baptized until they were old enough to choose for themselves. I do not remember the date, but it was in the summer of I will always remember the walk, a long ways outside the city at night to a great pond surrounded with trees; several besides me were baptized that night. The thrill and the great joy I experiences in this holy ordinance I shall never forget; although I was young the wonderful happiness and peace that came to me will always be fresh in my memory.

2 In the year 1875, in the month of August, we received the glorious news that we were to come to Zion. Nothing in the world could compare with this, through the efforts of my Grandmother, Anne Nielsen, who had emigrated several years before (about 10 years) with her 2 sons and their families Thomas and Lars Nielsen, also a daughter, Annie, and her husband Svendsen and family. This daughter, husband and baby died on the plains and were buried somewhere there, leaving Grandmother with 4 small girls Laura, Agusta, Annie, and Nellie. They came to Salt Lake like other pioneers in destitute circumstances, not knowing where they were going nor what they were going to do. So when Brother Henry W. Naisbitt of Salt Lake City offered to take these children she was thankful to have them go to a home to be cared for. As brother Naisbitt had 2 or 3 families, he divided them and took them all and reared them to womanhood. So, through my Grandmother s efforts and our careful saving, Brother Naisbitt sent the money to headquarters in the mission and we were notified to get ready to sail in Sep. With the next company of Saints. This was the most glorious news I ever remember to think that we were going to Utah (Zion), that all Latter-day Saints at that time longed for, we could not realize it. Our preparations did not take long. We did not have much to dispose of; what little household goods we had were mostly given away. The main thing was our clothing to get ready and bedding. The day came at last. To us children it seemed that it never would come. I was then 12 ½ years old. It was about the 10 Sep. 1875, a lovely day when we left our childhood home, never to see it again. We walked down to the docks in company with a large number of Saints, about 200. The president of this company was C. C. A. Christensen of Sanpete, Utah, who was returning after filling a mission in Denmark, mainly Aalborg. We boarded this boat at 4 in the afternoon and arrived in Kobenhavn, (Copenhagen) the next morning about 6 o clock. We again walked a long ways led by our president to where we boarded a large English vessel and waited until night before it was ready for its trip over the North Sea. Here is where I had my first taste of seasickness and it was worse than I can ever tell. We were 3 days and nights; when we arrived in Hull about 5 o clock in the afternoon we were taken to land in tug boats and again walked for about an hour to a railroad station where we were loaded on the train in all kinds of cars and started off for Liverpool. We arrived there at 2 a.m. and again started on a walking trip which took us until 5 a.m. when we arrived at the place where our boat lat that was to take us over the Atlantic. Here we were happy to find breakfast waiting on board the ship which consisted of oatmeal porridge without sugar or cream, hot biscuits and coffee. This was a treat as we had only had a basket of dry sandwiches since leaving home about 5 days before. As children we were quite at home on the boat which was named WISCONSIN, and here we lived for 3 days while it was being loaded. We were free to go and come as we wished. The young folks were as one family, and would go and come together, but we could not talk nor understand a word only among ourselves, but like all children we certainly had a great time and were sorry when we were ready to leave. This was on a bright afternoon about 2 o clock when we started for our voyage on the Atlantic. The afternoon had not passed before I was down in the bunk (we were all in the steerage) sick enough, I thought, to die and didn t hold my head up for 5 days. After that, we were up and doing but very weak. We were 11 days in reaching New York as there was some trouble with the ship and we drifted about 24 hours. When word was passed that land could be seen in the distance, we were all quite ready to leave the boat. We had to stay in quarantine over Sunday. We landed at Sandy Hook and were taken to Castle Garden for inspection and stayed there over night.

