I previously wrote of our trip to Alaska in 2021. We hit Denali, Anchorage, and visited Jonas cousins. On that same trip we also drove down to Kenai Fjords. It was a memorable trip.
That glacier apparently once was down in this vicinity in the last 100 years. The hikes were not so bad for the kids, we just had to take our time.
You can see that some of the terrain is now being filled by greenery.
We also drove down the way to Seward while we were there.
I wrote of Amanda’s great catch of a deal in 2021 that took the Ross family to Alaska. I shared in that post, last year, that we caught a flight to Fairbanks and made our way to Denali National Park. I also wrote about staying with my Uncle and Aunt Doug and Linda Jonas in Anchorage. While I shared photos with Doug and Linda, Brook and Caitlin, Elle and Blye, I thought I better share some more photos of Anchorage itself.
The visitor center stands out in downtown Anchorage as a log cabin reminder of its past. The amazing part was the flowers. Alaska has long daylight hours with mild temperatures. Due to that, the flowers grow large and pretty. You can definitely see that in these flowers.
We wandered around the downtown area to get a feel for the town and its sights.
This Federal Building is not where the Federal Courts are housed. We had to track that building down about four or five blocks away. Here is a picture we snapped there.
Classic lawyer nerd taking a picture with a Federal Courthouse!
We walked down to Resolution Park. We read about Captain Cook. The monument was installed as part of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebrations.
CAPTAIN JAMES COOK
R.N., F.R.S.
Navigator, Explorer, Chartmaker, Scientist, Humanist
1728-1779
James Cook was born in Yorkshire, England, on October 27, 1728. He was apprenticed to serve on sailing ships built in Whitby, near his birth-place, to carry coal along the English coast. At age 26, he joined the Royal Navy, took part in actions against France and, through his natural flair for mathematics and science, was promoted “King’s Surveyor” and given command of vessels performing survey work on the coast of Newfoundland.
Chosen as commander to lead an expedition of discovery to the Pacific Ocean, he sailed on his first voyage of exploration (1768-71) to find the continent of Australia as well as Tahiti, New Zealand and New Guinea where he charted coasts and waters previously unknown to the Western World. On his return, he was honoured by a grateful nation, made a Fellow of the Royal Society, and received by the King.
His second voyage (1772-75) to Antarctic and the South Pacific added the Friendly Isles, New Caledonia, Easter Island, Cook Island and New Georgia to the map. In 1776, Captain Cook set out on his third voyage, aboard his flagship “Resolution”, to find a north-west passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic. He surveyed the coast of northwest America and Alaska, but, failing to find the passage to the Atlantic, turned south from the Bering Strait and sailed to the Sandwich Isles where, on the Island of Hawaii, he met his death on February 14, 1779.
James Cook, a farm hand’s son who became a Captain in the Royal Navy and gold medalist of the Royal Society, lives in history as the greatest explorer-navigator the world has known. His real memorial is on the map of the world.
This monument, created by Derek Freeborn after the statue in Whitby, where James Cook began his career as seaman, was donated by The British Petroleum Company as a contribution to the Bicentennial celebration of the United States of America.
President Dwight D Eisenhower signed Alaska into existence as the 49th State. This monument memorializes that act. It was a culmination of many years of work and something that President Eisenhower took very seriously.
We drove past the temple a couple of times going to and from various places. We had to stop and take some pictures. This temple is being replaced, so it will not be there much longer. The new temple is being built where the Stake Center was next to this Temple. When completed, this will be removed and I believe the new Stake Center will be built. I believe this is the first time in the church where a temple will be formally replaced not on the same footprint.
We saw multiple glaciers while in Alaska. We stopped and went through the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. It was interesting to see how close the center once was near glaciers. Now you cannot even see the Portgage Glacier from it. We went and hiked up the Byron Glacier Trail.
As you can see, the glaciers have heavily retreated. More of just an alpine trail now with some blue snow/ice above.
My cousin Brook Jonas lives in this home on the foothills west of Anchorage. If you look closely, above Lillie you can see downtown Anchorage. You can also see Fire Island straight out and what is beyond Anchorage.
At a later time, I will have to write of our trips to Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, and Whittier.
I found some negatives that did not look familiar. I asked my father-in-law to help and he got them scanned and converted. These turned out to be real treasures that I don’t have anywhere else. Be careful with those negatives you think are probably just duplicates of photos.
Jackie was born in 1960. These are all in the home in Richmond, Utah. Happy Birthday Jackie! I recognize some of the furniture in the photos, bookshelves, headboards, decorations.
Working through the family history book of Golden Andra that was given to me, I opened a page to scan some photos and found a surprise. Behind that photo were some ordination certificates. These are originals. I thought I better get them scanned and preserved. I also uploaded them to FamilySearch and got them linked with the names in the documents.
I think they are valuable for family history. They are also a peek into church history. This gives us the missionaries who baptized and confirmed my Great Grandfather in Germany. I have provided some limited biographies at the end.
Also an original Notification of Birth Registration for Robert Lee Andra, son of William and Mary, who died at birth. I am not sure why the United States Department of Commerce is issuing this Notification, or the Bureau of the Census. There is some history behind this I am not aware. Last, a copy of William’s obituary.
I had to do some history on individuals listed on the certificates. Some fascinating individuals, obviously some of them local church leaders.
James Richard Bodily – born 11 February 1872 in Hyde Park, Cache, Utah – died 12 April 1967 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho
Wilford Woodruff Emery – born 16 October 1880 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah – died 10 September 1954 in Salt Lake City.
John Edward Hanks – born 30 August 1877 in Salem, Utah, Utah – died 5 July 1970 in Salt Lake City.
William Gibson Palmer – born 16 July 1884 in Croydon, Morgan, Utah – died 15 May 1977 in Preston.
Henry Helaman Rawlings – born 8 April 1893 in Fairview, Oneida, Idaho – died 14 February 1984 in Fairview.
Adelbert Augustine Taylor – born 9 April 1883 in Springerville, Apache, Arizona – died 15 November 1948 in San Felipe de Híjar, San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico.
Luther Hovey Twitchell – born 17 October 1878 in Salt Lake City – died 15 April 1962 in Bountiful, Davis, Utah.
This article was provided to me related to my 3rd Great Grandmother Agneta Nelson. I have previously shared the history written by Carvel Jonas related to Agneta and John Nelson. I have also shared the Carvel Jonas history of their daughter, my 2nd Great Grandmother Annetta “Annie” Josephine Nelson Jonas. I also note that Agneta and John’s son, Nels, also wrote a lengthy autobiography that tells some of his parents’ history. Some of the parts of this history are likely using Nels’ autobiography, parts of it mirrors and quotes from it.
Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude was published by the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 1998. It is a four volume set, ISBN: 0-9658406-1-1. This biography starts on page 2121.
I note some revision of Agneta’s name over the last years. This article includes the Bengtsson/Nilsson last name. But as those familiar with Scandinavian naming protocols, Bengtsson/Benson was her father’s last name, but her early live documents reference her father’s first name, Nils. Hence her name in Sweden was Nilsdotter, not Nilsson or Bengtsson. With that, here is the language of the article.
This biography suggests that Agneta was married before and that marriage produced Bot[h]ilda and James. Curiously, James’ baptism record lists Johannes Nilsson as the father. Further, Nels, in his autobiography, indicates he was the third child of John and Agnetta Nelson. James appears to be John’s, but the baptism of Bothilda without a father suggests not John. I don’t know that we will know, and this biography shows unknown.
“BIRTHDATE: 9 Dec 1832 Oringe Hallands, Sweden
“DEATH: 4 Nov 1873 Logan, Cache Co., Utah
“PARENTS” Nils Bengtsson (Benson) – Johanna Johansson [Johansdotter]
“PIONEER: 15 Sep 1864 William Preston’s Wagon Train
“SPOUSE I: Unknown
“MARRIED: In Sweden
“DEATH SP:
“CHILDREN (Adopted and sealed to second husband):
“Botilda (Matilda), 31 Dec 1853 (died at age 11)
“James Peter, 13 Dec 1[8]55
“SPOUSE II: John / Johannes Nelson/Nilsson
“MARRIED: 17 Nov 1855 Veinge, Hallands, Sweden
“DEATH SP: 26 Nov 1902 Logan, Cache Co., Utah
“CHILDREN:
“Nels August, 18 May 1[8]57
“Josephine, 5 Feb 1860 (died as a child near Omaha, Nebraska)
“Amanda, 26 Dec 1862 (died as a child buried at sea)
“Annette Josephine, 18 Nov 1864
“Joseph Hyrum, 14 Jun 1868
“Jacob Nelson, 9 Dec 1870 (twin)
“Jacobina, 9 Dec 1870 (twin)
“Charlotte Abigail, 16 Dec 1872
“Moses, 25 Oct 1873
“Agneta was born on December 9, 1832 in Oringe Hallands, Sweden. Agneta was the oldest child in a family of eight children.
“On Thursday, April 28, 1864, with 973 emigrants aboard, the ship, “Monarch of the Sea,” sailed from Liverpool, England. Patriarch John Smith was President of the company. At Florence, Nebraska, they traveled by teams under the Company Captain William B. Preston, to Salt Lake City, arriving September 15, 1864.
“The Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to their home in 1862, and Agneta, her mother and some of her brothers accepted the message gladly. But it wasn’t until the Spring of 1864, that Johannes and Agneta were ready to leave Sweden for America and the West.
“The voyage was long and stormy with much sickness aboard. The rations were meager; raw beef, lard, and hard crackers, water, mustard and salt. Many times they would wait all day for their turn to cook the meat, and sometimes the turn never came. Agneta saw several bodies being lowered into the deep ocean; and then it was her turn to watch eighteen month old with a rock tied to her feet, slipping into the ocean.
“Laying to rest little ones is unknown territory was to be Agneta’s experience two more times. Matilda, in New Jersey, near the Delaware River, and four year old Josephine near Omaha, Nebraska.
“During these trials, she valiantly went forward, giving birth to her sixth child in a cold, stark dugout in Logan, Utah.
“Arriving in late October, most homes in Logan that fall were underground, about five feet deep, with a rock chimney in corner. Fuel was willows from the Logan River bottom. It was quite warm, until spring thaw caused the room to fill with water about two feet. The cold of Cache Valley became known to all new settlers that winter.
“The next winter found John and Agneta in a snug log cabin, with cows, sheep, a yoke of steers, and 120 bushels of wheat raised on their six acres. Agneta also gleaned wheat from the field. She sheared the sheep, washed, carded, spun and wove the wool into clothing for her family; and with her gleaning, she was able to provide nice clothes for herself, and children.
“On October 4, 1867, three years after their arrival in Utah, John and Agneta traveled to Salt Lake City, to be sealed in the Endowment House. In the next six years she gave birth to five more children, with only two surviving beyond the age of accountability.
“Just nine years after her entering Utah, Agneta gave birth to her last child, Moses Nelson, born October 25, 1873; and she did not survive this birth. Moses died November 12, 1873. A mother had sacrificed for a child of God.
I received a letter from a first cousin, twice removed this past week. I was pretty excited about the letter and appreciate her thinking of me. Alice Coley Miller, daughter of Lloyd and Verda Coley, Lloyd is the brother to my Lillian Coley Jonas. The card and letter speak for themselves. As time passes, many of these types of documents are likely just trashed. This letter was somewhat difficult to type up and be loyal to what Great Grandma Lillian wrote. Having said that, I have made a number of corrections in brackets to be more accurate than what she had at the time of writing. The modern miracle of the internet, crowd-sourcing, and FamilySearch have completely changed this clunky process that Alice, Veda, and Lillian were engaged. I hope Great Grandma Bowcutt doesn’t mind my sharing her handwriting and grammar. I also linked the other pages and photos I have on this family, so you can go to those links to read the full information and histories that I have previously written.
February 26
Dear Paul
I have moved from Brooklyn, New York to Bountiful, UT. In going through stuff I found this letter written to me by your great grandmother Lillian Bowcutt (Jonas). Since it’s in her handwriting I thought you might like to have it.
I appreciate all the genealogical information you are gathering and that names on the Coley line are coming up for temple work to be done.
Enjoy the coming spring.
Alice Coley Miller
Mrs. Frank W. Miller, 1050 East 31 Street, Brooklyn, New York 11210.
Lillian Bowcutt, Box 312, Richmond, Utah 84333
Richmond UT, Febr. 6, 1976
Dear Alice Husband + family
Just haven’t been able to write and tell about the Coleys you see I haven’t been able to get much either. But aunt Veda has a lot she said write her and see if she can help you. I’ll send you what I have about them.
This Stephen Grandpa Coley
Born Jan 28, 1830 at [Haley] green Worc England.
