Karen Mariah Nielsen

Biography

Karen Maria Nielsen Murray was born in Hjørring, Denmark on January 3, 1846 to parents Karen and Niels Nielsen. In 1852, her family converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because the family did not have enough funds to make the journey all together, they initially saved for and sent Christense and Berthel (two of Karen Mariah’s siblings) to Utah in December of 1853 with their friends. Two years later in 1855, the rest of the family journeyed to Utah. The family traveled first to Copenhagen, and from there to Liverpool. They intended to sail on the ship “John J. Boyd” however, got sick and thus postponed their journey. In February of 1856, they left for New York on the ship “Caravan”, arriving in the United States on March 27th. They proceeded to St. Louis so her father could work and earn enough money for the remainder of the journey. Unfortunately, he died of cholera in St. Louis in April of 1857. Her mother (Karen) continued the journey with her children by heading to Florence, Nebraska, and from there crossing the plains to Salt Lake City with the Christian Christiansen hand cart company. They finishing the journey in September of 1857, when Karen was 11 years old. On February 6, 1863, John Murray (high priest) married Karen to Jeremiah Hatch Murray in Spanish Fork. The couple moved to Leland, Utah and later settled in Ashley Valley where they homesteaded six hundred acres and used it farm, raise livestock, and grow fruit. Karen Maria was known as very intelligent and a lover of music. Her door was always open to the needy. Karen Maria died on June 12, 1897. She suffered a heart attack and died while doing the family wash on the scrubbing board. Information gathered from Early Murray Ancestors and Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude.