History of

NIELS LOUIS CHRISTESEN

In the king's garden a short distance from Copenhagen, on October 19, 1828 in Hillerod, Zelland, Denmark, Niels Louis Christensen was born, the son of Christen and Dorthea Christine (Richter) Nielson. The parents of this child worked for the king. Niels Louis was the second child in a family of four boys and two girls. One girl was burned to death before she reached maturity. His grandfather on his father's side came from Viborg, Denmark. His grandfather on his mother's side wasn't a Dane, but was German.

Niels Louis' mother died when he was eleven years old and his father when he was twenty-one. After his Mother's death he made his own living by herding cows and geese. He had very little schooling. He was an apprentice to a mason while very young. After learning his trade he worked on a building which was near another building in which lived a blond girl. During their early acquaintance she brought him good things to eat. In return he brought her kindlings gathered from the building in which he worked. He learned to love this girl which finally ended in marriage. Her name was Hansena Bernadina Petrena Hansen. She was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, September 21, 1829. Niels Louis and Hansena B. P. Hansen were married June 10, 1849 at Copenhagen by a Danish Priest.

One evening while in Copenhagen, Denmark two of his wife's brothers finally induced Niels Louis to go along with them to a meeting which was held by some Mormon missionaries.

They together with their friends had attended one meeting previously and at this time had decided to have some fun by breaking up the meeting. With Niels Louis however it was one of those cases where men had gone to scorn, but remained to pray. Both of Niels' brothers-in-law were neutral in the meeting, but later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Niels Louis was baptized December 1851 by Miller and confirmed by W. Minster. They left Denmark in the year 1852 with a company of Mormon converts.

Just as the boat was about to set sail, one of the families was disappointed and could not go. This made room for Niels Louis and his family. Unfortunately for him he was serving as a soldier in the king's service, and this was no time for getting a release if such could be secured. However, he sent his wife and baby down to the boat and that night after dark, he quietly slipped down to the dock and after hiding his uniform near the ocean, he swam out to the boat and came to America in civilian clothes. In this way bidding goodbye to the land of his birth. A land which he has never seen since, but he sent three of his sons and two of his sons-in-law and others of his descendants have gone to Denmark on missions. Here some of his sons met his three brothers. One of his brothers was a miller, one a gardener and the other a merchant. The Denmark army names probably read as follows: Private Hillard, for that was what he was called at that time, was drowned and his body never recovered.

They reached Salt Lake City in 1853.

The following children were born to Hansena B. P. Hansen and Niels Louis Christensen. Eight Children:

Niels Louis was ordained a Seventy at Salt Lake City December 12, 1853. He received his endowments in the Salt Lake Endowment House 1853. He was sent to the North Central States on a mission in 1855, he was released from his mission November 13, 1857

He was placed in charge of Scandinavian Saints who made the trip by handcart and covered wagon across the plains to Utah. Many of the party gave their lives on this wearisome journey. Among his experiences while crossing the plains, many rivers had to be forded. On one occasion he was carrying a woman. She became so frightened, she nearly choked him. He was compelled to set her down in the water before she would release him. In another case the water was so deep that the wagon box was taken from the gears, and went floating down the river with a blind woman in it. He being a good swimmer jumped into the water and rescued her before she knew she had been in danger.

The food they had to eat was the wild life they could kill and roots and berries they could gather. After they reached Salt Lake City he was called to act as policeman of the city. During his services as policeman he had many experiences.

In the year 1856 there arrived in Salt Lake City a Swedish girl named Caroline Nielson. Born Feb 13, 1839 Lillauppochra (Linkoping) Sweden, a daughter of Nels Anderson born September 15, 1802 Sweden and Kuina (Beigman) Anderson born 4 March 1797. He died March 13, 1857 and she died January 1853. Niels Louis Christensen married Caroline Nielson as his second wife June 8, 1857 in Salt Lake City. They lived in Salt Lake City two years. Caroline Nielson, her brother and sister and brother-in-law left Sweden November 19, 1854 bound for Copenhagen to sail with a company of saints leaving for America. They left on the steamer Cimbria, they reached Saint Louis the Seventh of March. From Saint Louis they went to Omaha. They left Omaha, August 5, 1855 and arrived in Salt Lake City November 8 (9) 1855.

