Rex Franklin Higginson

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: M59R-7QH
• Initiatory (LDS): 15 Jul 1999, JRIVE

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZR-1JY
• Initiatory (LDS): 12 Aug 1975, ARIZO

George married Faye Marie "Gubie" Beckstrand in 1938, and was divorced. Faye (daughter of Alma Niel Beckstrand and Jessie Kathleen Pettit) was born on 26 May 1921 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; died on 9 Jul 2006 in Sandy, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; was buried on 14 Jul 2006 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCL-MQP
• Initiatory (LDS): 19 Sep 2008, DALLA

Notes:

Obituary:
Faye Marie Beckstrand Higginson (Gubie) It is with broken hearts tha t w e say goodbye to our beautiful Gubie. She began her new life and retu rne d to God the evening of July 9, 2006 at her home and surrounded by th e fa mily she loves so much. Her love for us will be never ending as wil l ou r love for her. She will forever be the most amazing person we wil l eve r know. Faye was born on May 26, 1921 to Alma Neal and Jesse Kathle en Pet tit Beckstrand. She grew up in Sugar House and graduated from Sout h Hig h School. In 1938 Faye married George Franklin Higginson and had th ree ch ildren, Rex, Kathleen (Kay) and Janice (Jann). They later divorce d and sh e raised her three children on her own in a time when that was u nheard of . Mom embraced Jesus and lived her Christian values both as a m ember of t he LDS faith and in her last days as a member of the Catholi c faith. Sh e found peace and comfort in both faiths. Mom worked for Dr . Ed Tugaw a t Central Valley Veterinary Hospital for 25 years and then f or the Utah D ept. of Agriculture for 12 years. Mom was a gusty lady. In1 974 she went o n a six week adventure, by herself, to Japan, China and th en Australia t o see Rex and Judy. She later made another trip to Austral ia to meet he r grandson and granddaughter. Mom loved to fish at Strawber ry, hunt at th e Chesapeake Duck Club and watch Skyler play soccer. She l oved working i n her garden and could sit outside in her swing for hours . Mom and Aunt D orothy made two trips to Branson where they became schoo l girls again an d had the time of their lives.

Faye leaves behind her daughter Jann and son-in-law Jake Penney; eight a d oring grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister Dorothy Soleberg (C ha rles); sister-in-law and best friend, Dorothy Beckstrand; daughter-in- la w Judy Higgin son; son-in-law Tim Nielson; nieces; nephews, and her de a r friend of 52 years, Mary Shepherd and countless people that will mis s h er dearly. Those awaiting mom in heaven are son Rex; daughter Kay; he r pa rents; brother Harold and sister Erma.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to 1st Choice Hospice. The team not only to o k care of mom but they also took care of her family as well. Mom cam e t o love each member of her team. Services for this beautiful lady wil l b e held on Friday July 14, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wasatch Lawn Mortu ar y Chapel, 340 1 South Highland Drive, where friends may call from 12:4 5 p .m. to 1:45 p.m. prior.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCN-32T
• Census: 1900, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States
• Initiatory (LDS): 25 May 1906, SLAKE

Alma married Jessie Kathleen Pettit on 30 Aug 1911 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. Jessie (daughter of William Arthur Pettit and Jessie Ann Anderton) was born on 17 Feb 1888 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England; was christened in Benson, Oxfordshire, England; died on 28 Jan 1976 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; was buried on 31 Jan 1976 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCN-32B
• Initiatory (LDS): 30 Aug 1911, SLAKE

Notes:

Jessie Kathleen Pettit born to Jessie Ann and William Arthur Pettit o n 1 7 February 1888 in Landport Hants, England.
When Kathleen was a baby she was almost kidnapped. The nurse that took c a re of Kathleen left her with a stranger while the nurse went to a stor e c lose by to pick up some oranges. Suddenly she remembered that she wa s no t to leave the baby with a stranger and rushed out of the store in t ime t o see the woman rushing off with the baby in the buggy. The nurse r ecover ed the child and hurried home. It was later found out that this wo man wa s one of an organized gang who made it a business of kidnapping ch ildren , especially those who were well-dressed. They would strip the bab ies, se ll their clothing and buggy, and then destroy the child. Kathlee n remembe rs as a little girl that ironing and mending days were happy on es, whil e her mother worked, she would sit on a high stool by her side a nd liste n with rapt attention to her mother's numerous stories of when s he wa s a little girl in England. It sounded like a story of fairyland.

