Abelona Knudsen

Biography

Abelona Knudsen was born on January 18, 1817 in Margrethenborg, Veerst, Ribe, Denmark. She was the seventh of eleven children. On July 25, 1840, she married Anders Hansen in Veerst. They settled near Vejle, Denmark. Abelona had six children with Anders. Two of her children, a daughter and a son, were stillborn.
On July 4, 1852, Abelona was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although her husband did not join the Church at the time, he was supportive, and, in 1855, Abelona, her husband, and their three living children left Denmark for America.
They sailed on the John J. Boyd across the Atlantic. Their journey was tumultuous and eventful, including terrible storms, a fire, and a mutiny. There were also many outbreaks of disease. Abelona's eleven-year-old son, Jorgen, died on the journey, likely from measles. After much hardship and tragedy, they arrived in New York on February 15, 1856, a little over two months after their departure.
From New York they went on to St. Louis, where Abelona's then-youngest daughter, Anne, also died. She was only four years old. Shortly after her death, Abelona had another daughter, named Christiane. Her husband Anders was also baptized in St. Louis.
On June 27, 1856, Abelona, her husband, her teenage daughter Anne Marie, and her new baby all started the trek across the plains with the Canute Peterson (Knud Petersen) company. Their journey was not without danger and anxiety, but they all made it to Salt Lake City safely, arriving on September 16th.