Axel Christian Nielsen Life Story

25 April, 1960

We, the children of Axel Christian Nielsen, feel it a great pleasure and honor to record, in the form of a Life Story, some of the things we remember about our Father, in this the 109th year of his birth, that his descendants down the stream of time might appreciate, emulate and honor their humble sincere progenitor.

AXEL CHRISTIAN NIELSEN was born 4 August 1851, in Sjorring, Thisted, Denmark, the eldest son of Niels Axelsen and Johanne Poulsen, who had four children. Our father and his sister, Maren Kirstine Nielsen, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and emigrated to America, settling in Utah. Also their brother, Christian Nielsen, came to America and settled in Chicago, Ill., but he was not a convert to The Church, but came to America through a desire to be in the new land. Their youngest sister, Ana Nielsen, remained in Denmark.

Sjorring is in the northern part of Denmark. When our father was eight days old he was christened in the Lutheran Sjorring Kirke (Church). His parents belonged to the Lutheran faith and all of his progenitors back to 1655 had lived in Thisted.
Our father was a very quiet unassuming man with a refined dignity. In appearance he was of medium height, with large blue eyes, fair skin and fine brown hair, which was blond and curly when he was young. He had a broad forehead and a well-shaped head and a very pleasing smile. Also he had a vary pleasing voice, both in speaking and singing and loved to be in the social gatherings of the family, where ha would become very jovial and merry. One of his outstanding traits was that he always minded his own business and never interfered with the affairs of others.

Little is known about his childhood days in Denmark because he seldom spoke about himself. His parents were honest and honorable and brought up their children in a fine manner, although his father was a rather strict man. Like many of the parents in their time, who did not have an understanding of the Gospel, our father's parents disowned him when he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. How grateful we can all be that he had the courage to choose to serve the Lord even though it meant disownment by his parents and the loss of former friends. He must have had a good education in Denmark, where he learned his trade of brick mason and contractor. He was a very good mathematician and efficient in his business, understanding all phases of building. He was honorable and dependable and built many homes and other buildings in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he made his home on 3rd East, between 3rd and 4th South, in the Ninth Ward. He lived in the Ninth Ward for over 40 years and his family was raised there. Also, from the Ninth Ward he received his second call to the Danish Mission. While on this mission he was President of the Aalborg Conference and performed a very fine mission. His first mission, before coming to America, was of four years' duration.

When he first heard the Gospel in Denmark, Apostle Erastus Snow made such a deep impression upon him that even his parents could not dissuade him. He knew that it was true and that it was the right church because it had been made known to him through prayer. He embraced the Gospel with all his heart and always the Lord's will was above his own. All his life he was a staunch Latter-Day Saint, faithful in all his duties in the Gospel and setting a wonderful example for all of us to follow. Even at times when he didn't feel well he never missed his meetings. After joining The Church in Denmark he was advanced rapidly in the Priesthood and performed his first mission of four years there before coming to America. He came to Utah to be with the Saints.

Our father and Jens Andersen had known each other in Denmark and so when he arrived in Utah, he lived with Jens Andersan and his wife, Betsy Swenson Andersen. The Andersens were fine faithful Latter-Day Saints and knew our father's fine qualities and were happy when he chose their eldest daughter, Betsy Josephine, to be his wife. After she reached eighteen years of age they were married in the Logan Temple and Josephine became a wonderful wife, mother and home-maker for him and their children. Their home was just three houses from her parents' home and they were always the best of friends, spending almost every evening together. They held each other in high esteem and were one big happy family. Many happy childhood days can be recalled by all the children which were spent with their parents and grandparents. Much credit for our father's success in life is due Josephine, who was an excellent manager, home-maker and mother. There were nine children born to them, three of whom died as little children, Levi, Hyrum and Lilly-May. The other six children are still living, Samuel in Pocatello, Idaho, LaVon in Santa Monica, Calif., Walter in Woodland, Calif., George, as President of the Monument Park Stake, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ruby in West Los Angeles, Calif, and Gordon in Oroville, Calif. Our father's posterity is becoming quite numerous, now numbering 100 children, grand children, great grand children and second great grand children.

As polygamy was practiced in The Church then, our Father, desiring to fulfill all the commandments of God, married, as his second wife, Anne Hansen, a convert from Denmark. They were married in the Logan Temple on the 19th of January 1887. Two children ware born to them, Rebecca and Joseph. Rebecca now lives in Rialto, Calif, and Joseph in Salt Lake City, Utah. Anne Hansen has passed away, but Josephine Andersen is still living and enjoying good health. She will celebrate her 94 birthday, May 6, 1960.

