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  Johanne Olsen     Johannas Olsen  

Johannas and Johanna and son Charley.   This photo is taken from a tin type.

The Original Tin Type Photo of Johanne, Charley, and Johannes Oleson

This story begins by examining the lives of two Danish women.  One woman is Johanne Christiansen who was born June 14, 1823 at Lille Klarup, Taars, Hjorring, Denmark.  Johanne gave birth to one son (Niels), the father being Niels Thomsen.  Her second and third children (Nine Marie and Henrietta), were the children of Mads Peder Nielsen.  Johanne was unmarried at this time and Mads was a shoemaker’s apprentice.  As he was not a head of a household nor a land owner, he was considered a member of the servant class.  Mads was thus not able to support a family and subsequently denied paternity.  Johanne later married a man named Johannes Olsson and gave birth to another four children.  These children were Carl Johan, who later anglicized his name to Charles John, Ann Christien, Lars, and Joseph.  Johanne’s first child (Niels), died as an infant at eighteen months of age. 

 Johanne and daughter (Nine Marie) joined the L.D.S. Church in Sweden in 1861 and were intent on going to Salt Lake City soon as the opportunity arose.  Johanne and her husband (Johannes Olsson) along with four children (Nine Marie and Henrietta remained in Denmark) left for the United States on June 14, 1868.  The two youngest sons (Lars and Joseph) died in route and were buried at sea.  Along with their parents, the remaining two children anglicized their last name from Olsson to Olsen after arriving in the United States; also after coming to America, Johanne Christiansen Olsson’s name was anglicized to Johanna Christensen Olsen. 

This family along with other Mormon converts from the frigate began the journey to Utah.  The parents (Johannes and Johanna Olsen) and remaining two children (Charles John and Anne Christien) were among those heading for Utah.  Anne Christien died in route to Utah and was buried at Florence, Nebraska.  The parents along with Charles John made it to the Salt Lake City area on Sept. 25, 1868, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

Henrietta and Nine Marie immigrated to America approximately 1870.  As a child before coming to America, Henrietta had worked as a servant on a small farm tending cattle.  Apparently, she often slept in the stables so that she could tend to her duties more carefully and on one particularly cold evening, some of her toes were frozen.  Several of Henrietta’s toes were lost as a result and this remains as one of the family legacies.  A picture of Johanne Christiansen Olsson is made part of this transcript.

 The second woman to be mentioned is Anna C. Jensen who was born in Denmark in 1819.  She gave birth to a son in 1848 and named his Nels.  Upon reaching a suitable age, Nels joined the Danish navy.  Subsequently, when the ship on which he was serving docked in America, he deserted to find his fortune in these United States.  Nels Jensen then anglicized his name to John Nelson, most probably to avoid detection by the Danish authorities.

 After working his way west, John Nelson settled in the Marne, Iowa area.  He subsequently obtained passage for his mother, Anna C. Jensen, to come to America.  John Nelson obtained the services of Henrietta who worked for him and cared for his mother until his mother died in 1878.  When John’s mother passed away, John indicated that he wanted Henrietta to continue on with him; it was decided that it would not be appropriate for Henrietta to remain in the same house with John without being married.  Subsequently that same year (1878) John and Henrietta were married.  Ten years later, September 19, 1889, John and Henrietta Nelson bought a farm near Marne in Cass County, Iowa, and this has been considered a family farm since that time.  In 1989, this will be considered a Family Century Farm. The home place is W1/2 of the SW1/4 of Sec. 22 – 77 – 37, West of the 5^th p.m.

Danish Immigration to the United States Information

Danish immigration to the United States did not begin in earnest until 1850.  There were a number of reasons why Danes became favorably inclined to immigrate to America.  Comparatively, Denmark had a relatively liberal policy in allowing its residents to leave the country.  Other European countries were not so inclined and thus, many Danes could leave the borders with some degree of freedom.  The wars with Prussia had reduced Danish landholdings by approximately 40 percent.  The Danish people had tired of war.  The disastrous military defeat in 1864 by Prussia and the substantial loss of land disillusioned numerous Danish citizens.  Military service became compulsory of those living on land ceded to Prussia; conscription to the armed forces of Prussia was unpopular.  There were concerns of overpopulation, hunger, and unemployment although these were not nearly so severe as those in the immediately surrounding countries.  Promising stories of the ability to obtain wealth overnight in the United States were widespread; these stories were particularly accentuated by news of gold and the subsequent California Gold Rush of 1849. 

