Lofgreen treck to Zion

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Source of Trail Excerpt: Lofgren, Anders Persson, A Simple Faith Anders Persson Lofgren, Swedish son—Mormon immigrant 1996, 40-42. Read Trail Excerpt: On June 11 we landed at "Floräns" [Florence] where we stayed for six weeks waiting for the oxtrain that would come from Zion to take us to our destination, Zion. ("Utah Teritori[tory]") While we were in Floräns I realized that Bro. Hansen's character was different than on the ship. In our Sunday meetings they preached very strongly that we would pay what money we had to go with the Church train, if somebody kept more than was necessary to go over the plains they would feel pain and ache in their legs. It was likened unto Ananias and his wife who kept part of the money when they wanted to join the Apostles of Jesus. It was hard to listen to these sermons and our faith was tried in this and other things. Because of my faith in the Gospel and our leader (Hanssen) I obeyed his and the other leader's admonitions and paid 50 dollars on my debt for the journey across the plains. This money I paid to Hanssen. While we camped at Florans some of the emigrants were making tents to be used by those emigrants that would go with the Church train and we worked hard to house all in the company, about 500. While we worked on the tents Hanssen was very busy buying up cows, oxen and wagons to some well-to-do (even some of his own country men who did not pay one cent for their trip across the plains) families who should cross the plains on their own. That meant nothing but cows to his not-so-well-to-do countrymen in the Church train. One day it happened that Hanssen and one of his fellow brethren in the Gospel were looking in his accounting book about something. I happened to pass them and glance at the book where I saw the figure 37 at my name which caused me to stop and look at something else so I would not disturb them. When they were through I went over to Hanssen and asked him what was meant by 37 at my name. He could not answer to my satisfaction saying it was something that I had paid for my journey across the plains. After some unpleasant words between I showed him it should have been 50 instead of 37. when I had showed he made his excuses saying he did not know how he made the mistake. Before we finished I asked him to go with me to Joseph Young, who was the emigration Agent and who would receive the money that was collected for our journey. He would not. He promised to pay what was lacking and I received them before we left "Floräns." These things were hard for us to understand and were a trial to see our leading men do that and I had given him 2 dollars, when we were on board Hombold[t]. The day we were ready to leave Floräns, Hanssen had bought two pair of oxen and a wagon and paid with different merchandise. Now he was not poor any more as he was when he left Hombol[d]t.

Remembering

As we were taking the neighbor kids home awhile back, we passed a field with a few Lama's in it. Out of the blue I remembered mom singing a song. I think she got it from the radio. So I started singing until the kids said you are crazy. Ok so I kept singing.The song went something like;

Moma lama love's Papa lama

and Papa lama love's Moma lama too.

Moma loma love's Papa lama and the little baby lama at the zoo!

This week I remembered one of Dad's sayings.

To bed to bed said sleepy head.

Not so fast said slow.

Put on the pan said hungry man.

Let's eat before we go. To bed to bed.

Both of these could keep going on and on and usually did.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Jean's oldest.

I took this picture of aunt Jean at the funeral dinner. Even though Dale introduced me to her as little Lyle who is no longer little, I still don't think she had any idea of who I was. She does seem to be healthy and other than memory is doing well.

Cleaning out my shed.

(double click on above clipping to enlarge)

While I was cleaning out my shed this last month I came across a box of papers. As I went through them I found a copy of the newspaper clipping of Grandad Lofgreen's funeral service. It contained some tidbits of information which caught my attention. When I researched information about his family I had to piece together the stage run his dad had when he died. The only stage run I could find that went through Tortilla Flat was the one that went to the Roosevelt Dam. I had to make some assumptions and here it was in writing and the best part is that Fred Lofgreen took over the run when his father died. I could not find any information about Fred's teen years until he married. Annie Lofgreen Fred's mother in her history said they lived in Queen Creek and that is where Benjamen died. I did find that they lived in Mesa for a while when they were running the stage. It is amazing to me how information comes together.

I have also come out of the dark ages and checked out the Family Search .org web site. I have been amazed at all the genealogy that is done on all of our lines. I only wish it contained stories/history. I have found some neat stories I had not seen before written by our ancestor's who crossed the plains.

Hand dipped chocolates

If you missed the party you missed some fun and a stirring of memories as we remembered Mom. After the kids all had their fill of dipping, mom would sit down and and go to work dipping the chocolates to give away. Each one had to be perfect with a mark on the top of each indicating what center they were. She would spend hours drizzling melted chocolate. We remember her making hay stacks from dipped marshmallows rolled in coconut. In the old days before the microwave she always melted the chocolate in the oven. As Paula was taking out the garbage the plastic bag ripped open and the garbage went all over the floor. She said what word would mom say right now? Everyone thought of the word Mom would have used. Thankfully Debbie was there and brought Howard. I think he enjoyed being there and it made us remember Lena and her many Christmas candy offerings. I'm not sure but I think Debbie dropped a couple of Carmel centers on the floor. She claimed they slipped out of her hands. Yea right! We missed you Amy but understood your situation. Just being together with family helps us remember how we were raised and the Love of great parents.

Get Ready ---Save the Date!

It is that time of year again! 

Annual Family Party!

Start making your centers

and

plan on spending the day

at Paula's

on

December 10th!

Speaking of reunions, I found these pictures in our picture box that my mom had and thought that I would share them. Enjoy!

2011 REUNION

Families can be together

...in the mountains in Utah and have a BLAST !

Adventures were had!  (Lyle will have to tell his story!)

The younger generation had a great time creating new memories.

The older one - sharing memories of the past.

Relaxing in the cool mountain air, telling tales around the campfire, sharing good food, and goodies (CHOCOLATE), catching up on each others' families, and feeling the LOVE!

Nothing better!

Missing members from Wanda's and Lena's family and hoping they will come in 2013.

Happy to have Alex, Natalie & Daniel, and Britton from Norene's family (sorry they missed the group picture).

DON'T MISS THE NEXT ONE!

Plan on July 26th , 27th , 28th 

 of 2013!

IT'S ALMOST HERE!

                  

AUGUST 5-7

FRIDAY - SATURDAY - SUNDAY

!! YIPEE !!

Old Bloomington Schoolhouse

Back in January 2010 Lyle did a post (check it out here) with many pictures of places Dad had lived or houses he had built, and he mentioned my having a watercolor of the old one-room Bloomington schoolhouse where Dad got his formal education.  Well, I finally cleaned out my garage and found it! 

I painted this, I believe, my junior year in high school - so that would make it 1963.  I was sitting on the southeast corner looking toward Utah hill.  There was a partially standing barbed wire fence that was obviously old, and dried cow patties scattered amongst the grass, dust and rubble, so someone had grazed cattle there.  The adobe walls were still standing and most of the roof and rafters were still there.  I remember feeling so special being there with the rest of my watercolor class, because this wonderful old building had personal historic meaning to me.

This watercolor stayed in a dust covered box with many other of my attempts at art (see here) for many years.  I gave it to Dad one year for Father's Day, or his birthday - don't remember which.  He did seem pleased and proud.  Much later still, I remember it thumb tacked to an old bookcase in the upstairs of the Littlefield house.  After Norene moved into the Littlefield house, she had the painting matted & framed and gave it to me one year for Christmas!  Inspecting the painting beneath it's glass you can even see some fly specks on it.  (double click on the painting, scroll to the top and you can see the thumb tack hole and fly specks in the sky)  It is now in my bedroom waiting for me to find a place to hang it.  And that's the rest of the story!