Christena Wicklund
5 February 1848 - 6 February 1923
Vitals
Birth
5 February 1848
Gävleborg
Death
6 February 1923
Monroe
Burial
1923
Monroe
Alternate Names
Given Name
Christena
Given Name Alternate Spellings
Christina, Christine
Last Name
Wicklund
Married Names
Sørensen, Sorenson
Family
Marriages
Children
Parents
Mother: Ella Jonsson (7 November 1825 - 3 January 1867)
Father: Olof Jacobsson Wicklund (31 October 1825 - 6 November 1857)
Biography
Christena Wicklund was the oldest daughter born to Ella Jonsson and Olof Wicklund. When she was three years old, her family moved to Copenhagen in order to immigrate to America. When these plans fell through, the family was left stuck in Copenhagen. Christena's father, Olof, got a job at the docks to help them get by. After converting to the church, the family of six finally saw the opportunity to travel to America. They traveled on the ship Thornton in 1856 and departed with the Willie handcart company that July. The journey was difficult and while all Wicklund family members survived, they saw much devastation among company members including the death of a close family friend, Hellie. After this arduous journey, the family ended up in Manti, where Olof died. Her mother remarried Morten Sorensen shortly after Olof's death. When Christena was fifteen, she also married Morten as a plural wife. Christena was remembered as a motherly figure. She had twelve children of her own, and also raised siblings and grandchildren who lost their own mothers. In 1889, Morten died, leaving Christena a widow at 41 years of age. Christena served in many capactities in the church and community and was loved by many. She died on February 6, 1923 at the age of 75.
Researchers