Our father and his wife, Josephine, owned a duplex, with an apartment in the rear, in the Ninth Ward in Salt Lake City. Even though they were crowded Josephine always kept herself and the house neat and all the wants of the family well cared for. The buildings were well built and our father said they would stand for at least 100 years. When he was on his second Danish mission his wife, Josephine, helped him in the support of the family. After he returned he told of many faith-promoting experiences and of the fulfillment of a promise in his Patriarchal Blessing that he would be cast into prison by his enemies and delivered by the power of God. He was always concerned about his family and took good care of them.

When the children were little he would hold them on his knee in the evening and sing Danish songs to them and his musical voice would ring through the house. Also, later on, he would hold his grandchildren on his knee and sing to them. To the children he was very special. He was always kind, yet he was firm, as the head of his household.

Our Father died on the 12th of August, 1924, from the effects of a stroke which he suffered at a family outing at Liberty Park on the 3rd day of July 1924. He was 73 years of age when he passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah. For many years he worked as a contractor and builder, but in his later years and up to the time of his death he worked for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He was a High Priest, having been ordained by George Careless, 13 May 1923. Had he lived until this time he would have been pleased with his descendants and happy that his example of faithfulness has borne fruit. He had many friends, both in and out of The Church, who attended his funeral services in the Ninth Ward.

The following are a few thoughts each one of his eight children have written in regard to what they remember best about him:

Samuel Solomon Nielsen:

"Father was a building contractor and was always busy with plans and specifica-tions for the buildings and homes which he built in Salt Lake City and since I was the oldest son I helped him and had the opportunity of becoming familiar with building methods. He worked hard and was very dependable. He had a good livelihood, which he needed, as he had a large family to take cars of. He built many of the homes and other buildings in Salt Lake City and was well respected among his associates. He was a faithful Latter-Day Saint and set a fine example for his children to follow. Though he had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed joking with his family and friends, yet he was always concerned about his family."

Rebecca Sophia Nielsen, Christopherson:

"Two things stand out in my mind about our father - his faithful dependability in the service of God - and his never infringing upon the rights of others, but strictly minding his own business. These gave him a quiet, humble dignity and brought about the real respect of all who knew him. I shall always be grateful for the privilege I had of living in his home with Aunt Josephine and even though they were crowded they made room for me and welcomed me. I lived there while I finished school and they were both kind to me always."

LaVon Sarah Nielsen, Felt:

"There must have been a spiritual bond between my father and I and although he never showed partiality to anyone, I sensed a marvelous understanding between us. I particularly associate this with two visionary dreams in which my father appeared to me. The first one was just before he passed away. I saw him laid out in his Temple clothes in his casket right by the side of my bed. I awakened my husband and, crying, I told him about it. He didn't think much of it until that same A. M. a telegram was delivered at our door, saying that if I wanted to see him before he passed away to come to Salt Lake at once. While on the train I heard his voice call my name three times. I clocked the time and found that was when he passed away. Another visionary dram was when he was standing close by me and I got up to embrace him, as he looked so young and beautiful, but he went. He wanted me to do more Temple work. We all have our short comings, as did he, but I have nothing but good and sacred memories of him as his good points for over-ride any mistakes he might have made. He wanted to do the right thing by everyone and he loved all of his eleven children and took good care of his living children. I felt a protective arm around me and I thought nothing in the way of hardships or heartaches could ever happen to me with papa around. He reminded me of a mother hen with her chicks, but most of all I loved and respected him for his great and important LOVE for the Lord and the Gospel. That came first with him and it sunk deep in my soul even when I was a child.

At 3 years of age he took me up on a temporary outside rickety stairway, or scaffold, of the Salt Lake Temple and let me touch the hand of the statue of the Angel Moroni. He told me and reminded me in later years that it would serve as a guid-ing light and a protection to me all the days of my life. I am sure it has. He had so many friends we didn't even know them all at the funeral. In his belongings we found two thick books of tithing receipts. He never missed paying it. It is of importance to relate here that our papa saved the lives of both george and I. When George was a handsome little boy about 8 years of age he accidentally swallowed a black licorice candy jawbreaker. It remained in the esophagus, cutting off his breath. He was going black in the face. We thought he was gone. Grandma Andersen said "Go and get your papa quick." I ran fast and papa ran too. He grabbed George and took him by his feet and turned him upside down and shook and pounded him on his back until it rolled out. He laid George on the bed un-conscious where he remained for some time. How grateful George, as well as his family, can be that his life was spared, making it possible for him to grow to manhood and become a faithful son of a faithful father and mother, as well as a devoted leader in God's Kingdom.