Baptized Jan 5, 1892
Endowed Oct. 12. 1892
Wife Hannah [Maria] Harris Rogers
Born June 10. 1832 [Bromsgrove] Worc. Egland (Records now point to Lutley or Romsley)
Biptized Nov 4. 1891
Endowed Oct 12. 1892
Children
1 – Charles Coley no dates
2 – Arthur Coley when born
3 – William Coley nor the year
4 Martha Coley Born Aug 28
5 Herbert Coley Born Febr. 12 1867
6 Harry Coley no dates on them
7 Frank Coley
Lewiston
Stephen Coley Died 22 Oct 1913
Hannah [Maria] Rodgers
Oct 22. 1894 [Franklin] Idaho
Martha Ann Coley married 5 Oct 1891 to Theo France
died 23 July 1949 Parma Ida
They got Henery was uncle Harry
George Harry came over 1890 at age 22 on Wisconsin May.
Stephen, Martha Ann Herbert all born at [Haley] Green
Hannah [Maria] Roger born Halesowen Egland
I think maybe your aunt Veda has the rest and I hope there right she said she had a lot on them Coleys I would sure like to get some on them myself
This is all I got about them
I sure hope you can read this
in one place they got uncle Harry name as George Henry but we all know him as Harry
lots of Love Aunt Lillian
I wrote previously of a book I have that belonged to my Great Grandfather, Joseph Nelson Jonas. The book was given to me by Ellis Jonas along with a couple of others. Inside the book was this clipping, presumably put there by my Great Grandmother, Lillian Coley Jonas. I have no clue about its significance, if any. It was clipped and put there in the book for some reason. Richmond, Utah, was in the Benson Stake at that time. The article indicates this was 1935.
Bishop David A Smith to Attend Richmond Services
Bishop David A. Smith, first counselor to Sylvester Q. Cannon presiding bishop of the L.D.S. church will represent the general authorities of the L.D.S. church at the quarterly conference of the Benson stake in Richmond Saturday evening and Sunday, according to information given out at the office of the first presidency in Salt Lake City.
The first meeting will be held Saturday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The Sunday sessions will begin at 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. with the quarterly meeting of the M.I.A. convening at 7:30 o’clock Sunday evening under direction of Ellis Doty stake superintendent of the Y.M.M.I.A.
President H. Ray Pond will preside at the general sessions of the conference. Amplifiers have been installed in the Richmond tabernacle to insure perfect audition.
Stressed during the conference sessions will be the two major projects of Benson stake for 1935; larger attendance at sacrament meetings and more efficient ward teaching.
The stake presidency is urging a large attendance at all sessions of the conference especially at the Saturday evening meeting. Special music for the conference has been prepared.
This is another clipping in the Hygiene and Sanitation book I previously shared. Since Ethel died in 1941, I presume the clipping was placed in the book by my Great Grandmother, Lillian Coley Jonas. I don’t know the connection, Richmond and Hyrum were not nearby each other.
“Ethel May Monson, wife of Mantell Monson and former resident of this valley, died last evening at the Dee hospital in Ogden following an illness of a year.
“Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. in Hyrum Second ward chapel, with burial in that community’s cemetery. Friends may call at the Thompson Funeral Home in Hyrum Wednesday and Thursday until time of services.
“Mrs. Monson was born in Mess county, Kansas, December 3, 1887, a daughter of William F. Hulse and Elizabeth Munyon Hulse. The family joined the church and came to Hyrum in 1910. She married Mr. Monson September 20, 1911, in the Logan temple, and nine years later the couple moved to Idaho where they stayed for two years prior to their residence in Logan. They remained here until 1936 when they moved to Ogden.
“Surviving are her mother, her husband, six children: Harold Monson of San Francisco, Art Monson, Mrs. Anna Larsen and Mrs. June Schiffman of Ogden, Dale J. Monson of Long Beach, Cal., and Mrs. Carma Nielsen of Logan; six grandchildren and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. C. L. Thomas of San Francisco, Eva Hulse of Tiajuana, Mex., Mrs. Lucille Richardson and George Hulse of Ogden, and Otis Hulse of San Francisco.
The article doesn’t provide the information, so I will flesh it out a bit more.
Ethel May Hulse Monson, born 3 December 1887 in Ness County Kansas, died 25 March 1941 in Ogden. Married Mantell Henry Monson, born 30 September 1890 in Hyrum, died 27 December 1953 in Hyrum.
Sagacity 