Johanne Marie Nielsen

Biography

Johanne Marie Nielsen was born on November 19, 1823 in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the first of seven children. When Denmark was at war with Germany in 1848, Johanne became a cook for the Danish army. There, she met Niels Henrik Borresen, who had joined the Danish army. After the war, they returned to Copenhagen and were married on October 31, 1851.
In 1852, Johanne and Niels had a daughter in Copenhagen. Early in 1853, they met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were baptized. Because of heavy persecution in Denmark, Johanne and Niels left to immigrate to Utah at the end of 1853. They crossed the Atlantic on the ship Benjamin Adams, arriving in New Orleans on March 22, 1854. Their daughter died on the voyage and was buried at sea in February.
Once in the States, Johanne and Niels took a steamboat to Kansas City before crossing the plains with the Hans Peter Olsen company. After a difficult journey, they arrived in Salt Lake City on October 5, 1854. First, they stayed in Salt Lake City before moving to Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, and Spanish Fork. Johanne had two more children during this time, a boy and a girl.
Following Brigham Young's instructions, their family helped to colonize Pleasant Grove and was one of the first families there before finally settling in Spring City. Johanne had two more sons who died as infants and a daughter, Hannah.
In 1864, Niels married a widow named Anniken Johanne Evensen, a Norwegian immigrant. She and Johanne became very close friends and were close for the rest of their lives. Johanne helped Anniken when she had her children and was very active in their community. In 1880, Niels married a third wife, Anna, who was much younger than Johanne. Johanne and Anniken served as midwives for her when she had her children.
Johanne also ran the farm while Niels served a mission and was imprisoned for polygamy. She inspired two of her daughters to become midwives. She lived in Spring City for the rest of her life, passing away on November 9, 1901, a few days before her 78th birthday. She was buried in Spring City.