!"BIOGRAPHY OF THE JENSEN-LAURITZEN FAMILIES WHO EMIGRATED TO UTAH IN THE YEARS 1862 AND 1864" (Accn 537)

INVENTORY

J. Willard Marriott Library, Manuscripts Division <../spcmss.html>
University of Utah

You are the person to visit this page since October 4, 1997.

This inventory was prepared by Dorothy Mortensen in July 1997.

The Jensen-Lauritzen families' emigration from Denmark to Moroni, Utah, is told in a carbon-copy, six-page typescript, entitled, "Biography of the Jensen-Lauritzen Families Who Emigrated to Utah in the Years 1862 and 1864." Peter Jensen, his wife Kyirsten Anderson Jensen, and seven children left Farre, Denmark, in April of 1862. After a nine-week Atlantic crossing by sailing ship, they arrived in New York. They went to St. Louis, then to Omaha, from where they started across the plains, making most of the trip on foot. They arrived in Salt Lake City on September 29, and went on to Moroni, Utah, that fall. Lauritz Lauritzen, his wife Marie Petersen Lauritzen, and seven children left Norris Nodem, Denmark, in the spring of 1864. The family arrived in Salt Lake City in September. During the arduous ocean and plains crossings, three children died of communicable diseases. A fourth died shortly after arrival in Moroni. Both families experienced the usual hardships of pioneering life and were united by marriage. Andreas Jensen married the oldest daughter of Marie Lauritzen, and Peter Lauritzen married Caroline Jensen, to whom were born ten children. Peter served a mission to Minnesota in 1869, served as superintendent of the Sunday Schools, and in 1885 was elected mayor of Moroni. He died October 3, 1890, from injuries suffered from an attack by a bull. Caroline supported the family on her 40-acre farm. Her last child was born shortly after her husband's death. She died at age eighty-four on February 5, 1936. This item was received by the library ca. 1979. Size: 1 folder.

Bx 1

Fd 1 - "Biography of the Jensen-Lauritsen Families Who Emigrated to Utah in the Years 1862 and 1864"

Time Line:

1850- Peder Laursen born in Hedegaard, Sjstrup, Skanderborg, Denmark

1852- Caroline Christine Jensen born in Farre, Aarhus, Denmark

1869- Peder and Caroline md. in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

1870- Maria Lauritzen born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1873- Peter born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1875- Dorthea Christina born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1878- Lewis Edward born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1879- Peter went on mission to Minnesota and returned 1881

1880- Lizette Martine born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1882- James Orson born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1884- John Irvin born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1886- Andrew Elmer born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1888- Peter appointed Superindent of Sunday School until apr 1890

1889- Royal Wilford born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

Maria md. Frantz Peter Jensen Smith in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah

Peter presided over 4th Quorum of Deacons

1890- Caroline Margreatha born in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

Peter was appointed City Councilor in Oct., died 3 days later.

1901- Peter md. Mary Loanna Terry in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah

James Orson md. Marilda Terry in Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah

1903- Lizette Martina md. Thomss Alma Bailey in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1904- Lewis Edward md. Hattie May Walker in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

1907- James Orson died in McGill, White Pine Co., Nevada

1912- Royal Wilford md. Dorothea Loretta Williamson

1913- Andrew Elmer md. Elizabeth Marie Margretha Jacobsen in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

1925- John Irvin md. Edna Stephenson in Washington D. C.

