. . . We left Norway in April 1865, the emigrants from my church in Copenhagen came over and stayed for eight or ten days, in company with other Danish Saints. We went from there to Hamburg, Germany, where we got on board the big shop B. S. Kimball, that carried us across the Atlantic Ocean to New York City. (Landed 14 June 1865.) W buried 25 children in the deep ocean who died from measles. We had no fresh water as it had gone rotten and no mile to give the poor sick children and no place or way to take care of them. Severine, our son, had the disease but recovered. There were only three or four children who lived through it.

From New York City we went by rail to the Missouri River and sailed on that a couple of days. Landed at a place called Wyoming ( a small town near what is now Nebraska City.) From here we were to cross the plains by ox teams, but we stayed there about 6 weeks. It seems they had trouble getting oxen and wagons to take us to Salt Lake City. Finally one morning we were called out and were told that if we would reduce our loads to 50 pounds per person we could all go. We were three in family and had 500 pounds so I sold and gave away what I thought we could best spare. We thought we were all right but in a few days they told us we would have to raise $50 for provisions. Then I went to work and sold everything we had of value such as my watch and gold rings, my wife's wedding ring, also a fine Sunday suit and overcoat.

Soon after, we were ready to start. About 50 wagons with four yoke of oxen to each. Most of them were young steers and we would put a yoke of broken ones in the lead. We went about six miles the first day and increased the distance a little each day.

We made camp on the 17th of Sept., and had just gone to rest when we were called out and told that the Indians were driving off our cattle. We did not sleep much after that. Next morning there were 22 head of cattle gone. We crossed the creek and camped in a better place some of the men were sent to look for the missing stock and did recover some. After two days' delay we started again and traveled all that day and the next. [p.69]

Sept. 22nd we had to travel a long way to get to water. My wife got very tired and we fell behind the train. Our son stayed in the wagon. The train finally reached a creek and there was lots of thick brush a long it and a band of Indians were hiding in the brush. When the boys drove the cattle to water, five of them were wounded. Then every man in camp came out with his gun and drove the Indians away. At that time my wife and I were about a quarter of a mile from camp, and some of the Indians came towards us and with a bloodcurdling yell started to shoot at me, while some of them took my wife, put her on a horse and took her away. I was hit by five or six arrows, the last one lodged in my hip. I pulled it out and dropped it thinking it was all out. However, the whole arrowhead was left in the hip bone, and caused a running sore. Two years later Dr. Anderson came to Salt Lake City and took it out. It was 3 inches long and 3/4 inches wide at the top. Thinking that I was dead, the Indians left me. I was far from camp, but managed to hobble in, but was three weeks before I could get around again with a cane. But all the bodily suffering I passed through for nearly two years was small compared to the anguish and sorrow for the loss of my wife. I have often stood by the work bench with tears running down my cheeks. I can never forget it. My boy was all I had to live for. (This son had a daughter who looked like the lost Jenssine and played the organ by ear, and sang, just as her grandmother had when she was young. Grandfather would ask her to play and sing, and pretty soon his head would drop into his hands and the tears would start trickling through his fingers.)

We reached Salt Lake City the 8th of November half starved and without clothes. . . . [p.70]

BIB: Grundvig, Frants Christian, [Autobiography], Our Pioneer Heritage, comp. By Kate B. Carter, vol. 9. (Salt Lake City: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1965) pp. 69-70 (CHL).
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