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Nielson, Frihoff Godfred, 1851-1935

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1851 - 1935

Biography

Frihoff Godfrey Nielson (1851-1935) was a pioneer, missionary, and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Frihoff Godfrey Nielson was born on 3 May 1851 in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Peter T. Neilson and Maria Helene Frederikka Posemann. In 1854 Frihoff’s parents were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Frihoff was baptized by his father in 1859. At the age of ten Frihoff emigrated with his family to America on the ship Monarch of the Sea, and crossed the great plains in the Samuel W. Wooley company, arriving in Salt Lake City on 22 September 1861. The following year they settled in Peterson, Morgan County, Utah. Starting in 1874 he began to teach school during the winter months and also served as Sunday School superintendent and home missionary for the Church. In 1876 Frihoff was called to assist in the settlement of the Little Colorado River in Apache County, Arizona. After arriving, Frihoff helped establish the community of Sunset, where he again worked as school teacher and served in the Sunday School and home missionary programs of the Church. He married Emma Waitstill Mecham on 20 October 1877, in Morgan County, Utah with whom he had nine children. In 1884 they moved from Sunset to Ramah, McKinley County, New Mexico. Here Frihoff took a second wife, Mary Ellen Everett, on 3 February 1887, and five children resulted from this union. In 1894 the Nielsons relocated to Bluewater, Valencia County, New Mexico, where they farmed and raised livestock.

On 22 July 1899 Frihoff received a call to serve as a missionary in the Northern States Mission. After arriving in Chicago, Frihoff was assigned to the Southern Illinois Conference, with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. After nearly two years as a missionary, Frihoff was released and returned home on 27 September 1901. Frihoff continued farming and also served as first counselor in the bishopric, ward clerk, and presiding elder of the Bluewater Ward. In November 1919 he moved to Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, but just months later Frihoff’s first wife, Emma, passed away. In Mesa he obtained work at a lumber yard, but this employment was soon terminated and he returned to New Mexico. During the 1920s he engaged in farming and ranching and also served civically as county commissioner and postmaster. In October 1927 Frihoff and Mary were called to be ordinance workers in the Mesa Temple, an appointment that they held until Mary passed away on 29 December 1934. Frihoff Godfrey Jenson passed away less than two weeks later, on 9 January 1935.

Citation:
NUCMC data from Northern Ariz. Univ. Lib. for His Papers, 1851-1935 (Nielson, Frihoff Godfred; LDS pioneer, Joseph City, Ariz.)

RLIN data base, 09/03/92 (hdg.: Nielson, Frihoff Godfred, 1851-1935)

Huntington Digital Library, via WWW, June 1, 2016 (Diaries of Frihoff Godfred Nielson [microform] : 1874-1935. Reel 3; Frihoff Godfrey Nielson (1851-1935) was born in Copenhagen; his father joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark in 1855, and the family immigrated to Utah in 1861, settling in Weber County in 1862; Nielson helped colonize northeaster Arizona in 1876 (later part of Valencia County, New Mexico) and served in the Northern States Mission from 1899-1901; he later moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he worked on the Temple; he died in 1935)

ancestry.com, June 1, 2016 (Frihoff Godfred Nielson; born May 3, 1851 in Copenhagen, Denmark; died January 9, 1935 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona)

Find A Grave, via WWW, June 1, 2016 (Frihoff Godfrey Nielson; born May 3, 1851 in Copenhagen, Denmark; died January 9, 1935 in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona; son of Peter Nielson and Marie Helene Frederika Poschmann or Posseman; married to Emma Waitstill Mecham on October 20, 1877 in Peterson, Utah; cristened July 3, 1859 in Veile, Denmark; buried January 10, 1935 in Mesa)

missionary diaries, via WWW, Mar. 8 2021 (born 3 May 1851 in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Peter T. Neilson and Maria Helene Frederikka Posemann; In 1854 Frihoff’s parents converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Frihoff baptized by his father in 1859; At the age of ten Frihoff emigrated with his family to America; ship Monarch of the Sea; crossed the great plains in the Samuel W. Wooley company; arrived Salt Lake City on 22 September 1861; following year settled in Peterson, Morgan County, Utah; in 1874 began to teach school during the winter months and also served as Sunday School superintendent and home missionary; 1876 was called to assist in the settlement of the Little Colorado River in Apache County, Arizona; helped establish the community of Sunset; again worked as school teacher and served in the Sunday School and home missionary programs; married Emma Waitstill Mecham on 20 October 1877, in Morgan County, Utah; had nine children. In 1884 moved from Sunset to Ramah, McKinley County, New Mexico; here took a second wife, Mary Ellen Everett, on 3 February 1887, had five children; In 1894 relocated to Bluewater, Valencia County, New Mexico; farmed and raised livestock; On 22 July 1899 received a call to serve as a missionary in the Northern States Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; in Chicago, was assigned to the Southern Illinois Conference with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri; after nearly two years as a missionary was released and returned home on 27 September 1901; continued farming and also served as first counselor in the bishopric, ward clerk, and presiding elder of the Bluewater Ward; November 1919 he moved to Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona, months later first wife, Emma, died; obtained work at a lumber yard; employment soon terminated; returned to New Mexico; during the 1920s engaged in farming, ranching, served civically as county commissioner and postmaster; October 1927 Frihoff and Mary were called to be ordinance workers in the Mesa Temple; an appointment held until Mary’s death on 29 December 1934; he died less than two weeks later 9 January 1935).

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Frihoff Godfred Nielson diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 809