Christopher Marinus Olsen

Christopher Marinus Olsen was born Dec 8, 1835 in Budolphi, Denmark to Jens Taylor and Marie Darthea Berg Olsen. Christopher is a Pioneer of Richmond. Christopher was a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

Due to having a weak body, Christopher was not required to labor as most did during his era. Instead, his parents decided to give him extra education to make up for the difference, specializing in bookkeeping.

In 1850, missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began preaching near the Olsen home. Christopher's mother and older sister joined the Chruch in November, while Christopher was baptized on Dec 11, 1850. Soon after his baptism, because of his bookkeeping experience, he became the secretary of the Danish Mission.

"On the 10th day of December 1852, I left my father's and mother's house and on the 1st day of October 1853, I arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, in Capt. [John E.] Forsgreen's company. In the fall of 1854 I went to South Weber. On the 27th of Oct 1856, I was married to Karen Christine Johnson..."

In 1860, the Olsen family joined a group of other Danish Pioneers and moved to Cache Valley. They settled south of Logan and named the area Camp Hollow. At Apostle Ezra T. Benson's suggestion, the Pioneers moved and named the area Hyrum, and built a fort to keep themselves safe from Native American attacks. Christopher was appointed to take charge of the tithing because of his successful bookkeeping skills.

During this time, Christopher entered the practice of polygamy by marrying Caroline Sophia Hansdatter Jensen on May 18, 1867 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following year, Christopher was told by the Church to move to Richmond to help with the tithing.

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Christopher was appointed as a Private.

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