However, the two primary factors impacting on the citizens of Denmark to immigrate to America were those of the Mormon Church and those of economic opportunities.  There were minor religious controversies in Denmark and when religious bodies (particularly the Mormon church) began to send missionaries to Europe and encourage their converts to migrate across the sea, a substantial number of Danes responded to the call.  In the United States in 1847, the Mormons were driven from Missouri and other states and began their famous march to the Slat Lake Valley of Utah.  The Mormons were now led by Brigham Young and his circle of trusted confidants which included two Danes.  The presence of these two men explains why Denmark was a prime target of missionary activities launched by the Saints in 1849.  In fact, of seven missionaries commissioned to Europe, three were sent to Denmark complete with the first translation of the Book of Mormon into any other language-Danish. 

Not all Mormons coming from Denmark made it all the way to Utah.  The defections typically came in the Omaha (NE)/Council Bluffs (IA) area or at Florence (NE) where the railroads then ended and where convoys waited up to a month while preparing for the long trip across the prairie.  By 1860, only 3,000 Danes had been attracted to the Great Salt Lake area by Mormon missionaries but many more were to head for Utah in the subsequent decades.  At the time, Denmark was one of the few countries that legally permitted preaching by Mormon missionaries.

Although the religion had an appeal, the promise of economic opportunities served as the heart and soul of the migration.  Most of the Danes that came to America were seeking economic opportunity while fleeing from servitude.  Seventy percent of all of the emigrants from Denmark were journeymen, laborers, and servants.  Only heads of households could vote in Denmark and the economic plight of most of these individuals was such that the dream of economic independence was approximately 80 acres and the Homestead Act (1862) offering 160 acres of free land (to be formally deeded over after five years of homesteading in return for a pledge of permanent residence) in the United States to anyone over 21 years of age served as a great appeal, not so much to the independent farmers of Denmark, but to the landless journeymen, Laborers, and servants who were quite willing to continue their life of hard work to become their own masters and better their economic fortunes in life.

In the 1880’s alone, 90,000 Danes arrived in this country and most of these were fleeing the future of certain servitude.  For many, emigration was the only possibility for realizing the dream of marriage, family and land ownership.  Marriage at that time in Denmark was primarily a matter of economics; farmhands and servants were paid too little to ever save enough money to afford a house or a piece of land which was an economic precondition to marriage.  Love frequently occurred between individuals without the economic means to support a marriage and thus, numerous children were born out of wedlock.  A number of these unmarried mothers would eventually marry a man with the ability to care for her and her children as well as the children that would be born to the marriage.  The custom in Denmark was to regard this “transgression” with leniency and sympathy as well as to provide for mother and child.  Such an occurrence was considered of private significance only and not the business of the larger public or society.

Politically, the landless were also without means.  The 1849 Constitution of Denmark exempted servants without independent households from general franchise; the 1854 Servants Act further weakened their legal position.  The status of those considered servants remained basically unchanged until 1921.

The Danes valued education; their literacy rate was considerably higher than those individuals emigrating from other countries.  The vicious sex segregation transported to America from England and other European countries was not noticeable nor acceptable among the Danes.  The Danes were hard workers noted for their honesty and integrity.  Generally, they readily accepted work on the railroads and farms in the United States until they could save enough money to make the initial down payment on a farm.

