Alexander Dahl, a Pioneer settler of East Jordan Ward, Salt Lake County, Utah, was born August 11, 1831, in Frederikstad, Norway, the fourth child of Paul and Anna Marie Dahl. He lived with his parents on a Norwegian farm until he was eighteen years old. At that age he took up the carpenter's trade, and mastered it in five years.
Alexander was baptized September 26, 1852 as a convert to Mormonism (Brothers Dorius and Hogan were the missionaries who preached the Gospel to him) and was ordained to the office of Teacher in the Priesthood. As such he took a lively part in disseminating the principles of the Gospel among his relatives and others. At the time of his ordination, the Elders were imprisoned in Frederikstad, so the duty of preaching the Gospel rested upon the Saints. Brother Dahl, with others, took part with great interest.
In the fall of 1854, together with a small number of other Norwegian emigrants, he embarked for America, having joined the main body of emigrants from Scandinavia in Copenhagen, under the direction of EIder Peter 0. Hansen. But on its way to England, the steamer was forced by a terrific storm to seek shelter in the rock bound harbor of Mandel, Norway, where the company remained about a week. During that time many meetings were held and the brethren bore testimony of the Gospel to the inhabitants of that little town, with seemingly good effect.
The company, numbering 440 Scandinavian emigrants, left Liverpool, on board the ship James Nesmith, January, 1855, and reached New Orleans on February 23, 1855. From that city they continued their journey up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Fort Leavenworth and Mormon Grove. While there, their camp was infested with the cholera and many of the emigrants died, among whom was Christian Dahl, a brother to Alexander. Christian's wife was named Helena, and she came with the emigrants to Utah.
In June, the company left Mormon Grove, under the direction of EIder Jacob P. Secrist, who died during the journey leaving his first assistant, Elder Noah T. Guyman, in charge of the company. EIder Guyman brought the company safely to Salt Lake City, arriving September 27, 1855.
