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Frihoff Godfred Nielson diaries

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS SC 809

Dates

  • 1875-1935

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from Frihoff Godfred Nielson diaries must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical Sketch

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.

Extent

2 boxes (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Handwritten

Custodial History

Originally George S. Tanner in 1974; formerly cataloged as MSS 600.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; George S. Tanner; 1974

Appraisal

19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts.

Title
Register of Frihoff Godfred Nielson diaries
Status
Completed
Author
Benjamin Sipes
Date
2010 July 19
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States