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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 14 Volume V, Issue XII April 1, 2002 Mary Fredricka Bjorkholm Berlin Mother used to tell us of her girlhood days in Sweden. She was born November 26, 1852, daughter of John and Anna Margaret Bjorkholm. Her earlier childhood days were spent in the city, but later she lived in the country. I have heard her talk of the beautiful forests, of boating on the ocean or bay. How she loved them! I never will forget when I was a child about five years old, mother took me with her to Salt Lake City. Annie and Charlie took us to Lagoon where they had a boat ride. She was so thrilled, but shocked because I was frightened, and cried, and refused to get in the boat. She always loved the pines, loved to go to the mountains. She told us how they used to decorate their homes with boughs of all kinds for Midsummer Day, as well as for Christmas. Mother was a twin. Her twin sister died in infancy. She also had a brother John Earnest, and a younger sister Charlotte. She went to school only two years. It was a school taught by their Lutheran priest. When mother was old enough, she went to live with her aunt and uncle on the farm. She must have liked it because all her life she took an interest in outside work, and helped a lot with it. Part of it might have been necessity, as father was sick so much. The farm was on the edge of a forest, and one day while she was out working in the hay, a wild boar came from the forest and attacked her. She was alone and had only her pitchfork to defend herself with, but she fought it and killed it. An outstanding trait throughout her life was her bravery and courage. It was while she was at her aunt’s home that she met the Mormon missionaries. They seemed to have something that impressed her greatly. She began investigating, and finally gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel that remained with her all of her life. Soon after, her aunt and uncle and family, with whom she lived, joined the church also. Later her mother, brother, sister, grandmother, and another aunt and family joined. They all eventually came to Utah and settled in Huntsville in Ogden Valley. Her father never did join, and never came to America, though many years later he was planning to come. He had paid his passage on the ship that was just ready to leave when he took sick and died. Mother was in love in those trying times. She was engaged to marry a young man of whom her family approved. He seemed very much in love with her, but when she became interested in Mormonisim, the struggle began. He couldn’t or wouldn’t see, and begged her not to have anything to do with it. In the end, her decision to join the church meant not only giving up her home and friends, but also the man she loved. But her testimony and faith gave her courage, and she had a great influence in getting most of her family to embrace the gospel. She continued to live with her aunt and uncle, and the talk was naturally of going to Utah. In her 19th year, she left Sweden in company with her aunt and uncle and family, and came to Utah. On board ship she met a handsome young man who also was going to Utah. His name was Andrew Emanuel Berlin. He was Swedish too, and had been an LDS missionary for six years and a half, having been called when a boy of fourteen. He was on his way back to Salt Lake City to report his mission, and make his home. He had left a young lady at home in Sweden who had promised to come to be his bride when he could send for her. Andrew liked the young lady Mary, my mother, and he enjoyed talking to her, but he was faithful to his sweetheart. The girls on the ship teased her and said, “You can’t get that handsome young man, he is engaged.” After arriving in Salt Lake City, they didn’t see each other for some time. In the meantime, Andrew received word that his sweetheart had decided not to wait for Junior Posse will start soon! him, and had married another man. One Sunday when on his way to church, he saw a young lady ahead of him who was also going there, and recognized Mary, his shipboard acquaintance. He hastened to join her, and so their friendship, which quickly ripened into love, was renewed. They were married on October 28, 1872. And now through the years as I look back, I see her love, her devotion, her goodness shine through. She lived through trying times; they were pioneering in Ogden Valley. Her husband was a polygamist, having taken another wife with her consent. Her baby was only three weeks old when Andrew was taken to prison because of polygamy. She had thirteen children, and raised eleven of them in almost poverty. Two died in infancy. Her mother lived with them until her death. When father’s family came from Sweden, they lived with them for awhile also. Father and mother taught us to love each other, to love the gospel, to love God. Mother enjoyed so many things. She loved to read, to sing, loved her friends, and loved to do anything to help them and her children. She loved to see them take part in the programs, cantatas, and plays, and loved and delighted in making costumes etc. She was a beautiful seamstress. In early times before she owned a sewing machine, she did all the sewing for both families by hand. Her stitches were tiny and even. She liked to crochet and knit. In my younger days, I never saw her without her knitting when she sat down to rest. Our mittens and winter stockings were always her make. She also made carpets and rugs. Our own carpets were made by her, and she helped out the finances by weaving carpets for others. She was always busy, always ready to enjoy a joke. You always knew she loved you, but she could be stern, and even severe when discipline were needed. She was a practical nurse—never had any training, only through experience. She often said the only medicines she used in raising her family were catnip tea and olive oil. We were taught faith in administrations by the Elders. On many Licensed Contractor Boys & Girls Ages 8 - 17 years old Call Madeline or Marv Evans 745-3415 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Now Servicing Ogden Valley Properties Let me help you rent your condo or home. Jeff Clifford Associate Broker Real Estate Sales HOMES APARTMENTS CONDOS Property Management 895 WALL AVENUE, OGDEN Please visit my website: PLEXES Unit #210 Moose Hollow Luxury Condominiums 2 BR 2 BA 1100 sq. ft. $159,900 Complete with log pole furnishings! www.jeff-clifford.com occasions that was all that saved our father’s life. She was an active worker in the LDS Relief Society. She never missed a meeting if it was possible to be there. Because of her skill in nursing, the Relief Society called on her whenever there were any sick or old in the community who needed care. She seemed to know just what do to cheer them, to relieve their suffering, and to care for those who died. I remember an old couple who lived across the street from us—the Rhett Holts, and the old Schultz couple who lived on the other side of us, the Mickelsens, Ericsons, Emmertsens, and so many others. She sympathized with them, and always hoped that she wouldn’t live to be old and helpless. She also cared for may women as doctor and nurse when their babies were born. One winter a family moved into her Relief Society District who were destitute. It was her duty to see that they were provided for. The sisters worked for days making quilts and sewing clothes in a cold draughty room. When they were finished, mother went in the evening to the home with all she could carry. A cold, hard wind was blowing, and filled the roads with snow. And though they lived only about three blocks away, she got wet and cold wading through the deep snow. She stayed and took care of the woman and the new baby when it came, and didn’t get home until morning. The result was she caught a cold and couldn’t seem to get rid of it. It left here with a cough which finally developed into tuberculosis from which she died about two years later. During her illness, she was so brave, uncomplaining, and when she knew the end was near, she called all her children to her—as many as could come—told us what we should do, and plead with us to love our religion, remember our prayers, and live right. She bore her testimony to us all, and prayed God to bless us. She died October 14, 1909, leaving a heart stricken family, yet so filled with her testimony and glorious example we had to gather courage to carry on. Mary was buried in the upper Eden cemetery. Delbert Morris P.O. 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