JOSEPH OSRO CHRISTENSEN

Born on the 18 of January 1892 in Afton, Star Valley, Wyoming. Son of Hans Peter and Hannah Jane Christensen. I was Baptized on the 13th of March 1900 and as I remember the occasion it was very cold and the ice had just broken up in the creek and of course the water was ice cold this was quite a shock to me. This account is related here from memory. We lived at Afton Wyoming and this record was recorded on the Afton Ward records of the Star Valley Stake. One interesting experience happened to me when I was nine years of age and came to me probabley [sic] from disobeying my older sister who of course was caring for the family. She having forbide me leaving home to go to the field with my Uncle. While the two of us was riding one horse, and leading the second one I was pulled of [sic] the horse and fell on my left arm and as a result the arm was broken. Fearing to go home, I carried my arm in a wire sling until about 7 P.M. that evening before my family knew I had a broken arm. So of course the arm had to be reset. What a howl I set up then. Before this break had completely healed I had my right foot broken and had to walk with crutches for several weeks. Because of the excessive loss’s [sic] sustained by my father in the sever [sic] Winter of 1889 in the Valley we were very poor and I shall never forget the Kindnesses of one Ben E. Welch who provided us with flour and meat. After the death of my mother in the year 1898, Father spent the next several years herding sheep for a livelihood. When in the fall of 1904 he went to Sugar City, Idaho and procured employment with the Utah, Idaho Sugar Co. The following spring the family moved to Idaho also. My schooling from this time on was very much distrubed [sic] in that I began working in the Sugar Mill during operations and in consequence got only four months schooling, each season. I never did graduate from grade school and went just one day to high school, except for two courses in Correspondence Schools. This completed my schooling. The teacher who most impressed or influence [sic] me was Jos. T. Warlton as principal of the Sugar City Schools. As I look back over my life and call to mind again my youth I can readily say that I had a most happy and interesting time and altho [sic] I had a lot of hard work to do I had leisure time a plenty and I had plenty of time for Base Ball, hunting a fishing, good social life. Winter sports was [sic] supreme, coasting, sleigh riding, hockey, skating, fishing thru the ice, cutting and storing Ice for summer use, and so the time came when I thought I had grown up, and ventured away from home for employment. First with the Austin Bros. Sheep Co., then with the O.S.L. Rail Road Co. At Pocatello, Idaho, and it was while working here that I received the Call to fill a Mission in Norway. This call to fill a Mission came in Oct. 1913, and came not as a result of my activities in the Church, but rather as a result of my Father impartuning [sic] the Bishop in my behalf, that I may not drift further from the Church. But even so, never at any time did I hesitate to accept the call and so in March 1914 I departed for the Mission field and when I arrived at Liverpool England was assigned to labor in Denmark. There to my surprise when I arrived in Denmark I was assigned to labor in Norway. Laboring in Norway until early October 1914 . When because of conditions brought on by World War No. one. I with nearly all American Missionaries was transfered [sic] to other fields of labor. I to the Central States Mission at Independence Mo. While in Norway I had many and varied experiance [sic] all to my good and had taste of real homesickness. For six weeks nor word or money from home, of course there was ny [sic] mail in Copenhagen. So a great loneliness came upon me, but very quickley [sic] dispelled when all become somewhat normal. Independence Mo. Was the scene of much activities as there was a New Chapel being erected there, many of the Newly arrived Missionaries were put to work, not only of his Mission duties but helping on the Chapel. This continued for two months and then I was reasigned [sic] to the South Texas Mission and labored in and about Huston [sic], until late in March 1916, at which time I was released with Elder Henry J. Saline who accompanied me to Salt Lake City, Utah. We arrived for April Conference. I had the privilage [sic] of Baptizing three converts in Texas. I again found employment with the Sugar Co. And later in the year with the R. R. Co. In the spring of 1917 I again was re-employed by the Sugar Co and had charge of the Stock Room in a newly constructed Mill at Shelley Idaho. It was in June of 1917 when I became engaged to and married the charming and lovely person Hazel Pratt who thru these many years has been a devoted wife and Mother of my children. We lived and enjoyed our lives here. I was Ward Clerk in Shelly [sic] 1st Ward as well as Sunday School Teacher. June of 1918 found me on Uncle Sam’s pay-roll in World War one. So we took our worldly