1928- Caroline Margreatha md. Harlin Hicks

1936- Caroline Christine Jensen Lauritzen died in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1947- Caroline Margreatha died

1948- Maria Lauritzen died in Salt Lake City, bur. Redmond, Sevier Co., Utah

1951- John Irvin died in Riverside, Riverside Co., California

1953- Dorthea Christina died in Redmond, Sevier Co., Utah

1960- Lizette Martina died in Hyrum, Cache Co., Utah, Bur.in Moroni, Sanpete Co., Utah

1962- Peter died in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah

1970- Royal Wilford died

1975- Lewis Edward died in Logan, Cache Co., Utah

1982- Andrew Elmer died in Hyrum, Cache Co., Utah

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History, "They settled in Moroni where they bought a farm and built a home. When I was young it was my pleasure to travel to Moroni with my parents and visit with my Grandmother on many occasions. I am not sure but think that the home Grandmother Caroline was living is at that time was the same home she and Grandfather, Peter, built after their marriage in 1869. On a recent trip through Moroni, Lois and I stopped and took pictures of the old house. It is still in fairly good condition and is currently lived in by some family. At the rear of this home is the barnyard where Peter Lauritzen was killed.

This was a very productive union and 10 children were born to this family. It was my privilege to know all of them with the exception of James Orson. He died in an accident on a cattle ranch near Ely, Nevada in 1907. My Mother, Dorthea, was the third child in this family of four girls and six boys.

This marriage marked the beginning of a beautiful story of love, hardship, sacrifice, tragedy, sorrow and joy. To have known Grandmother Lauritzen and shared her great spirit has always been very special to me. And as I study and learn more about the lives of all these great people I feel a close kinship to them and would hope that all their descendants might learn about them and appreciate the great heritage they left us."

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Peter Lauritzen, (Dad's Father) born Apr 1850 Nare Snederiel Ampt. Denmark. Married 20 Sep 1869. Mission to Minnesota 22 Dec 1879. returned 23 Jan 1881, Supt of Sunday Schol 1888 to 13 Apr 1890.

(Photo album notation)

Sketch of Peder Jensen and Family – by Urvin Gee

Edited by Kelly Lauritzen

Peder Jensen, son of Jens Jensen and Kjersten Andersdatter, daughter of Anders Anderson was born near Hammel, Denmark.  They were residing in the village of Farre, about three miles southwest of Hammel, Denmark in the year 1860.  Peder Jensen was a weaver and a small truck farmer.  He wove such cloth as was largely used for high grade men’s clothing as well as many other kinds of cloth.  Their family consisted of the following:  Jens, Margaret, Andrew, Soren, Peder Andreas, Christian and Christena.

One day, as Peder Jensen worked in his shed thrashing his grain with a flail, two strangers came to him and introduced themselves as Mormon missionaries.  They were both natives of Denmark and converts to the new Latter-day Saint religion.  Their names were Lars Swensen and Hans Hansen.  The Jensen family became interested and eventually member joined the church; Andreas in 1860, Andrew in 1861, and the remainder of the family except the two youngest children were baptized in February of 1862.  They had to chop the ice off of a small stream near their home to provide a place where in to be baptized.  The two youngest were baptized in the Missouri River in Florence, Nebraska. 

Not long after joining the Church, a real test of the Jensen faith came.  One of the Elders that they had met and learned to love committed a grave sin and apostatized from the church.  This was a great trial to the Jensen family.  Peter said, “If such a man can turn against it, there must be nothing left to their belief”.  Then, one of his children reminded him that they were converted to the doctrines of the new sect and not to any Elder.  This thought soon set them straight.

Selling all they had, the family left Denmark for Utah on 6 April 1862.  They crossed the ocean on the sail ship “Humbolt”, the emigrant company being under the direction of Elder Hans Hansen, who has been previously mentioned.  They were on the Atlantic nine weeks.  During their voyage, their sleeping quarters were quite crowded and two of the Jensen boys occupied a bunk that was separated from another bunk occupied by two girls only by a canvas partition.  During a storm the ship plunged about a great deal and often listed heavily before the wind.  On one such occasion, the two Jensen boys were thrown so violently against the canvas partition that it gave way and the two boys found themselves in bed with two strange girls.

(Ship Humbolt

Ship: 789 tons: 157' x 32' x 22' 
Built: 1853 by A. Meyer at Lubeck (Germany)

A German ship, the Humboldt carried two companies of Scandinavian Mormons to America. In each case, the emigrants assembled at Hamburg and from that port embarked on this square-rigger. Shipmaster was Captain H. D. Boysen, who commanded the vessel from 1858 to 1866.

