Johanne Christine Larsdr (Larsen) Peterson

Thoughts about Johanne Christine

There has been a large portrait of Johanne Christine Larsen Peterson hanging on the wall of my living room for a long as I can remember. As a kid at home it was there with its gold painted and very ornate frame. When my parents died I inherited it and it lives in the living room of my own home.

The only thing that I can remember about Johanne Christine from what my mother told me was that she died of a broken heart. Johanne died during childbirth soon after her husband, Marcor Hansen Peterson, brought home a second wife. But that is another story.

Johanne was born Johanne Christine Larsdr, pronounced Larsdatter, to Lars Christensen and Maren Christensdr in Selleback, Skaeve, Hjorring, Denmark1 on the 9^th of Jun 1847.. Johanne’s family was baptized on 14 Jul 1861 in Denmark when Johanne was 14 years old.

In 2010 I received a life sketch of Johanne Christine Larsen Peterson that was written by her sister2. From this little history we learn that Johanne Christine in 1863 at the age of sixteen stayed behind in Denmark when her family emigrated to Utah because there was not enough money for them all to make the trip. She was watched over by another family but spent two years working as a seamstress. It was the custom that a seamstress would go to the homes of those that needed sewing and she was treated very nicely by the families that she worked for and stayed with.

In 1865 a well-to-do family that had a lot of young children agreed to pay for her trip to Utah if she would agree to pay it back when they arrived in Utah and if she helped with the children on the trip. She agreed and began her journey to Utah. First they traveled by sailing vessel which she describes as, “A slow trip and people were more or less sea sick.” She mentions that it was easy and even pleasant to fast a few meals when thinking of the sea biscuits! Later they reached Omaha. From there they joined a wagon train but all of the adults walked the entire way. They started late in the season so winter was upon them before they completed the trip. Their provisions ran short but she finally made it to Salt Lake City to find her mother waiting for her with open arms.

From this story about Johanne Christine we learn of her commitment to the gospel and of her enduring strength. As I think of this Matriarch of our extended family and her strength I feel as though she is watching over us as she has watched over me and my family for many years through her portrait on our living room wall. We are truly blessed by the ancestors that we have had and their commitment to make a better life and to live the gospel.

Johanne Christine Larsen Peterson Portrait in my living room

Where Johanne Christine Larsen fits into our family

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1 "Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923." index, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org): accessed February 07, 2012. entry for Johanne Christine Larsdr , baptized 16 Jul 1848; citing Church Records, FHL film 49142; Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

2 Lovin’ Memories, Published by Carol Bloomfield in 2010.