Although these Danish immigrants have certainly left their mark on the United States, a comparatively greater impact was felt on their home country of Denmark.  In the 45 years (1869 – 1914) 285,000 Danes emigrated from Denmark.  Of these, 90 percent came to the United States.  By 1900, there were over 250,000 Danes in the United States and this number was approximately ten percent of Denmark’s population of two and one-half million individuals.  Thus, Denmark lost approximately ten percent of its population primarily from the journeymen, laborers, and servant classifications.  Excluding children, approximately two men emigrated from Denmark for every one woman who emigrated.  Considering the proportion of men and women who emigrated, the results disproportionately affected the country of Denmark.  The balance of men to women in Denmark already favored the women and this mass migration of proportionately more males also had its impact on the country.  It was also common among the Danes to leave their daughters with relatives or friends until they were considered old enough to travel at the age of 15 or 16.  Then they would setout to meet their parents, but often the daughters would remain in Denmark either unable to obtain passage or desiring to stay with these relatives who had made them secure.  The readjustment of Danish society as a result of this exodus took many years.

In 1850, there were less than 2,000 Danes in the United States of America.  Approximately one-tenth of one percent of the 28 million individuals who immigrated to America during this period were from Denmark.  Thus, in terms of total numbers, the Danish peoples were certainly in the minority of those who immigrated to the United States.  A large number of the Danes made their final homes in either Minnesota or Iowa where they established small Danish farming communities.  This brief summary provides the necessary overview for understanding the heritage transmitted by our Danish ancestors.

REFERENCES

Desmond, Shaw.   The Soul of Denmark.            New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1918. 

Hansen, Marcus Lee.            The Atlantic Migration 1607 – 1860: A History of the Continuing Settlement of the United States.  New York: Harper and Brothers, 1940.

Hvidt, Kristian.            Danes Go West.  Copenhagen, Denmark: Rebild National Park Society, Inc., 1976.

______.  Flight to America:  The Social Background of 300,000 Danish Immigrants.  New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1975.

Warne, Frank Julian.   The Immigrant Invasion.  New York: Dood, Mead and Company, 1913.

Wittke, Carl.            We Who Build America: The Saga of the Immigrant.  New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1939.

JOHANNES AND JOHANNA OLSEN

Following are excerpts from the diary of Hans Jensen Halls, June 11, l868 to Sep 1868, who was appointed as President of the company of convert emigrants to America from Denmark the summer of 1868. Included in this company were Johannes and Johanna Olsen. (The parents of Nina Marie (Madsen) Nielsen Petersen. She was not with this group) Their only child to survive the journey was Charles John Olsen. Three other children died on the way. Also on the ship was Mary Nelson Ockerman who came with her grandparents, Ola and Bertha Jensen Nelson. Mary would later become the wife of Charles John Olsen.)

I write this account not as a history of Hans Jensen Halls life, but as a part of the history of Johannes and Johanna Olsen, and Charles John; of Ola and Bertha Jensen, and Mary Nelson Ockerman. It clearly and simply states some of the persecution, hardships, sickness and heart break that these ancestors suffered daily on their almost four month journey to a new country, compelled by a new religion burning within them. May we in part try to understand the great sacrifice they made for the gospel and for the sake of their yet unborn posterity. We need to read this account with compassion and love for these heroic individuals.

We are indebted to Bro. Halls for his persistent writing, and to the LDS Church Historical Department for preserving and making them available. Also inserted is a short historical note about Carl Widerborg, Scandinavian Mission President at that time, which gives some insight into the persecution of the saints by the Danish Government.

Stuart C. Tyler

June 11, 1868 Arose early in the morning and went to the harbor and received eight saints from Aalborg, and back again and received some saints from Fyen. Then came those from Randers and we got them and all their clothes in the hall to Regnesgade. It was a lot of work to do.

June 12 Went early in the morning and received from the ship those saints from Aalborg and Wendsyssel and led them to places of lodging. The day before I went with Carl Widerborg, L. Larsen and H. Jorgensen to the police station for an examination regarding the emigrants. Later I and Halversen were with the police inspector with whom we had a long conversation about our faith and works. In the afternoon we had a meeting in the hall for the emigrants who were in the hall in Regnesgade. There are three or four hundred emigrants here. I talked for their enlightenment regarding their position. I went to visit the ship. Was again taken to court at the police station, but we were dismissed. We were permitted to go without defense. Held a meeting again in the hall in Godthaabsgode where I talked for the last time in Denmark. It was a full house and the councilman from the city commission was also there. It was the 518th meeting which I had held in Denmark. I married three couples in the mission office.