The first company of 323 Saints departed on 9 April 1862 under the leadership of Elder Hans Christian Hansen, a returning missionary. The voyage was described as successful, although fourteen died at sea and on the land journey to Florence, Nebraska. The ocean crossing to New York required forty-one days before the ship] docked on 20 May.

The second company of 328 Saints left Hamburg on 2 June 1866 under the presidency of Elder George M. Brown, a returning missionary, and his counselors, Elders Sven S. Jonasson and Christian Hansen. The ship arrived at New York on 18 July, a passage of forty-six days. During the voyage two adults and three children died. Olaf Jensen, a steerage passenger, described the crossing:

The food on the boat consisted of soup, potatoes, beans, fish, bread, or hardtack biscuits. The cooking was done in iron pots so large the cook could get inside. No bread was made on the ship, the biscuits having been made months before and were extremely hard and dry. The potatoes were sour and soggy. The drinking water was taken from the River Elbe, in Germany, put in wooden barrels, that had been burned on the inside, and was as black as coal, when we drank it. Water was also put in large iron barrels, holding about five hundred gallons, and when the water from the wooden barrels was exhausted, the water from the iron barrels was used. This was red with rust. Pigs would object to the food and water but had to take it.

The beds on the ship were made of common lumber, with room for four in width and were two tiers high.... We had good trip except for fog as we neared the Newfoundland Coast, where another sailing vessel ran into us causing slight damage to our ship. When we were in mid-ocean, I did a boyish prank. Outside under the bow of the vessel, where anchor and chains are hung, I ventured out unknown to my parents or anyone else, I sat there for some time and I was able to see beneath a part of the vessel as the boat plowed through the ocean. This was a very dangerous thing for me to do. Had I slipped and fallen into the ocean, no one would have known what had become of me. But I climbed back safely. We were six weeks crossing the Atlantic Ocean and were glad when we reached Castle Garden, New York, where we stayed for three days. We all had to pass a doctor's inspection before landing.

Shortly after this voyage-possibly on her return trip the Humboldt was lost. The vessel was owned at this time by Robert M. Slomann of Hamburg. Her sailing life was thirteen years before her end in 1866. )

They landed at Castle Gardens in New York and crossed the Hudson River to New Jersey by ferryboat.  There they took the train and traveled to St. Louis, Missouri.  Thence by steamboat to Florence near Omaha, Nebraska.  From Florence to Salt Lake City they traveled by oxteam in Captain Madsen’s Independent company.  While on the plains they had many trying and exciting experiences.

While crossing Loops Fork, a branch of the Platte River, a man fell overboard from the ferry and Soren Jensen, who was a good swimmer, jumped overboard, after tying a long rope around his waiste and succeeded in rescuing the man after a fierce struggle in the water.  On another occasion, when it was desirable to drive the cattle across the Platte River to get feed, as all the grass on their side of the river was gone, it was found the oxen would not cross, but when forced into the water would turn and swim back.  After hours of fruitless work, Soren Jensen slipped off most of his clothing, took a short, thick stick in one hand and seized one of the oxen by the tail with the other hand.  The ox was then pushed into the water by the men and when it tried to turn back received a sharp blow on the nose from the stick.  It tried first one side and then the other and finally gave up and swam directly across.  It was then followed by the rest of the herd.

Members of the Jensen family also saved another emigrant at the ferry over the Green River.  This was a young woman also by the name of Jensen, but no relative.  She later married Andrew Aagard of Fountain Green.  She was helping to get some calves to swim across the river when the current caught her skirt and she was carried down the river.  Two of Peter Jensen’s sons rescued her.

On arriving in Utah, the Jensen came to Moroni 29 September 1862, where they remained.  Younger members of the family, of course, scattered, but Peter and his wife lived in Moroni until their death, which occurred 13 May 1872 and 18 May 1880 respectively.