Karen Hansena Nielsen Jeppesen
Compiled by Christian Jeppesen
Karen Hansena Nielsen Jeppesen, the daughter of Hans Nielsen and Mary Jacobsen Nielsen, was born February 11, 1850, at Odense, Denmark. Her father, Hans Nielsen, was a master mason and plasterer. He was noted for his warm congenial personality. He didn’t join the Church, but remained in his native country where he passed to the great beyond, at the age of 87, a well respected man.
Her Mother, Mary Nielsen, was firm, energetic and strictly business. She managed very well with their small income and directed most of the affairs of the home. She never complained and was always appreciative of her many blessings. In spite of the fact that she was nearly 50 years old when she went to America, she mastered the English language, without the aid of a teacher, learning to read and converse intelligently.
She wore a little neat cap on her head and always kept herself and her children very neat and clean.
She was very liberal with the Mormon Missionaries and fed and sheltered them, and at times she even gave them money that their needs might be provided for. She and all of her children joined the church and Mr. Nielsen was very upset about having Mormons in his home.
Although the Lahn Stiftesle school in Denmark was free and supervised in such a way that only one member of a family could attend at one time, Mrs. Nielsen arranged affairs so that all of her children that were old enough received an education while they yet lived in Denmark. The Nielsen children were strictly disciplined, they went to work from six to nine in the morning learning their trade, and were in school from nine till 12. After the noon hour they went back to their trade until eight o’clock at night.
In Denmark boys were compelled to join the Military School at the age of 21. Mrs. Nielsen managed to get her two oldest boys, Nels J. and Jorgen C., on a ship sailing to America before they were drafted into this school. Her greatest desire was that she and all her children might go to Zion where they could worship in humility without condemnation. On May 10, 1865, Mary Nielsen with her children, Peter, Annie, Karen Hansena and Alfreda, set sail from Gluckstadt on the ship “B.S. Kimball” under Captain Dearborn. A. M. Winberg and John Swenson from Utah, together with H. G. Hegstadt, a convert, were their leaders.
Due to bad drinking water, foul air and vermin on the ship, many passengers became ill and spent a discomfortable trip. Out of 557 souls, three adults and 25 children died and were buried at sea.
The passengers of the ship were allowed many liberties in the way of amusement. Best of all, they were allowed to select their own cook to prepare food for the sick. The food was distributed to the eight wards, in which the ship was divided, by men appointed to that position.
In mid-ocean two never-to-be-forgotten events took place. The first was when the ship took fire causing a short-lived panic, but the fire was soon extinguished. The second event concerned the Civil War in the United States. A ship from the United States informed them that the Union Troops had been victorious. All passengers were called to the deck and gave three rousing cheers for the Red, White and Blue.
On June 14, 1865, they landed in New York. On June 20, they arrived by rail, at Quincy, Illinois and crossed the Mississippi River to the Missouri side. Here for two days they endured a pouring rain without shelter. On June 22, they took a steam boat up the Missouri River, arriving at Wyoming, Nebraska the following day.
Four persons died between New York and St. Joseph, Missouri and three persons died coming up the Missouri River. On June 29, they buried Lars Petersen, a young man of 30, who drowned while bathing. He had sold his property in Denmark to finance the journey to Zion for 20 persons. Among them were Mrs. Nielsen and her family, but the money they borrowed was later paid to the father of Mr. Petersen.
They stayed in Wyoming, Nebraska for five weeks, getting in good physical condition for that strenuous journey across the plains. The young men had to break in steers because about 80 percent of the cattle they bought were neither tamed nor broken. Wild cattle and the art of training them were as new and strange to these young men as the yoke was to the wild steers. Another reason for slow progress was that the wagons cost $200 in currency or $100 cash IN GOLD. Oxen and steers were worth $150 per pair, which made traveling across the plains rather expensive for those times.
During the delay, a company of freighters, consisting of 12 mule teams that hauled freight from Nebraska City to Salt Lake City, joined with them. Albert Davis was captain of this company, assisted by Miles Romney and enough young men to handle the teams. They were courageous fellows who knew the plains and the way of the Redmen. Having them along made the trip much safer.