June 13 The police again charged us with several charges, such as where each had come from (that is--the emigrants) and what they were doing. I had instructed them well and received permission to handle it by our own methods. We brought our clothes to the ship, and they went aboard the ship which was to take them to Hamborg. A total of 630. There was just enough room for them. The police inspector and agent Bolle and some of the brethren followed us to Helsingor. We had good weather for the beginning of the journey. Before we began, Carl Widerborg, President of the Scandinavian Mission, talked to us and told them that I was going to lead the Saints this year.

********NOTE********

(This note helps clarify the harassment by the police as the Saints left Norway. It was copied from information in the Church History Department.)

Soon after the introduction of the Gospel in Norway, Latter Day Saints there were deprived of constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion. This was based on a ruling that Mormonism was not a Christian movement. While the status of Mormonism was reviewed by the courts and by the government councils, the town jail in Fredrikstad, Norway, was home for four missionaries from Denmark and a Norwegian convert. Two of them were charged with the "illegal practice of religion" and were imprisoned there for 6 1/2 months in 1852 and 1853.

Swedish born Carl Widerborg, a former school teacher and now a merchant, became interested in these young men, whose hymns could be heard through the windows of the jail. His visits to them became frequent and extended. He was able to arrange for the tolerant jail keeper to lock him in with the missionaries while he learned of the Gospel, then to let him out when he knocked on the floor.

After nearly four months of investigation, Carl requested baptism. The missionaries sent for a Priesthood bearer in the local branch, and authorized him to perform the ordinance. Then, during his next visit to Fredrikstad Jail, Carl was confirmed a member by the missionaries and ordained to the Priesthood.

Because of his educational background, Brother Widerborg was able to give the brethren legal advice. He also traveled to Christiania (now Oslo) to appeal on their behalf to the Norwegian government. Meantime, the depth of his conversion and his mild mannered approach helped bring other converts. The local congregation doubled in size while the missionaries were imprisoned. Moreover, the jailer's three daughters, one of the missionaries fellow prisoners, and other visitors to the jail also joined the church.

Carl Widerborg became a strength to the entire Scandinavian Mission, serving as it's mission president in 1858-1860 when all American missionaries were temporarily called home, and again in 1864-1868.

June 14 Sailed past Leso and Skagen, north and west around Jutland and the last we saw of Denmark was Hans Holm's lighthouse and fire.

June 15 I and Peter Hansen gathered the Danish money from the Saints for exchange, and gave it to Widerborg. We came to Kiel and went immediately on land. We were told to go by train to Liverpool and arrived there twelve at night. We were quartered in hotels by the brethren in Liverpool.

June 16 Widerborg and I went to the office where we were made welcome by Rogers and the others there. We began to get tickets for the passengers and did accounting for them.

June 17. I went all about to see where all the Saints were. They were in seven hotels. In some places they were hungry, and others were well pleased. I complained for those in need and it helped. I went and found a large sailship and talked with the captain about luggage.

June 18 Helped the brethren to exchange money and made purchases for the trip over the ocean. I married a couple in the evening. I had much to do. I received a number of letters from Denmark and transported their clothes from the railroad to the ship, "EMERALD ISLE".

June 19 We all went to the ship in the morning. The carpenters were not ready with the beds, and we had to wait until afternoon. We got our clothes and provisions on board in great haste. It was an ugly sight to see and a very difficult work to do, as they handled our people just like animals. We were very lucky that none were hurt. About 200 English Saints came aboard at the same time. We left the dock and moved into the river, pulled by a steamer, and then we cast anchor.

June 20 Brethren F.O. Richards, Preston and Penrose came out to us, and we had a meeting on the ship. It was dedicated to carry the Saints over the waves. F.D. Richards gave me instructions as president of the ship. Penrose took charge of all the English Saints and Widerborg the Danish Saints on board. Brother Jens Smith was first and John Fagerborg second counselor. P. Hansen and Parks were called as stewards and Magen Peterson as historian for the organization. The brethren talked for the enlightenment of the Saints. They then went on land and we gave them many 'hurrahs'. We then pulled anchor and a steamer pulled us out. I helped the Saints to find their clothes, and showed them to their beds, and instilled order with the guards to protect us from the sailors.