posessions [sic] and moved to Sugar City again where my wife under the watchful eye of Father and Mother lived. My service in that army terminated in six months and on Nov. 11th 1918 World War One having came [sic] to an end, I was mustared [sic] out of service and returned home the 20 Dec. It was during this period that the devastating “flu” raged and thru the blessings of the Lord none of fathers or my own suffered from it. In the spring of 1919, I, with my Brother-in-law leased a large farm to operate, this venture proved very costly to us on account of a pro-longed drouth [sic]. We also suffered the loss of our first child at the age of six months as we left the farm in November we had incured [sic] and Eighteen hundred dallor [sic] debt and it required all our next years [sic] wages to clear ourselves. From the fall of 1919 until the spring of 1921 I was employed by the Sugar Co. Again and also engaged in some building and this was the begining [sic] of my building carrer [sic]. In April of 1921 I went to Salt Lake City where I secured employment as a Carpenter with the Bowers Bldg. Co., and remained in their employment for ten years. During this time I was Supt. of Construction on many of their projects. While in Salt Lake City these ten years, three Son’s [sic] were born to us, Lynn, Jack and Lyle. We owned several homes and dispossed [sic] of them as we thought best and to our advantage. My Church activities was quiet [sic] extensive in most of the Wards in which we lived having been Supt. of Sunday School and of the M.I.A. and filled two, two years Stake Missions. Ward Teaching and very many Priesthood activities. In the spring of 1933 I was employed as a Carpenter for Moss Bros. And went to Nevada for them on a Road Job, and following the completion of this job in October I went to work for the Nevada Highway Dept. Nov 1st, 1933 and in July of 1934 my family moved to Bunkerville, Nevada and again in Nevada we moved to Las Vegas where we have lived until the Present. We built our first house in North Las Vegas in 1937 and lived in it until 1946 at which time we sold and build our present house at 504 north ninth street. The first six years of employment with the State Highway was on Inspection Work and Building and 1841 [1941?] was made Maintenance Supt., and have continued as such until the present. Church duties and callings consisted of Ward Teaching, Seventy Quorum Pres., 1st Counciler [sic] in Bishopric of the North Las Vegas Ward later changed to Las Vegas 2nd Ward at the completion of the New Chapel on North 8th and Linden. I was Ordained a Bishop of the Las Vegas 2nd Ward by Stephen L. Richard’s [sic]. After serving as Bishop for nearly two years I was released and set apart in the Las Vegas Stake High Council and in Feb of 1956 was released and called as a Stake Missionary. By serving the Church in the building Program I have had an active part in Constructing the Welfare Bldg, The Dairy Barn, Stadium and Building at the Stake Center and the L.D.S. 2nd Ward Chapel and making the seats for the Junior Sunday School Chapel of the Logandale Ward. Time now is March of 1957, I am just completing fenceing [sic] of The Old Pioneer Fort for the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Last year 1956, I had the job of erecting a canopy over the Old Fort. I take pride in relating that all my work in building for the Church in any of its projects was done on the basis of Contribution and never at any time have I been paid in a Monetary Way. Like-wise the work for the renovation and addition of the Old Pioneer Fort. Now I am about to journey to Salt Lake City for 1957 General Conference of the Church, and to return home by way of Twin Falls, Idaho, where we are going to see our new Grandson [Wesley Hale Christensen]. This writing relates a few of the many things I have seen, experienced and engaged and as my Patricarchel [sic] Blessings Promised I have seen many Wonderful developments and changes, growth of the Church.

MY HOME In vain I searched, vainly I tried to build a place that I my call my earthly sanctuary. A Haven where from cold and storm, to where I may retire to rest, to rest and comfort find. For I have journeyed far and wide, built and relinquished until hope seemed forever lost. A place for these to dwell, not I but they, forever kept the faith of flame to toil to build a humble habitation that I may call my home. Faith, oh glorious attitude it is; no providence who rules its destiny has led and guided to this desert land my family. Tried by trials, some large some small, yet sufficient for to strengthen for to conquer to move and school these mortal souls. Oh happy home mid desert hills, builded by these not alone, contentment here abide. Home both old and young hath shared this cheerfulness. Lord may this my habitation, ever from sin or strife, or too much sorrow be. While friend shall linger and while away a peaceful hour. Now in the midway of my life all this has come to me. Oh this shall be my home endeed [sic]. — Joseph O. Christensen