3 The rest of the route was by rail. We were about a week and mother was sick all the time and no place to lie down just the seats we sat in. Our provisions ran short and we had no money to buy with. For a time we lived on sea biscuits, hard as rocks; these we had saved from our allowance on the boat where our board was furnished. This was very hard and mother denied herself so her children might eat. We finally arrived in Ogden one morning about 10 o clock and we could hardly realize that we had reached Utah, where we had so longed to come. Our reception was not great as no one was there to meet us. We were left somewhere near the depot under some trees in the open. Everyone else had relatives to meet them or went on to other places. Our people here had not been notified of our coming and Brother Naisbitt expected us in Salt Lake; so we waited, strangers in a strange land unable to speak a word or understand a word. We had not eaten all day and had no money, so when a young boy about my brother s age, who had emigrated about a year previous, happened to come by where we were and we knew him, we were very thankful for a loaf of bread which he brought us. This was our introduction to Zion. As children we were rather disappointed. We waited till nearly night when a man who Mother had known (back home) came to get his sister-in-law s baggage, who had also arrived with our company. Mother told him how we did not know where to go and he took us toi his home in a wagon, several miles out to North Ogden. His wife was not at all pleased with us coming and Mother felt very bad. We made our bed on the kitchen floor and were up mornings before anyone moved. We did not stay there much of the time as the neighbors came and invited us to their homes every day. We stayed almost a week before arrangements were made for us to get to Hyde Park. When we finally arrived at Hyde Park, which was in October 1875, I asked if people lived in straw houses as there were more straw stacks than anything else to be seen. What houses there were, were one-room log houses with dir t roofs, with the exception of a few better, and a lot of dugouts. One of these dugouts we were taken to which was my sister s home, Sister Mickkelsen, where we stayed the first winter after arriving in Utah. My mother lived with Grandmother that winter. Her health was undermined from the hard work she had done since the death of my Father, and she was bedfast all winter and suffered from rheumatism. This affected her heart, which caused dropsy, leaving her an invalid until her death at the age of 58. She died as she had lived, a most faithful Latter-Day Saint. In the spring after coming, I was 13 years of age and must earn my living like everyone else. This was quite a relief as I had suffered so all winter from homesickness. The change was so great, having been raised in a city and never been away from it. I used to go out a great deal on paved streets everywhere, and then to live in a dugout and nowhere to go, and when we did go out I thought it was impossible to get through the mud, something I had never seen before and there was surely plenty of it. But as time went on and I got to work, I soon felt better. The first summer I worked down at Benson for Harry Griffith and wife. I could speak but a few words of the English language nor understand it, but they were very kind and I soon began to learn. I worked very hard. They had 50 cows on shares and I used to milk from 12 to 15 night and morning. The milk was all strained in pans, skimmed, carried back to the calves and pigs; churned twice a day, and molded butter by the hundred pounds weekly. This was besides all the housework. There were 4 small children; washing and all, and we were never done. My wages were 75 cents per week. That fall I went to live with Isaac Woolf and wife. They had 4 small children and lived in a 2 room log house where Clarence Hurren now lives (corner of Main and Center in Hyde Park).

4 I worked there for my board and going to school in the vestry. Susie Lamb Hawkes was my teacher. I learned rapidly and soon learned to speak English. My schooling before coming here made a great difference. I later attended school in the old school house, one teacher being George Barber. In the spring I again made a change. William Beddingfield and his wife, Louisa, an old couple, offered to pay me a dollar a week to come there and work, so I went there. They lived in one log room, where 2 old houses now stand. They were very kind to me. I felt as if I were in heaven after being tossed about from one place to another without much sympathy from those I had been living with. I lived there for 2 ½ years, and they treated me as their own. In the year 1879, October 10, I was married to James Hancey. At that time most of the girls were married in polygamy, which I did. My trousseau consisted of one quilt and material for another, a sugar bowl, butter dish, and creamer. My first home was a one room log house on what is now Henry Hancey, Sr. s place; my first 2 babies were born there. Then I moved from there to where I am now living. We bought this place from William Hawkes who was moving to Preston. There was a one room log house here at that time with a summer shanty on the front of the south. We moved the stove out in the spring and back in the fall. I was very happy to have a home of my own, no matter how small. When my 3 rd baby was a year old, 1886, out quiet life was sadly interrupted. The Edmund Tucker Bill had been passed prohibiting polygamy, or men taking care of their families. Deputy Marshals swarmed, arresting all men with more than one home, if they could find them. They had no respect for anyone, and the men were sent to jail unless they had money to pay them to get free. That was what they were after, not that they had done wrong, but a money-making scheme. So in the summer I left my home in order to keep out of the way of the deputies as