June 21 Held three meetings on the ship in different places, and divided the people in 13 wards; and set apart 13 teachers to preside over them. I and Fagerborg talked for the enlightenment of them. A sailor fell overboard, but he could swim well and was rescued by a steam boat. In the evening I married two couples.

June 22 We saw the coast of Ireland and Wales. We had head wind. We got the people on board deck, and gave them numbers for water and provisions, and for cooking. We took care of the sick with medicine, refreshed some with wine, and administered to a few.

June 23 We began to divide the provisions among the people. They were pleased and well, but it took most of the day as we were not used to receiving by this method. I held a meeting with teachers about cooking and dividing the kitchen between the English and the Danish.

June 24 I made an accounting of the money for the people who I had received. It was my day to enjoy myself. I gave two bottles of wine to our cabin. Had a conversation with the captain, doctor, and pilot.

June 25 I divided the money among the people, which they had wanted us to exchange. Wrote in the day book. The machine that was to make salt water to fresh was tried, but it didn't work, as the one who had charge of it didn't know how to make it work. Smith and I counseled with the captain to dock in Queenstown, Ireland, and get water on board.

June 26 I wrote to my family in Zion. We came to Queenstown's large harbor. The captain docked. Many came and offered bread for sale. I helped the Saints to buy bread and several small things which they needed. In the afternoon we had a dance on the deck, both the English and the Danish.

June 27 The emigrant inspector came on board and asked the captain and me many questions. He took Smith, and me, and the doctor, on land in Queenstown. After we had been there a little while, we went by train to Kork, 10 Danish miles inland. It was enjoyable to see the land and the customs of the Irish. We saw about town for two hours. We went back to Queenstown by train, bought a few things for the emigrants, and looked about town. We ate at a large hotel, and went on board in the evening with a large amount of water.

June 28 We got more water on board. We held a meeting on the after-deck where Smith talked English, Fagerborg Danish, and I talked both languages. We were well built up. The sacrament was administered. We talked for the enlightenment of the Saints. We raised anchor, and a steamer pulled us out. I declared to Bro. F.D. Richards that the English steward had left us, also three of the ships' men, three pilots, a mate, and a sailor.

June 29 Wrote in the day book. I went with the doctor to visit the sick. We gave them medicine and we blessed some of the sick. We began to organize choirs, English and Danish, and to organize schools in English so that the Danish could learn to read and talk.

June 30 We divided the provisions among the people. It went very well. Each received his share. We gave the sick medicine as the stomachs of many were out of order. Twelve of the children were sick because of measles.

July 1 The first child died on the journey because of inflammation of the brain, which was caused by a fall. There was J.N. Christensen, from Aalborg, and we made a box. We held a large meeting on the deck and I talked, first in English and then in Danish, about the workings of the Lord with the children of men, and we set the child into the sea.

July 2. I went and made preparations with the pilot that we might wash twice a week and get the clothes dry for the passengers. I went with the doctor to see the sick and gave them medicine.

July 3 Had a talk with the captain about the rights of the passengers on board as the sailors held bad feelings against our people, and the officers did also. And it came to pass that I took the part of the people, and I showed my papers and asked that they should handle themselves as people and have that portion of the water that they needed. It happened that I did a little good for our people. It was hard for the captain.

July 4 Held a council with the brethren in the presidency and with the stewards regarding cleanliness of the people. It was good. I straightened out several cases between the Saints, and one between brothers Smith and Barlow. I was with the doctor and helped with the sick, and I counted how many had the measles; there were 51 of them sick. In the afternoon the English Saints gave a concert about the American freedom.

July 5 We held a meeting on the deck. Southward talked about the first principles of the Gospel. P. Hansen talked for our upbuilding. I set apart two men to keep order on deck, and two to make a list of the clothes that each article may come to it's owner.

