HISTORY OF MARY JANE(Jennie) BROADHEAD OLSEN

by Elva Beazer (her sister)

Mary Jane Broadhead was born the 22nd of January, 1886, in Nephi, Juab County, Utah, the eldest child of James Morris and Sarah Ann Wright Broadhead, both of English decent with some Welch on the Morris side.

Jennie was born in a two-room log dwelling. It was very cozy on the inside as Mother was a splendid homemaker. On the north was a row of tall poplar trees. On the east several large apple trees. There was a lawn and Dutch clover seemed to grow everywhere. Her parents also owned a farm four miles south of Nephi called "Four Mile Creek". His many brothers also lived out there and owned hundreds of acres of land. It was known as the Broadhead Ranch. There were acres of alfalfa, fields of all kinds of grain, beautiful orchards of various fruit trees, sugar cane and vegetable gardens. Animals were raised on the farm, especially cattle. Her father made delicious molasses.

Her early life was spent attending the Nephi Schools, Sunday school and Primary. Besides associating with girl friends, there was a cousin, Nina Goodman and an Aunt, May Wright, with only a years difference in their ages, who were her best friends.

Her parents bought a lovely organ and so she began taking music lessons from her father's Uncle, Charlie Morris, who was a very strict music teacher. She enjoyed her music which meant so much to her. Once she went to Salt Lake City with an Aunt (Mary Alice Goodman and other cousins) to see a big jubilee and Parade.
Her parents took her to see the circus, which came often to Nephi. Besides a home in Nephi, they owned a home and land about four miles south of Nephi, called "Four Mile Creek", where they lived during the summer months. Mother would drive into Nephi often to shop and attend to her duties in the Relief Society and the children got a lot of pleasure out of these trips to town. The black horse she drove was named Tobe, and was hitched to a small buggy.

When Jennie was about three years old, her three-month-old baby brother named Seth James, took ill and passed away.

She was named Mary after her Grandmother on her father's side and Jane after her Grandmother on her mother's side, but, she disliked the names so much because of a very unpleasant and unkind person whom she knew, that her parents consented to call her by the name Jennie.

She had a very happy childhood. When she was thirteen years old her parents decided to move to Canada. Jennie's Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. James B. Wright and all their married children were moving to Canada too. Jennie's parents and family traveled as far as Provo in a covered wagon and spent the night with her father's sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott.The next day her mother and four children, Jennie, Elva, Parley and Jesse, took the train while her father and a hired man travelled with their covered wagons. They took with them their furniture including the precious organ, a large clock and old Tobe the family pet was among the horses.

They reached Cardston in June 1899. They spent a few months with the Wright family who had arrived in the fall and rented for, for the time being, a house in Mountain View. Grandfather Wright and three sons and Jennie's father immediately took up homesteads close together in the Beazer district and went to work getting out logs to build their homes.

Jennie's home was a large two room house built on a knoll overlooking a large lake with an island in the center where wild ducks and geese make their nest in the tall grass and shrubs that grew on the island, these nests were unmolested by animals. Cottonwood and quaking asp trees grew in various places around the lake. It was a most beautiful location.

Her father began tilling the soil and unable to hire help, Jennie worked hard in the fields disking, harrowing. She helped in the hay fields, especially with the mowing and raking of hay and stacking. She milked cows and did many other chores, and also assisted raising chickens and gardening.
When school was established, she attended about one year. Later, she assisted in several homes as a hired girl.

She loved music and although she was unable to take more lessons, she kept up her practicing on the organ. She played the accompaniment to her father's singing and his accordion playing. She was chosen to be the Sunday School organist. Jennie was gifted with a high soprano voice like her Grandmother Morris Broadhead, who sang in the Fillmore Choir for forty years. The Morris Family was Welch.

Jennie and her sister Elva sang many duets together for entertainments and in Church. They sang "The Missionary Hymn" at the farewell social for the first missionary called on a mission from Beazer. He was Roy Beazer.

Jennie was short of stature, again resembling her Grandmother Morris Broadhead. Light complexioned with a heavy head of light brown hair, the thick braids measuring 38 inches long. These sisters were called the longhaired Broadhead sisters.

She was a strong healthy person, was a good cook and liked things seasoned just right. She took pride in keeping a neat and tidy house. She did not care so much for sewing but liked to embroidering and crocheting.

She enjoyed dancing but wasn't too interested in outdoor sports, although she did quite a lot of horseback riding. She loved to read books.She possessed a wonderful sense of humor. She saw the funny side of life and enjoyed good wholesome jokes. Her laugh was hearty and musical. She had a wonderful and jolly disposition. She took parts in some of the first theatres put on in Beazer. She took part on programs singing and accompanying singers. She gave lessons in Mutual and in Relief Society of which she became a member before she was married. NOTE: The names of the plays she took part in were "The Black Diamond", "Michael Earl" and "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room".

In those days, Jennie, her mother, and sister, gathered wild fruit for winter. Strawberries, gooseberries, chokecherries and serviceberries(saskatoons), were most plentiful.

