Clara Johanna Josephine Liljenquist
7 June 1853 - 20 October 1927
Vitals
Birth
7 June 1853
Copenhagen
Death
20 October 1927
Hyrum, Utah
Burial
1927
Hyrum, Utah
Alternate Names
Given Name
Clara Johanna Josephine
Given Name Alternate Spellings
Clara, Johanne, Josephine, Josephine, Johanna, Josephine, C, J, Josephine
Last Name
Liljenquist
Maiden Name Alternate Spellings
Leljenqvest, Liljenqvest, Lillenquest
Married Names
Johnson
Family
Marriage
Children
Parents
Mother: Anna Christine Hansen Jacobsen (16 January 1822 - 4 July 1903)
Father: Ola Nilsson Liljenquist (23 September 1825 - 24 April 1906)
Biography
Josephine Liljenquist was born in Copenhagen in 1853. Josephine’s parents had joined the church a year before she was born. At age three, her family immigrated to Utah. Even though religious freedom had been legalized, many still opposed Mormonism and a mob tried to prevent her parents from taking Josephine and her siblings to America. After the long journey by boat and handcart, they settled in Spanish Fork and then Hyrum, Utah. Her father was gone for many years of her childhood while serving a mission, which left their family almost destitute. Josephine learned to sew and make hats from her mother. After receiving an education, Josephine became a teaching assistant for a number of years. Her youth was full of house parties and dances. In 1871 she married Julius Johnson and they had eleven children together, three of which were stillborn. When sharing her life’s story, Josephine recalled the grasshopper plague and how they had to fight them. She remained strong in her faith throughout her life, served often in the Relief Society, and would sew temple clothes for patrons. When Josephine was 48, her husband passed away. She then passed away in 1927 at age 74.