Written by Bertha Nelson Jensen - daughter

Maria Isaacson was born the 5th of March 1857 at Huken, near Drammon, Norway. She was the third child of Neils and Bertha Johnson Isaacson. Mother's grandfather on her father's side was a musician and was fatally injured when a bomb exploded on a Norwegian holiday. Her father Neils, then about 12 years old, was sitting by his side at the time playing a clarinet. Her parents belonged to the Lutheran Church and when her father heard the Mormon elders he was immediately converted. He had heard the truth and went home much enthused to have her mother hear the Elders, which she did, but it was some time before she was converted and baptized. But after which they were very staunch members and entertained and did all they could for the Mormon missionaries, although by so doing were greatly ridiculed by friends and relatives.

At the age of four, her parents auctioned all their belongings and emigrated to America with their four children, the eldest our Aunt Mary Thompson. After their ocean voyage of six weeks, they landed at Castle Garden, New York and from there by rail to the Missouri River. during this trip I might relate a most interesting experience the children never forgot. They had to change cars during the journey. The parents put the four children on the train while they changed luggage and while doing so the train pulled out with the children who were alone all night and part of the next day with Aunt Mary, nine years old, to care for them. We can only imagine what must have been felt to both children and parents not knowing anyone or even able to speak or understand a word of English. And imagine also the joy and thanksgiving the next day when the later train came in with the parents. This mother remembers distinctly and she was but four years old. At Florence, Nebraska one of the children took sick and died and she remembers her father telling her many times how terrible it was to have the little one want for water and could give none. While here they purchased from funds from the immigration company three yoke of oxen and a wagon and continued on their wearisome journey across the plains. On reaching Laramie, Wyoming another child died and was buried in a lonely grave along the trail that is now marked to show one of the sacrifices made by the converts to Mormonism.

Arriving in Salt Lake City, they stayed about a month. They left there with others for Hyde Park, but Brother C. H. Monson persuaded them to move to Logan so grandfather could play in the band and choir. While living in Logan another child died. Mother was ill at the time and remembers distinctly Brother Penrose administered to them but her brother Isaac died and was buried there.

Mother was baptized in 1868 by John Alsop here in Richmond where her parents had moved and purchased the property where the Roy Johnson home is now and where ten more children were born, her sister Carolyne known as Aunt Cadie, and brother Henry. His death occurred in Montana while railroading with the Hunt brother. Bering the only son, his death furnished the name Isaacson and today Mother hasn't a relative on her father's side. Besides being a musician, Grandfather was an expert tailor and Grandmother spun and wove clothes for the children.

When Mother was about 18 years old, she was married to Jens Christian Johnson in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City on the 1st of June, 1874. They lived a short time after marriage in Logan and buried an infant son Isaac whose body was later moved to Richmond. Their first home was here in Richmond on the Hagen Merril property where Christian Lorenzo, Alfred Henry, Amy and myself were born. From there they moved to what we all know is Pond Town, where two more children were born, Nettie and Alvin, and when he was two years old they moved to the present residence where Francis Leonard, Austin Arlo, Vesta Carolyn, and Mary Edith were born. On the 18th of March 1892, their son Christian Lorenzo was accidentally shot and killed while hunting. On the 10th of September 1932, Vesta J. Cottle was laid away.

Amid all the trials and hardships I have mentioned, I must not neglect to add that there has also been too many blessings, joys and pleasures too numerous to mention that has fallen to the life of our mother and today at past 82, we have her with us.

Addendum - She died shortly after the writing of this history, February 23, 1941.