Carl Emil Nielsen, Jr.

Carl was the first son and third child of Carl Emil and Jensine. His father was a craftsman and had a construction business. When the depression of 1891 hit, he lost everything. The L.D.S Mexico colonies were being colonized for those who were living the law of Polygamy. Father Carl Emil was also married to Anna Kjar. Jensine's family consisted of Edith (7), Rosine (5), Carl (3), and David Ernest (17 months).

The family came to the colonies in 1892 and was in Colonia Dublan for a short time. Then they moved to Colonia Juarez. Their first home was a tent on the park lot by the river. Then a small, two-room, frame house was built at the north end of town.

On December 8,1892, baby brother Niels Otto was born. Otto died nine months later, 11 days before Carl turned 4 years old.

Story of Carl's faith written by his sister Vennus

Carl was about eleven years old when be had typhoid fever and was quite ill. The Elders were called in, and they administered to him. One of the Elders then asked him how he felt He said "better" The Elder then said, "Oh, you will be pretty sick before you get much better. Typhoid fever runs at least three weeks. The next evening Carl was very restless again and asked for the Elders but said, "Please don't get Bro----, the one who was here last night. He hasn't any faith that their administration will help me. " Mother sent for other Elders. They came and gave a blessing, and Carl knew that be would get well." (Taken from Archie and Vennus Cluff -- A brief history of their lives) The family moved back to Dublan in 1897; and Carl Emil built a Grist Mill, the first one in Dublan. He did well and enjoyed this kind of work. A year after its erection, on April 1, 1902, the mill and practically everything Carl Emil owned was destroyed by fire. It was the family income, and Carl Emil needed to support his large family. He took Jensine and the children at home and moved to Chihuahua City to be Plant Foreman for an American lumber company. Carl was about 13 years old.

Story of Carl's faith written by his sister Edith

“Josephine's sister Edith recalled that when Josephine was seven months old, she took whooping cough. Mother, thinking she was dying, began to cry. She was so tired and discouraged, and she felt so alone. She was away from all her friends and relatives and couldn't even speak with her neighbors because they all spoke Spanish. She said her faith was all gone; she knew her baby was dying. Josephine's older brother, Carl, then about thirteen years old, came in and saw Mother crying over the baby. He left the room for a few minutes. Mother found out later that he was in the other room praying. When he returned, he asked if the baby was better. Mother said no, she couldn't see any change. "Oh I wish Papa would come and administer to her, " cried Carl. "Carl," replied Mother, "Papa isn't here, and we can't get him until night; but you can pray. Your prayers will be heard just as soon as the administration will. " Carl immediately knelt down in the room and prayed again. Again be asked if the baby was better, and again mother answered no. “Mama, have more faith," pleaded Carl. “She is going to get well; I know she is.” It wasn't long before Mother could see a change in the baby. She was getting better but still suffered terrible pain all night. Father and Mother wondered if their faith and Carl's faith were keeping her on Earth when she should have gone. Father again blessed her and told Heavenly Father they were willing to submit to His will; if He wanted the baby they would give her up. But if her time hadn't come, please bless her and relieve her of her awful suffering. Immediately she went to sleep; her suffering ceased. From then on she gradually improved until she was well." (Copied from "Life sketch of my Father, Carl E. Nielsen and Family " by Edith Nielsen Farnsworth)

The following happened when Carl was about 14 years of age. "After working a year in Chihuahua City , the family moved to Ciudad Juarez ( El Paso ). Carl Emil had a shop constructing furniture, and Jensine ran a lunchroom for men and workers of the E.R.A. They lived near an entertainment garden where picture shows were shown twice a week. Each evening there was entertainment, music and band concerts. Carl Emil soon found that his heart was at home where he could be with his entire family and the family could be with the church activities. They went back to Dublan. (Taken from the writing of Vennus)

Carl was 15 years old and the family was living in Colonia Juarez when his brother Grant Alexander (age 7) died in April 1905. Two week later his sister Alice was born. In June the family moved to Garcia.

Information taken from the writings of Carl about his father Carl Emil

Garcia is located in the top of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The settlers were farming and raising cattle. Life was rather hard for the next few years as there was no work to be had; we had to depend entirely on what we could scratch from the ground. However, conditions soon improved. In 1905, the Green Gold and Silver Co. opened up the lumber mills at Madera, about 75 to 80 miles from home. Father and his boys (Carl abt. 17 and Ernest abt. 16) had no problem finding work. Carl taught his sons well in carpentry and being a millwright. They spent most of their time from 1905 to 1911 in Madera. The colonists left Mexico in July 1912 because of unsafe conditions caused by the revolution. Carl Emil went back into the interior to work and Carl, Ellis and Ernest took Jensine and the girls to Blue Water, New Mexico. Carl Emil found his way out of Mexico, and the family moved to Arizona. The three men found work to take care of the family in Pima, Sulpher Spring Valley, Webb, and Tombstone before they were able to move back to Garcia (abt. 1916-17).

