Karen Jensdatter

Biography

Karen Jensdatter was born to parents Jens and Ane Kirstine Olsen on January 16 1833 in Allerslev, Denmark. She married Anders Madsen Jensen on June 23, 1866 in Kirke Hvalsø, Copenhagen. While in Denmark, she had two of her children, 1 of whom died. In 1869, her husband met the missionaries and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 7th of that year. Later that month on September 27th, Karen too joined the church, being baptized by Axel Petersen. In July 1870, the couple began their journey to Utah. Records show that they left on the Steamship Minnesota on July 20th from Liverpool and arrived in New York on August 1st. They then completed their journey to Salt Lake City by railroad, eventually arriving August 10, 1870. The couple built a home and began to establish themselves. On September 14, 1875, Karen and Anders were sealed in the Salt Lake Endowment House by Daniel H. Wells. On September 18, 1876, Anders entered into a polygamous relationship by marrying Johanna Marie Larsen. The two were sealed by Joseph F. Smith in the Endowment House. Karen had three more children with Anders while in Utah. On December 17, 1886, Anders was arrested an account of his polygamous relationships, and was sentenced to serve 6 months in prison in addition to paying a $50.00 fine. As such, Karen’s son Jens Madsen left home at age 17 to find employment to support the family. Anders was again arrested in January of 1888, sentenced to another 6 months in prison and this time, a $1000 fine. Not much is known of Karen’s life at this time. Karen passed away on October 26th, 1898 in Mantua, Box Elder. Her granddaughter Inez Jensen Meldrum fondly remembered Karen’s “pretty tea pot which stood on the back of her shiny stove.” Biography compiled from a variety of sources including the “Life of Anders Madsen Jensen.”