Maren JENSEN & Diedrick MORTENSEN

Scott Lewis Anderson

is the son of Elizabeth Lyn Hampson, who is the daughter of Alfred Spencer Hampson, who is the son of James Alfred Hampson, who is the son of Boletta Mortensen, who is the daughter of….

Maren JENSEN & Diedrick MORTENSEN

Maren JENSEN was born on 14 April 1804 in Junget, Viborg, Denmark to Jens Tromgrade JENSEN and Anne SORENSEN and as their only daughter, was described as having lovely dark hair and determined eyes.  Maren had one older brother Jens.  It would be interesting indeed, if we knew something of the early life of Maren in Denmark.  We wonder how much education she might have had the opportunity to obtain in the Lutheran Schools there or what her father did for the support of his family.  Since Denmark is practically a flat country with rich soil, almost every acre of land is cultivated and many were employed in farming, stock raising, dairying or fishing industry; also an abundance of trades were advanced.  In Denmark the barn is built adjoining the home where the family dwells and is as neatly kept as any house, being cleaned out daily with lye water by the women. 

               When Maren became of marriageable age, she was courted by Diedrick MORTENSEN.  Diedrick was two years younger than Maren, having been born in Nederby, Viborg, Denmark on16 Feb 1806, the eldest son of MARTIN DIEDERICKSEN and Bodil ANDERSEN. As was customary in Denmark, the son takes the father’s given name for his surname; hence, Diedrick became a Mortensen.  After immigrating to America, Diedrick’s children established and retained the name of Mortensen and ceased the surname transition custom of the old county.  While still very young, Diedrick became an apprentice to a mechanic and learned that trade.  He also became an excellent blacksmith.  Diedrick was so expert at his work, efficient, and trustworthy, that he eventually became the overseer, depended on to supervise the work of a large number of men.

              Maren and Diedrick were married on 20 October 1831 in Tonesland, Denmark and made their home there.  They welcomed their first child, Bodil Boletta, on 15 September 1832, while living in Tonesland and then moved to Funen, where Dorothy Marie was born on 3 February 1835.  Next the family made their home in Nederby, Viborg where five more children blessed the lives of this fortunate couple! Ann Christine was born on 14 September 1837, Morten next was born 24 Oct 1839, then Enger Emma on 7 Mar 1842, Johannah born 18 Oct 1844, and James born 18 March 1848.  Lastly the family was complete when Elsie Catrine joined her two brothers and five sisters after the family moved to Folam, Viborg, Denmark.  Maren and Diedrick had the rare privilege of rearing all eight children to adulthood!  This was almost unheard of at that early time, when so many children died while still young.  This is likely due to Maren’s excellent mothering and is a tribute to her concern over the health of her family.  She managed well the finances that Diedrick brought home and the Mortensens gradually became very comfortable in their “well-to do” position in the community.

               About this time something happened that changed the whole way of life for the happy and prosperous Mortensen Family.  Apostle Erastus Snow landed on the shores of the remarkable and historic land of Denmark on 12 August 1850 and began to “thrust in his sickle” amongst a people well prepared to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The “field being white”, many people received his message with open hearts and unprejudiced minds!   The Mortensen family all were converted to the new faith of “Mormonism”.  Maren was baptized first on16 of November 1853.  Diedrick joined her on 20 September 1854.  Their older children also joined the church about this same time.  It was customary for the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or “Elders”, as they were affectionately called, to encourage the newly converted members of the Church called “Saints” to emigrate to “Zion” or the Salt Lake Valley in Utah.  Brigham Young, the President of the newly restored Church, described his inspired “vision of Zion as a great commonwealth in the Rocky Mountains”, therefore many of the Danish converts wanted to join with the Saints gathering there.

               In the latter part of 1854 a large group of Scandinavian Saints were making preparations to begin their journey to America.  The Mortensen family felt deeply the “spirit of gathering” and so excitedly made plans to join with the departing convoy.  The sale of their property netted them sufficient money to pay the passage of their large family, and to buy supplies for the voyage across the Atlantic; and money enough to pay the costs of joining the wagon trains crossing the plains, with yet cash to get them a substantial start of home and occupation in the new land! 

Diedrick hired a man to haul their provisions, clothing, valuables and trunk (of money) to the dock to be loaded on the steamship in Copenhagen ahead of the family.  Tragically, when the Mortensens arrived expecting to board prepared for their adventure, they found that the hired man never showed up, but instead had absconded with their fortune!  Diedrick was ready to quit and go back to search for the thief and his belongings, or return to his job to earn again their necessities; but Maren had a small strongbox of money and valuables she had carried with her, and a great faith which she used to encourage Diedrick to continue with their current plans and to trust in the Lord who surely would provide for them as they tried to be obedient to the call to gather.

