Missionaries from the Mormon Church reached Denmark in 1850. The Book of Mormon was translated into Danish and published in 1851.
As early as 1855, they were listed in the Census of Hojbylyng as being Mormon. When their daughter, Emma, was born in 1857 she was listed as Mormon. But in the 1860 Census they were listed as Lutheran. (As family historians know, census takers are notoriously inaccurate in recording details.)
Why did Maren and Christian seek a new church? What attracted them to the Mormon faith? What challenges did they face in converting to this new religion? There was widespread discrimination practiced against Mormons in Denmark (and other countries). That they felt strongly about their religious faith is obvious but what other economic and social conditions impacted this family and influenced their next decision.
In 1884 - when they were 71 years old! - they emigrated to America and made the long and difficult journey to their new home in Richfield, Utah. Richfield had a large Danish immigrant community and this perhaps attracted them there. They certainly would have traveled by train to Salt Lake City and perhaps south for some distance and then probably a wagon or stage journey to finish the trip 160 miles south of Salt Lake City.
On May 9 1890, their daughter Ane Marie, her husband, Jens Peder (JP) Larsen), their granddaughter Anna Christine Hansine Christiansen Frederiksen and her husband, Frederik Frederiksen, arrived in America and headed to Richfield, Utah, partly to check on them. What a joyous reunion it must have been.
Christian died on Christmas Day, 1893. Maren died the 29th of September of 1899. Both are buried in Richfield City Cemetery and share a beautiful marker with Ane and JP.
In 1898, their son, Hans Christensen, came to America following the death of his wife in 1897 and brought his two youngest daughters with him. All three figure in our family history - but that is another story.
Lessons:
- With the patronymic naming in Denmark, there are many similar names. Research is difficult and requires great concentration with attention to original sources and accuracy.
- Family histories are best done with a reading of the social history of each country and era. Social and political events had an important impact on the decisions of individuals.
Sources:
- This story would not be possible without the meticulous research conducted by Mr. Don Dalling, Mrs. Anita Cook and others. It also would not have been possible with out the sharing of family history done by these two individuals as well.
- The Diary of Frederik Frederiksen, translated from the Danish by his wife's sister - Mrs. Janna Crapo.
- The Letter of Anna Christine Hansine Christiansen Frederiksen to her new husband who was working in the mines at Pioche, Nevada.
Christian and Maren Nielsen are my great-great-great grandparents. Hans Christiansen is my great-great grandfather and Anna Christine Hansine Christiansen Frederiksen is my great grandmother.
I didn't realize that Frederik and Christine were joining family. Apparently I need to reread Frederik's journal. Always wondered why in the heck they set off on their own to cross the ocean and live somewhere new, but they didn't. Christian and Maren Nielsen did - at 71? Holy smokes. Something really drove them to start over, didn't it?
ReplyDeleteAlso, never understood that take the first name and add 'sen' to it. How in the world did they keep track of each other? Suggests that the world was smaller and that possibly their formal names was not the same as their personal day-to-day nickname.
More stories to tell about Frederik and Christine and family names....
ReplyDeleteAlso interesting to note from a church history perspective (i.e. social) that in Denmark back then, the Lutheran Church was nearly akin to a state religion. Everyone was almost unquestioningly Lutheran. So, I would speculate that the Lutheran listing in the census was perhaps a lazy census worker putting down an assumption without having bothered to ask them. What social rebels they must have been A) to go counter to the dominant culture, and B) to have that kind of courage to pick up everything at 71 and move half a world away!
ReplyDeleteI had also not realized that Mormonism had spread back to Europe that early... very interesting!!! Their move to Utah was most likely a religious pilgrimage of sorts-- I can understand THAT kind of fervor at 71! Have to admire their faith, even if the tenets of Mormonism are a little wonky by my estimation.