Christian Christiansen Company (1857)
Date Unknown
- Type
- Handcart
- Category
- Church Train
- Direction
- Westbound
- Departure
- 15 June 1857
- Departed From
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Arrival
- 13 September 1857
- Captain
- Christian Christiansen
- Number In Company
- 270
When it began its journey from the outfitting post at Iowa City, the 7th Handcart Company consisted of approximately 330 individuals, 68 handcarts, and 3 wagons, according to a letter written by Elder Amos M. Musser. This company was first headed by James Park, David Dille and George Thurston. At Florence, Christian Christiansen became the company captain and continued in the position for the rest of the journey to Utah.
View Summary- A Biographical Sketch of James Jensen by J. M. Tanner (1911), 23-40.
- Benson, Kersten Erickson, Kersten E. Benson biographical file, 1-3.
- Buckingham, Henry, [Report], in "The Massacre on the Plains," Nashville Daily News, 25 November 1857.
- C. C. A. Christensen, "By Handcart to Utah: The Account of C. C. A. Christensen," translated by Richard L. Jensen, Nebraska History 66 (1985): 332-48.
- Christensen, Allen C. BEFORE ZION: An Account of the 7th Handcart Company (Springville: Council Press, 2004).
- Christensen, Lars Christian, Autobiography [ca. 1892], 5-6.
- "Correspondence from the Plains," letter from Amos M. Musser to President Appleby, 16 July 1857 in Millennial Star, 26 September 1857, 620-22.
- Dorius, C. C. N., Autobiography of Carl Christian Nicoli Dorius, 19-21. Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.
- Duncombe, John, Diary, in Roger B. Natte, "'A Reckless Life of Three Years in Iowa': The Diary of a Young Attorney, John Duncombe, 1856-1859," Iowa Heritage Illustrated, 83, nos. 2 & 3 (summer & fall 2002):
- "Excerpts from the Journal of John F. F. Dorius," Church emigration, 1857.
- Frederick Hansen, "The Great Handcart Train from Iowa City to Salt Lake City," Journal of History 9 (October 1916): 408-16.
- Garff, Louis, Reminiscences, 58.
- Gottfredson, Peter, Autobiographical sketch [n.d.], 11-12.
- Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 7.
- Hansen, Christian, "A Life History of Christian Hansen, Shoemaker...Convert...Handcart Pioneer, 8-10, 12.
- Hansen, Martin, “A Synopsis or Sketch of My Life,” 1-2.
- "Immigration," Deseret News [Weekly], 16 September 1857, 224.
- "Immigration," Deseret News [Weekly], 2 September 1857, 208.
- John Frantzen reminiscence and journal, 1889-1892, 29-39.
- Liljenquist, Ola Nilsson, Reminiscences. Trail excerpt transcribed from "Pioneer History Collection" available at Pioneer Memorial Museum [Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum], Salt Lake City, Utah. Some restrictions apply.
- Liljenquist, Ole Nielsen, "Biografiske Skizzer," Morgenstjernen, Marts 1883, 40.
- "Minutes of the Semi-Annual Conference," Deseret News [Weekly], 14 October 1857, 255.
- Olsen, Livy, [Autobiography], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 22:32-33, 38-39.
- "Passage of Mormons," Arkansas State Gazette and Democrat , 20 June 1857.
- Peter Rasmussen autobiography, 1932, 2.
- Richards, S. W. and Briant Stringam, 18 Aug. 1857, in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, reel 35, box 25, fd. 23.
- Soren Jacobsen journal, 1855 September-1860 January, 8-23.
- Taylor, John, "Editorial Correspondence," The Mormon , 18 July 1857, 2.
- Wright, Caroline (Karen Marie) Olsen, Reminiscences, in Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude , 4 vols. ([Salt Lake City]: International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1998), 4:3474.
- Young, Joseph W., "Correspondence of Elder Joseph W. Young," The Mormon , 4 July 1857, 3.
