They were born in Denmark; joined the Mormons there. In 1857 Mrs. Anderson arrived at Burlington, Iowa; delayed there until 1859 on account of Johnston's Army, having to be sent to Utah. That year she walked nearly all the way to Salt Lake City. In 1860 Mr. Anderson came; he pulled a hand-cart from Florence, Nebraska. They soon saw the deception in "Brighamism;" joined Morris a seceder from Brigham. May 22, 1863, they came to Soda Springs with the first settlers; they were escorted and protected by Gen. Connor and California volunteers. July 20, 1863, they were married here; their marriage was the first in Idaho Territory, as far as they knew. Later Mr. Anderson became "The father of the Anti-Mormon Party" in Idaho.
At South Weber, Utah, June 13-15, 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were in "The Morrisite Massacre." Mrs. Anderson's chin was shot away with a cannon ball that killed Mrs. Barbara Deithelm and Mrs. Joseph (?) Marsh, fired by Gen. Robert T. Burton's Mormon Militia into a bowery of unarmed "Morrisites ", June 13, because they refused to obey "Brigham's" decrees, after Johnston's Army had left Utah on account of the Civil War. Mrs. J.L. Bear and her baby were killed with another cannonball. Then many Morrisites with their old guns tried resistance. On the third day, all surrendered under a white flag.
Mrs. Anderson
says; "When Morris came before Gen. Burton the latter used abusive language and tried to ride over Morris on his horse. This abuse was on account of his religious teaching. I saw him... shoot Morris."
Dow's affidavit says: Burton shot Morris, Banks, Mrs. James Bowman and another woman, after they surrendered. Ten "Morrisites" were killed and one "Mormon." The Prisoners were to be tried at the next term of court held by Chief Justice Kinney, a Mormon. In the mean time Gov. Harding, associate Justices Waite, Drake, Col. Connor and volunteers arrived.
"Seven Morrisites" were sentenced to imprisonment from "ten to fifteen years," "Sixty-six" heavily fined.
"We", wrote Gov. Harding in 1871, "attended through the trial which was nothing but a mockery. Burton admitted his shooting the prisoners, ... had I been on the bench I should have had him arrested...; but it would have been useless. The jurors would all be Mormons, and recognize no law but the commands of 'authority'.
"Petitions were gotten up for the unconditional pardon of the Morrisites which were signed by all the gentiles,... not a Mormon signed them. ...
"I issued the pardon, ... some mounted mortars ... commanding the Bee-Hive house and Lion house, made things tolerably smooth on the surface,"
Brigham Young June 15, as by H.P. McLane, said, "that Morris and Banks will be taken I have
no doubt, ... but if I had my own way about it, I would not spare neither man, woman nor child, but as it is a Untied States affair, they can have it as they please. But as regards this young man .. he has died a martyr to the cause and kingdom of our God. ... This was a matter of necessity. ... the worst ... I dislike..., is that after they are routed, the ... accursed devils ... will be trying to sneak back into the church again .."
R.W.Young writing for the "contributor," of 1890, for the Mormon Mutual Improvement Association says: "The ... action of the governor was followed ... in course of time, by persecution of Gen. Burton. ... A grand jury was led in ... 1870, to bring in an indictment for murder..., and ...(he) thought himself compelled by circumstances to evade arrest ... later, another indictment was found against Gen. Burton ..., He made no attempt to escape,..."
Between these two indictments a ruling had "provided in substance for juries half Mormon and half Gentile."
This Young says "the prosecution labored long, and," "clouds of witnesses were brought forth," "to persuade the jury," "one half being non-Mormon," that Burton killed Mrs. Bowman.
This case was no. 3109, U.S. vs. Burton for "murder 1st degree," set for trial 1st day of Feb. term 1879. March 8 — indictment dismissed. This was one of the three indictments against him.
It was asked:
What about the case for killing Morris? U.S. District Attorney Vanzile answered, "What is the use, if they will not convict for killing an innocent woman?"
To Father and Mother, and historic to man, we dedicate this memorial.
Abraham Christopher Anderson, Ida Collett, Anna Christina Rogers, David Andrew Anderson, Abelone Larsen, Peter William Anderson, Niels Christian Anderson, Mary Amelia Verham.
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