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJN-SXT
• Initiatory (LDS): 7 Jun 1862, EHOUS
• Census: 1900, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States

Notes:

Occupation: Farmer

Emigrated from Sweden 16 May 1861 on the ship “Monarch of the Sea.”

Pioneer:
Samuel A. Woolley Company (1861) Age at departure: 28
338 individuals and 61 wagons were in the company when it began its jo u r n ey from the outfitting post at Florence, Nebraska (now Omaha)



Elias August Beckstrand - abridged biography

Elias August Beckstrand was born 20 October 1832, at Granstrop, Villsta d , Jonkoping, Sweden, a son of Knut Johan Beckstrand and Ingerd Jacobsda ug hter. Elias August's great-grandfather, Knut Gunnarsson Beckstrand, gr adu ated from Uppsala University in Sweden and was educated as a priest a s wa s his father before him (Gunnar Knutsson). This was the highest educ atio n to be obtained in Sweden at the time. Elias August's father, Knu t Johan , was a Staff Sergeant 1st Class in the army.

Elias August was the youngest of a family of three children. He had an o l der sister, Christina (born 24 December 1825), and an older brother, Ka r l Johan (born 26 June 1829). He also had an older half-sister, Cathari n a Elisabeth (born 17 July 1802), the daughter of his father, Knut Joha n , and first wife, Elin Pehrsdotter.

Elias August was left an orphan at the age of fifteen years. From this t i me, he started to work for a livelihood. Work was more plentiful in Den ma rk, so he and his brother went there. His brother was hired as a paint e r and Elias was hired as a coachman for a rich family by the the nam e o f Gissing. He drove the family's span of horses and took the wife an d dau ghter out driving along the shores of the Baltic Sea which separate d Denm ark from Malmo, Sweden. He remained with this family for fifteen y ears wh ere he received wonderful cultural training. The family lived a r ich, ari stocratic life and he was treated with a great deal of courtesy.

While in the employ of this family, the temptation of wines and cigars w a s placed before him. Since he had not been accustomed to these thing s i n his father's home, he had the courage and manhood to resist them. W he n the Gospel came to the people of Denmark in the year 1857, Elias rej oic ed over the fact that he had no bad habits to overcome and he was soo n re ady to receive the Gospel.

He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sai n ts on 16 February 1859, and was ordained an elder on 19 November 1859 . A t this time he was called to serve a two-year mission to his native l and , Sweden. He was now 27 years old.

When his mission was completed, he desired to emigrate to Zion. Elias a n d his brother, Karl Johan, traveled with other Saints on the ship Monar c h of the Sea.(1) They left Liverpool, England, on 16 May 1861. Elias w a s 29 years old. Another passenger in the group was Anna Sophia Hegglun d . They traveled many weeks, crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They then mad e t heir way to Florence, Nebraska, and eventually became part of the Jos ep h Horn Company. They crossed the plains and arrived in Salt Lake Cit y i n the summer of 1861. After his arrival, Elias was hired to drive a y ok e of oxen to get logs for the home of Joseph Horn. When enough logs ha d b een secured for the building o this home, Elias asked for the privile ge o f using the oxen to bring out logs sufficient to build his own two-r oom c abin. He intended to marry the young girl he had met, Anna Sophia H egglun d. She was, at this time, working in the Horn home.

He had purchased a lot at the corner of West Temple and North Temple Str e ets in Salt Lake City. After his home was completed, Elias and Anna Sop hi a were married, 24 January 1862. In the same year, on 7 June 1862, the y w ere sealed in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They lived in th is l ittle home for one and one-half years. Their first child, Anna Judit h, wa s born there on 21 November 1862.

In the spring of 1863, Brigham Young called this young couple to go sou t h and settle in Deseret, Millard County. They traded their home for a t ea m, covered wagon and a few cooking utensils and started for their ne w hom e. There they helped build a fort for the settlers for protection a gains t the Indians. The settlers built a dam on the Sevier River to enab le the m to run water over the dry, dusty section of land which the peopl e had p lowed and planted into grain. Year after year they plowed and pla nted bu t each year they were disappointed as the water would wash out th e dam an d their crops would dry out.