Niels Louis worked on the foundation of the Salt Lake Temple and also on the State House building at Fillmore. He was also stationed in Echo Canyon to help stop Johnson's Army.

In 1859 together with others was called to settle Moroni, San Pete County, Utah. They moved there, Caroline being the fifth woman in the place. Caroline said she had taken three children out into the field and gleaned all day to get their bread, and washed wool and spun it to make their cloths. She was lucky to have one dress and Saturday evening washed it and ironed it in time to wear to church next morning. They went through many hardships there.

The following children were born to Niels Louis and Caroline (Nielson) Christensen.

About the year 1865 Niels Louis was called to Richfield, Sevier County, Utah to settle that place. He had been there awhile when he sent a young boy with a yoke of oxen to move Caroline and family down there. This being when the Indians were on the warpath. They camped at what is called Christenburg. In the morning the oxen had strayed away. While the boy was hunting them there came a band of Indians. They were sure they would all be killed. Caroline prayed that they might be spared and they passed by and never bothered them.

When they arrived in Richfield they lived in a dugout and cooked on a campfire. There being no flour in Richfield, they took their turn grinding the wheat for bread in a small mill. The flour was so coarse that it was hard to make the bread hold together, and all they had with the bread was molasses made from table beets.

While here at Richfield they suffered greatly from the Indians. A horse was shot from under Niels Louis and was killed. They tried to burn him at the stake but he was rescued and another time was shot full of arrows.

Here at Richfield they lost a little girl July 12, 1865. Her name was Mary Ann. She was born in Moroni, March 31, 1864 and another girl was born April 30, 1866. Her name was Anna Maria.

After a short time they moved to Ephraim, Sanpete County, Utah. Here is where the other five children were born. In the year 1867 his first wife Hansena B. P. (Hansen) Christensen died in Ephraim. His second wife Carolina raised four of the children.

Then on the Fifth of June 1871 he married Christiana Clawson, born October 31, 1843, Denmark. She died the year 1896 Redmond, Utah. To this union were born two sons.

On Sixteenth of December 1872 Niels Louis Christensen married Josephine A. Jensen born February 11, 1855 from Norway. She died March 9, 1888. The following children were born to this union.

Soon after Niels Louis married Josephine Jensen he was called to St. George to help build the St. George Temple and he stayed there until it was finished. When the Manti Temple was to be built he was chosen by President Brigham Young to act as master mason, but due to the fact he had no educational opportunities he suggested that E. L. Parry who had charge of the St. George Temple be made supervisor and him assistant. While he lived in Ephraim he acted as policeman of that city.

In the year 1879 he moved to Redmond, Seveir County, Utah. Josephine (Jensen) Christensen born February 1855 - his fourth wife died in Redmond March 9, 1888 and in a few years Christiana (Clawson) Christensen died August 2, 1896.

August 31, 1892 Niels Louis married Andrea Dorthea Christensen born November 27, 1865. She died February 1, 1928 Redmond, Utah. To this union were born the following children.

Niels Louis Christensen did mason work after moving to Redmond. He also farmed. He had a contract building on the railroad up Salina Canyon in 1903. He carried mail from Redmond to Redmond Switch. His wife Caroline Nielson Christensen died October 18, 1919 or 1920, at Redmond, Utah. Niels Louis was father of thirty children. There were ninety-nine grandchildren. He died February 7, 1921 after living a long useful life in his ninety-four year. He was laid to rest in the Redmond cemetery. His wife Andrea Dorthea Christensen died February 1, 1928 in Redmond, Utah. His posterity has scattered to many parts of the United States and Canada.