Martine Dorothea Simonsen

 Martine Dorthea Simonsen, wife of Jens Carlsen (born August 26, 1814 and died December 10, 1861) was born October 15, 1812 at Viberggaard, Plasto, Denmark. She was the daughter of Simon and Sophia Sorensen Mortensen. Grandmother was the mother of nine children. Two of them died before 1863. 

The family lived on a farm. Grandmother was a very industrious woman, and a splendid financier. She helped at the birth of many babies in her communities in Denmark and in Utah. She was an excellent nurse and also a licensed midwife. She was the only medical help they had in Bear River City for many years. 

Grandmother was a very good cook and was frequently called to cater at weddings, receptions, and funerals. It was the custom at that time to arrange elaborate dinners for relatives and friends who attended. She was a good dancer and very fond of that kind of entertainment, even in her later years. 

Grandmother was a weaver in the old country. After coming to Utah, she sheared sheep, prepared the wool, spun it into yarn, dyed it and wove it into cloth; then she made clothing for her family. When she could get machine-made cloth, she still kept her loom to weave rugs and carpets. 

In harvest time, she would go out into the fields and help cradle the grain and bind it. Afterward she would go gleaning in the fields. 

She was left a widow at the age of 49, in 1861. Two years later, she and seven children joined the Church. Two of her children died before this time. To get money to emigrate, grandmother sold the family home on a 50 percent basis; and deposited this money with Elder Hegsted in Copenhagen, who was appointed leader of the party with which she and two of her sons, Carl and Soren "John", and three of her daughters, Olivia, Maren, and Johannah, were to travel to America. 

The household goods were disposed of at public auction at a purchase price of $700, which she never received because relatives interfered, claiming that she had become insane having joined the Mormon Church. 

It now became necessary for her to borrow money to complete payment for the journey, and on the 4th day of May, 1865, she and five of her children left Copenhagen for the United States. Two boys, Simon and Jens, followed later. 

Arriving in New York, she received word that if she would return to Denmark her property would be restored to her. This the family refused to do and continued on their journey to Salt Lake City. 

They left Copenhagen on May 4, 1865, on the sailing vessel "B.S. Kimball," with Captain Dearborn in charge and arrived in New York, June 14, 1865. They went from New York by railroad to Quincy, Illinois, arriving there June 20. Then they took a steamer and sailed up the Missouri River to Nebraska, Wyoming. From there they walked across the plains. Grandmother suffered many hardships and arrived in Salt Lake City, November 8, 1865. 

Submitted by:  Stuart & Kristi Olsen