they wanted the wives as witnesses. I was moved to several places here and there with my little children, and not much to do with, until I was brought back to Hyde Park in Jan. 1888, where my baby was born in hiding on January 17. It was the hardest winter I ever knew. I had very little help except, that of the dear people who took me in, they were true Samaritans, without any returns, except what they will receive for doing good to those in need, all honor to them for their great kindness to me. When my baby was 3 weeks old, I was put into a covered sleigh with my little children and taken to Franklin to a house that had not been lived in for years, wet and damp, water running over the floor from leaking. I skip the next few trying months. I stayed there only to say I know the Lord of a surety watched over me or I could not have lived through what I did. In April I was moved to Richmond as Brother Hancey had been very ill with pneumonia and no one to provide for us. My dear sister, Pauline, and her husband brought us down to stay with them, which we did for a long time. She has always been the truest and best of sisters to me and my family. I could never repoay her for all she has done for me at all times through my life. She had indeed been a true sister. I came back to Hyde Park the next fall, but not to my own home for 3 years. I cannot describe how happy I was when I was allowed to come to my one-room log house again, though it looked and smelled like a wickiup from people who have lived in it. About this time, my brother, Peter s wife, died which was an awful blow to us all, leaving 4 small children, the baby 3 weeks old, and my brother heartbroken. The young baby was the problem. So I weaned by baby, Lee, 9 months, and took the motherless little boy and nursed him and cared for him till he was past 4 years, when Brother and Sister William Seamons offered to

5 take him and raise him. I consented to this as I then had 6 of my own and his father (my brother had been killed in an awful accident in a gravel pit when the baby was only 14 months old. This was a terrible blow to me as he was my only brother and his children were left orphans. In the year 1895, I was asked to take a course of study in obstetrics, as midwives were the only doctors, and one was needed. I now had a large family and very little to do with. My girls, May and Nettie, were old enough to look after the family while I was away from home. (May was 15 and Nettie 10). I accepted this offer thinking I could help provide for my family in this way and that kind of work had always appealed to me. I studied under Dr. O. C. Ormsby of Logan for 18 months, going to Logan 3 days a week, bringing my work home and taking it back and getting instructions. I passed my examination in the State and County Building, Salt Lake City, 7 Oct (6 physicians being present at the examination), and I received my diploma and license to practice obstetrics in the State of Utah. Soon after starting to practice, Dr. O. C. Ormsby left Logan and his son, Oliver Ormsby, returned from studying medicine and took his father s place. I worked with him a great deal for several years when he moved back east. Dr. D. C. Budge took his place and his home. (Up to this time this is an autobiography, the rest was written by her daughters as best they could remember and gain from records.) In the year 1900, mother started practicing with Dr. D. C. Budge. Within the next 10 years 3 children were married, May, Nettie, and Alfred. 4 babies were born to her although she continued her nursing constantly. On March 4, 1900, her baby girl, Georgena, age 9 months, died from pneumonia. Mother was so heartbroken over this death that her only comfort was her nursing and work. During the next 5 years her life was a very busy one, caring for her family as well as helping to earn a living. She took care of as many as 5 mothers and 5 babies in the morning and having father s sister, Betsy Haylock, as a summer visitor every other year. In the fall of October 1906, father met with an accident having both legs broken. He was standing on Main Street in Logan talking to a Mr. Shaw, when a team of horses ran away, and as he stepped behind a telephone pole they crushed into it. Mother left the care of the family with the older children and cared for him at the Budge Hospital, which is now the Amussen Home on Center street in Logan. He was brought home in Feb. 1907, and was an invalid for months. He never walked without the use of canes, leaving all the responsibility and financing of the family of 8, as well as his care, to mother. During the next 7 years, 2 of her boys were married, George and Lee. This meant the loss of help in the home as well as help on the financial side. Her boys had been taught to care for the home, the smaller children, the cooking, and the housework. The smaller children and the home were never neglected although mother and children sometimes worked in the evening canning food for the winter use, never letting anything be wasted. A high standard of living was mother s life s aim. Father s health kept failing and gradually from the time of his accident until 7 years later on 5 April 1913, he died of apoplexy, beloved by his family and the community whom he had served for many years. When the flu was raging, during World War I, mother worked almost day and night with her family and community. While working there, her 2 boys were lying sick, one in the Hawaiian Islands and one in the Haute Alsace defensive in France. Leslie returned from Hawaii 20 Feb. 1919, and Evan from France June Mother s faith and prayers for their safety was realized

