Johanne Margrethe Hansdatter Hansen

Johanne was born the fifth of six children.  In 1812, the family moved to Vester Ulslev on a farm.  Here she grew up and married Peder Hansen.  They had four children.

Johanne and Peder lived wiht his widowed mother, Karen Thomasdatter, who held the lease on a prosperous farm.  Life was prosperous for the family in her lovely home.

Johanne was a small woman with dark hair and blue eyes.  She was known for her kindness and generous disposition, often sending her daughters with baskets of food and messages of good cheer to those in need.

Finally it was decided to gather to Zion.  Johanne's mother-in-law in spite of being in her eighties would not be left behind.

Because of increased violence, Johanne, Peder, their two teenage daughters and Karen left for Copenhagen at midnight on December 12, 1853, leaving behind clothing and the table set to give the impression to the mob they were still home.  On December 26, they sailed for Liverpool.  On January 28, 1854, the ship saled for New Orleans.

Cholera broke out on the ship and on March 4, Karen died and was buried at sea.  They arrived in New Orleans March 22, 1854.  They joined the Hans Peter Olsen wagon train and arrived in Salt Lake on October 5, 1854.j

The Olsen Family went to Ephraim to live.  Johanne exchanged knitted stockings for provisions.

The last twelve years of her life she was ill with rheumatism.  Johanne passed away at the age of sixty-seven.

Children:

Karen, 12 December 1835

Ane Margrethe, 4 November  1837

Hans, 30 October 1839 (died as an infant)

Maren, 6 March 1841 (died as an infant)

(Source: Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Volume II F to L, International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, p. 1232)