1924 Utah Death Certificate

KOOSHAREM
Annie G. Torgerson died Monday a week ago greatly mourned by her ten surviving children and a host of grand children. The children, seven sons and three daughters are as follows: Torval Torgerson, Stena Bagley, Julia Schaugaard, Hannah Anderson, Anton, Frank and Henry Torgerson, all of Koosharem, Joseph Torgerson of Salina, Erick Torgerson of Lyman and Charles Torgerson of Bicknell. Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Koosharem hall. Great numbers of attendants at the services and many floral tributes gave testimony of the great love and respect people had for deceased.

Published in The Richfield Reaper Newspaper 1924-02-07

Wife of Hans Torgersen


Life Sketch of Anna Gurena Olsen Torgersen

Contributed By Charnae Wariner · Aug 27, 2013, 9:45 PM · 2 Comments

Anna Gurena Olsen Torgersen was born 8 Nov 1843 at Drammer, Norway. Her father, Christian Olsen was born 14 May 1822 at Drammen, Norway and her mother, Ranyal Anderson, was born 16 Aug 1823 at Valus, Norway. She was the first child in a family of eleven children. Her brothers and sisters are: Corn Olyvia, Ellen Andrena, Marie, Eric, Bertha, Sophia, Johanns, Torial, Johan, Gustave and Adolf. She was married at the age of 19 to Hans Torgersen in Drammen. Not much is known of her life before she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and migrated to Utah with six children in 1875. She was baptized 8 April 1874 and endowed and sealed to her husband 13 June 1883. When she joined the church her family disowned her and she never saw any of them after she came to Utah. She did write to them all during her life time however. They were constantly insulted in the old country for being Mormon. A story had been told that Grandpa Olsen, (Annas father) became greatly incensed at his daughter after she joined the church. It is said that he disowned her and came and chopped down a fruit tree he had given her. Quite a drastic measure even for today. Sort of a symbolic gesture of washing his hands of her. Yet her family loved her and missed them when they came to Zion. She wrote to them, sent them money and expressions of love. Six precious letters were found after she died, telling of her loved ones back in Norway. . She was the mother of thirteen children. Those born in Norway were Torval, Charlie, Christen, Hannah, Julia and Antone. Edwin and Eric were born in Ephraim. It was here that Edwin died. Joseph, Gustav, Alfred, George Franklin Christian and William Henry were born in Koosharem. Hans was a sawmill man. They had a large family to support and in those times they didn't receive much for their work. They were always quite poor having only the necessities of life. She proved true and faithful and never complained of her hardships or of leaving her family back in Norway for the Gospel sake. She had two sons who died in one week with diphtheria, Alfred age 6 and George age 4. Her son's (Joseph) wife died leaving him with three children. She took the children to rear. The baby was only twenty-four hours old when she got it and it only lived four months. The other two, Lillian and Clinton are grown to adulthood, married and have children of their own. She worked as Relief Society teacher, and did a lot of temple work for the dead. She did the work for her mother and family and relatives whom she knew in Norway. She acted as nurse for the sick and worked with doctors and also alone. She lived in Koosharem until 1905 and then moved to Monroe. When she was seventy-five years old she fell and broke her hip. She laid in a cast for six weeks. Then she moved back to Koosharem. Christena gave her a room in her home in Koosharem. She walked on crutches for a long time and then she got so she could walk with a cane. She was left a widow for a number of years and died 28 Jan 1924 at Koosharem, Utah at the age of 80. She was buried in Koosharem, Utah. Written by Nettie Bagley Hallows, Granddaughter.
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Annie' mother was born 13 August 1823 on the farm Rugnos, Nord Aurdal, Oppland, Norway in the birth record name in spelled Ragnhild Andersdatter. She was christened in Ulnes, Nord Aurdal Parish, Oppland, Norway on 7 September 1823.
greche
2013-12-02
This is a fabulous life sketch. Thank you for posting it. The following is a bit of additional information provided by Janita Black (great granddaughter of Hans and Annie). She shared this information in a newsletter to her children and grandchildren. There does seem to be conflicting information about the name of the son born in 1875 (Edwin vs. Erik/Eric/Erick), but the rest of the information seems to match: Hans Torgerson & Annie Gurine Christiansdatter were married in the Bragernes, Norway church 13 Dec, 1862. They lived for 10 years in Haugsund where 4 of their children were born. They joined the church in the 1860's & emigrated in 1875 with other Norwegian converts. The journey was a long one from Drammen where they then lived, to Christiania (Oslo), Copenhagen, Denmark, across the North Sea to Hull, England, train to Liverpool, ship to New York, train to Salt Lake City, wagon to Ephraim, Utah. The family settled in for their first winter in the new land & Nov 6, 1875 Anne gave birth to a boy they named Erik who lived a few months & died 4 Feb, 1876. As per old Norwegian custom of names, once a name was chosen & given to a child & that child died in infancy, that name was given to the next child born of the same gender. Thus, the name Erik was given to the 2nd son born in the new land. (This was my Grandfather Eric-Father of Grandpa LaVerl.) In 1878 a small wagon train formed to move to Grass Valley. The first winter must have been a hard one. During the summer they had heard of the "fabulous Fishlake," lying about 15 miles east of the valley. During the winter they made trips to the lake, riding horses in deep snow, snowshoed on to the lake pulling a small sled. Once there they dipnetted sacks of fish, which provided a necessary protein for the family & were bartered with others for other commodities. As the family grew & prospered in Grass Valley (Koosharem now) the family soon began the "sawmill stage." I hope these family history stories will help you all appreciate the heritage of strong, hard working ancestors you have been blessed with & recognize some of their trying lives & sacrifices that we might enjoy the freedoms, peace & security that are now ours.
BlackT
2014-11-17