Spongberg Family History & Genealogy

Charles & Jacobena Spongberg Story

Copied from records of Albena Peterson Bodily by Wanda Spongberg Woodhouse Reeder.
Transcribed by Anjanette Stone Lofgren, July, 2005.

Charles John Spongberg was born April 1, 1826 in Sura, Vestmenland Sweden. Jacobena Funk Spongberg was born August 30, 1832 in [Pederskier], Bornholm, Denmark. Her parents had a large family, eleven children. Jacobena was the fifth child. Two of Jacobena’s older sisters heard of the Mormon Elders and became very interested while they were away from home working. They kept it a secret for a while afraid their parents might be very unhappy if they knew. But to their surprise the parents had had the opportunity of hearing them also and soon the entire family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Because of the severe persecution the early converts to Mormonism suffered the Funk Family soon prepared to immigrate to America. They were one of the first families in Denmark to accept the Gospel. At this time, Charles John Spongberg who had completed his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Sweden had obtained work in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here he met the Mormon Elders and accepted their message, and decided he would embark for America. In 1857 he left on the same ship the Funk family was traveling on for America. During this voyage Charles John became acquainted with Jacobena Funk and having so much in common, coming to America, they fell in love. This couple was both very attractive - Charles with black hair and dark brown eyes, Jacobena [with] black wavy hair and brown eyes and a good sense of humor. What a romantic atmosphere they must have had for their courtship.

This company was six weeks coming across the ocean and this romance lasted all the way. One year later after arriving in America they were married in Iowa in November 8, 1858. They were very happy to be here in America and Charles found employment soon after arriving here. Jacobena often mentioned how curious she felt seeing Negroes with their black shiny faces and white teeth. The unexpected sight of these polite darkies shocked her and she felt rather uneasy for a while but soon became adjusted to them and many more things equally as funny in America. They moved westward to Iowa where they obtained work and remained for two years preparing for their trip to Utah. In 1859 they joined a large company of Mormons and started for Utah. Some of the company traveled in wagons drawn by teams of oxen, horses and cows, but Jacobena and her sisters walked most of the way across the plains and were barefoot a lot of the time enduring the hardships other pioneers suffered. Their food became scarce and they would gather wild fruits and berries and obtain meat along the way which helped out considerably with their meals.

Charles, being a blacksmith, was indeed very helpful during this journey. He was able to mend the wagons, set tires and make shoes for the horses and oxen and cows. They were made from scrap of rough iron such as old wagon ties and bolts. He assisted greatly in guarding camp against the Indians and wild animals. A baby daughter was born on the way across the plains and her name was Helen. These people suffered hardships common to early pioneers crossing the plains, but arrived safely in Salt Lake City.

After arriving in Salt Lake City they got their endowments in the Endowment House and Charles and Jacobena lived in Salt Lake for a few months. Then they found employment at Grantsville where he worked in the fields helping to gather the grain and hay crops. This was done with a scythe.

The following spring the family moved to Ogden. The main part of Ogden was west of Washington Avenue - [toward] the river [was] mostly a willow flat. Here Charles spent several months clearing away brush in order to make building lots and he later sold many of these lots. Charles was really a good manager and could see and plan ahead. On one of his lots he began building a log cabin. The cabin consisted of four walls, no windows, ceiling, floors, or doors when their second child Anna was born October 6, 1860. Helen became very ill with fever and died the following day, October 7, 1860. Jacobena being very weak and very helpless in bed felt she must help Charles some way, but was unable to do so. A small casket was made of two slabs Charles had and Jacobena’s sister and husband went with Charles to bury the small child. Charles carried the little box on his shoulders and it seemed pathetic - three in the procession and Jacobena in bed at home.

