Maria Kaisa Johnson Otterstrom (Maja Cajsa Jonsson)

Maria was the first of four wives of a polygamous marriage. She bore ten children, four of whom reached adulthood.

As early settlers in Ephraim, they often contended with Indians.  Doors in many homes were equipped with heavy wooden bars to guard against Indian intruders when the men were absent.

Maria Kaisa spent many hours making beautiful watch fobs, necklaces, flowers and pictures from human hair. It was such a fine art it required an excellent eye to accomplish it.  She was precise in all her work and even the mending and darning were done to perfection.Maria Kaisa passed away at the age of seventy-two.

Children:

Johan, 6 August 1840

Stine Marie (Hyde), 16 March 1848

John Henry, 24 March 1850

Augusta, 5/6 August 1852

Augusta Kaisa, 19 August 1853

Josephine (Cramer) 21 October 1855

Louisa (Overson), 16 February 1858

Joseph, 14 December 1859

Caroline, 13 September 1861

Brigham, 29 January 1864

(Source: Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Volume III M to R, International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, P. 2252)