| Show ANDREW Mary Louise Seamons Non Professional Second Place Biography Andrew was pensive as he reflected on the past twenty years his birth at the Madsen farmhouse in Svinninge the births of his brothers and sisters the schooling he had received at the village school laboring with his father Lars on the farm which had been in the family for generations working for an uncle atsalary of 25 per month including room and board later learning the carpentry trade receiving no pay and boarding himself his faithful attendance at meetings of the Lutheran church in Asmendrup walk of about two miles Then in 1853 the family had heard missionaries who taught the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believed their message and in 1854 became baptized members year later Lars had determined they should emigrate to Utah and began arrangements for their departure from Denmark Their home was nowbeehive of activity as Andrew two brothers and both sisters were preparing to leave their homeland Their parents and two other brothers would follow as soon as business arrangements were concluded Andrew was reluctant to leave yet looked forward to joining others of their new-found faith in far-off Utah He shuddered slightly partly from anticipation and partly from knowing his life was changing that he was beginningnew adventure Early the following morning Niels Peter Andrew Margrethe Jacobine and Niels left for Copenhagen their father accompanying them to see them off as they left their homeland There they bade Lars goodbye unaware that this was the last time they would see himIn Copenhagen they joined other young Scandinavians Knute Peterson being chosen to preside over them and on 29 November 1855 set sail for Kiel Germany Traveling by train to Gluckstad Germany they then boardedvessel for England 81 |