The travelers made their way over sea and land to Liverpool, England, and then on Sunday, 7 of January 1855, their ship “James Nesmith” sailed from Liverpool with 440 Scandinavians plus one British Saint-their company leader, Peter C Hansen. Imagine the difficulties of days and weeks at sea!  They encountered severe storms, but this humble group of Scandinavian Saints prayed with much fervency and their implorings were answered sparing their lives. Yet again the Mortensens enjoyed the rarity of having their entire family landing safely in New Orleans on 23 of February 1855! 

               From New Orleans, the Saints continued up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and then they discovered that somewhere on the trail their precious little strongbox was lost and they were left stranded!  They moved on to Weston where the Mortensens were obliged from lack of finances to make a temporary stop to earn sufficient means to continue.  Diedrick found work at his trade as a mechanic but then tragedy struck again.  Cholera was raging and many of the Saints, including the Mortensen family contracted the dreaded disease.  Diedrick’s fever was very severe, he succumbing first.  Maren next was taken in the battle with the demon illness; yet through the goodness of God they both had their lives preserved.  Diedrick never fully recovered, however, and thereafter steadily declined in health. The older girls procured work which helped a great deal and Dorothy married Lars Nielson who was very kind and helped support the ailing Mortensens. 

               Finding the means to continue their journey was a great worry to Diedrick and Maren.  Time was passing and in the spring of 1856, handcart companies began to be formed in Iowa City, more easily enabling the poor Saints and those with little experience to make the final segment of their journey to Zion in crossing the plains.  The Mortensen family had recovered from Cholera sufficiently that it was decided the family could travel the westward trial by handcart.  Three daughters were offered the opportunity to travel in wagon trains.  Dorothy and her husband Lars departed with a covered wagon train, Ann Christine was escorted by Benjamin Clapp (whom she later married) in his company composed mostly of returning missionaries with families, and Emma traveled in the Knud Peterson wagon train where she also met her future husband. Diedrick’s health failed along the trail however and Maren and her remaining children had to pull and push him along in their crude two-wheeled cart loaded with their few belongings.

               Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, the Mortensen family followed the large number of Danish Saints who were settling in, Brigham City, Box Elder County.  An especially happy and satisfying event for Maren was being able to receive her endowments and to be sealed for time and all eternity to Diedrick in the Salt Lake Endowment House on 18 January 1859.  Eventually all of their children were also sealed to them!  There was great rejoicing by all! 

Diedrick, being a rather restless personality, was always prospecting for a more productive life in a new place or part of the Lord’s vineyard where “the grass seemed a little greener”, so the Mortensens moved from Brigham City to Sanpete County and made their home in Ephraim.  Their next move was to Mt. Pleasant, and then to Spring City.  By the time Maren and Diedrick were established in Spring City, most of their children had been married and were now raising families of their own.  At this time all their adult children received “a call” to colonize Sevier County, Richfield, so the couple moved with them there.   From 1863 to 1867 the attempt to settle this new region was in full sway; however the Indians became so troublesome that the Saints decided to abandon these initial efforts and returned to Sanpete County for a season.  Desiring to be near their children’s families, Maren and Diedrick also relocated again to Mount Pleasant.   The couple moved lastly to Fairview, Utah.  At one point during these moves, Maren was called to share her husband in polygamy, and Diedrick married Karen Maria CHRISTENSEN a widow with one child named Andrew.  She and Diedrick had a daughter, Anna Katherine.

                Diedrick died on 30 December 1873, having faithfully obeyed council in every respect.  His presence gave added strength in the many early settlements in which he lived.  After his passing, Maren moved into the home of her son James who had married Anna Sophia ERICKSON.  James provided “Grandma Maren” with her own living quarters; however both women cooked over the open fire in the fireplace.  Unexpectedly one day James came home with a wonderful surprise for Anna-a small wood burning stove to cook on!  Anna was most pleased but asked James if he wouldn’t mind if the fancy stove could be given to Grandma Maren as Anna believed that her mother-in-law needed it more than she.   Grandma Maren often had dizzy spells which could prove disastrous causing her to fall into the fire if such came on her while cooking.  Such a dangerous problem would surely be prevented if Maren used the shiny new appliance.  James gave his mother the stove, as his loving wife requested, and promptly bought another stove for this generous and thoughtful daughter-in-law!  Maren lived with James and Anna until they were “called” to colonize in Old Mexico.  Then she moved-in with her daughter Emma who had married John Peter PETERSON. 

On 3 of December 1882 while being cared for by her children, Maren passed away and was buried in Spring City, near Emma’s home. The eulogy of Maren Jensen Mortensen highlighted her faithfulness and devotion to her beloved church and described her as “a dutiful wife, loving mother and grandmother, and kind neighbor” who would be greatly missed by her family and friends alike.  The posterity of the Mortensens is fortunate to claim the heritage and legacy Maren and Diedrick so ably left.