Daughter of Hans Halstensen and Oline Olsdatter

Married David Brinton, 19 October 1867, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Married Antone Ludvig Halsett, 18 March 1880, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

According to Hilda's niece, Ethel Helena (Bradeson) Dietliker:

"Hilda immigated to Utah a year before her father in 1866 after having won a singing contest which gave her fare to America and all the way to Zion. She was 17 years old. She left Norway on 22 May 1867 for Denmark and embarked from there on the ship Hamburg bound for New York. She was on the ocean 8 weeks and 3 days. On arriving in USA, the group of Saints she was traveling with embarked the same day for St. Joseph, Missouri. They crossed the Mississippi River and joined the Mormon Camp where they waited 2 weeks. In July, her group left (under leadership of Captain Scott) with handcarts. They arrived in Salt Lake City 6 Oct 1867, just in time for October Conference."

THE LIFE OF HILDA HALSETT

Can you hear a young Norwegian girl singing in a full, rich, soprano voice "Saenten Jentens Sunday"? The voice was that of seventeen year old Hilda Holstensen of Christiania, Norway, participating in a contest, the winner of which obtained passage to America. The song title reads to us, "The Challet Maid's Sunday" and the song tells of a young maid's Sunday free from work as she wanders through the hills with the cattle, singing and looking at the sun. It is a song of thanksgiving. Thus our story begins.

Hilda Mathilda Holstensen, (later in Genealogical Records the name, according to the Norwegian law, is Bredesen) was born January 27, 1847 at Grue, Norway. She was the eldest daughter of Hans Holstensen and Oline Olsen Holstensen. These good people were members of the Lutheran Church. They learned of the gospel in 1855 through their neighbors and were converted and baptized into the Church by Elder C. Fjeld, May 16, 1857 in Christiania, Norway. Mother was baptized by Elder H. Thorsen on February 27, 1859. The party to witness her baptism met after dark and walked seven miles to a designated spot on the ocean front. Here a large hole had to be cut two feet deep in the ice before the baptism could proceed. Mother often said she never felt the cold at all.

The Saints were severely persecuted by the law at the time, so in order to throw the police off their trail they all separated after the baptism and went home in different directions. All meetings and gatherings of the Saints had to be carried on in great secrecy as they were not allowed to preach openly. One of the brethren would act as guard at the door and if an officer of the law approached a sign was given to the gathering and everyone fell into a gay frivolous chatter, talking of everything except religion until the police left. Then the meeting went on as before. After Mother's father was baptized he was sent to prison for three months for preaching religion in a public place. His diet was solely bread and water and Mother has told me that he was skin and bones when he was released.

Mother was seventeen years old when a contest was inaugurated by the father of Willard Weihe, a fine violinist. The winner of the contest was to be given passage to America and guaranteed transportation all the way to Zion. Mother was at her prime. She had beautiful long, natural curly hair, lovely white teeth and a wonderful personality that helped her make friends easily. In addition she possessed an excellent soprano voice. Needless to say she won the contest and in her fervor for a religion that she knew to be right, she sacrificed her family and friends and even her sweetheart to come to America.

After waiting one year she left Norway on May 22, 1867 for Denmark and embarked from there on the ship Hamburg bound for New York. She arrived in America after being on the ocean eight weeks and three days. The party of Saints who had been on the ocean so long were anxious to be on their waya to Zion and left New York the day they arrived. They traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri and crossed the Mississippi River immediately, joining the Mormon Camp, where they waited about two weeks.

It was in the month of July when a little band of Saints, including a beautiful girl from Norway, started from the state of Missouri under the leadership of Captain Scott to make the longest trip ever made with handcarts, little money and provisions. They were to pull handcarts across the wearisome plains and by fording streams, climbing hills, and meandering through the defiles of the Rocky Mountains, they must reach Salt Lake Valley before winter set in or all might be lost.

The company stopped on Sundays to rest and meetings were held for spiritual comfort and guidance. At the close of each long and tiresome day's travel, Mother would sing in her beautiful voice until the whole valley and plain vibrated and echoed with the beautiful spirit and word of "We Thank The Oh God For A Prophet", and the all inspiring words of "Come, Come Ye Saints".

The girls in the Company were allowed to walk in certain distance ahead of the other members of the party and on one occasion would have been stolen or captured by the Indians if they had not been rescued by the scouts. Mother walked all the way, and to my memory her only complaint was blistered feet. There were also 18 lame oxen in the Company. (This has no connection with Pawney's blistered feet.) When the company reached Emigration Canyon overlooking Salt Lake City, they gave thanks to God for helping them safely over the plains. They arrived in Salt Lake City October 6, 1867 just in time to participate and mingle with the Saints at the October Conference.

After reporting to the Tithing office of the Church, Mother was sent to Big Cottonwood to the home of Brother Brenemen Bitner until she was rested. Her first assignment after arriving was to sew and do general housework at the home of Bishop David Brinton Sr. About one year later, she became his wife, being married in the endowment house. Three sons and one daughter blessed that union. Hyrum Bredesen Brinton, Minnie M, S. Brinton (Burbidge), Wm. Rowe Brinton, Robert Neslen Brinton. Bishop Brinton died May 17, 1878, ending a very useful and happy career. Later, Mother married Antone Ludwig Halsett. Three sons and three daughters were born to them. Lillian Maud, Josephine Martina, Ludvick Antone, George Peter, Hilda Mary, and Rodney Edward.

Mother spent her entire life among the Saints, doing work for the Church, sharing her talents and helping her people migrate to Zion. Bishop Brinton was very helpful in many ways in assisting Mother to bring the rest of her loved ones here. They all emigrated to America with the exception of her Mother who died about one year after Mother arrived in this country. Her life-long ambition was realized when they arrived in America.

Mother was ever cheerful, ever helpful and offered great courage to all who had the privelege of knowing her. After a happy and useful life, she died at the home of her daughter Josephine in Salt Lake City, October 20, 1936 at the age of 88. At the time of her death she had 34 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren.