WIFE #1 - Anna Christine Knudson

This photo hangs in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum

BIOGRAPHY: Biography of ANNA CHRISTENA KNUDSEN FORSGREN "PIONEER" written by Olivia Forsgren Andersen, grand-daughter, July 11, 1916. Submitted [to DUP] by Jneil Andersen Madsen, Provo, Utah.

Anna Christena Knudsen was born 6th October 1830 at Mohn, Denmark. She was the daughter of Jens Knusen and Julia Jensen Knudsen. They were honest, upright people and devoted believers in the Lutheran Faith. They kept a small store in the town where they lived.

In the year 1851or 1852 the glad message of truth as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith and his followers was brought to their home by H.P. Jensen, the mother's brother. They heard the message of the great Latter-day Saint Gospel with joyous hearts, and became converted to the truth about Chritmas 1852.

This worthy couple and two children, William and Anna Christina left their native land together with the Saints of God. They sailed in Brother John Forsgren's company. They had a hard sea voyage. A severe storm came up and it seemed for a time their ship would be engulfed, but He who calmed the turbulent waters of the sea of Galilee had a watchful care over that little company of Saints. They united together in faith and prayer and once again through the power of their mighty faith was the fierce sea made calm. The remainder of the sea journey was more peaceful. They arrived safely in America and gathered with the Saints while at Keokuk, Iowa.

Anna was married to Peter Adolph Forsgrn, May 8th, 1853. [ By John Erik Forsgren, his brother, in Keokuk, Iowa.  John was the leader of the company of Saints that immigrated from Scandinavia].  She was a fair and beautiful bride. Because of her beauty some Indians desired to buy her for a pony and a sack of sugar. Soon after their marriage, they came to Utah by ox team. The journey was full of trials and hardships. Had not the Father chosen men and women of heroic wealth we would not be enjoying our beautiful homes. They arrived in Utah and came to Brigham City, October 3rd, 1853.

They lived for a time in the old fort. Although the saints were now free from oppression of their enemies, yet they had many hardships to endure. It was very difficult to get food enough to eat. At one time a man from Salt Lake City drove some cows to Brigham City to try to get food for them. One old cow was so starved that she kept nibbling at the bull rushes that covered Brother Forsgren's dug out. He asked permission of Bishop Nichols to shoot it. Brother Nichols said that he might get into trouble if he did, but if he saw that it could not possibly live, then he might shoot it. This he did when the cow dropped from utter exhaustion and starvation. That together with a little bran furnished them food for some time.

Brother Forsgren built a log house on 1st East street between where Forest and 1st South now are. They had neither doors nor windows in the house. It was necessary to use an umbrella over the bed to keep the rain off. Their first daughter, Sarah, was born July 23, 1854.

At one time Sister Forsgren made two loaves of bread from the little flour and bran. They ate one loaf for supper and she told her husband that she was glad they had something for breakfast. She had no sooner spoken the words than an Indian Squaw and her papoose came to their door and said they were hungry. She made some tea from some leaves she had dried and gave them their last loaf of bread to eat with it. This act of unselfishness of character was one which actuated our pioneers. God was with them. They wre sacrificing to do His will and were elected to high thoughts and nobel deeds. If future generations would reach the same lofty heights then they must willingly sacrifice to do God's will. On that principle alone can great things be obtained.

One day Brother Forsgren came home with some good news. he said that down in the fields they had found many large segos which were very good to eat. These the people used for food for some time, but after sufficient grain and other things were raised to supply food for the people the segos never grew so large or so plentiful. Surely God provides for those in need. When their second daughter, Olivia, was born February 10, 1856, they had 10 pounds of flour in thehouse, and this was ll they had until after harvest.

Their first son, Adolph, was born March 25, 1858. News that Johnston's Army was coming reached Brigham the day before he was born, and the Saints were ordered to move South. Brother Forsgren was weaving some cloth. This he cut from the loom and when their boy was only three days old Sister Forsgren had her dress cut and sewed. When he was but ten days old she took her three little ones and walked part of the way to Salt Lake, driving a cow and calf. Brother Forsgren had to stay in Brigham for a time to help guard the property.

He afterwards joined his family. They lived in a dugout at Payson for some time. Here they had many trials with the Indians. One day an Indian came and was determined that Brother Forsgren should trade his new gun for an old one. This he of course refused to do. The Indian was trying to compel him to make the trade when Sister Forsgren felt inspired to go out and call the name of some man, although she new no man was near. This she did and the Indian, thinking some other man was near, left the house. The family afterward moved back to Brigham. They found all their grain and foodstuff had been taken by the Indians.

Five other children besides the three already mentioned came to bless their union. They are Oscar, Eli, Mary, William, Lenora. The two girls, Mary and Lenora died in their youth.

When the first Relief Society was organized Sister Forsgren and Sister Susannah Boothe were chosen as teachers. When the city was divided into wards, Sister Boothe was chosen President and Sister Forsgren as first counselor. She had a splendid ability in advising ways to get funds for Relief Society work, and was a wise counselor. She was a very industrious woman and the first to take hold of the silk industry in Brigham. She, together with Brother Forsgren and his plural wife, wove 150 yards of silk. They also wove many yards of cloth and carpet.

One day when Sister Forsgren had been out gleaning wheat she came home and told her husband that if he ever married another wife she had seen the girl she would like him to marry. This was Elise Thomassen who afterward became his plural wife. They lived happily together weaving and working to each other's interest. Anna Forsgren died March 11th, 1895, sure of a well-earned place in the Father's Kingdom. (Written July 11th, 1916).
 

This pioneer stone no longer stands in the Brigham City Cemetery

This information is found on the back of the [modern] stone for Peter Adolph Forsgren

This stone is the marker for Anna Christine's actual plot  (Brigham City Cemetery B-18-20-4)

This is a photo of the Peter Adolph Forsgren/ Adolph Peter Forsgren family plot as it would have been after 1907.  The small stones visible are infant children of Adolph Peter Forsgren, Peter A's third child.  Those stones were excavated and reset in 2009 by the Bott Monument Company and now stand in their former locations.