6 in their safe return. In August 1921, she was called to Merrill, Iowa, to nurse father s only sister, Aunt Betsy Haylock, who passed away 8 Sep She visited father s brothers whom she had never known as they located in Iowa, when the family emigrated from England. During the next 5 years 2 more sons, Leslie and Evan and one daughter, Lillian, were married. The latter part of May 1931, mother s sister and son motored down from Yakima, Washington, and spent 3 weeks with the family. Mother and Leda returned with them as mother s health was failing. Her work in nursing began to slack as more mothers were going to the hospital and employing doctors. This left her more time to enjoy her family and do the things that busy life had not permitted before. She taught in the Primary, teaching the Bluebird girls, who were very dear to her. In the year 1928 she called to the presidency of the Relief Society in the Hyde Park Ward, where she labored as first counselor to Hattie R. Lee, President, and Loui Ballam, second counselor. She loved these 2 women as sisters and the Relief Society work was very dear to her. She called to give lessons to different classes in Mutual, Primary, and Boy Scouts, and always answered the call. All her life she had found time for the best reading, not only church books but classic literature which she taught in Relief Society. She was a great lover of flowers and took many prizes for her roses. During her time of nursing when the smallpox was raging, she worked constantly with those afflicted. She ushered into the world 946 babies unassisted by doctors and between 3 and 4 hundred others assisted by doctors. She never lost a mother or had a case of blood poisoning. The spring of 1933 mother developed cancer of the stomach and lingered on until August 12 when she passed to her reward leaving 10 living children, 34 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Because of such a beautiful write-up about her in the paper it is no more than fitting that we include it in this history. This woman went through so much as an early pioneer. HEADLINES : Laud Noble Activity of Cache Nurse To the last of 9 women who pioneered the field of nursing in Cache Valley, the entire community of Hyde Park paid tribute Wednesday at funeral services for Mrs. Annie Marie Hancey. The services were conducted in the Hyde Park Ward Chapel, with Bishop J. W. Seamons presided. A long table draped in white was spread with many sprays of late summer flowers forming a floral tribute that bespoke the love and high esteem in which Mrs. Hancey and her family were held by her many friends, neighbors and associates, during her 58 years residence in Hyde Park. The flowers, as some of the speakers suggested, were fittingly symbolic of the great pride Mrs. Hancey took in the cultivation of flowers in her home garden and the annual display of roses she sent to flower shows. Fitting tribute to her zeal and devotion to the cause of nursing which she took up in 1896, and the forward-looking attitude which she always assumed toward her profession was paid. Mrs. Hancey by Dr. D. C. Budge, managing director of the Budge Clinic and Hospital in Logan. As the first speaker at the services, Dr. Budge reviewed the history of medical science and its practice in Logan and Cache Valley, and lauded the nearly physicians and surgeons of the valley.

7 One of these pioneers in the practice of medicine in the valley was Dr. James Hancey, who conbined dentistry, surgery and a general medical practice in his activity while residing in Hyde Park. Dr. Hancey, husband of Mrs. Annie Marie Hancey, died 20 years ago. No greater degree of courage, skill, and fortitude has been shown by any group in professional activity than by those 9 women who first answered the calling of nursing in Cache Valley, Dr. Budge said. He suggested that Hyde Park residents raise a monument in fitting tribute to the memory of Mrs. Hancey and her work, and said he would be ready to become one of the first contributors toward making such a project a reality. In all kinds of weather, in all seasons of the year in Hyde Park and at all times of the day and night, Dr. Budge said Mrs. Hancey had gone about her work as nurse, and had performed obstetrical duties many times when no physician was available. He estimated the number of bodies she had brought into the world to be 946, and said that from 300 to 400 more might be added to that number through the cases in which she had been called in as an assistant. Words of tribute to motherhood, and the cheerful disposition shown at all times by Mrs. Hancey in her professional calling, her church activity, and home life were spoken by Mrs. Lulu Y. Smith, president of the Cache Stake Relief Society. Brother Ballam of Hyde Park, said members of his family had been among those receiving many benefits from contact with Mrs. Hancey and her professional skill. He paid tribute to members of her family, and urged the children to keep her memory alive, and profit by the example she had set them through her long life of service and devotion to the cause she engaged in and the family she reared. Pres. Joseph E. Cardon of Cache Stake said the large assembly was a fitting tribute to Mrs. Hancey and her work. He read several poems, and spoke in praise of motherhood. Musical numbers comprised two selections by the ward choir, directed jointly by George Seamons and R. S. McQuarrie, a vocal solo by Mrs. Eugenia Lundquist of Smithfield, and a vocal quartet, comprising of R. S. McAuarrie, Fred T. Ballam, Martha Daines and Carma balls. For the quartet number, the group chose a hymn written by Eliza R. Snow, dedicated to Dr. James Hancey, entitled Peace, Troubled Soul. Bishop Seamons lauded the character and service of Mrs. Hancey and members of her family, and, in their behalf, thanked all who had shown sympathy, given aid and in other ways been mindful of Mrs. Hancey and her family during her prolonged illness. Prayer were offered by Albert Kirby and Henry E. Hancey. Burial was in Hyde Park Cemetery where M. C. Reeder dedicated the grave. Above typed into the computer by Kathleen Jardine Woolf 20 Oct Idaho Falls, Idaho Information from the book JAMES HANCEY AND HIS FAMILY published in 1988