July 6 One of the children of the Swedish Saints died early this morning of measles. This brought sorrow to the parents as it was their only child. We got three barrels of cod liver oil and divided it to the mothers of breast fed babies, and to the old and the sick. A number of bottles were in use for fermenting beer for strength.

July 7 We held a meeting--a funeral for the child that died. Fagerberg performed the duty of prayer and talk. It was blowing hard this day from the northwest. Many of the Saints were seasick. We passed a large frigate from New York. We signaled.

July 8 We again divided the provisions among them; there were all kinds. I visited the sick and those with measles. Many suffered with diarrhea. We got medicine for them and administered to one who was ill.

July 9 We had good wind and rain. The measles was not as heavy among the children. We administered to a number of them who got better. We sailed by a ship from London which was also going to New York with passengers. They signaled to us and we signaled to them.

July 10 It was quiet again and it rained. We searched in the baggage and found pans for the sick, and condensed milk for the children. These were welcomed by them. We saw a schooner and a bark ship. At night a child died of the measles. Its parents were from Slagelse on Jutland. They were members of the covenant, and their child was illegitimate.

July 11 We held a meeting on the deck because of the funeral of the child. The pilot showed himself cleaver and ungallant against us, and disturbed our peace without reason. It was raining, but very lightly. A sister, Nielsen's wife, from Sjeland died in the afternoon because of a weak chest. We got her dressed and brought her into the engine room.

July 12 We held first a song and a prayer on the deck, and buried the sister in the waves. We held meetings in four places on the ship, two on each deck. Smith and I preached in two, and Fagerberg and P. Hansen in the other two. I received soft bread from the steward for the sacrament for all the saints. I preached in English for the English congregations and later in Danish for their enlightenment and trust. We had good wind which was also brisk. We had songs and games on the deck of the ship, both in English and Danish. Sickness let up on board ship. We visited those that were sick and brought them trust.

July 13 It was wash day. The first coxswain showed himself strongly opposed to us. He threw the clothes on the dirt on the deck and cut the cords. When I came past with the doctor he grabbed Sister Sander by the breast, and she cried out. I took hold of him and knocked him away from her, and scolded him good and proper. The sailors came, as well as many of our people, and the captain, while I held the coxswain down. I talked with the captain about his promise to us in Liverpool. He called the coxswain in and scolded him good. We had a strong rain storm this day.

July 14 We again divided the provisions. It went well, but it took most of the day as we couldn't get the winch in time to haul it up with. We visited the sick. We had a good wind today and went eight knots an hour.

July 15 There was a head wind today again. I prepared the clothes we got in Liverpool. We had a dance on deck. The coxswain let a lot of water run on the Saints, as he was angry, especially at the Captain.

July 16 We held a meeting on deck with the English where Brother Barlow talked English, and I translated and talked to the Danish and later to the English, first to trust and upbuild in both languages, and then to the teaching about the conditions towards each other on ship. I administered to one who was sick. Late in the evening I went on the after-deck and talked with the first coxswain, and I was fortunate enough to bend his hard feelings against us, but he was angry with the captain and blamed him. I then went on the between-deck, there an English brother had died of erysipelas. We washed him, and dressed, and brought him to the engine house.

July 17 Held a meeting on deck with the English where Smith talked about the body before we sank the body into the waves. The elderly brother left his wife to sorrow his loss. We had head wind. We saw a large ship. We were a little over half way to New York.

July 18 Two children died of measles; Nebles was one, and Tarsens was the other. We held a meeting on the deck and sank them both into the sea. We saw two ships. We had a good wind today. The captain wanted to see all the tickets. I got all the tickets from the teachers and compared them with the captain's book. There were 24 more tickets than there were names in the book.

July 19 We had a storm. A number were sick. A child from Randers died of measles. We held a meeting on the deck. The English sang and I talked English and Danish. We had head wind, but it quieted down in the evening; otherwise all went peaceful on the ship. The sailors acted better towards us than before.