Two children were born to the young couple while they lived at the for t i n Deseret: John August (born 19 March 1865), and Albertina Sophia (bo r n 4 March 1867). About this time, Elias received a call to send his te a m back to Fort Laramie to meet a company of immigrants who were on the i r way to Utah.

The people in Deseret became very discouraged and when Brigham Young ca m e down and saw the situation, he told them to move to other places if t he y desired. Elias and his family moved to the little settlement of Mead o w (also in Millard County) in 1868. He was given a lot on which to bui l d his home. It was situated one block east of the church building and t w o blocks east of Main Street. This first home was a two-room frame hou s e lined with adobe. A new Beckstrand home was built near the "Old Hollo w " and directly below where Chief Walker had his camp. This home was bui l t from rock quarried in the area and was completed in 1896. It was dow n t his hollow that a flood came following a cloud burst in the canyon (1 896) . Hearing a roaring noise, several boys riding horses went to invest igat e and returned very excited saying a flood was coming. All the anima ls co rralled along the creek bed were turned loose and all the people we nt t o the south of town and to higher ground. Elias had a big stable o n one b ank of the hollow and a huge haystack on the other. As the floo d came, ca rrying mud, huge trees, and boulders, it pushed down the stabl es, corral s and haystacks. It took a lot of rebuilding and cleaning up a fter this d isaster. No lives were lost. (This family home has been remod eled and sti ll stands today.) Once settled, they planted an orchard, pur chasing tree s from Joseph V. Robison in Fillmore. Next they took up te n acres of farm ing land east of the ridge and planted grain and corn.

Three more children were born to Elias and Anna Sophia: Joseph Conrad (b o rn 10 March 1870), Ida Christina (born 3 April 1872), and Mary Elizabe t h (born 12 August 1874). Ida Christina died on 6 May 1875 and Mary Eliz ab eth died five days later on 11 May 1875.

During the division of farming land in Meadow and while Elias was superi n tendent of the Sunday School, he asked the town supervisor to grant for t y acres of land with six shares of water to the Sunday School, the proc ee ds from the acreage to be used for books for the Sunday School. As a r esu lt the Meadow Sunday School was the first to be supplied with textboo ks a nd songbooks in Millard Stake. He also took up 160 acres of farmin g lan d above town which has always been known as the Beckstrand Farm. I n the p asture below town, he sowed wild hay for the animals' winter fee d until a lfalfa became known.

Elias took an active part in the church. He served as Superintendent o f t he Sunday School. He was ordained a Seventy on 3 December 1862 and wa s se t apart as president of the 42nd Quorum Of Seventies on 25 Novembe r 1883 . Later he was ordained a High Priest. On 25 November 1901 he wa s ordaine d a Patriarch in Millard Stake. He served as Patriarch until hi s death.

On 7 June 1869, Elias married Henrietta Cecilia Ahlquist as his second w i fe. To this union ten children were born: Elias Hyrum (11 May 1870), Ch ar les Alfred (9 February 1872), Heber William (18 March 1873), Almeda He nri etta (16 February 1875), Rachel Dena (11 April 1876), Nephi David ( 1 Nove mber 1878), Alma Neil (4 Jun 1881), Eva Ellen (16 July 1884), Knu t (26 De cember 1888), and Arnold Asael (7 May 1891).

Charles Alfred, Almeda Henrietta and Knut died in infancy. In the fal l o f 1888 he served four months in the penitentiary for his religious co nvic tions (practicing polygamy).

Elias was an ardent believer in education. In the fall he would hitch h i s fine black team to the spring wagon loaded with food and clothing, a n d take his older children to Provo for the winter to attend the Brigha m Y oung Academy. He would rent living quarters for them and then take hi s ch ildren to the president of the school, pay their entrance fees and s ay t o the president, "These are my children. They have come here wit h a goo d name. I want you to see that they bring it back home just as go od."

His entire life was spent in service to his family and church. He die d 2 6 February 1910 in Meadow.

(History written by Thelma Beckstrand Fisher, a grandchild, with sectio n s from Rachel Dena Beckstrand Bennett, a daughter)

Source:
Histories Compiled and Edited by Sue Anne Beckstrand Thompson
Our Beckstrand Heritage: Christina Beckstrand Pehrsson, Karl Johan Becks t rand, Elias August Beckstrand and their families
(Logan, Ut., self published, 2003)




Elias August Beckstrand
Biography written by Albertina Beckstrand Fisher

Elias August Beckstrand was born 20 October 1832 at Granstorp, Jon Vilst a d, Sweden, son of Knut Johan Beckstrand and Ingried Jacobsson. The Bec ks trand ancestry originated in Germany. My sixth great-grandfather cam e fr om Germany and located in Sweden about 1600. As far back as we hav e an y knowledge of her ancestry, they have followed the line of educatio n. M y third grandfather graduated from Uppsala, Sweden. He was educat ed fo r the ministry and was increased as also was his father before him . Thi s was the highest education to be obtained in Sweden at that time.

Father was the youngest of the family of 3 and was left an orphan at t h e age of 15 years. From this time he started to work for a livelihoo d . As he grew into manhood, he was hired as a coachman for rich famil y . While here he had a wonderful cultural training. The family live d a v ery aristocratic life and father was treated with a great deal of c ourtes y by them. While in the employment of this family, the temptatio n of win e and cigars was placed before him but he always had courage an d manhoo d enough to resist. Later when the gospel came, he rejoiced ove r the fac t that he had no evil habits to overcome. Father was baptize d 16 Februar y 1859. He was ordained an elder 19 November 1859. At thi s time he wa s called to fill a two-year mission in his native land.

He emigrated to Utah in the fall of 1861, locating in Salt Lake City. A f ter working in the canyon a while for wages, he purchased a lot on Nor t h Temple St. and 1st West. He married Anna Sofia Hegglund, 24 Januar y 18 62. In the same year 7 June 1862 they were sealed in the endowmen t house . From this union 6 children were born, 4 of whom are Anna J., A lbertina , John A., and Joseph C. The first one was born in Salt Lake Ci ty.

In the spring of 1863 they were called to Deseret. Father at once trad e d his house and bought a team of horses and a covered wagon, equipped t he mselves with cooking utensils and started for his destination. Whil e i n Deseret, John and Albertina were born. The family remained here un ti l the river became so uncontrollable that they lost their grain crop s yea r after year. Then when the settlement was temporarily broken up , the fa mily moved to Meadow. In the fall, previous to moving, father r eceive d a call to send his team back to Fort Laramie to meet the compan y of emi grants that were on their way to Utah.

The family arrived in Meadow in 1868 and located 2 blocks above Main Str e et on Center Street where the old home still stands. They at once se t ou t an orchard, purchasing trees from Joseph V. Robinson in Fillmore . He n ext took up 10 acres of farming land and planted it with grain an d corn.

7 June 1869 he married Henrietta Cecilia Carlson and to this union wer e b orn 10 children, 7 of whom grew to majority, married and raised famil ies : Elias Hyrum, Heber W., Rachel Dena, Alma Neil, Eva Ellen and Arnol d As ael.

Father was ordained a Seventy on 3 December 1862, set apart as preside n t of the 42nd Quorum of Seventies on 25 November 1883, ordained a hig h pr iest and patriarch 25 November 1901. In the fall of 1888, he serve d 4 mo nths in the penitentiary for his religious convictions. He was su perinte ndent of the Sunday school of Meadow. During his superintendenc y they to ok up the Sunday school farm. He spent his entire life in serv ice to hi s family in the church.

He died 26 February 1910 and was buried in Meadow Cemetery.

Elias married Henrietta Cecelia Nilsdotter on 7 Jun 1869 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. Henrietta (daughter of Nils Henric Rommelhoff and Cecelia Ellen Jacobsson) was born on 17 Apr 1851 in Burlöv, Skåne, Konungariket Sverige; was christened on 19 Apr 1851 in Burlöv, Skåne, Konungariket Sverige; died on 6 Sep 1923 in Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States; was buried on 9 Sep 1923 in Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZB-QFH
• Initiatory (LDS): 7 Jun 1869, EHOUS
• Census: 1900, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: 21RB-NPF
• Initiatory (LDS): 2 Sep 1908, SLAKE

William married Jessie Ann Anderton on 19 Apr 1887 in Westminster, Middlesex, England. Jessie was born on 7 Nov 1861 in Greenwich, Kent, England; died on 11 Dec 1924 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; was buried on 14 Dec 1924 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCF-G6W
• Initiatory (LDS): 5 May 1910, SLAKE