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Document Number: 58
Author: JENSEN, Nephi
Institution: Personal Experience
Classification: ORIGINAL: GeneralHistory
Location: USA, Utah, Salt Lake, Salt Lake City
Date Range: BTWN 1830 and 1903
Biography of JENSEN, Jens
Document Entry Number: 1
Transcription:
A LITTLE SKETCH OF MY FATHERS LIFE
By Nephi Jensen
My Father, Jens Jensen, was born in Nim, Horsens, Skanderborg, Denmark, the 18 April 1830, just 12 days after the Mormon Church was organized. His parents were not rich, but owned a little farm. His Father, Jens Pedersen, was a very strict man, his Mother, Anne Jensen, a sweet, mild, little woman. They had born to them, seven children, 3 boys and 4 girls. My Father being one of the youngest. His Mother died when he was yet a small boy. He recalled having his Mother die in the Spring of the year. A row of Poplar trees came out in leaves and were beautiful and green in front of the house, but as his Mother passed away the trees withered away and died. He always marveled at this.
As he grew to a young man, he learned to be a carpenter and worked at that for some years. A man by the name of Erastus Snow, a Mormon Elder from Utah, came to Denmark and preached the gospel. Father listened to him with interest and was soon converted to Mormonism. A day was set for the baptism and Father invited all of his friends to come and see him baptized -- because of false rumors the Mormons were hated and despised. A local Elder was appointed to baptize Father, but when he saw so many people gathered together at the place of baptism, he was afraid and ran away. When Father saw him run he threatened him saying if he did not come back and baptize him he would send all the people after him. They were all his friends and he had asked them to come and see him baptized so he came back and baptized him, and none tried to molest them. Father was 20 years of age.
Father was soon advanced in the Priesthood and was ordained an Elder when he was 21 years of age. He was set apart to preach the Gospel, and spent six years in the Mission Field. He was often mistreated being a Mormon Elder, and because of that he was mobbed and beaten and left for dead, lying on a manure pile. After the mob had scattered an old lady came along who had heard him preach, rubbing her wooden shoes over his legs and saying she would greases his legs and make him a better preacher. One of his legs was so badly injured that it just seemed a mass of broken bones. After lying still a while until all had left him he managed to crawl on his hands and knees to a door he expected would lead him out to safety, but instead he fell into a large hole full of manure and water from the stable. In his weakened condition he was unable to climb out of it-again. Two of his friends happened along and calling to them, they helped him out and carried him to a neighbors house. Here he was administered to by some of the Elders. Many people had gathered at the house, also some of the mob, Father being filled with the spirit of the Lord rose to his feet and bore them a mighty Testimony of the divinity of the Gospel, and the blood, water and dirt that was dripping from his broken body and clothes would stand as a Testimony against them at the day of judgement. After being cleansed he rested that night and next morning went with his companions walking 20 miles on that broken leg to a place appointed to hold the meeting. He was never lame one day, but nevertheless he bore the marks on his leg from that terrible experience into his grave. He had many wonderful experiences during the six years of his mission, but I am unable to relate them.
When he was 27 years of age he was told to get married and emigrate to Utah. He then chose a young girl 16 years of age by the name of Marie Sophie Christensen. Her mother also came to Utah and lived with them for many years. The journey was a long and weary one and took them seven weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean., They were packed like cattle with only standing room and had to do their own cooking. Many of them were sick and some died. It was the 18 April 1857 when they left Denmark. Then crossing the plains with the handcart company, his little wife by his side, walking all the way across the plains pulling the handcart with her husband. Father being in charge of part of the company, after having made camp at night had to go back sometimes 10 miles to bring the sick and the lame and all that had fallen behind and unable to keep up with the company and bring them into camp.
After arriving in Salt Lake, they built a little house -- their furniture was a flat rock for a table and rocks to sit on. As time went on their property increased. Then they were sent to Dixie to help build up that part of the country, and later on was called to Salina where he was bishop for eight years, and Aunt Sophie, a sweet little lady was Relief Society President for many years, and the mother of 12 children 5 girls and 7 boys. He then was asked to take another wife or resign from being bishop. He counseled with his wife since they already had a large family, and she told him not to resign, but she was afraid he was too old to marry again. He married a girl by the name of Mary Elizabeth Cooke Three or four years after this he was called to go on a mission to Denmark, to preach the gospels and to preside over the Aarhus Conference. After two years., he was released and returned home. Persecution at that time was very bad so Father decided to go to Mexico to make his home and raise his second family not being able to get any of his property to take with him.
He had a hard time pioneering in a new country. He married again a young girl by the name of Marine Anine Nielsen, this one being my Mother. The two families lived in the same house for five years having separate living rooms with the children between. One of the women would do the cooking for the family one week and the other the next week. Later when each family had their own home, we worked together as much as we could and helped each other card the wool, spin and make cloth, and stockings. We lived this way for about twelve years. Aunt Mary had eight children, four girls and four boys, my Mother had five children, three girls., and two boys.
Father died leaving his two families of small children. Aunt Mary's oldest, a boy of fifteen and the youngest, a girl, of one and a half years. My Mother's oldest, eleven, and the youngest, two and a half . We stayed in Mexico for three years, and then came to Salt Lake City,, and she raised her children. They are all married now and have families of their own. Aunt Mary came to Blanding, Utah and later moved to Stafford, Arizona. My Mother built a little home in Salt Lake City where she lived.
Associated Persons and Marriages:
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) BornD, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) BornP, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) LinkCToFather, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) LinkCToMother, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) Religion, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Jens (Id# 34) Emigration, MEDIUM
JENSEN, Annie (Id# 638) LinkMToChildren, MEDIUM
PEDERSEN, Jens (Id# 639) LinkFToChildren, MEDIUM
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