. . . Friday 1st. Arose early. Prepared myself for the journey. At 8:00 o'clock we embarked, and at 11:00 o'clock we sailed from Copenhagen. A number of people had gathered at the custom house to see us leave. During the afternoon we anchored near Helsinger because of the storm. I am feeling well.
Sat. 2nd. Sailed early through the sound. We met a storm in Kattegat, so that we had to anchor under the protecting cliffs.
Sun. 3rd. Fine weather. The Saints are rejoicing in prayer, song and dance. In the evening a little rain and snow.
Mon. 4th. Good weather, however some little seasickness among the passengers. I was placed to arrange the Saints in the rear cabins and had to wait on them.
Tues. 5th. On the North Sea. Towards evening anchored near England. Rejoicing among the Saints.
Wed. 6th. We docked in Grimsby, got our things on the railroad, and in the afternoon we traveled across England to Liverpool, which we reached at 8:00 o'clock in the evening. It was a joy to see this land so greatly blessed of the Lord. We were courted in a hotel during the night.
Thurs. 7th. After having arisen healthy, we all gathered in the custom house and the Saints went on board ship. Some of the brethren remained to work with the baggage, where I remained, and moreover, I was chosen to be cook for the company for which I will received free transportation across the ocean. In the afternoon visited in William Tapscott, where I received visitors under the deck. All is well.
Fri. 8th. On board. All is well. May the Lord be praised. Boxed some things.
Sat. 9th. On board ship. Rejoiced with song and dance, with Widerborg and Wilhemsen.
Sun. 10th. The brethren bade us farewell. Rejoicing among the Saints. The time was used for meeting.
Mon. 11th. Early in the morning we weighed anchor and were taken out into the ocean. I performed my duty.
Tues. 12th. On board ship.
Wed. 13th. On ship in the ocean. [p.56]
Thurs. 14th. On board ship. My birthday.
Fri. 15th. Did my duty.
Sat. 16th. I am free today. Have been reading a little English and written in my journal.
Sun. 17th. Today in the saloon fourteen couples were married. Eight couples were Danish and six couples English. Good wind today.
Mon. 18th. I am free. Doing my duty.
Tues. 19th. I feel well. Doing my duty.
Wed. 20th. The same.
Thurs. 21s.: The same.
Fri. 22nd. I am free today. I feel well.
Sat. 23rd. I am doing my duty.
Sun. 24th. This is Easter. I am free from service and am attending the English meeting practicing in English. In the evening the Scandinavian Saints had a meeting where I had the privilege of expressing some of my feelings, and rejoiced in the gathering. Today good wind. The ship is moving well.
Mon. 25th. I feel well. Doing my duty. Good wind. Today we have finished one-half of the trip. The Lord be praised. Only a few are sick and no one dead. In the evening I revealed some of my feelings for Marg [POSSIBLY Mary. MARG AND MARY ARE USED INTERCHANGEABLY THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT], which I understood were with joy received, and we made a covenant with each other to bless her, and I pressed the first kiss upon her cheek. Oh God, my Father, may it be with your will so that it maybe a blessing to us is my prayer, Amen.
Tues. 26th. I feel very happy. Good weather. Practicing in English.
Wed. 27th. Doing my duty.
Thurs. 28th. Have not slept much. I feel somewhat sick. Felt better during the day. The Lord be praised. Have a sore finger which is preventing me from doing my full duty. [p.57]
Fri. 29th. Doing my duty.
Sat. 30th. I am free. I feel well. Attended meetings.
May, 1859
Sun. 1st. In the saloon. The ship rolled so much that the speakers could not stand up. Felt better in the afternoon.
Mon. 2nd. Laid down. I did not feel quite well.
Tues. 3rd. Did my duty. My finger is troubling me.
Wednes. 4th. I am free. Practicing English.
Thurs. 5th. In the saloon.
Fri. 6th. I am free. Feeling well.
Sat. 7th. I am well. Was called to [into] the president, Nassling, for the English and Guld [Guhl] for the Scandinavians, to explain if it was my intention to love and to marry Marg [POSSIBLY Mary], if it was. Marg [POSSIBLY Mary] was also called forth and the same questions put to her, and as it was with her and with my will, it became settled that we were to get married the next day. [p.58]
Sun. 8th. Fasted and preparing for the coming celebration. At 10:30 I was called into our quarter, the fifth, where the meeting was to be held. Five couples were there who were be married, among them two Norwegian couples, the latter were C. [Christian] Olson with Anna and Brother Haugensen [Hakonsen] with Petra and I with Mary [POSSIBLY Marg]. The meeting opened and Nassling gave a long and instructive sermon in English which I understood in part. After this he performed the marriage ordinance for us, after we had promised that we would love each other, be true to each other, and so forth. Holy Father, thou seest this our marriage and I pray thee in the name of thy son that it may be to a blessing for us, since love triumphs over all, may love increase with us so that we, our Father, may by its help overcome all and keep the covenant we have made with thee and with each other, that it may bring blessings and exaltation, both for time and eternity. The weather is fine. We are now about three hundred and sixty English miles from New York. In the afternoon we had a meeting on the deck, and in the evening under the deck. We treated the presidency, and we had great joy this day.
Mon. 9th. Up early. Did my work. Foggy.