Remembrance of Carl about his Father

Carl wrote: Father had a strong testimony of the gospel. I remember when I was working in the logging camp at Madera , I received a letter from him. He told me that on a certain morning while at work (he was in Dublan), a feeling of great danger to me came over him. It was so strong he couldn't continue working. He went off by himself and prayed for me. When he arose to his feet this awful feeling left him, and he knew that whatever it was that threatened me had not hurt me. It just happened that as near as I could place the time this happened, if I had been just a few feet farther up, I would have been knocked clear across the canyon and most certainly of been killed. I am sure Father's prayers were answered in my behalf.

On November 23,1901, Carl married Sarah Ellis Farnsworth in Colonia Garcia. On April 3, 1912, they traveled to the Salt Lake Temple and received their endowments. On the same day Carl, Ellis and two of their children were sealed. Clella and Carl Edward had died of heart failure when about a month old. Carl and Ellis asked for a special blessing when at the Salt Lake Temple that they could have a child that would live. The next child was Jennie. She related this story on July 14, 2007.

Information given by Jennie on July 14, 2007

Carl worked at the Madera lumber mill until he was about 50 years old. Ellis wanted to move out to the states. He was offered a job in New Mexico working in timber, but when he got there they decided they did not need him. The year was about 1935; and during the depression, it was very had to get work - especially at his age. They had a very hard time making ends meet. Jennie got a job for about $15 a week, and that fed them. Carl went in business with a man, but then the man ran off with the money. He later got a job with Brother Cardon that had been at Madera , and they opened a lumber shop in Ciudad Juarez that lasted for about five years. Carl reached the age to receive social security and that helped a lot. They were renting a house; but when Jennie married David Lawson, he told Ellis to go find a house to buy and he would pay for it. Carl was able to pay him back. The later years were probably the happiest time in Ellis's life, being in her own home.

They had five children and four of them died as infants.

	Born	Died
Clela Ellis	24 Nov. 1910 in Garcia	Dec. 17 1910 heart
Carl Edward	10 Dec. 1911 in Madera	Jan. 6, 1912 heart
Jennie	9 Nov. 1915 in Tombstone , AZ
Crilla	23 Apr. 1919 in Webb , AZ	Dec. 10, 1922 plant poison
Phyllis	9 Nov. 1925 in Garcia	Jan.23, 1926

Newspaper Clipping

ELDER NIELSEN NEW AID IN CENTRAL AMERICAN MISSION

GUATEMALA , CA.- Elder Carl E. Nielsen recently was chosen second counselor to President Gordon M. Romney of the Central American Mission with headquarters at Guatemala City . Elder John Forres O'Donnal is the first counselor.

Elder Nielsen came into the mission from El Paso , Tex. , where he was engaged 'in the contracting business as well as a milling enterprise. He was a member of the EL Paso Stake High Council at the time of his call and arrived in the mission field the middle of September, having driven by car from Salt Lake City .

Mrs. Ellis Nielsen, his wife, has accompanied him in his missionary work and is learning the Spanish language.

Elder Nielsen has lived and worked for many years 'in Mexico so speaks the Spanish language almost like a native.

He was born in Salt Lake City August 25, 1889 and left with his parents for the Mexican colonies at the age of three years where he received his schooling, attending the Juarez Stake Academy . He married Sarah Ellis Farnsworth in 1909 and later left Mexico during the general exodus in 1912 via the overland route on horseback. Since then he has lived about half the time in the States and the other half in Mexico where he was engaged in the milling business.

The couple has one daughter, Mrs. Dave Lawson, residing in El Paso, Tex., and who is prominent in Church work in the El Paso Stake.

Elder Nielsen is in charge of the building program 'in the Central American Mission and is doing a fine job on the Guatemala Chapel.

Letter by Carl Emil Nielsen Jr.

Madera May 7-33 My Darling Mother and Father, Next Sunday is Mother's Day, and I am ashamed to admit that it is the first time I have ever written you and expressed my gratitude to you for all you have meant to me; but it isn't because I haven't felt grateful, but it is because I have never remembered this day, and I would of forgotten it this time if it hadn't been announced over the radio. Ellis told me, when she was up here, when it was and told me to be sure and not forget it. She has reminded me of it every year, but you know how men are - they do lots of things they didn't want to do and fail to do other things they did want to do. I was glad you got a chance to go to Utah and visit with your folks. I know how you must of enjoyed the trip, and I hope you get many more chances. Both of you desire it.

The folks will soon be met, and believe me I will sure be glad of it because it is sure getting lonesome here. I will be glad when I can come home and stay.

God bless you both.

I am your son

C. E. Nielsen Jr.

(Information about Carl Emil Nielsen Jr. was gathered by Alice Jo C. Ellsworth, July 14, 2007)