In my case, we all went to Saltair for an outing. When it was time to go home we had to walk a long ways down the ramp to the train. I came on the run and just as I got to Dad I stepped on a loose plank and down I went, but Papa, with his watchful eye, grabbed me by the arm as fast as lightening as I went down. I can see that deep dark sea below me now. Papa stood up all the way home and gave me his seat. I was trembling and my arm hurt for a week. I only hope and pray that I will be worthy to be with him in the Hereafter, as I now bear his name, Nielsen."

Joseph Fritchof Nielsen:

"I remember my Dad going to Church every Sunday. He was always kind and good to me, always had a very lovely smile and a good word for me and I do love him very much."

Walter Rudolph Nielsen:

"We used to call our Dad, 'Papa' and as kids we probably thought of him as a man who spoke with an accent and was pretty strict with us, but as a matter of fact I don't think he was strict enough. For instance, on a Sunday morning he would get up early, shine his shoes (I can still smell that polish), shave with a straight edge razor (I used to marvel at the way he stropped it.) He used billows of lather on his face and would always nick himself a time or two. He wore suspenders which were dangling to his knees until he put on a white starched shirt and all this time he would be singing praises to God in a fine baritone voice. One song he sang in Danish was 'What A Friend We Have in Jesus' and in English he would sing 'Redeemer Of Israel.' He was going to Priesthood Meeting and Sunday School and I don't think he was even aware that the rest of us were there. So, that's why I say if he had grabbed at least two of us by the neck and said 'We're going to Sunday School' we might have been better people today. I am sure he loved us all. The outstanding blessing, I suppose, was when Sam was born and Mrs. Lindberg, the midwife, didn't expect him to live and told his father he had better bless and name him while there was still time, which he did. We can all be grateful that Sam still lives. I am sure each one of us has received a blessing from him and that he had the authority and power to bless the sick and afflicted. I remember when I got a fish bone stuck in my throat Dad grabbed me by the heels, hit me on the back, put his finger down my throat and got the bone out - a little rough, but no doubt he had a prayer in his heart. I think he had plenty to worry about, the same as we do, but he had a good sense of humor and was able to laugh and sing. All the neighbors liked him and he used to like to talk to Mrs. Sunquist and Mrs. Christy, who lived in the rear apartment. I think he was proud of the name 'Nielsen' and believe that he was hurt to think that we all, except Gordon, changed it to such a common name 'Nelson.' I have always regretted it."

George Leonard (Nielsen) Nelson:

"One of the things I remember well about my father is his extreme good humor, as he held one of the younger children on his knee, his face wreathed in smiles, as he sang songs in Danish to them. Some of them were Danish Folk Songs which would bring to his mind the victory of little Denmark over powerful Germany, and he would then relate that story to us. This would usually bring out a satisfying chuckle and a proud smile to his face, as he would emphasize the triumph of right over might."

Ruby Josephine Nielsen, Ramsey:

"One of the things I remember about Dad is that every Sunday he would give me a quarter, or so, to spend after Sunday School, to buy some candy or what I wanted. I never had to ask him for it. He also was so good about giving me money on holidays to spend for Merry-go-round rides, soda pop, ice cream cones, etc. Once a week he would take mother, Gordon and I, and always he would go and get Grandma, and the way we would go to see a movie at the American Theatre. Dad dressed up in his Sunday best and would walk at least one-fourth of a block in front leading the parade of his loved ones. Then after the movie he would take us to a soda fountain on 2nd East and treat us to a root beer float which was like thick rich whipping cream. How we all looked forward to that wonderful evening. I can remember Dad never reprimanded me nor even scolded me a little and I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. You can see how I recall what a truly good Dad he was. I had always wanted a piano and my dear brother, George, bought a beautiful one for me and with an excellent teacher, Lulu Belle Eldredge, and my love of music, I soon learned to play and I remember that after I had finished practicing Dad would ask me to play and sing 'The Last Rose of Summer' and 'Annie Laurie.' He thought I had such a sweet voice and could play the piano like no one else could play."

Gordon Theodore Nielsen:

"My Dad used to always get up in the attic to put a stick wherever he could see light through the roof and then he would get up on the roof and put tin shingles in where the holes were. In later years when he got too plump, and perhaps had a little rheumatism, to get up to the attic, then he trusted me to go up and mark the holes and then put in the tin shingles. He always prepared for winter's cold and storms in plenty of time, put in plenty of coal in the shed and plenty of potatoes in the cellar.

He had one especially wonderful quality - never putting off 'til tomorrow what should be done today."