In church work, she was very active and always willing to help in any community activity. She was secretary and treasurer of the young ladies M.I.A. She was a teacher in the Sunday School and well as organist.

She had quite a few men suitors. The young people had to create their own amusements so there were lots of parties and dances, sleighriding, outings, horseback riding and ball games. At one time at their parties, the forfeit game was introduced and to redeem the forfeits resulted in kissing games. This was considered unsanitary and frowned upon with displeasure by most of the girls, so it was short lived and never revived.

One day the boy friends of Jennie, her sister Elva, and a girl friend Maude, took them for a sleigh ride. There was deep snow on the ground and a stiff breeze blowing from the west. They had travelled about three miles east from home during the late afternoon when the wind increased its' intensity to the extent that snow was flying sky high and drifts accumulating fast. The horses and the drivers were unwilling to face the onslaught and it would have been impossible to reach home before dark. The men guided the team through a near by gate and headed for the Charles B. Ockey home not far away. They were welcomed to stay the night. There were other young people in the Ockey family, and all had a most enjoyable time singing and playing games. The men bunked together and Mrs. Ockey made a bed for the three girls. The horses were put in the barn and fed. The next morning was calm but the animals had difficulty pulling the sleigh and its load through the huge drifts. Finally they reached their homes in safety and relieved the anxiety of their parents, as there were no telephones in that area at that time.

At the age of 25, Jennie married Clarence Olsen. They went by train to Salt Lake City to be married in the temple of Dec. 23, 1908. They were married by Rudger Clawson. Spent 2 weeks in Nephi. Aunt Emma Sibley made Jennie's wedding dress, which was considered to be very beautiful. The material was fine silk white organdie trimmed with rows of narrow satin ribbon. She wore orange blossoms in her hair.

They set up housekeeping in a two-roomed cottage on the ranch of his father Erastus Olsen. They had no wedding reception and such things as showers were unknown in that day. Young people started out with little and all Jennie's furniture was second hand, except for the cupboards and table and a few other pieces, which were made by Grandpa Cox. He painted those in the most dreadful color for a kitchen, compared to the beautiful colors of today. The color was a dull reddish brown. Bright colors were not used in those days.

She could not hold her position as Sunday School organist very long as her first three sons, Elmer, Ervin, and Verne were born fairly close together and that kept her from attending regular. These three children were born in their home with her husband's Grandmother, Sarah G. Cox, acting as midwife. Elva Broadhead was the hired girl.

Sometime later they moved farther back in the foothills near a place called Seddon. (Boundary Creek) Two more sons were born there, Lloyd and Shirl, and this time a neighbor woman substituted for a midwife. This location was lovely in the summer time, but, not pleasant during the winter months, as cars were out of the question, Jennie seldom came down to the ward to church or parties.

A year or two later in the spring of 1917, they moved to Creston, B.C. and rented a place with fruit trees on it. Jennie enjoyed the fruit, climate and scenery.
On Dec.22, 1917, their first daughter, Lois, was born. They were very happy to have a girl after having five sons, and about two years later another boy, Ned, was born. With these two births, Jennie was allowed the service and care of a doctor and nurses for the first time, which she greatly appreciated. Dr. Henderson was a wonderful maternity doctor, treating all his patients with great respect, sympathy and kindness.

When the Beazers and other Mormon families moved to Creston, a Branch of the church was organized with R.M. Beazer as President and William Payne and Clarence Olsen as counsellors. At first, the members travelled in buggies to Canyon City, a place several miles south of Creston, to attend church. Those drives out there in the early mornings were most invigorating. Later they held church in the homes and ended up renting a hall.

Jennie assisted at times playing the organ for the meetings in Creston. When Relief Society was organized, she became a second counsellor to her sister Elva Beazer, who was the President. She was set apart by Pres. Heber C. Iverson of the North Western States Mission.

Jennie was a woman of splendid character and had a strong testimony of the Gospel. She refrained from gossip and evil speaking. She loved to serve others and took pleasure in giving. She was a loving and gentle mother, and a good friend to all and possessed a cheerful disposition. She still continued to practice on the organ and especially play the hymns which she said gave her so much strength and comfort. One day at a funeral in the Methodist Church, there was no organist present, to the Minister called Jennie to play the hymns for his service. She willingly granted his request, thankful that she could be of some help.
Jennie and Clarence, her sister Elva and her husband, found much enjoyment singing quartettes together.

Jennie taught her children right principles and together with the sound gospel teachings of their father, they grew up to be a very fine family of children to be proud of. She loved her children dearly and these are some statements she once made: "The greatest joys of my life have been my little babies, I enjoy them so much" and "I love my children greatly, the most pleasure and happiness I get out of life is with my children."

In August 1923 Jennie and Clarence went to Cardston to attend the dedication of the Alberta Temple. They were passengers in a car with his brother Murrel Olsen and two L.D.S. missionaries.

