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Autobiography of Niels Peter Domgaard

Stubbs Nelson Hart Pickett Home Tervort Wride Davis Bradshaw

I was born in Hals, Denmark, 27 January 1813. My father's name is Lars Christian Domgaard and my Mothers given name was Elizabeth Larsen. Their family consisted of three children. Lars Christian, Mettie Kirstine, and Niels Peter. My father died when I was between one and two years old and my mother got married again to a man by the name of Jens Christensen. I was at home until I was at the age of fifteen. By the age of twenty I was sent to learn the blacksmith trade. I was an apprentice three years after which I traveled about seeking work and as I suffered much through fatigue and became tired of my situation, I began to think of the Lord God and to call on Him in prayer reading good books and seeking to be led by Him. And after a space of two years I became acquainted with some called Baptists which were newly began in Denmark and I joined their society at the age of 28.

I had to suffer much ridicule and persecution and even imprisonment for my belief. At the age of thirty-two I was married to Elsie Kirstine Nielsen on the 12 of Oct. 1845. I lived in the town of Hals and was very happy and doing well. In 1850 I heard of Mormonism having come to Denmark I read a Pamphlet on revelation being given to Joseph Smith on the restoration of the Church of God in the last days which rejoiced my soul and I went about 20 miles to Alberg to have an interview with G.F. Dykes who had been sent there to proclaim the Gospel. He taught me the first principles of Mormonism and I invited him to pay me a visit to my home. He according did so and conversed with a great many. I believed the Gospel and was baptized on 1st of January 1851 in Alborg and was confirmed the same evening, just 27 days prior to my 38 birthday. My mother Elizabeth Larsen and brother Lars Christian were also baptized at the same time. I was afterwards ordained and called to preside over the branch, which numbered fifteen members. Persecution then began to rage against us and threatened to kill Brother Dykes who had been meeting at my home. The mob gathered around but as they could not find him they peiled the house and broke the windows and lamps to pieces.

This was in January. In the fall following I sold my house and moved to Norresundy where I took charge of an Iron Foundry. There I was called to preside over the Alborg branch, which was just across the firth. In the fall I was counseled to immigrate to Zion. I then prepared myself in temporal things and visited my relations and friends testifying unto them the restoration of the Gospel and the dispensation of the gathering of the children of God in the last days. I then took my departure with wife who had borne me two children, Caroline, born 29 August 1846 and Lauritz Elias born 4 July 1851. We started from Copenhagen on the 20th of December 1852. On the steamship called Oberilt, which carried us to Kiel, and from there proceeded on our journey to Zion. After our arrival we were sent to Sanpete Valley where I have since resided following the employment of blacksmith and farming. On the 17th of May 1857 I was

A Biography of Niels Peter Domgaard by a granddaughter, Orpha Munk, daughter of Petrena Domgaard Munk written about 1936

Grandfather and Grandmother went through all the hardships and joys connected with pioneer life. Although Grandfather never fought in the Indian wars he helped in other ways. Being a blacksmith was his duty to keep good horses in readiness for younger men to use in case of Indian attacks. At the time when people were called to settle Salina, Utah he loaned them three yoke of oxen, farm implements and grain. The oxen were stolen by the Indians. Later one of the oxen got away and returned home.

Grandfather and Grandmother often shared their two-room house with families who had been driven from their homes by Indians.

Grandfather has considerable ability as a mechanic which, enabled him to assist in building the machines and mills in Manti. He made and owned the first molasses mill in Utah. At first it was run by horse power but later he improved it by using water power. He helped to build the first threshing machine used in Manti, which was improved over the flail.

Although it did not separate the wheat from the chaff. From 1865 to 1968 he served as a member of the city council.

Grandfather Domgaard was always willing to help those who were in need. He worked more for a good name than for his world goods.

One son and five daughters were born to Grandfather and Grandmother. Three of whom are now living. Grandmother did much good as a nurse going among the sick wherever she was needed. In the early days such articles as sugar, tea, coffee, raisins and dried apples were scarce, they were considered luxuries.

Grandmother used to keep a small supply of these things stored away which she took to the sick and aged who were not fortunate enough to have them. Grandmother was a trained midwife, she had practiced some in Denmark and continued after coming to Utah until she was 65 years old.

Her price for two weeks was two dollars. She had a very cheerful disposition and enjoyed the association of the young people who she always made welcome.

In 1865 Grandfather married Met tie Sophia Hansen (my great grandmother) (I'm Emeral Erickson Sorenson). She was born in Denmark November 24, 1846. Mettie immigrated to Utah in 1863 walking the entire distance across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. She was 17 years old.

During the early years of her life at Manti she went through the hardships incident to pioneer life. During the grasshopper war she went in the fields to help in the work of extermination. An incident which she often related was to the effect that with the exception of about an acre all their grain had been destroyed by the pests. She and her husband and children were very anxious to save their small crop of grain. To their dismay however a great swarm of grasshoppers settled down on the remaining grain and proceeded to devour it. Grandmother knelt down in prayer and when she arose the grasshoppers left the field and the grain was saved. The incident portrays her faith in God which she retained through out her life.

Grandmother was of a very lively nature and always even during her suffering just before her death had to joke a little with people who called to see her. She and Grandfather were the parents of 9 children 5 who survived. Their children were Peter, Hans Ephraim, Sophia Marie, (my grandmother), Joseph, James, Hyrum, Margaret May, John Wilford.

The last Domgaard reunion was held 27 January 1913 in the Manti Armada.