On July 31, 1865, they bade farewell to Wyoming, Nebraska and commenced the journey across the plains with M. B. Atwood as captain and C. B. Taylor as assistant. John Swenson was made commissary and John Gundrop was secretary. Their train consisted of 45 wagons exclusive of Captain Davis’ teams. On September 19, they arrived at Fort Laramie, Wyoming. The officers of the fort called the emigrants together and addressed them in three different languages, telling them that the Indians were desperate and warning them of the danger they might encounter on their journey to Salt Lake City. They offered to assist them to any other part of the United States the company might choose. After discussing the subject themselves, the Saints voted to continue their journey to Zion.
On September 22, three days out from Fort Laramie, they camped at a place called Cottonwood Hollow. Some distance from the camp the animals were being watered when Indians came out from their ambush and attacked the caretakers of the animals with supposed intentions of driving off the cattle. Seven men were injured and remained bedfast the rest of the journey. Frederic Gruntwig was one wounded with arrows, but the worst tragedy of the attack was that the Indians captured his wife and her fate was never learned. The method for extracting arrows was crude but rather unique. The patient would sit on the wagon hub with his back against the spokes and while men held him fast, someone pulled the arrows out with ordinary blacksmith tongs. It was supposed that the arrows might be poisoned, as was sometimes the case, but this time they weren't.
A few days after the Indian attack, a young lady’s dress caught aflame at a mid-day campfire, when they stopped for their noon-day meal and rest. Her life was saved by the prompt action of Anna Nielsen. Two weeks later, while the young lady was convalescing from her burns, a herd of buffalo came dashing through the wagon train causing the ox-teams to stampede. The wagons were bumping one against another and during the excitement the young woman jumped. She fell under the wheels of another wagon and was instantly killed.
At Sweetwater, Wyoming, they met the help train sent out by Brigham Young, which provided them with food and took care of the sick and wounded. Sometimes in the evenings the emigrants danced around camp fires to the music of several musicians they were fortunate in having with them.
While fording Green River another exciting experience was encountered. A headbolt in a wagon was either broken, or had fallen out and a whole family was stranded in mid-stream on a sandbar. The family spent a sleepless night, but they were rescued next morning by Karen’s brother, Peter, without harm to anyone.
On November 8, 1865, they arrived at Salt Lake City, Utah in the Eighth Ward where the City and County Building now stands. President Brigham Young and W. W. Riter were there to welcome them. Thus ended their journey from Denmark to Salt Lake City ----- a journey which took six months and four days.
Mrs. Nielsen and her children stayed in Salt Lake City a couple of days and then proceeded to Provo where her two sons, Nels and Jorgen, were residing. Karen Hansena went to live at the home of Elliot Allfred Newell's, situated between the old river bridge and the dugway where the Nuttall Jersey farm is now located. She helped there with household duties. Karen Hansena had attended school in Denmark until she was 14 years old, with the exception of one year of ill health. During this year a special lady teacher came every morning and taught her the art of glove making. Later she made gloves for a Jewish glove merchant. These gloves were sold and sent all over the world. This art, indirectly, proved to be an asset to Karen after her arrival in Utah when she married and began rearing a family. She was able to skillfully patch and make her children’s shoes which was a necessary art in those days.
In January, 1864, Karen Hansena was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder O. H. Berg, who later married her sister Anna. At that time of year the streams were frozen over and a hole had to be made through the ice. The record of her confirmation has been lost. It was her testimony that from the time of her baptism her health was fully recovered. The following year, crossing the plains, she walked the whole distance from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City, wearing a large apron for the purpose of gathering fuel for the camp fires.
She was married to Christian Jeppesen on January 22, 1867, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. From this union was born the following children: Christian, Nephi, two girls, Christina and Mary, who died in their childhood, Zina B. Seamount, Daniel, Ephriam, Sarah E. Wride Cutlip, and Alfreda Collins.
The family home was in the Provo Fourth Ward until the spring of 1877 when they moved to the Lake View Ward. Mrs. Jeppesen’s husband died May 13, 1884, leaving her with seven children, the youngest being five months old. Mrs. Jeppesen continued to live in the Lake View Ward until March 15, 1904. (With the exception of two years, 1898-1900, she lived in Fairfield, or Camp Floyd, Utah). Then she returned to Provo Fourth Ward where she continued to reside. She was blessed with wisdom and handled her financial affairs very well, clothing, sheltering and educating her children, teaching them honesty in all their dealings. At the death of her youngest daughter, Mrs. Alfreda Collins, who left two babes, she took and raised Leola.