Ever since her marriage her health began to fail a little and increased as the years went by, and while in Creston she and her sister Elva took the train to Cranbrook where x-rays were taken of her stomach. The doctors thought she had gall stone trouble.

They moved down on the river bottom of the Goat River. The location was quite nice but the house was not so good and the river rose at times and the sound of it was not too easy on the nerves. A frightening experience was hers one day. Clarence was away from home, the older children in school, and she was alone with the little children, when one of the meanest known Indians of the Siwash Tribe named Dominick, entered her home uninvited and demanded money. He was a tall domineering Indian and was drunk. Clarence, her husband, still owed this Indian a small amount of money on a hay deal. Jennie told him he would have to see her husband about the money. Coming closer he glared down at her angrily and grabbed her by the arm and shook her saying, "I want money." She trembled and offered a silent prayer what to do. Then she remembered that she had a few cents in her purse that she had got from the sale of butter, about 35 cents. She said, "Wait, I'll get my purse." Hurriedly she brought her purse from the bedroom and quickly shoved it into his hands exclaiming, "Take this, it's all I've got." Satisfied with the purse, this drunken Indian hastened from the room and was gone.

Because her husband wished her to, she wore her hair parted in the center most all her life and wore navy blue clothes. She looked much the same all her life.
She lost three immature babies during her lifetime.

In the spring of 1924, Clarence brought his family back to Beazer and moved into the old home of Erastus Olsen. It was most drab and dreary place. Water was plentiful at the spring not far away but mighty scarce in the home as it always is when it has to be carried or hauled to the home.

Household conveniences were out of the question in the ranches in those days. So with a large family it was difficult to make ends meet.However, life moves on and after a while a dear little baby girl was born to them. They named her Phyllis. This little one had brown eyes, just the kind Jennie had longed for and was happy about it. But, to her sorrow little Phyllis passed away after one week old. The disappointment was great and it seemed that Jennie never fully recovered after the birth of the baby she gradually became worse. He mother, Grandmother Broadhead, spent much time in her home and at her bedside, also many kind neighbors and relatives helped nurse her. She asked her mother to keep and raise the two younger children. She was beyond medical help when the doctor arrived and she passed away Sept. 6, 1924.

It was a very sad occasion for the family and relatives. Her mother supervised the burial preparations and Jennie was laid away in beautiful clothes and in a beautiful casket. She was laid to rest in Beazer Cemetery beside her baby Phyllis.Her husband fixed up their graves nicely and planted a tree nearby.

This is a letter that Uncle Ervin wrote about his mother Mary Jane Broadhead Olsen I got this from Linda Belter's files.
October 18,1987

The little Methodist Chapel at Creston, B.C. was filled with people, the white satin covered casket was in its place below the pulpit surrounded with sweet scented flowers. The minister looked nervously at his watch, then glanced up at the clock on the wall with its huge pendulum swinging back and forth. For some reason at the last minute the organist was unable to be there. Finally the minister stood and asked is there anyone who can play the organ? A young mother stirred as if to get up but felt the restraining hand of her husband on her arm. Then the minister asked again, please is there anyone here who can play the organ? At that she quickly stood to her feet, walked up the aisle, and seated herself at the organ,. The minister announced the number of the hymn and she began to play. The room was filled with the beautiful strains of the organ.

You see my Mother was a very talented organist and loved to play, At the end of the service the minister was very grateful and lavished in his praise to her.
Mother was born in Nephi Utah where she had a very happy childhood. Her parents bought a lovely organ and she began taking music lessons from a Charlie Morris, her Fathers uncle who was a very strict music teacher. When she reached the age of thirteen her family came to Canada, requiring her to leave her many friends and associates, but bringing the precious organ with them.

She loved music and though she was unable to take more lessons she kept up her practicing on the organ. She used to accompany her father when he sang or played his accordion.

Mother was always there when we needed her. She was so kind and loved her children very much. She loved Nephi and I remember her often talking about Nephi and Mt. Nebo, a Mt. very near the town.

In sixteen years Mother had eight children, the last being a lovely little brown haired girl who only lived a few days. Being sick so much' Mother lost the will to live and passed away Sept. 6, 1924, at the age of 38.

I must tell of another mother, my great great grandmother Sarah Ann Brett. She joined the church in England married and had three children, then was deserted by her husband. Being very poor, the officers came and put them in the poor house. She was broken hearted over it, but after nine days a friend of the family who had means, heard of her trouble and helped get them out. In a couple of years with the help of the Perpetual Immigration Fund of the Church, they were able to come to America. They were about six weeks at sea in a sailing ship. Her mother who came with them became ill, died and had to be buried at sea. She crossed the plains with her three children in the ill-fated Martin Handcart Co. Walking all the way and pulling their handcart.

The hardships they suffered were almost unbearable and many did lose their lives. Out of 576 persons in the Co. 56 died, before help arrived from Salt Lake City.

Ervin D. Olsen --
Diamond City, Alta. -October 18, 1987-

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