This was the 100 anniversary of Grandfather's birth. At that time Grandfather's descendants numbered 1 S children, 78 grandchildren, 64 great grand children.

BIOGRAPHY OF NIELS PETER DOMGAARD

I was born in Hals, Denmark, 27 January 1813. My father’s name is Lars Christian Domgaard and my Mothers given name was Elizabeth Larsen. Their family consisted of three children. Lars Christian, Mettie Kirstine, and Niels Peter. My father died when I was between one and two years old and my mother got married again to a man by the name of Jens Christensen I was at home until I was at the age of fifteen. By the age of twenty I was sent to learn the blacksmith trade. I was an apprentice three years after which I traveled about seeking work and as I suffered much through fatigue and became tired of my situation, I began to think of the Lord God and to call on Him in prayer reading good books and seeking to be led by Him. And after a space of two years I became acquainted with some called Baptists, which were newly, began in Denmark and I joined their society at the age of 28.

I had to suffer much ridicule and persecution and even imprisonment for my belief. At the age of thirty-two I was married to Elsie Kirstine Nielsen on the 12 of Oct. 1845. I lived in the town of Hals and was very happy and doing well. In 1850 I heard of Mormonism having come to Denmark I read a Pamphlet on revelation being given to Joseph Smith on the restoration of the Church of God in the last days which rejoiced my soul and I went about 20 miles to Alberg to have an interview with G.F. Dykes who had been sent there to proclaim the Gospel. He taught me the first principles of Mormonism and I invited him to pay me a visit to my home. He according did so and conversed with a great many. I believed the Gospel and was baptized on 1st of January 1 851 in Alborg and was confirmed the same evening. My mother and brother were also baptized at the same time. I was afterwards ordained and called to preside over the branch, which numbered fifteen members. Persecution then began to rage against us and threatened to kill Brother Dykes who had been meeting at my home. The mob gathered around but as they could not find him they peiled the house and broke the windows and lamps to pieces. This was in January.

In the fall following I sold my house and moved to Norresundy where I took charge of an Iron Foundry. There I was called to preside over the Alborg branch, which was just across the firth. In the fall I was counseled to immigrate to Zion. I then prepared myself in temporal things and visited my relations and friends testifying unto them the restoration of the Gospel and the dispensation of the gathering of the children of God in the last days.

I then took my departure with wife who had borne me two children, Caroline, born 29 Aug.1846 and Lauritz Elias born 4 July1851. We started from Copenhagen on the 20th of December 1852. On the steamship called Oberilt which carried us to Kiel and from they’re preceded on our journey to Zion. After our arrival we were sent to Sanpete Valley where I have since resided following the employment of blacksmith and farming. On the 17th of May 1857 I was??????????????

A Biography of Niels Peter Domgaard by a granddaughter, Orpha Munk, daughter of Petrena Domgaard Munk written about 1936. Grandfather and Grandmother went through all the hardships and joys connected with pioneer life. Although Grandfather never fought in the Indian wars he helped in other ways. Being a blacksmith was his duty to keep good horses in readiness for younger men to use in case of Indian attacks. At the time when people were called to settle Salina, Utah he loaned them three yoke of oxen, farm implements and grain. The Indians stole the oxen. Later one of the oxen got away and returned home.

Grandfather and Grandmother often shared their two-room house with families who had been driven from their homes by Indians. Grandfather has considerable ability as a mechanic, which enabled him to assist in building the machines and mills in Manti. He made and owned the first molasses mill in Utah. At first horsepower ran it but later he improved it by using waterpower. He helped to build the first threshing machine used in Manti, which was improved over the flail. Although, it did not separate the wheat from the chaff. From 1865 to 1968 he served as a member of the city council.

Grandfather Domgaard was always willing to help those who were in need. He worked more for a good name than for his world goods. One son and five daughters were born to Grandfather and Grandmother. Three of whom are now living. Grandmother did much good as a nurse going among the sick wherever she was needed. In the early days such articles as sugar, tea, coffee, raisins and dried apples were scarce, and they were considered luxuries.

Grandmother used to keep a small supply of these things stored away which she took to the sick and aged who were not fortunate enough to have them. Grandmother was a trained midwife; she had practiced some in Denmark and continued after coming to Utah until she was 65 years old. Her price for two weeks was two dollars. She had a very cheerful disposition and enjoyed the association of the young people who she always made welcome.

In 1865 Grandfather married Mettie Sophia Hansen (my great grandmother) (I’m Emeral Erickson Sorenson). She was born in Denmark Nov. 24 1846. Mettie immigrated to Utah in 1863 walking the entire distance across the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. She was 17 years old. During the early years of her life at Manti she went through the hardships incident to pioneer life. During the grasshopper war she went in the fields to help in the work of extermination. An incident, which she often related, was to the effect that with the exception of about an acre the pests had destroyed all their grain. She and her husband and children were very anxious to save their small crop of grain. To their dismay however, a great swarm of grasshoppers settled down on the remaining grain and preceded to devour it. Grandmother knelt down in prayer and when she arose the grasshoppers left the field and the grain was saved. The incident portrays her faith in God, which she retained through out her life.

Grandfather and his wives lived and died true Latter Day Saints and expressed themselves as never regretting leaving their good comfortable homes in Denmark and said they were thankful they had been blessed with the opportunity of hearing and accepting the gospel and coming to Zion. The last Domgaard reunion was held 27 Jan 1913 in the Manti Armada. This was the 100 anniversary of Grandfather's birth. At that time Grandfather's descendants numbered 15 children, 78 grandchildren, 64 great grand children.