bigpigeon.us webpage Pott. Co. > A House Divided > Kirsten's Story > Kirsten's Niece, Christine Mortensen, updated by RAC 14 Feb 2020.
One of Kirsten Pedersen’s nieces, Christine Christensen/Anderson, lost her younger brother near St. Louis and then both parents along the Missouri River in 1855. The family group had crossed the Atlantic to New Orleans, and then took a river boat to St. Louis and then a second boat up the Missouri River.
The Handcart Companies.
During the years 1856-1860, nearly 3,000 Latter Day Saints trudged from Iowa to Utah pushing handcarts. Later one of the handcart pioneers, C. C. A. Christensen, depicted numerous scenes from the handcart crossings.
The journey was rarely as idyllic as in the following painting by C. C. A. Christensen, himself a handcart pioneer, might suggest.
The Handcart Companies.
During the years 1856-1860, nearly 3,000 Latter Day Saints trudged from Iowa to Utah pushing handcarts. Later one of the handcart pioneers, C. C. A. Christensen, depicted numerous scenes from the handcart crossings.
The journey was rarely as idyllic as in the following painting by C. C. A. Christensen, himself a handcart pioneer, might suggest.
C. C. A. Christensen work, courtesy of flickr.com
In late 1856, Christine crossed to Utah on the Mormon Trail with the Willie handcart company.
Also in the Willie Company with Christine was the Mortensen family, consisting of parents and seven children. Christine became friends with one of the sons, Anders Jorgen Mortensen.
Another member of the Willie Company was Bodil Mortensen, a ten-year-old girl traveling without her family. Despite her name, Bodil Mortensen was not related to the Mortensen family. However, the Mortensens were among the families who helped look after her.
Both the Willie Company and the Martin Company that followed were caught by winter in Wyoming. Over 200 died in the worst disaster in the history of 19th century western migration.
Bodil Mortensen died of exposure one night in Wyoming and was laid to rest as best as possible, using as a shroud a sheet provided by Mrs. Mortensen. Bodil Mortensen appears as a character in the LDS film 17 Miracles, a story of the Willie Company.
Also in the Willie Company with Christine was the Mortensen family, consisting of parents and seven children. Christine became friends with one of the sons, Anders Jorgen Mortensen.
Another member of the Willie Company was Bodil Mortensen, a ten-year-old girl traveling without her family. Despite her name, Bodil Mortensen was not related to the Mortensen family. However, the Mortensens were among the families who helped look after her.
Both the Willie Company and the Martin Company that followed were caught by winter in Wyoming. Over 200 died in the worst disaster in the history of 19th century western migration.
Bodil Mortensen died of exposure one night in Wyoming and was laid to rest as best as possible, using as a shroud a sheet provided by Mrs. Mortensen. Bodil Mortensen appears as a character in the LDS film 17 Miracles, a story of the Willie Company.
Savanna Kylie Lewis as Bodil Mortensen, courtesy of youtube
The entire Mortensen family survived the handcart journey to Salt Lake City, and then were provided with a wagon and sent to settle in Parowan in southwestern Utah. Kirsten Pedersen’s niece, Christine Christensen/Anderson followed the Mortensen family to Parowan. She and Anders Jorgen Mortensen soon married and began to raise a family.
Christine's Sister Wife.
In 1865 Anders Jorgen took a plural wife, Wilhelmena, who became Christine’s sister wife. Wilhelmena and her children lived near Christine's family.
Christine's Sister Wife.
In 1865 Anders Jorgen took a plural wife, Wilhelmena, who became Christine’s sister wife. Wilhelmena and her children lived near Christine's family.
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In the early 1880s several of Anders Jorgen Mortensen's older sons and nephews moved to southern Colorado to help establish a Mormon presence in the lower San Luis valley. Christine’s sister wife joined them. I have read that in the 1880s a number of sister wives relocated to more obscure locations because of pressure against polygamy.
Anders Jorgen Mortensen died suddenly near Parowan in 1884. In 1885 Christine and the remaining unmarried children from both of Anders' families left for southern Colorado to join the other family members. Christine’s sister wife died before the entire Mortensen family had gathered in Colorado. Thereafter Christine raised her sister wife’s younger children, as well as her own. |
Wilhelmena Mortensen's stone in Old Manassa Cemetery
(courtesy of Martha Christiansen)
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Kirsten Pedersen's niece, Christine Mortensen, experienced much during her 76 years. Christine eventually moving to Mesa, Arizona, where she died in 1910, survived by 59 grandchildren. Christine is interred in the City of Mesa Cemetery. |
Christine Mortensen's stone
(courtesy of Sandi Keeney Morris at findagrave.com)
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