It wasn’t long after this that the couple decided to move farther north to Cache Valley. In 1862 they moved to Richmond, Utah and lived one year. While there, their third child was born, September 26, 1863. Some of Jacobena’s family lived at Richmond and this helped considerably. In October of the same year, 1863, they moved to Franklin, Idaho. Charles carried the little girl Anna and all their belongings and Jacobena carried the tiny baby Christine, a distance of 12 miles to Franklin. At that time there weren’t very many settlers there so Charles had the opportunity of helping to build the town. He set up his blacksmith shop as soon as possible. The Indians were very troublesome at this time and in order to protect themselves they built their houses very close together in an oblong shape forming what was known as the Old Fort in Franklin history. Charles had little fear of the Indians and he had confidence and reliance in himself during the Indian ra!
ids. The women looked upon him for protection while their husbands were in the fields working as he had a blacksmith shop and the women and children would go to the blacksmith shop when they saw Indians appearing.

Charles did lots of blacksmithing for the people of Franklin as well as travelers. Charles like to tell about the time President Brigham Young, Charles C. Rich, Heber C. Kimball and other members of the quorum spent two days with him and the family while on their way to Bear Lake. The manner in which President Young discussed the plans and procedures of their trip was an inspiration to him. Charles was asked to go to Bear Lake with them. Brother Kimball and Charles were to go to supervise the shoeing of the horses while the rest helped repair the wagons. This close companionship and spiritual reverence and unity existing between President Young and his Apostles was always remembered by Charles. Later on, Charles and W. L. Webster and two other men from Franklin went to Bear Lake to secure lumber for the first meeting house and school house at Franklin. He did all the blacksmith work and made all the nails used – besides, he helped build the public buildings in Frankl!
in and also the first substantial home. This home was built of white stone and it contained six rooms and still stands and is owned by Albert Parkinson and they are still using the home. The other homes there were made of log or adobe.

Coal was unobtainable at this time so a suitable substitute for coal was necessary for Charles’ blacksmith work. He would haul birch which he found in the canyon. Charles and George Harris, a carpenter from Ogden, built the first threshing machine in Cache Valley. It was later taken to Willow Creek just south of Brigham City and sold to a company of men who used it for years to thresh their grain. Charles helped in many ways to help build Franklin. Jacobena was a real home maker. For her children and family she devoted her life and was loved by all. She was a good cook, sewer – she spun and wove many carpets and spun wool and carded wool. She was very sociable and made home for many travelers and needy people. She was charitable and generous and believed in doing good to all. She had some cute little sayings. Maybe you could say when being alarmed or surprised she would say "per all pot" or else she would say "pervarris Vell". These were more what we call by-!
words. Jacobena did all she could in the way of going to church and giving donations. She spun with her own spinning wheel and owned her own weaving loom. She was an excellent darner and her sewing equaled that of a sewing machine. She had a place for everything and everything was in its place. In 1871 Charles John Spongberg, Wm. Head, David Jensen, Joseph Clayton and Mr. Lundgreen made a general survey of the country north of Franklin from Warm Creek to Mink Creek. They decided to locate on what is now east Preston - each taking a quarter section of land under the land homestead law. This in reality was the beginning of Preston. They were the pioneers of Preston.

Charles built a small house on his land, and at all times he would help his older daughters clear the brush off. For some time he worked in the blacksmith shop at Franklin. He and Jacobena and the small children lived in Franklin one year to make a livelihood. After he moved the family upon the Preston flat he walked to Franklin to work in his shop and back to Preston at night. The family thought nothing of walking to Franklin to church and back.

In 1883 Charles became tired of trying to run two places so he sold his property in Franklin. He moved to Preston where he soon had his shop set up and ran his farm. He and David Jensen built the first irrigating ditch in Preston. It came from Warm Creek along the north side of the hill and irrigated the land on the east bench. Later they helped build the Warm Creek canal.

On the homestead Charles had taken up were several springs of excellent drinking water. The homesteaders would come and haul it to their homes in barrels. Later on most of the people dug wells, but some of them just furnished surface water.

This couple lived to a good old age, living a good honorable life and keeping the commandments of God. Both Charles and Jacobena were very punctual in their payments of tithes and fast offerings. They believed in doing unto others as they would be done by. They raised six children to man and womanhood. They had two daughters die in childhood and had six daughters and two sons. [Charles John Spongberg lived to be 83. He died January 2, 1912 in Preston, Idaho at his daughter Louisa’s home. Jacobena Funk lived to be 77. She died March 28, 1909 at their home in Preston Idaho. The couple is buried in the Preston City Cemetery]