Carl Anderson Frank A Short Sketch Taken From His Diary

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Carl Anderson Frank

Carl Anderson Frank was born December 24, 1828, in Fuxerna, Alvsborg, Sweden. He was the second child and eldest son of Anders Engelbrecktson and Britta Maja Bryngelson. His father was a poor working man and died when Carl was only nine years of age leaving his wife and four children in poor circumstances.

I found employment herding cows and sheep for the surrounding farmers. I had no education except what my mother taught me from the primer. I loved books and learning.

I was confirmed into the Lutheran religion when sixteen years of age. I was then one of the best readers in the Lutheran Catechism. After being confirmed, I got work in a cotton factory where I stayed for three and a half years. My wage was 33 cents per day, and I advanced to foreman. I resigned and took service in the Gota Military School from which I graduated in 1850. When the war between Russia and the United French and English broke out, I was commanded to go with the Ninth Battery of the Gota Artillery Regiment to Gotland to guard against the Russians. It was while here I took the name "Frank". When the war ended in 1854, I resigned having served six years with honor. After that, I studied and practiced law.

I was baptized into the LDS church November 6, 1856, at 28 years of age by M. A. Fyrander and confirmed by Elder Frantz Theodor Grönberg. Later that year, I married Gustave Charlotta Tumholm. I served as a missionary for the Church from the time I joined until I immigrated to Utah.

While still in Sweden, I was put in jail seven times for preaching the gospel. I was Branch President of the Halmstad Branch. I was fined 100 Kronor or about $25 once for holding a meeting in my own house. Another time I was called before the clergy in the Cathedral. This meeting lasted three hours. Several of the Elders were there also. Our doctrine was censured to the lowest degree. This insulted the people to a fighting condition, and the brethren had to flee for protection. The police locked me in a storeroom for protection from the mob. One time I had to pay $75 or serve three months in jail. I served the jail term.

While traveling along a country road near a forest, I was arrested and whipped and had my belonging and books taken. I later found some of my personal belongings, but my books were destroyed. In May 1857, my small stepson, Axel Berger, died. I searched for three days for a place to bury him. I was then called in to answer to the mob violence and couldn't attend my son's funeral. Another time, I was called to meet with the clergy and was told this would be my last chance. If I didn't give up my erroneous beliefs, I would be delivered to the law a get a jail sentence, and they would have no more to do with me. To this, I said, "Farewell".

Most of the Mormons were persecuted and fined 100 Kronor ($25) each for preaching the gospel of our Savior. The Mormons then appealed to the Superior Court and chose me as their attorney. The Superior Court sustained the Lower Court. I then appealed to the King's Court in Stockholm and succeeded so well that all the Mormons were acquitted. This happened once again but they were acquitted in the Lower Court and the accusers had to pay me a sum of money for my trouble.

At one time, my wife asked to be baptized but changed her mind and never joined the church. On April 17, 1863, I left her and a three year old son, Charles Albert, in Göteborg and started on my journey to America. The parting was full of anguish. My mother, brother and sister joined the church in Sweden, and Mother came to America with me.

B.S. Kimball Passenger List Page 1

B.S. Kimball Passenger List *See Note Below Page 4

When we arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark, by steamer, we were met by a mob but we all escaped unharmed. We traveled in a sailing vessel, the B.S. Kimball. The journey across the water took five weeks. We then traveled by railroad and steamship to Omaha, Nebraska. Then to Salt Lake City, we went by ox team. I was appointed Capitan of the company.

During the journey, I met Anna Cajsa Anderson from Lidkoping, Sweden. We were married July 18, 1863, while crossing the plains. We arrived in Salt Lake City September 5, 1863, and were honored to see and talk to Brigham Young, the Prophet of the Lord.

Some Words About His Life In Cache Valley, Utah

They arrived in Logan, Utah, September 12, 1863. Four sons and three daughters were born to them. Logan, as yet, had no regular banking business. In 1865, Charles or Charlie Frank, as he was called, did this sort of work for Cache County. He had connections with first class banking houses both in the United States and abroad. His drafts were honored all over the world. He was a Public Notary and Commercial Attorney in Cache County. He was an agent for the Gunion Steamship Line and for the Phoenix Insurance Company of London. He was bookkeeper and accountant for ZCMI in Logan. He served on the Logan City Police force. He took a second wife, Josephine Anderson, in Logan. She bore him four sons and one daughter. He was a beautiful penman. He loaned money to people without a note and had no trouble collecting.

Many Scandinavian emigrants stayed at their home until they found a place to live. He had a weak stomach all his life and due to the poor food served while he was in jail for practicing polygamy, he contracted an illness and was released to his home. He did not recover from this illness and passed away at his home August 2, 1890. He was buried in the Logan, Utah Cemetery.

* After much research and examination of the B.S. Kimball passenger lists, the following has been concluded. The marked names on the passenger list are the only two names that logically would be Carl A. Frank and his mother Britta. For these reasons: (1) These are the only "Carl" and "Britta" listed together. (2) According to Carl's personal journal, the B.S. Kimball is the boat they traveled on and this passenger list corresponds with his dates. (3) Carl is listed as a "Clerk" and Britta as a "Widow" which also corresponds with his journal. (4) Although Britta's listed age does not match according to dates, Carl's does