Being a faithful and active church member, Mrs. Jeppesen had special interest in the Relief Society. She was a charter member of the Fourth Ward Relief Society which was organized May 20, 1868. Stake President A. O. Smoot, E. T. Sheets and Bishop William F. Follet were present.
Mrs. Rina Angeline Holden was the first president. Mrs. Jeppesen became a teacher and labored in this capacity until she moved to the Lake View Ward where she continued to be active in the Relief Society. When she returned to Provo Fourth Ward she went on with the same diligent work.
During the years of 1926-27 she suffered greatly with rheumatism and was badly crippled as a result. In March, 1927, Patriarch Abinadi Olsen gave her a blessing and promised her that she should be made well, her burdens be made light, despondency be cast away, health and peace would be hers, and also that she should never want for the necessities of life. This was verified to the very letter.
She was a splendid neighbor to all who came her way. She made numerous rugs from old rags, crocheted dozens of beautiful pincushions and dressed tiny dolls and gave them as gifts to her friends and grandchildren. She made contributions to the Relief Society and D.U.P. organizations.
She had a jovial disposition and scattered sunshine wherever she went. She and her sister Alfreda Williams spent many hours together enjoying each other to the utmost. She always gave the Lord praise for her blessings and said many times that she had been directed all through her life by His spirit and that blessings had been given her every hour. At the time of her death, August 7, 1943, she was 93 years old. Her living posterity numbered three children, 41 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
FUNERAL SERVICE FOR KAREN JEPPESEN
Funeral services for Mrs. Karen Hansena Nielsen Jeppesen were held in the Fourth Ward Chapel Thursday, August 12, 1943. Bishop Victor J. Bird presiding and Charles D. Sessions of the Bishopric in charge.
Mrs. Clara Taylor was at the organ to play the processional and recessional. A male quartet, composed of August J. Johnson, Joseph Ahlander, Golden Taylor and Joseph H. Taylor, sang “The Wayside Cross” with Orvilla Jeppesen as accompanist. Isaac Nelson, a nephew, offered the invocation.
The male quartet sang, “In The Garden” with Joseph H. Taylor singing the solo part. A biographical sketch was given by Geraldine Jeppesen Bailey a granddaughter, and a tribute from the D.U.P (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) Camp Manavu, was read by Mrs. William J. Snow.
L. John Nuttall Sr., and Mrs. Adria Porter spoke.
Viggo Christiansen sang “O My Father”, in Danish, accompanied by Orvilla Jeppesen, and Henry Jorgensen, a nephew, talked.
Mrs. Emma Olsen sang, “That’s What God Made Mothers For”, with Mrs. Jeppesen at the piano. The benediction was pronounced by a grandson, Rhodes Jeppesen. Wyman Berg, a nephew, dedicated the grave at the Provo City Burial Park.
Pallbearers were: George Jeppesen, Griff Nuttall, Gad Williams, Glen Jepperson, Don Jepperson and Ford Jepperson.
A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF KAREN HANSENA NIELSEN JEPPESEN from THE DAUGHTERS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS OF CAMP MANAVU
PROVO, UTAH
In the passing of Grandma Jeppesen, as she was lovingly called, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers of Camp Manavu have lost their oldest and one of their most devoted members.
She was loyal to the organization and loved the contact with the Daughters. As long as her health permitted she was always present at our meetings. Since she has not been able to attend she has never been forgotten.
Often she was visited at her daughter Zina Seamount’s home. She always inspired those who called with new courage and cheer by the light and sparkle of her lovely brown eyes, and the wit and wise counsel she would give.
On her ninetieth birthday, a group of Daughters from Camp Manavu called to see her — they took flowers and sang for her. She was so sweet and happy. Someone expressed to her how much she was beloved and she answered quickly, “Well, everyone should live so that they could be loved.”
Her outstanding characteristics of thrift and industry; of courage to meet and overcome obstacles, and of faith and loyalty to her deepest convictions brought triumph and joy in her life as a Latter-day Saint and success as a mother in her home.
We extend to her family our appreciation of her fine life so nobly lived, and pay tribute to her this day as a true Pioneer who possessed all the qualities necessary to make her a builder in a new and chosen land.
There will be a warm welcome for her in her heavenly home among all the loved ones gone before.
Dorothy Muhlstein, Captain
(Written by Mrs. Hattie Snow)