I love hearing quirky stories from my ancestral pedigree.
Of course, I appreciate the stories of faith, obedience, and determination that many of my ancestors displayed. Ancestors that converted to our LDS faith, traveled across oceans to come to Zion, and endured many trials and struggles that the early pioneers faced. I respect their willingness to follow the counsel of the Brethren, and leave homes and families to serve missions in distant places. The strength many of my ancestors exhibited is admirable and inspiring.
With that being said, I also enjoy the unique, peculiar, and sometimes bizarre facts that dangle from the branches of my family tree. The following story is my case in point.
Jens P. Anderson is my great, great, great grandfather. His death was notable enough that it was written about in the local newspaper - The Herald-Republican. Here is that article:
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Seized with the hiccoughs three weeks ago, Jens P. Anderson, a pioneer of this district, hiccoughed constantly until death ended his suffering yesterday. The aged man literally hiccoughed himself to death.
Though advanced in years, Mr. Anderson possessed a rugged constitution and was apparently in the best of health until seized with the peculiar malady that resulted in his death.
Every known remedy was brought into requisition in an effort to stop the patient's hiccoughing, but without avail, and the spasmodic jerking of the diaphragm continued until he died of sheer exhaustion.
Mr. Anderson was born in Denmark January 14, 1826. While in his native land he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed for some time, after which he served two years in the army. He joined the Mormon church in 1852 and came to Utah a few months later, crossing the plains in an ox train under Captain Olsen, arriving in Salt Lake City in 1854. Later he came to this city and assisted in the building of the fort, and took an active part in the Black Hawk war. In 1862 he moved to Glenwood, and was among the first settlers there. A home was built there by him, but he was driven out by the Indians. Anderson returned to Ephraim in 1866 and engaged in farming which he continued until his death.
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What interesting facts do you know about your ancestors?
3 comments:
Always one of the best stories and always one little kids love to hear (and then they worry when they get the hiccups!) We do have some great splashes of color in our family tree!
Interesting story! I have a a great grandmother (times 8 I believe)who was kidnapped off the Irish coast and brought to America and sold as a bride in the 1600's. She missed her childhood religion (Catholic) so her husband paid for a priest to come over and they built one of the first Catholic churches in Maryland. I have several others but I won't clog up your comment section with them. I'm the first in my family to do any research so I've been having loads of fun learning these stories and love reading other peoples stories.
Pretty interesting. I wonder if he is related to the Andersons that my mother knows. She grew up in Ephraim and there are quite a few of them there. I will have to do some research.
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