, Karen | Unknown | Unknown | 21 June 1857 |
Adler, Elsa | 22 | 11 May 1835 | 1 September 1898 |
Ahlgren, Hilda Amalia | 22 | 27 June 1834 | 31 December 1911 |
Alexander, Johanne Sophie Birgitte | 15 | 26 July 1846 | 10 March 1913 |
Andersen, Karen Marie Hansen | 58 | 29 September 1798 | 4 July 1887 |
Andersen, Maren | 36 | 3 February 1822 | 18 March 1914 |
Andersen, Mette | 72 | 25 October 1784 | 9 July 1859 |
Anderson, Andrea Catherine Johanne | 5 | 14 November 1851 | 7 July 1903 |
Anderson, Charles Augustus | 11 | 17 August 1845 | 5 January 1916 |
Anderson, Christina Boletta | 3 | 18 February 1854 | 5 January 1948 |
Anderson, Gustave | 37 | 26 January 1820 | 9 October 1911 |
Anderson, Jens Christian | 36 | 4 May 1821 | 15 August 1910 |
Anderson, Josephine Brighamina | 1 | 4 March 1856 | 24 February 1951 |
Anderson, Lauritz Peter | 7 | 28 July 1849 | 6 September 1910 |
Anderson, Margaret Nielsen | 27 | 29 June 1830 | 26 November 1916 |
Aragerup, N. | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Axelsen, Johanne | 45 | About 1812 | Unknown |
Bastian, Gertrude | 22 | 24 August 1834 | 25 September 1857 |
Bastian, Jacob Sander | 22 | 14 March 1835 | 22 April 1924 |
Bentsen, Ane Kirstine | 14 | 10 November 1842 | Unknown |
Bentsen, Anna Thora | 2 | About 1855 | Unknown |
Bentsen, Bertha Rasmussen | 39 | 26 December 1817 | Unknown |
Bentsen, Caroline Frederikka | 7 | 16 February 1850 | Unknown |
Bentsen, Jorgen | 49 | 12 July 1807 | Unknown |
Bentsen, Nils Peter | 5 | 29 March 1852 | Unknown |
Bertelsen, Anne Marie | 21 | 5 May 1836 | 15 November 1897 |
Bertelsen, Johannes Peter | 15 | 4 May 1842 | 1857 |
Bohne, Helsine Jensen | 39 | 11 April 1818 | 5 January 1890 |
Bohne, Henrick Marten | 11 | 29 October 1845 | 15 May 1920 |
Bohne, Jens Carl Jacob | 13 | 27 August 1843 | 1888 |
Bohne, Joseph Smith | 2 | 8 March 1855 | 9 February 1917 |
Bohne, Martin Sophus | 9 | 29 March 1848 | 15 March 1933 |
Bohne, Sophia Anena | 5 | 8 August 1851 | 25 October 1895 |
Brothersen, Anne | 1 | 8 January 1856 | 10 February 1930 |
Brothersen, Bohne [or Bolin] | 6 | 4 April 1851 | 25 February 1872 |
Brothersen, Christian | 46 | 14 June 1811 | 9 August 1893 |
Brothersen, Diantha | 9 | 18 December 1847 | 3 February 1928 |
Brothersen, Else Mortensen | 31 | 1 April 1826 | 17 November 1891 |
Brothersen, Hans | 7 | 15 February 1850 | 30 December 1900 |
Brothersen, Martin | 4 | 30 May 1853 | 29 September 1931 |
Christensen, Anders Christian | 48 | 4 September 1808 | 22 November 1882 |
Christensen, Andrea | 1 | 10 November 1855 | 6 August 1857 |
Christensen, Anna Margretta | 20 | 20 January 1837 | 27 May 1928 |
Christensen, Carl Christian Anthon | 25 | 28 November 1831 | 3 July 1912 |
Christensen, Caroline | 3 | 16 November 1853 | 8 May 1904 |
Christensen, Christiana | 23 | 10 July 1833 | 28 September 1884 |
Christensen, Christina | Infant | 21 March 1857 | 9 November 1906 |
Christensen, Eliza Rosalia Sternhjem | 22 | 13 November 1834 | 5 May 1910 |
Christensen, Ellen | 46 | 5 December 1810 | 11 November 1896 |
Christensen, Hans | 37 | 12 September 1819 | 23 July 1880 |
Christensen, Lars Christian | 25 | 30 January 1832 | 19 January 1903 |
Christensen, Mads | 32 | 24 March 1825 | 14 June 1914 |
Christensen, Maren Johanne | 30 | 21 May 1827 | 3 November 1896 |
Christensen, Niels Pedersen | 12 | 4 August 1844 | 18 May 1923 |
Christensen, Nils | 25 | 25 April 1832 | 6 January 1901 |
Christensen, Paul Pedersen | 13 | 22 August 1843 | 9 January 1912 |
Christensen, Peter Christian | 18 | 5 February 1839 | 18 July 1923 |
Christensen, Rasmus Peter | Infant | 9 December 1856 | 22 March 1930 |
Christensen, Sophia Marie | 43 | 13 May 1814 | January 1897 |
Christiansen, Ane Margrethe | 51 | 22 June 1805 | 16 March 1883 |
Christiansen, Christian | 32 | 7 October 1824 | 23 September 1900 |
Christiansen, Christian Nielson | 38 | 1 November 1818 | 11 December 1880 |
Christiansen, Karen Marie | 14 | 26 July 1842 | 19 March 1900 |
Corbett, Camilla Dorthea | 16 | 4 December 1840 | 14 April 1908 |
Dille, David Buel | 45 | 5 April 1812 | 1 January 1887 |
Dorius, Carl Christian Nikolai | 27 | 5 April 1830 | 4 March 1894 |
Dorius, Ellen Gurinda | 20 | 16 April 1837 | 28 February 1904 |
Dorius, John Frederick Ferdinand | 24 | 15 June 1832 | 18 July 1901 |
Dorius, Karen | 22 | 1 May 1835 | 21 June 1895 |
Eggertsen, Simon Peter | 31 | 7 February 1826 | 27 September 1900 |
Ericksen, Kirsten | 20 | 23 February 1837 | 22 October 1910 |
Ericksen, Kjersten Christina | 50 | 12 December 1806 | 13 October 1893 |
Ericksen, Marcus | 48 | 18 September 1808 | 6 October 1895 |
Folkman, George Jorgen Christopher | 64 | 10 September 1792 | 10 September 1864 |
Folkman, Jens Peter | 28 | 9 February 1829 | 22 December 1911 |
Folkman, Matilda Kristina | 20 | 8 December 1836 | 20 October 1910 |
Frantzen, John | 20 | 11 March 1837 | 12 January 1905 |
Frantzen, Lars | 45 | 4 August 1811 | 15 July 1881 |
Frantzen, Martha Maria | 45 | December 1811 | 26 June 1895 |
Garff, Peter Niels | 14 | 17 February 1843 | 5 June 1921 |
Gibb, Hanna Eugenia | 3 | 28 February 1854 | 5 January 1921 |
Gibb, Mica Martine Cathrine Margrethe | 23 | 15 April 1835 | 8 February 1911 |
Gottfredson, Hans Jens | 8 | 4 August 1848 | 19 July 1917 |
Gottfredson, Jens | 47 | 9 April 1810 | 29 June 1898 |
Gottfredson, Jens Peter | 11 | 17 April 1846 | 20 February 1934 |
Gottfredson, Joseph Smith | 4 | 2 July 1852 | 24 February 1891 |
Gottfredson, Karen Marie | 28 | 12 April 1829 | 9 March 1898 |
Gottfredson, Mette Christine | 6 | 24 August 1850 | 18 November 1923 |
Gottfredson, Platine Plattina | Infant | 17 July 1857 | 20 July 1857 |
Green, C. Christina | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Green, William | 50 | 5 March 1803 | 29 June 1887 |
Gundersen, Caroline Cecilia | 23 | 3 June 1834 | 16 March 1907 |
Halvorsen, Louis | 10 | 26 September 1846 | 22 January 1904 |
Hansen, Ane Hannah | 6 | 2 June 1851 | 15 June 1908 |
Hansen, Bertha Maria | 34 | About 1823 | Unknown |
Hansen, Caren Christine | 17 | 1 May 1840 | 25 February 1911 |
Hansen, Christian | 37 | 11 January 1820 | 8 July 1906 |
Hansen, Embreth | 37 | 18 January 1825 | 1857 |
Hansen, Erastusina | 2 | About 1855 | unknown |
Hansen, Frederik | 12 | About 1845 | unknown |
Hansen, Hans | 9 | About 1848 | unknown |
Hansen, Hans | 45 | About 1812 | Unknown |
Hansen, Hans | 3 | 21 October 1853 | 24 March 1891 |
