Elsie Nilsdotter

Biography

Elsie (Elsa) was born in Sweden in 1819 as the fourth of nine children. She married Jens Jensson in 1842. They had six daughters together, but two of them died under the age of three. 22 years after their marriage, Jens passed away, leaving Elsie a widow. Luckily, she and her four daughters were hard workers. They sheared sheep and farmed to provide for themselves. After hearing the gospel, she was baptized in 1864. Two years later, Elsa, her brother, sister, and her four daughters came to Utah together. Elsie then moved to Millville, Utah, where she reencountered Ola Nielson, a man who had worked for her back in Sweden. They began to develop a relationship and married in 1867. They lived together till 1898. 10 years after marrying, Ola took a second wife as well. At 73 Elsa got very ill and lived with her daughter after that point. In 1915 she passed away at 96 years old.