The framework of this history is taken from a history previously written by his
daughter, Emily Olsen Savage, from Gideon's own brief autobiography, and from recol-
lections of some of his grandchildren. Corrections and additions have been made by
Mary Jean Garrison on the basis of the following sources:
.
Sources of information:
1. F 43074 Budolphi, Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark Parish Records.
2. F 41937 Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark LDS Branch Records.
3. F 82942 Medelplana, Skaraborgs, Sweden LDS Branch Records.
4. F 26365 Paradise Ward Records.
5. F 183,396 Endowment House Sealings.
6. Temple Records Index Bureau and Computer File Index.
7. Medelplana, Skaraborgs, Sweden Parish Records researched by Anna D. Johnson
and Arkskningsbryan Uppsale, Sweden Research Firm.
8. Obituary of Gideon Elias Olsen, Deseret News.
9. Family records of Gideon Elias and Johanna Olsen in possession of Mary Jean
Garrison, Orem, Utah.
10. "Denmark," World Book Encyclopedia, Field Enterprises Educational Corporation,
1977, U.S.A.
11. LDS Genealogical Society, "The Social, Economic, Religious, and Historical
Background of Denmark As It Affects Genealogical Research," Research Paper,
Series D, No. 10. Salt Lake City, Utah.
12. The History of a Valley, Cache Valley Centennial Commission, Logan, Utah, 1956.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GIDEON ELIAS OLSEN (1844)

(Care has been taken to copy Gideon's autobiography exactly as it was written, keeping
the same spelling and punctuation as he used. His personality and his Scandinavian
background are more easily seen when his history is read as it was written.)

I was Babtise in Oct. 1859 by Hans Poulsen and Confirm by him Tistedalen Norway.
I was Ordaean a ticher in 1860. Worck in Minestery. Emegreated from Frederikshald,
Norway to Utah, all alon. Started April 15, 1863.1Iwas then 18 years olld. I left Father
my Sister Julia and other Reletion standing on the Sea shore. We stardet from England in
Sealing Wessel hear Neam was Antagnina. We had not got faerly starded. Our Mand find
a Young Man in the hoel. stardaway. he was a Ugly chap, so the Captain higest a Flag.
And the came and tak him away to land. And the Wind stardet up, and we on our way.
We had wery poor acomedation. It tak us 7 weacks before we got in to Newyourk came
up the Rivers, and I saae a big lot of Beefs drove in to be Kil. for the War. we had to ried
in the same Cars as the Stock did. and the was wery rough. I drov 8 head of Oxen one
Wagon to Salt Leak 1,000 Miles with Store Goods. My Brother Christofpher Meat me in
Salt Leak the first part of October, so it tok nearly 6 Months from Norway to Utah. In the
Winter of 64 I was ordain to the Office of a Prist by Bishop Liljenquist. In the Spring of
64 My Bishop call me to go to the Mesoury River and take 8 head of Oxen, Wagorn and
bring the Poor Saints to Utah. had good Luck. Drov in to Hyrum with all my Oxen. I was
Bleast on my trip thir & back. It was the first time that I saw. My Wife Hannah Olsen.
Stayd with my Br. Christofpher all Winter. In the Fall of 64 My Bishop call me to go
down and get my Indowments I did so. in the Winter of 64 My Wife mouved to Logan
wher I met hear. So in March 4. we was Maried. by Bishop Liljenquest. In the Sumer of
65 I came to Paradise was engaece with Bishop James for I year 3 months, findly in
Decembcr of 65 I moved to Paradise. We had Worckt wery hard that Sumer and Fall. that
we was able to bay a littel home wich we did injoe. In the Spring of 68 we all move down
to this New Please And Beult a Town. tok out a Canal from East Canyon and now we
have 1000 to 5. under cultcvarion. I have been working as a techer in the Ward for many
Years. Also in June 188 I was ordaen and Elder by Charles 0. Card. allso was set apart us
first Counsler to B. S. Oldham. I warck all I could both to home, and ovay from home.
Nearly 20 years leatter I was relist, and my Son Gideon E. Olsen was put in the
Bishoreack Our Son was maried to good find Lady by Name A. Shaw. she had a find
Boy. she tok syck and died in Nov 1897. the littel Boy Willame Died in the Spring of
1898. he den in 98 was call to go back to Denmark on a mition and came back in 1900.
One year litter he maried Mery Oldham. true ther Wedlock the 2 Boys & 3 Girls in
_________ she was confind., and 8 days letter tok syck and died. She was President ovc
the young Laedies Asocition til hear Deat. In October 1910 he maried Maud Price.

Johanna Carlson Danielson Olsen (1848-1937)

Source of Information
The foregoing biography is an excerpt from the following and is used here by
permission of the author
A Family History
Gideon Elias Olsen (1844 - 1919)
Scandinavian Immigrant
Compiled by Mary Jean Garrison (1983) (email: maryjgarrison@earthlink.net)
[vii. 381p.: ill., facsims,; geneal. tables, maps, ports.]
pp. 30 - 44
(JSMB FAMHIST Book 929.273 OL8g)
(FHL US/CAN Film 1035727 Item 10)

LINKS
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Larsen Immigrants Page
Converts Page
Marie Dorthea Berg Olsen (mother)
Barbara Jensine Dorthea Olsen (sister)
Christopher Marinus Olsen (brother)
Christian Waldemar Olsen (brother)
Julia Olsen (sister)