A Brief History of NIELS CHRISTIANSEN JENSEN of Osterby, Denmark and KAREN SEIERSEN JENSEN and the Hafen Connection

Niels Christiansen Jensen 

Karen Siersen Jensen

Niels Christiansen, second great-grandfather of the Peter Hafen  was born in Tiset Parish, Ning Hered, Aarhus Amt, Denmark on 15th June 1826. His father was Christian Rudolph Phillip Jensen; his mother was Ane Johanne Rasmussen (Tingskoven). His name is written differently on different records and family documents. He may be identified as: Niels Christian Jensen Niels C. Jensen Niels Christiansen Niels Christiansen Jensen As far as can be determined, however, he himself used only the name of Niels Christiansen in his lifetime. In typical Danish patronymic style, this identified him as Niels, son of Christian. On July 15, 1853, he married Karen, a daughter of Jens Seiersen, of Tingskoven, in Tiset Parish. Shortly before his marriage, Mormon missionaries came to their district. Niels' father readily believed the message, and joined the L.D.S. faith in 1852. Niels also listened, investigated this new religion, and then was baptized 28 Oct. 1855. His wife, Karen, also joined, and they were called "the Mormon" family of Osterby. This was the little farm village in Tiset where their first three children, Jens (James), Ane and Andrew were born. Before 1855, the family moved a few miles away to another farm village called Ravnholt. Four more children were born here. At that period of time, ostracism seemed to be the lot of many Mormons in Denmark. Niels and his family evidently decided to "gather to Zion." Soren, a younger brother of Niels, joined the Church in 1857. In the early 1860's, the two brothers and their elderly parents saved, and made plans to go to Utah.Soren was the first to make the long journey. According to the personal history of John Y. Jensen (4th child born to Niels) the family left for America in 1866. He indicates they sailed from Liverpool on May 2, 1866, in a ship named the "Kenilworth." Their company was under the direction of Samuel Sprague. They arrived in New York on July 17th. Continuing on to the western frontier, they joined a wagon team under the direction of Captain Joseph Rawlings, and crossed the plains to Utah. (Note: A D.U.P. publication says Niels crossed the plains in 1866 in an oxen train under Captain "Reynolds." This must be a. misspelling.) (Note: L.D.S. Church immigration records show that a ship Kenilworth sailed from Hamburg on Nay 25, 1866 with 684 Saints aboard. They were under the direction of Samuel L. Sprague. They landed at New York. These same records also indicate that Joseph S. Rawlins was captain of a wagon train that outfitted in Nebraska, and started west on Aug. 2, 1866. There were 400 persons and 65 wagons in the company. They arrived in Great Salt Lake Valley on Oct. 1st, 1866.) According to the Family records of the Fred Anderson family, of Huntington, Utah, Niels and Karen's eldest daughter, Ane, came to Utah in 1864, two years before the rest of the family migrated. She was only nine years old. She walked much of the way across the plains. Sometimes she was permitted to set on a wagon-tongue, or crosstree, to rest. She helped to gather "buffalo-chips" for the evening fires. She was all alone in Salt Lake City, and nearly starved, living on potatoes alone. Finally she was able to make her way to Fountain Green, where her Uncle, Soren, was living. Niels, and his family, also settled in Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah. Church officials suggested that the family should adopt the American way for family names, and should adopt the surname of Jensen, from their father Christian R.Y. Jensen, the first member to join the Church. All of the older children then changed their surname to Jensen, including Andrew. But Niels continued to use Christiansen as his own surname. Two sons were born to him and Karen in Ftn. Green. (Niels and Joseph.) These children were given the surname of Christiansen, and their descendants have continued to use this surname, while the descendants of the older children have all used the surname of Jensen. Niels and his kinfolk were poor, and the children went out to work for other families, to earn a few clothes, and board. Niels was eventually able to obtain a small farm in Fountain Green. He farmed, and also raised bees (apiarist) on his farm. He raised his children strong in the faith. They were stalwarts in the Church, and helped to establish the new Pioneer communities. Niels took part as a home-guard during the Black-Hawk Indian "war." Then in 1890, he moved to Castle Dale. He continued farming, and bee-keeping. Family traditions indicate that Karen did not like Castle-Dale, and she refused to live there. She went back to Fountain Green. The details are vague, but it is probable that Niels took another wife. Death came to Niels on 7th April 1908, in Castle Dale. His wife, Karen, outlived him. She died in Fountain Green on 21 May 1909. They left a numerous posterity. Eight of their nine children lived, married and had many descendants in Utah, and throughout the west. Written and compiled by Elwin W. Jensen--Great Grandson

                Hafen Pedigree to Niels Christiansen Jensen :