Hansen, Hans | 22 | 11 September 1834 | 30 July 1896 |
Hansen, Inger | 31 | 1 March 1826 | 5 February 1862 |
Hansen, Karen | 32 | 3 May 1825 | 3 October 1910 |
Hansen, Karen Caroline | 8 | 14 January 1849 | 10 August 1934 |
Hansen, Kennedy [Haightina] | 2 | About 1855 | Unknown |
Hansen, Maren Christina | 5 | 17 February 1851 | 21 September 1867 |
Hansen, Maria | 7 | About 1850 | Unknown |
Hansen, Martin | 10 | 30 January 1847 | 28 November 1934 |
Hansen, Oliver | 5 | About 1852 | Unknown |
Hansen, Peter | Unknown | Unknown | 5 August 1857 |
Holm, Jens Neilson | 39 | 23 March 1818 | 22 April 1908 |
Holm, Margaret Christina | 39 | 14 August 1817 | 28 January 1896 |
Holm, Margaret Christine | 13 | 5 September 1843 | 17 June 1898 |
Hultberg, Anders | 3 | 15 January 1853 | 29 September 1923 |
Hultberg, Anna Catrina | 7 | 10 July 1849 | 15 March 1894 |
Hultberg, Christopher | 35 | 1820 | 30 June 1902 |
Hultberg, Karna | 36 | 1 October 1820 | 24 July 1895 |
Jacobsen, Anne Margretha | 37 | 8 October 1819 | 21 January 1896 |
Jacobsen, Lars | 23 | 26 October 1833 | 12 March 1912 |
Jacobsen, Marie Ingeborg | 51 | 26 November 1805 | 17 March 1892 |
Jacobsen, Olavus | 12 | 25 November 1845 | 5 July 1906 |
Jacobsen, Soren | 26 | 23 May 1831 | 19 March 1884 |
Jensen, Anders | 50 | 27 August 1806 | 9 June 1872 |
Jensen, Ane | 47 | 2 May 1810 | 15 October 1868 |
Jensen, Ane Marie | 23 | 23 September 1833 | 23 July 1906 |
Jensen, Annie | 8 | 16 November 1848 | 29 May 1918 |
Jensen, Christiana | 19 | 6 August 1837 | 9 April 1917 |
Jensen, Dorthea | 15 | 24 January 1842 | 15 October 1931 |
Jensen, Hans | 8 | 27 June 1848 | 11 July 1857 |
Jensen, Hans | 40 | 18 December 1816 | 24 April 1880 |
Jensen, Ida Louise | 39 | 22 March 1818 | Unknown |
Jensen, Jacob Hans | 11 | 6 December 1845 | 11 March 1934 |
Jensen, Jacob Johann Heidemann | 4 | 1 May 1853 | 8 April 1917 |
Jensen, James | 16 | 7 June 1841 | 15 January 1915 |
Jensen, Jens | 34 | 18 September 1822 | 21 June 1886 |
Jensen, Jens | 27 | 18 April 1830 | 21 October 1903 |
Jensen, Jens Martin | Infant | 30 October 1856 | 5 October 1857 |
Jensen, John | 17 | 23 January 1840 | 4 April 1915 |
Jensen, Karen | 22 | 4 April 1835 | 11 February 1900 |
Jensen, Karen | 13 | 3 October 1843 | 26 January 1899 |
Jensen, Kirsten | 22 | 29 August 1834 | 19 December 1908 |
Jensen, Mads | 35 | 9 March 1822 | 1 November 1907 |
Jensen, Maren Fredricka Jacobsen | 32 | 16 January 1825 | 8 February 1904 |
Jensen, Maren Sophia Christensen | 16 | 11 July 1840 | 28 March 1927 |
Jensen, Mary Ann | 15 | 6 March 1842 | 22 August 1910 |
Jensen, Peder | 45 | 15 November 1811 | 13 October 1894 |
Jensen, Peter M. | 6 | 17 August 1850 | 25 April 1937 |
Jensen, Sidsie Marie Jacobsen | 42 | 13 December 1814 | 16 February 1898 |
Jensen, Sophie [Maren] | 1 | 11 April 1856 | 31 August 1857 |
Jensen, Soren Peter | 6 | 23 August 1850 | 17 February 1925 |
Johnson, James H. | 20 | 25 December 1836 | 9 January 1915 |
Johnson, Maria Elisabeth | 54 | 21 September 1802 | 30 April 1890 |
Jonsson, Anna | 18 | 11 August 1839 | 1 April 1910 |
Julander, Anna Caroline | 11 | 4 June 1846 | 17 August 1939 |
Julander, Brigham Nephi | 4 | 2 June 1853 | 19 April 1906 |
