It looks like the winner is... Ferdinand Fredericksen today.
FERDINAND CHRISTEN OLIVER FREDRICKSEN
Important Info:
Birthdate: June 9, 1830 Flade, Hjorring, Denmark
Marriage: December 26, 1855 Bindslev, Hjorring, Denmark
Spouse: Nielsine Marie Larsen Miller
Death: June 12, 1908 Weston, Franklin, Idaho
Buried: June 15, 1908 Weston Cemetery, Weston, Franklin, Idaho
Parents: Henrich Fredrichsen and Stene Cathrine Christensen
Father of 8 children- 5 sons, and 3 daughters
Fun Facts
He came to Utah in 1864 sailing on the "Monarch of the Sea" and then with the Sharp Spencer Company.
He was raised on his grandfather's farm (Christen Anderson) in Denmark, because his father, Henrich Fredrichsen, was murdered when Ferdinand was just 7 years old. His mother, Stene Catherine, was gone a lot studying nursing.
He served in the Danish army when he was 17. He was in the cavalry and an expert swordsman. It was said that his wrist was quicker than the eye. No one could ever break through his guard.
His occupation was a blacksmith until he came to America. Then, he did do some blacksmith work, but mostly farming.
He is a descendant of the old Joms Vikings established in 940 AD.
One of my favorite stories about Ferdinand
One year the crops did well and he had some extra oats. There were a few others who did, too, so they decided to sell it in Corinne, Utah. A man passing through offered to do this for them. He was not a Mormon, but they thought nothing of it. They were able to sell their surplus, and the man asked them what they would like to use their money for. Ferdinand purchased a woodburning stove and a pair of shoes for his wife. The other 4 men also purchased stoves. Prior to this time, there was only 1 other stove in the whole area. It was owned by the bishop.
When the bishop found out what they had done, he was furious. He told them that they should not have bought stoves from an "outsider." They should have bought them from the ZCMI company. Ferdinand and the others argued that they were A LOT cheaper via their source than through ZVMI. This did not go over well with the bishop. He made each of them get up in church and plead for forgiveness. When it was Ferdinand's turn, he simply said he was not sorry for buying a stove that could help his wife out immensely, but he apologized if he had offended anyone.
A couple years later, their bishop went to Corrinne and purchased a 3 1/4 Schuttler wagon. When he returned, Ferdinand and some of the others approached him and said, "Well, Bishop. Tomorrow's Sunday. We think you ought to ask for forgiveness." He just gave them a dirty look, and they left it at that.