July 20 We took up bouillon, soap, wine, and brandy for the sick and weak, and passed it out among them. We began to fear for the shortage of water. I made out new ration lists to spare a little. I accounted with some of the brethren and paid them their money. P. Hansen was short 59¢ in his money. This was figured in the office in Copenhagen. This made him very much out of patience.

July 21 We again divided out the provisions to all of the Passengers. It went well. Visited the sick and passed out to them wine and other things to give them strength. A child died of measles and we buried it in the evening. In the evening we held a meeting because of this. We saw two ships; the one was powered by rowers. It was a large ship. We had a good wind.

July 22 We had a head wind. We went up north. It was cold because of the icebergs in the sea. We buried a child, Jorgen Carlsen's, from Walste, Jutland, which died of measles. We held a meeting on deck because of this. In the afternoon we held a meeting on deck for the English Saints. We were well upbuilt. We held three meetings down in the ship. I preached for the Danes in two of them. I blessed three sick. The Saints felt good as usual. Lai Christen's wife gave birth to a son; it went well. The child was large and well formed. One sister had a heart attack, and fell down the steps and passed out four times. We administered to her and she recovered.

July 23 We had a good wind. We saw a large iceberg in the ocean. We also saw two ships, one was a large bark. The captain gave us soap for the sick, also one hen. Smith divided it out among them. We held a meeting on deck for the Scandinavian Saints where Fagerberg and I talked for their enlightenment and teaching. There was a good spirit present.

July 24 Several of those who were sick were moved from down below; among them was teacher S. Nielsen from the Eighth Ward. I assigned Nielsen from Sjeland in his place. I blessed several of the sick and divided nourishment out to them. The English gave us a concert in the afternoon, this consisted of several songs and stories. We sailed on the banks of New Foundland. The weather was quiet.

July 25 We had a good wind. Saw eight fish boats and three ships that were lying at anchor. They were fishing upon the banks. We had storm and rain. A sail was torn in two by the wind. We had a man from Wendssysel, P. Christensen, who broke his leg because the anchor slid on top of him. It was a terrible time for all the people.

July 26 The storm continued, but not as bad as the first day. The sea was rough, and the waves were very high because of the wind. The main sail was ripped in two and large pieces of it fell into the sea. The new one was blown under also. We buried two children who had died the night before, one was Osterman's from Grenaa, and the other a widow's from Sjeland. P. Christensen also died that day.

July 27 We had rain and head wind, and high seas. We buried the dead child. The doctor and the captain wanted to cut off the leg hat was broken, but I asked that it not be done. This brought strength to the people on the day. The feelings were low with many. Many fainted because of tiredness. Several beds collapsed with people. Boxes and all that could come loose rolled terribly.

July 28 I became sick with fever and diarrhea, and pain in the stomach, and suffered much. The doctor and the captain wanted to saw the leg off of the man who had broken it, but he didn't want to have it done. They came back but did not accomplish the task.

July 29 My sickness continues. M. Person and Smith went around to the sick and investigated their condition. We had a peaceful wind.

July 30 The dead were buried. One was Johannes Olsen's child from Wendssysel Conference; also J.C. Olind's child died and was buried the same day. I began to be better, but the fever got hold of several more Saints, especially those under deck.

August 1 The child of brother Knud Christensen died and was buried. They were from Aalborg Conference. I felt very weak, even though I was better.

August 2 We had a strong wind. Brother Osterman's child died and was buried, also another son of Osterman at the age of seven died and was buried the same day. They were from Aahus Conference. Also died, and was buried, was the child of J. Nebels from Copenhagen.

August 3 An angel sister died at the age of 54. Also another of Nevel's children died, and was buried the same day. I felt better but felt weak. I was discouraged over the conditions.

August 4 The child of Hedevig D. Hahl died, and was buried the same day; and the child of Henrick Hansen was buried the same day. They were from Odense Conference. Also the child of Niels Christofferson from Oranes Conference, and was buried the same day. I was well again and held a meeting on deck.

August 5 I visited the sick. We made a new hospital, and put several sick in there. There were 150 sick on board, which had it's origin from the water which had spoiled. The illness was brought from the land.

