Maria Wilhelmina Catherine Krause

Biography

Maria Wilhelmina Catherine Krause was born on May 29, 1846 in Vor Frue, Svendborg, Denmark to parents Johann Krause and Anna Lucia Simonsen. Her father Johann owned a nail shop, and it was there that the family first encountered missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A pair of them were passing out flyers in front of the Wheel Wright Nail Factory, telling people they were holding a meeting that evening in the woods, which Wilhelmina’s mother attended. Anna continued to attend meetings, unbeknownst to her husband Johann, and was eventually baptized, again in secret. Anna continued living the principles of the gospel on her own for years as her husband did not convert, nor approve of the faith. She however had a great desire to join the Saints in Utah, and he eventually (though begrudgingly) sold his business and prepared to move to St. Louis, Missouri, hoping to have a business in building handcarts and wagons for Saints traveling west. Anna however, knowing it was her husband’s intention to stop his journey in St. Louis, decided to leave her daughter Wilhelmina (who was eight years old at the time) with her Mormon friend Mrs. Frandsen, who was planning to travel to Utah, in hopes that he would finish the journey to be with his daughter again. Unfortunately, after arriving in St. Louis, a cholera epidemic broke out, killing Anna and two of Wilhelmina’s siblings that were brought on the journey.

Meanwhile, Wilhelmina prepared to emigrate to Utah with the Frandsen family a year later, but the family was accused of forcibly stealing her, and thus officers removed her from the ship and put her in an orphanage. Eventually, the orphanage allowed missionaries to visit Wilhelmina and place her in the care of the Madsen family, who were also preparing to go to Utah. The family (with Wilhelmina) traveled to Liverpool and set sail for America on the ship “Thornton” on May 4th, 1856, arriving in New York on June 14th of that year. The group joined the Captain William B. Hodgetts company and traveled by way of St. Louis. Her father Johann heard of Wilhelmina’s arrival in that company and searched extensively for her, but Mrs. Madsen decided to bring the child to Utah as she knew Anna was dead and wanted Wilhelmina to be raised in the church. Mr. Madsen died during the journey. The group eventually arrived in Utah, meeting Peter Madsen and his brothers and sisters who had come to Utah the year before. Peter led to the group to Mt. Pleasant where they all settled.

At 16 years old, the family encouraged Wilhelmina to marry Peter as his second wife, owing to the fact they had cared for her for years. So, on January 2nd, 1864, Peter and Wilhelmina traveled to the Endowment House in Salt Lake City for the marriage. Caroline Frandsen (Peter’s first wife) was allegedly very jealous of Wilhelmina, causing a lot of tension in the home. As such, Wilhelmina and her ten children were moved into a separate homestead between Moroni and Mount Pleasant. With the 1866 Manifesto, Peter deeded this homestead to Wilhelmina for her use (as she was no longer legally able to be his wife), but then later wanted her to sign it back to him, resorting to various forceful measures. However, watchful neighbors informed officers of his actions and prevented him from removing Wilhelmina’s livelihood. Peter did not return to that house to see his children.

Wilhelmina was known for her sewing skills and taught herself to play the accordion as well as to read. Her farm was very successful, and she served as a Relief Society President. She died on October 23rd, 1900. Her deathbed wish was to see her husband Peter, which he refused. Information for biography found in History of Maria Wilhelmina Krause Madsen.