Andrew Ole and Johanna Stormfelt Anderson

Parley Anderson's parents were Andrew Ole and Johanna Stormfelt Anderson. Both Andrew Ole and Johanna were immigrants from Sweden. Their parents and most of their family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden during the mid-1850s and made a long journey using several waterways in Europe and then across the Atlantic Ocean. Once in America it was again a long process for them to get to Zion in Utah.

Andrew came with his family to America and across the plains, but Johanna came alone. Her mother had been widowed and sent the family members as money was obtained to do so.

Johanna and Andrew met while living in Ephraim, Utah, a valley in central Utah, in which most of the Scandinavian saints settled by order of Brigham Young.

Andrew and Johanna did not quickly marry, however, because Andrew was a member of the Pony Express and also made several trips leading wagon trains from the mid-west to Utah. After his service, both he and Johanna were among those called by President Young to help settle what is now called Monroe, Utah. They were married there on 4 July 1864 by Bishop Wiley T. Allred.

Johanna and Andrew lost their first three children in infancy and another son, Oscar at age 7 while Andrew was serving one of his missions to Sweden. Four of their children grew to adulthood, including my ancestor, Parley. Because of the trouble with the Indians, the Andersons along with the other residents of Monroe left and returned to Ephraim. It was here that Andrew enlisted in the Calvary during the Black Hawk War period. They later made their home in Glenwood, Utah.

Andrew married in polygamy, a widow, Elsa Frojd Nielson, also from Sweden. Elsa had three children with her first husband, and she and Andrew had three more together. She died after five years of marriage, and Johanna raised her children as her own. Andrew married a third time to Amelia Peterson of Denmark who was just 19 years old. They had seven children together.

During his lifetime, Andrew Ole served the public in many ways including the office of Justice of the Peace.

When Utah attained statehood in 1896, it was against the law to live in polygamy. In time, Andrew was apprehended and sent to serve a prison term for the crime. After his release from prison, family ties with Amelia were broken.

Johanna died in 1922, and Andrew lived his last years with Johanna's son Parley and he and Elsa's daughter Mary. He died in Glenwood while living in Mary's home in 1929.

Andrew Ole and Johanna sacrificed greatly for their faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of us who are their descendants should look to their examples when we think times are hard for us.