Christina Nielsen Torkelsen Pehrson

Biography

Christina Pehrsson Jepson was born in Uddarps, Sweden on December 24th, 1848 to parents Nils Pehrsson and Karna Lundberg. When she was ten, her father was approached by the local miller’s wife, asking if Christina would be willing to live with them and tend to her baby. Christina did so and lived with this family for three years. During this time, her family became acquainted with missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and often welcomed them into their home. Christina was initially skeptical of the missionaries owing to rumors that had been spread about the faith, but eventually was baptized in December of 1862 after returning home and investigating for herself. The family then began preparing to immigrate to Utah. Christina and her sisters were tasked with weaving items that would be necessary for the journey, which unfortunately meant putting off Christina’s schooling.

In April 1863, the family began the journey to Utah. They traveled from Sweden to Liverpool, and then arrived in New York via the ship John J. Boyd on May 29th.  From there, they traveled by train to Omaha, Nebraska, embarking on the rest of the journey by wagon with the John Riggs Murdock Company. Because they traveled during the Civil War, they often encountered the bodies of men and animals killed during the fighting. Both Christina and her mother became very sick, and Karna eventually died on the trail. The rest of the family arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in October of 1863, where Christina finally recovered from her illness. They then moved to Hyrum for nine months, and then proceeded to Brigham City, where Christina was employed by Jeppa Jepson and his wife Gunnell. At 16 years old, Christina married Jeppa in the Endowment House, becoming his second wife on January 31, 1865. The two had fourteen children together. Four of her sons served missions and two served in the first World War.

From October 7, 1884 to May 4, 1886, Jeppa served as a missionary in the Scandinavian Mission, leaving Christina responsible for caring for the family. Not only did she care for her children and serve in the community as a founding member of the Relief Society in Brigham City, but she also served in the church as a Relief Society Teacher for twenty-six years. Jeppa died in 1916, leaving Christina a widow for her nineteen remaining years. Christina sacrificed much during her life, (including her dream of attending school) to dedicate herself to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Christina died at the age of 84 on November 7, 1935. She was buried in the Brigham City Cemetery with her husband Jeppa and his first wife, Gunnell.

Biography compiled from Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude Volume II and The Family of Jeppa Hanson Jeppson.