The History of Angelise Catherine Madsen Document Number: 71
Author: LARSEN, John L. Institution: Personal Experience Classification: ORIGINAL: GeneralHistory Location: USA, Utah, Utah, Spanish Fork Date Range: BTWN 1838 and 1919 Biography of MADSEN, Angelise Cathrine Document Entry Number: 1
Transcription: Angelise Katrine Madsen, daughter of Mads Christian Togersen and Dorthea Clausen was born the 25th of December 1838 in Aaby Sogn, Aallborgy Ampt, Denmark.
She was educated in the schools of Denmark and also learned to spin and cord wool, and weave clothe of many patterns, which became very useful in after years.
When sixteen the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who brought the gospel to her fathers home which was received by them, she being baptized February 26, 1854.
In May 1861 she and her mother embarked on the ship Monarch of the Sea, which took some six weeks in crossing the ocean. They joined the saints in the East and came West with an ox team company. Arriving in Utah September 12, 1861. The company she was with moved South settling in Utah County. She and her mother made their home at Spanish Fork. Here they met a man named Niels Jensen, who offered them part of his home to live in. A friendship soon sprang up between them which ripened into love and on May 17, 1862 they were married in the Salt Lake Endowment home. With this union were born two sons and four daughters, the oldest son dying in childhood. The others all remaining to raise large families of their own. Her aged mother continuing to live with them until her death in 1881. Her father never came to Utah. He died in Denmark in 1885 at the age of 77. It was now her knowledge of spinning and weaving became very useful as she made all the clothing for her own family and many yards of cloth for others which was woven from a small flock of sheep that they then had. Her husband died Nov 2, 1872 leaving her with 5 children to support. The following spring Lars Larsen came into her life and they were married May 11, 1873. To this union there were born one daughter and three sons. The two oldest dying in childhood. Myself and a younger brother reaching manhood. When my brother died April 24, 1910 at Vernal, Utah leaving a wife but no children.
As Mr. Larsen had another wife and large family, mother was left much to herself with her own family, and again her knowledge of weaving offered means of support as she not only wove cloth from which clothing was made, but also carpets of many patterns and designs. Some of my earliest recollections were of winding shuttles and otherwise assisting her at the loom where she often sat from early morn 'til way in the night as the people came from far and near to have her do their weaving.
During her later years she lived with her children who cared for her as best they could until she departed this life at the home of her daughter on July 8, 1919 at the age of 81 years. She was laid to rest at the Spanish Fork Cemetery.