Julander, Jacob Andreas | 45 | 8 April 1812 | 2 June 1898 |
Julander, Johanna Kristina | 36 | 10 August 1820 | 12 July 1863 |
Julander, Julia Ann Cecilia | 2 | 13 May 1855 | 11 March 1915 |
Julander, William M. | 15 | 30 November 1841 | 13 August 1929 |
Just, Christian A. | 11 | 31 August 1845 | 27 October 1913 |
Just, Hyrum Pedersen | Infant | 28 September 1856 | Unknown |
Just, Jens Pedersen | 8 | 1 January 1849 | Unknown |
Just, Joseph Pedersen | 3 | 8 March 1854 | 23 June 1857 |
Just, Karen Marie | 34 | 29 April 1823 | 12 December 1908 |
Just, Nels Andersen | 10 | 17 April 1847 | 28 March 1912 |
Just, Peter Anderson | 40 | 13 December 1816 | 12 February 1890 |
Karlson, Britta | 36 | 23 September 1820 | 5 April 1887 |
Karlson, Claus Herman | 7 | 6 September 1849 | 3 July 1915 |
Karlson, Lars | 43 | 26 July 1813 | 6 September 1857 |
Kofoed, Carolina Dorthea | 9 | 18 June 1847 | 10 May 1917 |
Kofoed, Margaret Catherine | 37 | 1 November 1819 | 4 January 1901 |
Kofoed, Thora Marie | 5 | 8 September 1851 | 19 November 1857 |
Lang, Mary Ann | 15 | 5 August 1841 | 4 December 1911 |
Larson, Andrew [or Anders] | 38 | 26 January 1819 | 4 June 1899 |
Larson, Anna Hannah | 7 | 30 November 1849 | 5 March 1917 |
Larson, Caroline Anderson [or Caroline Andrews] | 44 | 24 December 1812 | 22 July 1888 |
Larson, Lewis [or Lorens] | 10 | 12 March 1847 | 23 January 1923 |
Larson, Mary Christine | 5 | 5 May 1852 | 9 September 1884 |
Liljenquist, Ola Nilsson | 31 | 23 September 1825 | 24 April 1906 |
Lovendale, Enoch Heber Julius | Infant | 9 August 1856 | 14 July 1948 |
Lovendale, Ola John Manson | 30 | 27 January 1827 | 10 February 1891 |
Lovendale, Olena | 26 | 26 March 1831 | 21 May 1874 |
Lublin, Heinman Magnus | 9 | 6 March 1848 | 18 April 1928 |
Lublin, Hyrum | Infant | 31 December 1856 | 6 April 1931 |
Lublin, Johanna Kirstine | 37 | 1 June 1820 | 12 August 1898 |
Lublin, Samuel | 40 | 13 October 1816 | 22 October 1882 |
Lund, Maria Christina | 26 | 6 March 1831 | 21 December 1902 |
Madsen, Bertha Hansen Daniel | 50 | 18 March 1807 | 7 August 1857 |
Madsen, Niels Peter | 51 | 3 January 1806 | Unknown |
Mickelsen, Anna Catherine Hansen | 45 | 26 September 1811 | 10 September 1857 |
Mickelsen, Jens | 49 | 2 April 1808 | 10 October 1884 |
Mickelsen, Maren | 11 | 1 July 1845 | 28 January 1863 |
Monsen, Christian Hans | 19 | 16 June 1837 | 23 September 1896 |
Mortensen, Diderick | 51 | 16 February 1806 | 31 December 1872 |
Mortensen, Elsie Catherine | 6 | 11 January 1851 | 11 May 1922 |
Mortensen, Hans Peter | 13 | 29 March 1844 | 5 January 1891 |
Mortensen, Jens | 10 | 18 March 1847 | 25 October 1930 |
Mortensen, Johanne | 12 | 18 October 1844 | 8 July 1923 |
Mortensen, Maren | 52 | 14 April 1804 | 30 December 1882 |
Mortensen, Maren Kristine | 45 | 22 October 1811 | 24 February 1862 |
Mortensen, Mary | 7 | 8 August 1849 | 15 September 1878 |
Mortensen, Niels Otto | 37 | 1 July 1819 | 7 April 1912 |
Nelson, Catherine | 24 | 5 December 1832 | 11 September 1918 |
Nelson, Nels Christian | 29 | 26 January 1828 | 4 March 1921 |
Nicol, Johanna Christina | 18 | 11 March 1839 | 14 December 1919 |
Nielsen, Christian | 10 | 30 June 1846 | 23 December 1918 |
Nielsen, Johanne Cathrine | 8 | 16 March 1849 | 18 September 1904 |
Nielsen, Levi Christian | 40 | 17 December 1816 | 31 May 1870 |
Nielsen, Lise Marie Nielsen | 40 | 12 February 1817 | October 1871 |
Nielsen, Niels Christian | 14 | 22 March 1843 | 17 December 1898 |
Olsen, Andrew | 13 | 29 October 1843 | 15 July 1921 |
Olsen, Ane | 33 | 18 October 1823 | 4 March 1914 |
Olsen, Caroline Margaret | 33 | 8 October 1823 | 28 May 1882 |
Olsen, Caroline Olevia | 3 | 5 April 1854 | 18 August 1925 |
Olsen, Frederick | 32 | 24 July 1824 | 13 February 1906 |
Olsen, Karen Marie | 25 | 27 May 1832 | 26 April 1899 |
Olsen, Ludvig Just [Livy] | Infant | 1 December 1856 | 2 August 1945 |
Olsen, Maren Justesdatter | 35 | 1 September 1821 | 17 April 1884 |
Olsen, Nicoline Hullena | 21 | 26 April 1836 | 15 April 1874 |
Olsen, Ole | 6 | 19 January 1851 | 17 March 1926 |
Olsen, Ole Christopher | 32 | 7 February 1825 | 13 March 1906 |
Olsen, Peter | 35 | 17 August 1821 | 12 June 1888 |
Park, James Pollock | 35 | 21 December 1821 | 30 December 1889 |
Paulsen, Ingeborg | 34 | 9 April 1823 | 25 February 1908 |
Pedersen, Christiana | 22 | 5 March 1835 | 24 December 1898 |
Pehrsson [or Peterson], Ola | 46 | 29 September 1810 | 1 October 1857 |
Rasmussen, Bertha Maria | 34 | 20 April 1823 | 4 August 1892 |
Rasmussen, Bertha Maria | 16 | 30 December 1840 | 7 July 1888 |
Rasmussen, Christina Tina | 3 | 3 March 1854 | 10 September 1927 |
Rasmussen, Elizabeth | 38 | 25 August 1818 | 11 March 1886 |
Rasmussen, Isabelle | 11 | 8 November 1845 | 1 Febraury 1908 |
Rasmussen, Joseph | 1 | 30 December 1855 | 1 August 1882 |
Rasmussen, Lars Peter | 9 | 14 August 1847 | 15 July 1929 |
Rasmussen, Mads Peter | 47 | November 1809 | 18 November 1889 |
Rasmussen, Neal | 10 | 15 November 1846 | 8 August 1943 |
Rasmussen, Niels | 27 | 3 August 1829 | 7 January 1901 |
Rasmussen, Rasmina Matilda | 11 | 13 December 1845 | September 1857 |
Rasmussen, Rasmus | 9 | 9 January 1848 | 10 August 1857 |
Rolfsen, Gertrude Maria | 27 | 29 May 1830 | 25 November 1913 |
Rolfsen, Gertrude Maria Wroldsen | 58 | 8 January 1799 | 19 January 1888 |
Rudd, Lorenzo Dow | 30 | 16 January 1827 | 20 March 1911 |
Salisbury, Oke [or O. K. ] | 20 | 17 November 1836 | 26 February 1920 |
Sandersen, Johanna Marie | 21 | 30 July 1835 | 30 June 1918 |
Schow, Anna Marie | 2 | 28 August 1854 | 1866 |
Schow, Hans Sorenson | 31 | 22 September 1825 | 21 October 1916 |
Schow, Hyrum Smith | Infant | 28 July 1856 | 3 October 1857 |
Schow, Maren Nielsen | 31 | 29 March 1826 | 30 June 1906 |
Sorensen, Andrew | 7 | 20 June 1849 | 2 December 1926 |
Sorensen, Anna | 30 | 13 August 1826 | 23 September 1870 |
Sorensen, Anna Maria | 33 | 25 May 1824 | 6 January 1903 |
Sorensen, Anna Maria | 3 | 18 June 1854 | 29 March 1929 |
Sorensen, Bodil Marie | 9 | 22 November 1847 | 6 April 1920 |
Sorensen, Elsie | 14 | 5 September 1842 | 9 February 1932 |
Sorensen, Johanna | 52 | About 1805 | Unknown |
Sorensen, John Jens | 10 | About 1847 | Unknown |
Sorensen, Jorgen | 41 | About 1816 | Unknown |
Sorensen, Juliane Marie | Infant | 20 July 1857 | 28 June 1919 |
Sorensen, Kirsten | 38 | 24 November 1818 | 10 December 1882 |
Sorensen, Morten | 25 | 13 October 1831 | 21 October 1889 |
Sorensen, Niels | 34 | 26 March 1823 | 24 May 1866 |
Sorensen, Niels | 33 | 29 December 1823 | 15 September 1913 |
Sorenson, Iowa | Infant | 22 June 1857 | 29 June 1857 |
Steck, Wilhelmina | 31 | 1 January 1826 | 17 March 1892 |
Thomasen, Inger Andrea | 28 | 26 November 1828 | 6 October 1922 |
Thomasen, Johanne Andreasen | 32 | 2 January 1825 | 19 December 1910 |
Winberg, Marie Louisa | 19 | 17 August 1837 | 6 October 1867 |
Wright, Christine | 22 | 13 August 1834 | 26 January 1901 |
Most of the people in the Christian Christiansen handcart company were Scandinavians (Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes). They numbered about 330 souls, including a girl with a wooden leg and a 60-year-old blind woman. Because the Perpetual Emigrating Fund was exhausted, the emigrants had to purchase their own outfits with pooled resources. They had 68 handcarts, 3 wagons, 10 mules, and 1 cow. The cow soon died but others were purchased along the way. Likewise, the travelers purchased a fourth wagon and oxen to pull it. Elder J. P. Park, a Scotsman, was the company captain, but he had to communicate with his charges through an interpreter because he could not speak nor understand their language. Also, he was reportedly unsympathetic towards them. "The less said about this unfortunate choice of a leader for such a people as us," wrote an emigrant, "the better for him."
Parks and the wagons usually traveled so far ahead of the handcarts that the emigrants sometimes took a wrong road. The company left Iowa City June 12, with many of the people leaving prized personal possessions behind-clothing, bedding, books, and so on-because they could each take only 17 pounds of luggage. One man, however, kept a few books. The emigrants believed that a Church wagon would later bring their things to Utah, although this never happened. Later, the captain had individuals reduce their freight to 15 pounds. For the first week or so, progress along the trail was slow because many were sick. Almost daily some of these fell by the wayside and had to be gathered up in the evening by the wagons or by handcarts that had been unloaded and shuttled back to the camp. Nevertheless, some invalids complained that they had to wait long hours for a ride because the wagons were overcrowded and had to make more than one trip. Young, healthy men sometimes took turns carrying the faint on their backs. They also carried many of the infirm across rivers. It was hot and it rained frequently. The roads were muddy; curious settlers occasionally lined the road, asking questions and making comments in English, but the travelers did not understand them. June 21 an elderly woman died and was buried. The company crossed the Des Moines River on a long bridge and on July 2, it reached Council Bluffs via Glenwood Road. Here, officials refused to allow the train into the city, claiming that the emigrants had smallpox, which was not true. The next day, after taking the long way around, the party crossed the Missouri via a steam-driven ferry. At Omaha, Scandinavian settlers greeted the travelers; here, too, the emigrants saw their first American Indians.
At Florence men from Utah visited and spoke encouragingly to the company. Here, too, the travelers shared some of their food with visiting Indians. Elder Christian Christiansen, a native of Denmark who had lived in Utah and who was returning from a Church mission in the Midwest, now became company captain. This change in leadership was universally welcomed. One emigrant said Christiansen was like a father to the company. Another recalled that he was a capable leader and inspired his followers with confidence. A third reported that the captain often helped pull her cart up hills. A fourth said he was liked and respected by all. Again, he was gentle and fatherly. The train left Florence on July 7. Almost immediately one of the handcarts broke a wheel and had to return to town for repairs. At Papillion Creek, Captain Christiansen inspected the emigrants and insisted that all who were unhealthy or not adequately prepared should return to Florence and wait for the next year's emigration. Some of those who remained behind sold their equipment to emigrants who had been waiting at Florence for an opportunity to go west. At least one young emigrant left her family in Florence and pursued her westward journey alone. But a Swede who was told to remain in Florence because his wife was too weak trailed along behind the train just out of sight until the company was too far along to turn him back. Then he rejoined the train.
July 9 the travelers reached and crossed the Elkhorn. Two days more and they were on the Platte. The Loup Fork was a major obstacle; it was about a mile wide and filled with quicksand, shifting holes, and sandbars. The emigrants raised the wagon boxes to keep their cargos dry and then employed local Indians to transport the women across on horseback and to guide the vehicles over. Multiple teams pulled the wagons while the strongest men dragged empty handcarts through the treacherous currents. The crossing took two days. Fortunately, there were no accidents. The night after this crossing, there was a severe rainstorm, accompanied by thunder and lightening. Because of illness, two families now dropped out of the company. Between Loup Fork and Wood River the travelers suffered greatly for lack of water. At Wood River a woman slipped away from camp long enough to deliver a baby girl, returning with the infant wrapped in her apron. She got to ride in a wagon for a while. Somewhere on the sandy plains of Nebraska another baby girl died and was buried, with a sieve covering
her face. As the company toiled on, men and women weakened and again lightened their loads. The strong accepted the burdens of the weak. When shoes wore out travelers wrapped their feet in burlap or cut rawhide from carcasses of dead cattle to make new footwear. Unfortunately, the rawhide often got wet, then dried hard. Feet became chafed and bloody.
On August 3 a 36-year-old man died, his feet so swollen that he could no longer walk. The travelers often saw Indians but had no trouble with them. They witnessed a prairie fire but escaped harm. When the company reached the vicinity of Fort Laramie on August 9, it stayed north of the Platte and quickly moved on into the Black Hills. August 22, the train was at Devil's Gate. Here another man died. Water was a constant concern. Often, men or boys had to walk great distances to fetch it. One young man got lost while carrying water and ended up spending a rainy night alone. A second boy,returning to camp after dark and wearing for shoes old socks to which his mother had attached canvas soles, walked into a patch of prickly pear, and when he sat down to extract the painful spines, he sat on a clump of the cactus. Thirsty men sometimes forgot their manners; one grabbed a container from a water boy and satisfied his thirst before allowing nearby women or children a drink. An old man got lost while trying to find a shortcut to water. He was gone for a day, ate berries, and was rescued by trappers who led him back to the train.
Hunger stalked the travelers almost constantly. At one point, some of them were so hungry that they killed, cooked, and ate a crow. An old man, unacquainted with American wildlife and with no sense of smell, bludgeoned a skunk to death with his cane and brought it into camp. All the others scattered. At the Sweetwater, the commissary of Johnston's army, then marching to put down the "Mormon Rebellion" in Utah, took pity on Christiansen's followers and gave them a lame ox to slaughter. This was the first meat the company had had in weeks. Though they passed through vast buffalo herds, these emigrants killed only one; it had become separated from the herd. Otherwise they feared that a stampede would destroy them all. East of South Pass, relief wagons from Salt Lake met the train. The travelers purchased flour, offering their handcarts as security. These wagons then carried the weakest members of the party back to Salt Lake. Those who remained with the carts bought more flour at Fort Bridger. In Echo Canyon rain, hail, and a very cold night made life miserable for the company. Ice on mountain streams lacerated already abused feet.
Thirty miles from Salt Lake, wagons loaded with bread, cake, and fruit met the company. As the train crossed Big and Little Mountains, the people had to help the exhausted mules reach the summits. Then, with the Danish flag flying from the lead handcart, the company arrived in Salt Lake City on September 13. One emigrant said that the first time he saw his image in a mirror, he was shocked at how tanned and skinny he was. Approximately 15 people died on the journey.