Joseph Josephson Wall Sr. Biography

Joseph Josephson Wall Sr.

(A biographical sketch by his granddaughter, Constance Linnea Wall Stanley, written in 1973.)

My grandfather, Joseph Josephson wall, was born 2 Jan 1822 in Gullered, Radvag, Alvsborg, Sweden, a son of Joseph Andersson and Catrina Svensdotter.

When he was a young man in Swede he joined the army, where he served for several years. Being a commissioned officer, he lived in government-owned houses (these houses being named after the first person living in them). Grandfather lived in “Wall’s place,” thus making his name Joseph Josephsson Wall. Upon leaving the army, Grandfather retained the army name “Wall”.

He went to work in a machine shop in Motala, Sweden, where he worked until emigrating to America. While still in the army, he married Miss Johanna Johansson Kant on 31 Oct. 1844. They had four daughters and one son born in Sweden, the last daughter being born 7 Apr. 1860 in Gullered, Alvsborg, Sweden.

In the most beautiful penmanship I have seen, Grandfather signed the membership book as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 9 Feb 1862, being baptized by Sven Borgqvist, and confirmed 10 Feb 1862 by O. Nilsson. Johanny Josephsson Wall, his wife, was baptized by Sven Borgqvist on 9 Feb 1862, and confirmed by Sven Borgqvist 10 Feb 1862. Joseph Josephsson Wall Jr., a son born 15 Aug 1846, was baptized 9 March 1862 by A. Johansson and confirmed by S. Borgqvist on 9 Mar, 1862. Eva Charlotta Josephsson Wall, a daughter born 5 Jan 1849, was baptized 9 Mar 1862 by A. Johansson and confirmed by S. Borgqvist on 9 Mar 1862.

After these four became members of the church, they along with other members of the family emigrated to America in about 1863-64.

Pulling a handcart, they came as far as Wahoo, Nebraska, with a group of pioneers headed for the west, but they soon ran out of provisions. Not having the necessary equipment, they could not go on, so they homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of ground in Wahoo, Nebraska. (In 1970 this land was still owned by the family members who stayed in Wahoo).

They stayed in Nebraska for 15 years, at which time Elder Ferdinand Friis Hintze came there on a mission for the Mormon Church. Elder Hintze had a companion by the name of J.J.Motenson, and Grandfather told him he didn’t look like a preacher with his shabby clothes, so he took him out and bought him a new suit, so that he could teach the gospel with dignity.

Eva Charlotta Wall married John Hanson 9 Dec 1870 in Wahoo, and stayed there. Albertina Wall married Theodore Anderson 28 Mar 1871 in Wahoo. They also stayed in Wahoo as her husband was a preacher. Theodore Anderson’s family was still living in the Wahoo in 1968.

Joseph Josephsson Wall Jr. married his first wife, Christina Larson 14 Jan 1873 in Wahoo, Nebraska. He took her to Salt Lake in 1879. Later he took three other wives. (2)Jensine Hendricksen 26 Apr 1881 (3)Hedvig Tomine Pedersen 28 Jun 1883 (4) Ellen Anderson (Elsie Kirstine Anderson) 7 July 1887.

Later on, when the polygamy issue arose, and he was being pursued by the federal marshals, rather than give any of them up he would hide out in Grandfather’s barn for days at a time. He eventually moved with his three families to Lyman, Wyoming in 1895 and 1896, and this is where he lived out the remainder of his life. He died 23 Apr 1921, and is buried in the Lyman City Cemetary, along-side his fourth wife, Ellen Anderson.

By the time grandfather came to Salt Lake City the railroad was in operation, so they came into the valley by rail. After he came to Utah, Grandfather was rebaptized 8 Aug 1880 by David B. Brinton, and confirmed by Breneman B. Bitner, in Holladay, Utah. Also on the same date and by the same people, rebaptized and confirmed were Johanna Wall, Joseph Josephson Wall Jr., Christina Larson Wall, Augusta Matilda Wall, and Hulda Olivia Wall.

The daughter, Augusta Matilda, married Ferdinand F. Hintze 22 Aug 1878 in the Endowment House. The younger daughter, Hulda Olivia Wall, married Peter Julius Petersen 28 Dec 1882. They had a daughter Sinora Matilda, and they lived on 23rd East above 45th south.

Grandfather Josephsson Wall Sr. and his family settled in Holladay, Utah. On 6 June 1879, his son, Joseph Josephson Wall Jr., bought 7.14 acres of ground in Holladay for $475.00 from Charles C. Bartlett. (S W ¼ N E ¼ Section 3 Township 2 S Range 1 E. Abstract recorded in A 5 page 236; Document recorded Book “O” page 202-4) Presumably this property was above what is now known as 45th South, and along what is now known as Russell Street, on the west side of the street.

Joseph Josephsson Wall Sr., on 6 Apr1880, bought N E ¼ S W ¼ of section 3 Township 2 S Range 1 E from Joseph Casto for $450.00. On 3 Apr 1880 he bought the west half of S E ¼ of section 3 from Santo Casto for $800.00. These two pieces of property were written up as one, and included 6.5 acres of ground bing located below what is known as 45th South St. between 2300 East and Russell street, going up the hill on the east side of the street. (Abstract recorded A 5 page 236, document recorded Book P page 255-7)

On 22 Mar 1883, Grandfather took a second wife in the Endowment House. She was Matilda Maria Andersson, and was 26 years old at the time. Later, she bought 11.61 acres adjoining Santo Casto’s and Andrew Okersen’s property, which she paid $3000.00 for. Matilda had two daughters and two sons:
Ingrid Mary Wall married Edward Johnson
Betsy (Betty) Amanda Wall married August Gustavson 12 Dec 1907
Conrad Joseph Wall married Anna Vilhelmina Albertina Youngberg 31 Jan 1912. She died in the flu epidemic. Later he married Selma Teresia Karlsson on 1 Oct 1920.
Bernard Adolph Wall married Hanna Vinfelt. Later after her death he married Victoria Petersson King 18 Aug 1943.

While yet maintaining residence in Holladay, the son, Joseph Josephson Wall Jr. worked on the Manti Temple as a carpenter. Joe being blessed with the talents of his father, could look at a space and carve a piece of wood that fit every time.

Grandfather excelled in anything he could do with his hands. He was a cobbler, a tailor, and a carpenter. He was easy going, and loved people. He often had immigrants come and stay with the family when they came from Sweden. One young man took sick and died while living with them, he was buried in their family plot in the Holladay Cemetary.

Johanna J. K. Wall, his first wife, died Jan 1885.

Matilda M. Wall, his second wife, was the one who was stern and strict. She had a small meat market, and was quite a business woman while raising her children alone, after the death of her husband. She acquired a great deal of property in Holladay.

At the time of his death, Grandfather’s hair was a beautiful silver gray, and even the nurses in the hospital took locks of his hair, because it was so pretty.

He lived the remainder of his life in Holladay until he died 17 Jan 1899. He was buried in the Holladay Cemetery, now known as Holladay Memorial Park, lot #1, 2 East 4 South, near the flag pole. Johanna was buried there also, by his side.

Matilda Maria Wall, his second wife, is buried in the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Highland Drive, because there weren’t any burial spaces remaining in the family plot in Holladay.