Celebration for settling of Sanpete County

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Hans Dinesen (Denison), his wives, Johanne Christophersen, Anne Margrete Hansen, Anne Nielsen, and families will be honored Saturday, Sept. 20,
in the 27th commemoration of the “Settlement of Sanpete.” Descendants and the public are invited to join with this special tribute. Hans Dinesen was born in 1824 in Denmark. He came to Utah in September 1853, with the first Scandinavian Saints. The group was immediately sent to Spring City, but because of the Walker War fled to Manti in mid December 1853. Known to be a kind and gentle man, Hans was also an avid journal keeper. The first 1853 – 54 winter he recorded that, “Worse than the hunger was the cold.” Nevertheless, his family survived on frozen potatoes and “smutty wheat.”
Manti’s small stone-fort and log fort covered about 6 acres, and it was full, there was not enough room for many of the new Danish settlers. Hans spent that winter with his wife, a toddler and 4 month old baby, in the wagon box. With just the thin canvas as their shelter, he hastily built a stone fireplace for warmth and cooking, then a stone wall to help keep some of the snow and wind out.
Registration and information packets will be at the “Red Church,” 295 South Main, Manti, Utah starting Saturday morning at 8 A.M. At 9:30 a.m. action will shift to the Pioneer Heritage Gardens (Hwy 89, south of the Cemetery) for a Settlement of Sanpete. Placing of the Wreath Ceremony and Prayer of Thanksgiving.” Cemetery Tours of Denison family graves will follow.
At 11 a.m. a program honoring Hans and the Denison family will be held back at the “Red Church.” in the chapel. Following the Program, a pioneer luncheon will be served in the cultural hall. A drive-by visit of Denison homes and guided tours of graves, and other points of interest, including the John Patten House (DUP Museum 3rd North, 1st West) and Temple Hill Dugout will be available from 1-4 P.M. The “Settlement of Sanpete” Honor Day is sponsored by the Manti Camp of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. Reservations for the luncheon are appreciated. (Adults $8, Children under 12 $5) A new Denison book can be purchased. For further information call Jane A. Braithwaite 435-835-5841 or Rebecca Tollefson 435-835-4423 Or email: hansdenison@gmail.com, Denisonorg.org or Sanpete.com/events.