Mads Christian Jensen (1822 - 1898)

Born 4 Apr 1822 in Nyholm, Elling, Hjorring, Denmark

Husband of Maren (Hansdatter) Jensen — married 10 Jun 1845 in Vrejlev, Hjorring, Denmark

Husband of Gjertrud Marie (Pedersdatter) Jensen — married 27 Jan 1855 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States

Husband of Aurora (Mariager) Jensen — married 26 Feb 1862 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory

Descendants

Died 11 Jul 1898 at age 76 in Brigham city, Box Elder, Utah, United States

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Biography

Mads was born in Denmark in 1822. He was the son of Jens Christian Christiansen and Maren Andersen. In 1845 Mads married Maren Hansdatter (anglicized to Hansen) and together they were parents of thirteen children. Morman missionaries came to Denmark and in 1851 Mads and Maren were baptized into the church. Facing persecution by their neighbors and family they were driven out and emigrated to America. After a rough crossing they landed in New Orleans in 1852, crossing the plains by wagon train and arrivivng in the Utah territory in 1853. They first settled in Weber, Utah. In 1855 in a polygamous relationship Mads second married Gertrude Pedersen Kjer and together they parents of seven children. Mads was a miller by trade and in 1857 was called upon by his church to settle in Brigham City to operate a flour mill. There he milled and also farmed with his sons. In 1858 Mads married a third wife Else Maria Olsen and together they were parents of six children. In 1862 Mads married a fourth wife, Aurora Mariager and together they were parents of five children. Mads was father of thirty-two children, sixteen living to raise families. He continued to reside in Brigham City where he passed away in 1898 at age 76.

Notes

The new religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the 1840’s was not accepted by many of the neighbors and family around them. Its members were attacked and driven out so they emigrated and formed their own communities in the new Utah Territory. A major reason for their not being accepted was their practice of polygamy. For some polygamy did not work as there was jealousy and wives left the relationship but for others it seemed to work well for the circumstances of more women than men and the church’s attempt to care for all its members. In the 1890’s the Church and its members were forced to renounce polygamy as the Territory was incorporated into the United States. The effects of these changes in family structure had a major impact on their lives. The following is copied from a section taken from Mads Christian Jensen’s book:

“Following the counsel of his church leaders he married into polygamy fully conscious of the consequences that might follow. When the U.S. Marshals were hunting down the polygamists, he made no effort to hide from them. At the time he was arrested, the Marshal found him working at his mill. At his request, they took him to his home first where he shaved off his mustache and beard and made himself ready for the penitentiary. They took him to Ogden for trial. Nonmembers were subpoenaed as witnesses, whom it was thought would condemn him. His hearing was a short one. His witnesses regarded him highly, and their testimonies acquitted him, much to the surprise of himself and his family. He was never again molested by the U.S. Marshals.

For a number of years, Mads and his four wives and children lived in the same house. Members of the family say that they have never heard a quarrel between their father and his wives. Their personalities were different but they learned to yield personal feelings for the sake of harmony and family unity. There must have been times when this was hard to do, but the wives learned to love each other as true sisters. Each had motherly feeling for the other’s children. After a time, Mads was able to secure a home for each of his wives.”

Sources

• "Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYDQ-2NY : 10 February 2018), Mads Christian Jensen, 05 Apr 1822; citing ; FHL microfilm 48,998.

• "Denmark Census, 1834," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGW1-RYGT : 28 November 2017), Mads Christian Jensen in entry for Jiens Christian Christensen Pargård, 1834; from MyHeritage. https://www.myheritage.com : 2016 citing Horns, 1822, 12, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen; FHL microfilm 100,949,178

• "Denmark Census, 1845," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLRV-69NM : 17 November 2017), Mads Chr Jensen in entry for Jens Chr Christensen, Elling, Horns, Hjørring, Danmark; from "Denmark Census, 1845," database and images, MyHeritage ( https://www.myheritage.com : 2016), film 01932; citing household 000126954, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen; FHL microfilm .

• "Denmark Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6D-7BMQ : 17 November 2017), Mads Christian Jensen, 1850; from MyHeritage. https://www.myheritage.com : 2016 citing Børglum, 1822, Head, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen; FHL microfilm

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH24-DTT : 12 December 2017), Mads C Jenson, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCR-J1F : 12 April 2016), Madson C Jenson, Utah, United States; citing p. 26, family 208, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,109.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNSJ-WX3 : 15 July 2017), Mads C Jensen, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, United States; citing enumeration district ED 4, sheet 65D, NARA microfilm publication T9 ...

• "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8X-9YDH : 15 March 2018), Mads Christian Jensen and Maren Hansdatter, 1845.

• "Utah Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database, 1847-1868," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9B-C945 : 10 February 2018), Mads Christian Jensen, 29 Sep 1853; from "Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel: 1847-1868," database, > The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (https://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/ : 2004-).

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVP-CM2R : 13 December 2015), Mads Christian Jensen, 1898; Burial, Brigham City, Box Elder, Utah, United States of America, Brigham City Cemetery; citing record ID 19246025, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• FamilySearch;Mads Christian Jensen,KWJ6-C78;Memories, Stories, “Mads Christian Jensen,4 Apr 1822-11 Jul 1898 ( taken in part from the Mads Christian Jensen book).”