August 6 A little girl of Osterman's died and was buried the same day. We held a meeting on deck. We had a good wind, not too strong, with fog and rain. We counted how many pieces of clothing we had. The group had a total of 1,118 pieces.

August 7 Six of our children died and were buried. One was English and five Danish. We held a meeting and talked first to the English and then to the Danish. It was with deep feelings, and nearly all cried because so many had died, and so many were sick. In the afternoon we again held a meeting for the Danes and talked to them concerning the conditions on board the ship. When we arrived on land, we had to be careful with what we ate. Later I held council with our presidents and talked to them for their teachings. We now got light on board, which made us all feel better, even though we had 300 English miles to go yet.

August 8 We had good weather, but with a head-wind. The sick were a little better in the hospital. An angel sister gave birth to a daughter and all went well. I had a pleasant dream that night about my family and home. I will write a little about the ship, 'Emerald Isle'. It is a large frigate with three master decks. The captains name was Gillespie, the first coxswain was Chris, the second coxswain McFarlane, the doctor's name was Greg. The number of men in the crew was 36. All told they were a bad lot. We had a stranger or unknown captain as passenger whose name was Korby, he was with us in the cabin. There was disagreement between the officers and the men on ship.

August 9 We held a meeting on the deck for everyone. I blessed an English child who was born on board and named after the ship. P. Nielsen from Sjeland married a sister from Hjorring. I preached to them in English, and later to the Danish. The first coxswain made some confusion as he was angry at the captain, and he quarreled with him in the congregation. The sailors helped to make more confusion, which made our people feel badly; especially the English suffered much by trying to stay still. We had a good wind that day.

August 10 Thorsen's child died and was buried. The fever spread worse than before. I wrote to J. Johansen and to my family in Zion. We had rain and a little wind. I saw some mackerel and several ships. A child and a girl died.

August 11 We could see land. Early n the morning a steamer came and pulled us in. It made us feel good. We buried two dead in the ocean. I went about to check on the cleanliness and order on board the ship. Wrote to L. Larsen in Aahus. We went by Sandy Hook and came to Long Island. The quarantine officer and the doctor came on board. Over 30 sick were taken inland on a steamer to a hospital. The first coxswain became angry, and scolded the captain, who was confined to quarters that day.

August 12 The doctor came again and the officer on board, and he inspected the people to see if they had anything contagious. We took eight inland to the hospital. I went inland with the doctor, then went by steamship to New York and found brethren H.B. Lausen, Stevensen, Heber and Rogers (John), and told them about the condition of the group. I lodged at the Hotel Citizen.

August 13 I went to the bank with money for exchange and received $26,477.25 in greenbacks and 1,000 in gold. I went by steamship to the quarantine officer, and by boat back to the ship. Later we raised anchor and a steamer pulled us into town. I went inland with the captain and the doctor, and lodged at the Stevens Hotel.

August 14 Went to Castle Street and received the company. They had their names registered there. We then went with two ships with Danes up to a shed and station at the railroad, and began to got clothes, and did the accounting necessary for the journey across America.

August 15 We continued our weighing and work. We buried one who died in town. We had a very busy day. We used a railroad wagon as an office. Many of the brethren were there to help with the business for the journey. In the evening the train departed with the Saints. Soderberg and I stayed behind and obtained clearances for the journey.

August 16 We worked in the office to get things straightened out. I wrote to Widerborg and to F.D. Richards. We had a very busy day.

August 17 We went by train to Suspensselbric the short way. It was beautiful to drive through New York State and to see the mountains.

August 18 We bought tickets to Detroit there. We passed the company on the way. We then went by pullman and had a good night's rest. The next morning we went to Chicago, and there worked with the writing and figuring until they came with the company in the afternoon. I then went and got the Danes in the better cars, as they had been in the worst most of the way. Smith was very angry because of this.

August 19 We paid a number of the Saints their money back according to the list. We crossed the Mississippi River on a very dangerous bridge.

August 20 We were busy with accounting and paying. We drove over Iowa, and saw the beautiful fruitful land there. We came to Council Bluff in the evening. We camped under the open heaven.