Linking the Jensen, Nielsen, Hafen, and Christiansen Families

Niels Christiansen Jensen 

Niels Christiansen or Jensen

Niels Christiansen or Jensen ( Family Search PID: KWN2-PVD) (A brief biography) The following biography consists of bits and pieces  I found in several histories, modified, combined and changed some of them a little, but for the most part they are the same as originally written. ----Robert Jensen, great, great grandson of Niels Christiansen or Jensen Niels was born in Denmark 15 June 1826. He was the son of Christiansen Rudolph Phillip Jensen of Northaven and Annie Johanne Rasmussen. Niels father had joined the then “unpopular” Mormon Church in 1852. Later Niels joined the the church, being baptized Oct 28, 1855. They were in their section of Denmark to join the new religion from America. Niels became a staunch defender and supporter of the church. Under Danish law, the local parish priests of the state Lutheran church acted as the registrars of the government and were required to keep the official records of births, deaths, marriages, census, and the military roll. Apparently it “irked” the local priest to be required to enter the records of a Mormon in his good Lutheran Parish Register. The priest could not christen the child and receive a fee, yet he was required to enter the birth and so for the son Andrew his name does appear in the register of the Trandjberg Parish, but the entry merely states that “on July 20, 1865, a son was born to Niels Christiansen and Karen Jensen, the Mormons of Osterby." Under the old Danish custom the children of Niels are known by the surname of Nielsen. However, Elders of the church suggested that the family should all keep the same surname of the father, so the children took the surname of Christiansen. When the family settled in Fountain Green the church authorities suggested the family of Niels should take the same surname as their grandfather which was Jensen. Accordingly , all the children changed their surname from Christiansen to Jensen. However, Niels continued to go by the surname of Christiansen and the two children who were born to him in Fountain Green also kept the surname of Christiansen. It would appear from the Parish Register that Niels and his family were the only Mormons in the village at this time, and undoubtedly they were subject to considerable “unsocial” treatment from the local populace. At least, Niels soon moved (about 1857) to the village of Ravnholt, Parish of Tiset, Aarus Amt. This was the home of his wife's father and family. And, no doubt, Niels commenced to make plans to “go up to 'Zion'--the promised land in the rocky mountains”. The 1860 Census of Aarus County, Tiset Parish: Niels Christiansen Age 34 Husfadder Mormon Karen Jensdater 32 Wife “ Jens Christian Nielsen 7 Born Trandjborg P. Annie Johana Nielsdater 5 Born “ Andrew Christian Nielsen 4 Born “ Johan Young Nielsen 2 Born Tiset P. Niels was a poor country farmer and America was a long way from Denmark. It appears that Niels soon decided if nothing better could be arranged, he would send the family to America one by one. For, according to Fred Anderson, of Huntington, Utah, Annie Johana, was sent Zion alone in 1864 when she was only nine ears old. According to this story, young Anna walked across the plains. Sometimes she was permitted to ride on the wagon tongue, or cross-trees of a wagon. She would help gather prairie “firewood” (buffalo chips) in her apron for the evening fires of the company she traveled with. When she arrived in Salt Lake City, she was alone and nearly starved for two months, living only on potatoes. She was finally able to make her way to Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah where an an uncle was living (Soren, brother to Niels). Luck seemed to come to the family, either through the emigration fund or some other means. The entire family left Denmark in 1866, sailing for America from Liverpool, England, May 2 on a ship called the Kendworth or Kenelworth. The company was under the direction of Samuel Sprague. They arrived in New York, July 17. They crossed the plains in an ox team train, under a Captain Joseph Rawlings (another source says Captain Reynolds). They did not stop long in Salt Lake, but made their way to Ephraim where they stopped for a short time. Then on to Fountain Green, Sanpete County, Utah, where they made their home. The grandfather, Christian Rudolph Phillip Jensen, and a brother of Niels (Soren) had preceded them to Zion, and were already located in Fountain Green. The old original Fountain Green L.D.S. Ward records list these families as among the first members of the ward. Living was hard, and the family was poor. Niels and his wife had to “farm out” the children. They worked for other people for board and room and a few clothes, but the children learned to work. Niels Christiansen went to Castle Dale in 1890. His sons James and Andrew had preceded him, going to the Castle Valley area in 1877, arriving in November of that year. Prior to this time while living in Fountain Green, Niels was a farmer and apiarist and continued to do such in Castle Dale. He took part in the Black Hawk war as a home guard. He served two years as water master in Fountain Green and was a shareholder in the Co-op store. He was a ward teacher for many years. He did about ten years missionary work in his native land of Denmark before coming to Utah. He was married in Denmark, July 7, 1853 to Karen, a daughter of Sire and Johannah Jensen, born February 13, 1828. They had nine children: James C., Johannah, Andrew, Mary,  (married N. P. Nielsen Jr.) Maria, John Y., Niels and Joseph, living, and Soren, deceased. John Y. is bishop of Castle Dale, being ordained April 17, 1898 by Francis N Lyman. Niels C. has forty-three grandchildren. --The above paragraph was taken from the early Sanpete-Emery Co. History book. Another similar biography that says its source is taken from the early Sanpete-Emery County history book: Niels C. Jensen, farmer and apiarist, son of Christian and Jannie J. was born in Denmark, June 15, 1826. He joined the Mormon Church in Denmark and came to Utah in 1866, crossing the plains in an oxtrain under Captain Reynolds and located at fountain Green. He took part in the Black Hawk war as a home guard; Served two years as water master in Fountain green and was a shareholder in the Co-op store; Has been for many years a ward teacher. He did about ten years missionary work in his native land before coming to Utah; Came to Castle Dale in 1890 and has since been engaged in farming and beekeeping. Was married ...(the rest is exactly the same as the last two sentences above) Castle Dale Utah City Cemetery records give the following information for: Jensen, Niels Christiansen Birth: 15 June 1826 Death: 7 Apr 1908 Burial: 10 April 1908 Place of Birth: Solbjerg, Tiset, Aarsus, Denmark, Place of Death: Castle Dale, Emery, Utah Cause of Death: Pneumonia and old age Grave Location: Castle Dale City Cemeterry, Block 1 lot 2 grave unmarked Relatives: Father: Christian Randolph Phillip Jensen Mother: Ane Johnanne Rasmussen Spouse: Anna Nielsen, Spouse: Karen Seirsen Fountain Green Utah City Cemetery records give the following for Niels wife: Christiansen, Karen Jensen Siersen Birth: 13 Feb 1828 Death: 27 May 1908 Burial: 0/0/0 Place of Birth: Tingskoven, Tiset, Aarhus, Denmark, Place of Death: blank Cause of Death: blank Grave Location: Fountain Green Cemetery, Sec 2 Lot 13 Relatives: Father: Jens Seirsen or Siersen Mother: Johanne Rasmussen Spouse: Niels Cristiansen Sr. Source: LaVon S. Coombs, Meth Mikkelson and the Crowther family.

Mary Maria Christiansen, a daughter of Niels Christiansen or Jensen   married N. P. Nielsen of Mt. Pleasant 

Carrie Nielsen Hafen

was born  August 13, 1889 in Mt. Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah.  Her parents were Niels Peter Nielsen Jr. and Marie Christiansen Jensen.

Her father was a blacksmith and wheelright.  She grew up in pioneer times with many hardships. She helped her family with the duties of early pioneer life.  Times were very different then.  Homes were small with none of the conveniences of today.  They had no running water, electric lights or indoor bathrooms.  Each home would have a coal or wood cooking stove and a coal or wood heating stove or fireplace.

She, along with her sister, Bertha, had a normal childhood of that era.  They would work and play together as a family.  She was a beautiful young lady and at the age of 19, she married Wilford Hafen.

She and Wilford had three boys, Boyd, Neil and Bert.   Carrie was a very nurturing and caring  mother.  When the boys were very young, they were playing in the kitchen while Carrie was preparing to do  her laundry.  While the boys were playing, they bumped into the stove which had a large kettle of boiling water on it.  This caused the kettle to fall and send boiling water onto Neil.  This resulted in causing extensive burns all over his back and neck.  He was in a coma for over 30 days.   The local doctor would come to check on things every day. Neil was nursed back to good health by his mother after many months of care.  This all had to be done at home as there were no hospitals in the area at that time. 

This was the beginning of Carrie becoming a nurse.  She became an efficient midwife and also helped the local doctors who visited those in need at their homes.

In her early family life she became a widow.  Her husband was killed by being thrown from his horse while separating cattle.  The horse fell on a snow and ice covered area, killing Wilford.  This left Carrie alone to raise her three boys, ages 7, 11, and 13. 

She went to work for the local doctor while she studied nursing and gained her license.  She was one of the first practical nurses in the State of Utah.

She worked for four or more doctors at different times; Dr. Winters, Dr. Sundwall, Dr. Holman and Dr. Madsen.  She also took care of her aging mother in her later years of life. Many children were brought into the world by her as a midwife and many were nursed to health and wellness by her.

In her later years, Carrie loved having her children and their families in her home often for the evening meal.  Her favorite meal would be homemade soup…all you could eat.  She would make either cabbage or dumpling soup, served with homemade bread.

She loved Christmas Eve.  She would invite her extended family and all the grandkids on Christmas Eve to enjoy supper and open their presents from her.  A player piano would be listened to on this and other occasions.

She had many hobbies including being very proficient with firearms.  She enjoyed hunting rabbits and small game.  She liked going on rides in her car.  She purchased a new Ford Coup in 1925.  Many of the extended family of today would love to have that car. 

Carrie was also good at farming, as she and her boys had to take care of the farm and livestock after the loss of her husband.  She could ride a horse and work a team of horses in order to do the farm work.  She also did beautiful crochet work. She was no stranger to Hard Work!

 

Spouse: Niels Cristiansen Sr. Source: LaVon S. Coombs, Meth Mikkelson and the Crowther family