Memorial in Norway
 
 
About 1860, Lars Larsen Slottenaa Knaphus was a cotter, leasing the land of approximately 2.5 acres. He cleared the rocks away by carrying them in a shoulder sling he made. He constructed a stone wall around the farm, removing stumps and other obstacles. Lars built a little home and an animal barn at the Knaphus farm. He was handy with tools and built cabinets and furniture for his small dwelling. At age 31, Lars married Liva Sakariassen, age 27, in 1874. With their combined earnings they built an addition to his home. They had a fine pantry, behind their house, built into the ground. It had many shelves which stored a variety of food. The milk was stored in big rough brown bowls. They kept track of each milking with chalk. Liva made flatbread and lefse that could be stored for up to a year. They had all kinds of goodies and sweets at the home, making refreshments available any time. In 1886, at age 43, Lars Larsen Knaphus was awarded the ‘Stavanger County Medal’ for exceptional cultivating of the land and farming. A newspaper article was written about the event. At age 56, “The Farmers’ Friend”, featured a large article about Lars, honoring his efforts and accomplishments for clearing his land and making it a beautiful and useful farm. He was always sure his honest toil would bring a just reward.
Knaphus farm-house, circa 1913 painted by Torleif Knaphuus at age 32
 
Text from the memorial: Torleif grew up in the beautiful surroundings here in Knapphus where his parents worked and cultivated the farm where they lived. At age 20 years old he studied art at the Kings Art and Drawing School in Kristiania (now Oslo). He converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to the U.S.A. to be with others of his belief. In 1909 Torleif married Emelia H. Christensen, and had 8 children. She died in 1931. He then married Rebecca Marie Jacobson in 1940 and they had 6 children. In pursuit of his passion for art, he Studied art in Paris for 1½ years. Torleif also studied art in New York and Chicago. One of his many known works of art is this monument of the pioneer family pulling a handcart. This was used when commemorating the Latter-day Saints who were persecuted and had walked by foot more than 2.100 mi. westward toward the Salt Lake Valley between 1856 and 1860. They walked with their few possessions and their small children in the carts to seek religious freedom in the Salt Lake Valley. At 62, Torleif finished the “Handcart Pioneers” which today stands in larger-than-life at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Torleif was very fond of Norway and his family that lived here. He worked hard with genealogy and some of his lines are clear back to 1100. One of his lines is documented to King Harald of Denmark about 840 AD. Torleif’s religious belief is that family and love are forever.
The Monument at Knapphus
of the “Handcart Pioneers”
age 26                                            age 67
Life Events of Torleif S. Knaphus 1881 – Born in Vats, Norway At age: 8 – Drew pictures of community leaders; carved from wood, birds and heads of people 15 - Started his apprenticeship in Haugesund and ølen 17 - Went to sea as a sailor between England and Iceland shipping coal and fish 20 - Won 2nd place in spear throwing in Stavanger; studied art in Kristiana Oslo) at the King’s Drawing and Art School 21 - Baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 24 – Emigrated to the United States of America 27 – Married Emelia (Millie) Helena Christensen. They had 8 children 31 – Studied art in Paris, France 32 – Won 1st place for a sculpture at the Exhibition Ulinac in Paris 40 - Designed and sculpted the oxen for the baptismal font for the Canadian LDS Temple; Sculpted the "Christ with the Woman at the Well" frieze 45 - Created the renowned “Handcart Pioneers” statue 49 - Wife Millie died 53 - Completed “Angel Moroni Monument” on Hill Cumorah in Palmyra, New York 58 - Married Rebecca Marie Jacobson. They had 6 children 66 -Designed and sculpted “Joseph Smith Receiving the Gold Plates” monument. Sculpted and painted other fine art pieces until his death. 1965 – Died at age 83 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Torleif S. Knaphus Sculptor and Artist Born: 14 December, 1881 Knaphus Farm, Vats, Rogaland, Norway Died: 14 June, 1965 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Link to Memorial article in Newsletter Download Word document of this page