Christian Hans Monson June 16, 1837-September 23, 1896

Christian Hans Monson

(Christen Hansen)

1837–96

 Christian’s father was a woodcutter by trade. He was industrious and hardworking, and he expected everyone around him to be the same. He had a violent temper, and Christian recalled being “mortally afraid” of his walking cane. However, when he was in good humor, Christian enjoyed sitting and talking to him as he smoked his long-stemmed pipe (see Skidmore, “Biographical Sketch of the Life of My Father Christian Hans Monson as I Knew Him,” 1).

Christian was baptized on 4 April 1853 by Svend Larsen. At the time, he was an employee of the Fredrikstad prison. He recalled carrying meals to the elders who were imprisoned for preaching. In this process, an elder asked him why he abused and tormented him, for “so persecuted they the Christ and his followers.” The prisoners set Christian to thinking. One night during the winter of 1852, he released his prisoners. Together they walked to the fjord, where Christian was secretly baptized, after which the elders returned to their prison cell (see Skidmore, “Biographical Sketch of the Life of my Father Christian Hans Monson as I Knew Him,” 2; Skidmore and Horne, “Immigrant Pioneers: Christian Hans Monson,” Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Lesson for October 1984, 41–53; Roberts, “Love Is Its own Reward,” New Era, February 1978, 6–7).

Christian was whipped by his father for being baptized and told never to return. He left home and labored as a local missionary in Drammen, Buskerud County, Norway. At that time, he was five feet nine inches and weighed 190 pounds. He had blue eyes, a fair complexion, brown hair, and a beard (see Skidmore and Horne, “Immigrant Pioneers: Christian Hans Monson,” Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Lesson for October 1984, 41–44).

He was ordained an elder on 8 September 1856. He began his emigration to America on 9 August 1857. He voyaged from Liverpool to the United States aboard the Westmoreland. He crossed the plains in the Christian Christiansen handcart company to reach the Salt Lake Valley (see Jenson, History of the Scandinavian Mission, 236). Christian settled in Lehi, Utah County, before moving to Logan, Cache County, and finally Richmond, Cache County. He was called from Richmond to serve as a guard in Echo Canyon during the Utah War (see Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, 1042). After the threat of war passed, he was endowed on 26 October 1861 in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City.

Cabinet makers and finish-carpenters making stairway posts and materials for stairways in the Logan Temple.  Christian Hans Monson, center, and son Joseph front right.

He married Nielsine Kruetzback, a widow fourteen years his senior. This marriage ended in divorce. After the divorce, Christian accepted a mission call to Scandinavia in 1878. He arrived in Copenhagen on 20 November 1878 and was assigned to labor in the Göteborg Conference. After completing an honorable mission, he departed from Copenhagen on 5 July 1880 aboard the steamer Cato with 346 emigrating Latter-day Saints and other returning missionaries (see Jenson, History of the Scandinavian Mission, 243).

Residence: Richmond, Cache Co., Utah

Arrival date in Copenhagen: 20 November 1878

Missionary labors: Göteborg Conference

Departure date from Copenhagen: 5 July 1880

Name of departure ship: Cato

Birth date: 16 June 1837

Birthplace: Stora Boeplads, Tune, Østfold, Norway

Father: Monsen, Hans

Mother: Nielsdatter, Berte

Spouse: Kruetzback (Kredsbank), Nielsene Olsen

            Marriage date: 29 June 1858

            Marriage place: Lehi, Utah Co., Utah

Spouse: Peterson, Anna Catherine

            Marriage date: 26 April 1861

            Marriage place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

Spouse: Mansson, Ellen Persson

            Marriage date: 16 March 1867

            Marriage place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

Spouse: Olsen, Karen Maria

            Marriage date: 2 May 1870

Spouse: Jenson, Elna (Ella)

            Marriage date: 5 January 1874

            Marriage place: Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

Spouse: Jacobsson, Wendla (Vendla)

            Marriage date 15 March 1883

            Marriage place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

I just took a photo of this and realize that the names are not very clear.  I will eventually get a scanner the wives and children from top left in clockwise position are: Nilsine Kredsbank with Christina and Hyrum, Anna Catherine Petersen with Joseph, anna Catherine, Hans and Elizabeth. In the Center is Ellen Persson Mansson (Munson) with Parley Herman, Chales Andrew, Ellen Marinda, Hyrum Moroni, Walter Peter, Brigham, aaron Abraham, Otto Junius, Berta Marie, LaFayette, and Eaam Chersta.
Bottom Left Karen Marie Olsen, Elna (Ella) Jenson with her children Ezra Peter, Emaline, Ella E (Evaline or Eva0 Fredrick Lorenzo, Julia Amanda, Rachel, Sarah, Franklin LeRoy, Williard and William Aquilla.  Vendla Jacobson with her three children: Vendla Josephine, Ernest Ephriam and Eliza Victoria.

(pink represents my connection)

Death date: 23 September 1896

Death place: Richmond, Cache Co., Utah

Burial place: Richmond, Cache Co., Utah

On 23 June 1888, the First District Court of Ogden sentenced Christian to six months’ imprisonment and a one-hundred-dollar fine for unlawful cohabitation. He was discharged from the penitentiary on 23 December 1888 (see Jenson, LDS Church Chronology, June 23, 1888; December 23, 1888).

Christian Hans Monson standing third from the right.  President George Q Cannon is seated in center.  Picture taken at the Utah Territorial Prison, Salt lake City, in the period between 23 June and 23 December.

After his discharge, he served as president of the Thirty-ninth Quorum of the Seventy and as a temple worker in St. George. He is remembered as being a pioneer builder and lumberman. He is credited with assisting in the construction of the Salt Lake, St. George, Manti, and Logan Temples (see Skidmore and Horne, “Immigrant Pioneers: Christian Hans Monson,” Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Lesson for October, 1984, 49–50).

In his later years, he moved to Franklin County, Idaho, where he set up a lumber mill. He operated the mill until his health failed. Christian died in 1896 from jaundice and gallstones in Richmond at age fifty-nine (see Skidmore and Horne, “Immigrant Pioneers: Christian Hans Monson,” Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Lesson for October 1984, 51).