Tues. 10th. Arose well and happy. I am feeling well. A selection has been made for a presidency and for myself and Mary [POSSIBLY Marg] we gave to Nassling one dollar and to the others fifty cents.
Wed. 11th. We had a good wind, but towards evening such a storm met the captain that he could not see land, and sailed with the small sails. I completed of term of service today.
Thurs. 12th. This morning we saw the pilot from New York, and during the forenoon we [he] boarded the ship and made hurrahs from the passengers. After that a big hurrah for the captain because of his goodness and his willingness to serve us all. Shortly after this we saw land and joy was among us all, and be thy, Father, praised and honored for your guidance and mercy. That evening about 7:00 o'clock we anchored in New York. We each paid $14.00 for the trip over the continent.
Fri. 13th. Up early. Made fires for the coffee. Later in the forenoon went on land by means of a little steamer and found rooms in the Hotel Castle Garden, where in fact all of us had lodgings. I stood guard during the night.
Sat. 14th. Attended council meeting in the morning. During the day went into the city. In the afternoon I went back to the ship. In the afternoon I entered a steamer and sailed the whole night up a river to the city Albany, where I went on land in the morning.
Sun. 15th. We had to get wagons. There was a number of the brethren and sisters that had breakfast. About noon we left there on the railroad. [p.59]
Mon. 16th. We reached the station where we changed cars, and traveled there from the whole night.
Tues. 17th: In the morning come to the city Vindsei [POSSBILY Windsor], and went on a steamer and sailed up the river to the city of the same name, and went on board the railway again.
Wed. 18th: Reached Chicago, where we again changed cars left there during the afternoon and traveled to the whole night.
Thurs. 19th. Thursday morning we came to Quincy where, after a little delay, we entered a steamer and sailed to the city Hannibal, about twenty-six English miles. There we went in the cars again but had to remain there quietly all night since the track was so poor that we did not dare to travel in the dark.
Fri. 20th. Left at 8:00 o'clock. Traveled all day and the following night.
Sat. 21st. We reached St. Joseph where during the afternoon we went on board the steamer "St. Mary," sailed the whole night.
Sun. 22nd. Was sailing on the Missouri River.
Mon. 23rd. The same. Fine weather, but in the afternoon we had a storm so strong that the steamer had to anchor until the evening.
Tues. 24th. Excellent weather. Continued our journey up the river.
Wed. 25th. Early in the morning we reached Florence where we went on land and received lodging in various houses in various parts of the city. During the night we had a storm with hail.
Thurs. 26th. Rainy weather. Together with some of the brethren went to the city Omaha where we met a number of the brethren and sisters from Scandinavia. Bought some provisions and then went back to Florence. Slept well.
Fri. 27th. Excellent weather. In the afternoon we had a meeting where instructions were given us. Brother H.S. Eldreg was present.
Sat. 28th. I went on the wagon, after which I had a bath and helped Mary with the washing.
Sun. 29th. Arose well and happy. Went to meeting in the forenoon where Brothers Eldreg and Cannon spoke to us. In the afternoon the Scandinavian Saints held a meeting, where some of them who live in Zion were present. In the evening had prayer meeting in the house where we live. Slept well during the night.
Mon. 30th. In Florence.
Tues. 31st. In Florence. [p.60]
June, 1859
Wed. 1st. Still in Florence.
Thurs. 2nd. In the afternoon the handcart company had a prayer meeting, where we were organized. I was called to be first captain for the Scandinavians. J. Jensen as the second and M. Nielsen as the third. Instructions were given us.
Fri. 3rd. During the forenoon worked on the handcart, and during the afternoon had a meeting.
Sat. 4th. In the morning went to Omaha to buy some things, and during the afternoon received out cart and covered it.
Sun. 5th. Fasted. Attended council meeting in the forenoon and meeting in the afternoon.
Mon. 6th. Wheeled our handcart home, loaded it and then traveled some distance from the city. Camped that night.
Tues. 7th. Some rain in the morning but very good weather during the day. Remained in camp. Worked to make up the list of the members of the company, and to arrange all things within the company.
Wed. 8th. Good weather. In the afternoon had a meeting because of some of the brethren who were dissatisfied with their handcarts. Towards evening broke camp and moved on some distance. All well. . . . [p.61]
September, 1859.
. . . Sun. 4th. Ate breakfast before we broke up camp. Two of the twelve came to us and brought us into the city. When we had come to the last mountain pass, we camped by the creek in order to wash and change our clothing. Here Apostle Benson spoke to us in English and Erastus Snow in Danish. We broke camp for the last time. A big band from the city went in front of us and many thousands from the city came to meet us, among them some Norwegians which I knew. The music took us by Brigham's house where he himself with his counselors and many others stood on the porch and greeted us. We camped now the last time on the old camping place. The citizens brought us much of the good things of the earth for our refreshments, so that we might remain here many days. The music played until 9:00 o'clock in the evening while we partook of our evening meal. Oh Lord, our Eternal Father, be thou thanked for this thy goodness towards us, that we have been brought happily through all the circumstances and have been gathered with the people here in the valleys of the mountains. May we in the future continue to do right and be worthy of thy guidance until we are saved in thy presence. This is my prayer, in the name of Jesus, Amen. . . [p.70]
BIB: Magleby, Hans Olsen. Reminiscences and diaries (Ms 1540), vol. 2, pp. 56-61, 70. Typescript, translated from Danish. (CHL)
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