Hans Nelson

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Birth: Feb. 3, 1817

Death: Mar. 25, 1873

Hans Nilsson (Nelson) and Olive Poulson (Dehlin). This Swedish father was an excellent farmer and made a good living for his family of six children in Sweden.

The Mormon Missionaries converted the family to the Latter-Day Saint religion. They were naturally religious and soon found the principles of the new church suited their beliefs and gave them new freedom of worship. Mormons were not popular so they found themselves without friends and the urge to go to Zion became very strong. The decision to go was made and they sold their home and farm and booked passage for America. They left behind all that had been dear to them.

The trip across the ocean was a long tragic one. Three months of rough seas and many storms. The lack of good drinking water, poor food, and impure air impaired their health. When about half-way across the ocean, measles broke out among the passengers. The children suffered most as there was no room to quarantine the sick. Their low vitality caused the disease to be extremely hard. The Nelson children were all sick at the same time, giving the parents no time for special care or rest. Three of the children died and one was left almost blind. It is hard to visualize the depth of their sorrow as the bereaved parents watched while their fifteen-year old son, Anders, almost a man, was tied in a blanket and slid down the plank into the rough black water. Most of the burials were done at night to save the passengers the terrible ordeal of watching a loved one swallowed up in the cold uncaring sea. A few days later his sister, Anna, a young woman of thirteen years followed Anders into the awful watery grave. Mary survived the disease but her eyes were affected by the high fever and the tragedy of blindness seemed imminent. The darling baby Henrik seemed to be recovering when a sudden change snatched him away. All their efforts were in vain. No words can express the anguish of these loving parents. Now all their attention was given to Mary. Her life was spared but she could no longer see and needed to be guided where ever she went. Out of the six children, Anders (Andrew), Anna, and Henric (Heny) died. Augustus, Mary and Nels came to Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

Their trek over the plains was much the same as others. Ox teams carried them to Utah and in due time, they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. Mary's eye sight was beginning to come back, but she was partially blind the rest of her life. The family found their way to Mt. Pleasant in 1863, where they became farmers using their knowledge and experience from Sweden.

But the memory of the Ocean and the hard work took a toll on Hans and he died ten years later. (25 Mar 1873) Olive was stronger by nature and more able to see the pleasant things in life and lived until she was seventy five years old. She died 28 Oct 1898.

Son that died in Sweden: Bengt Hansson Born 30 Apr 1855 - Died 17 Jan 1856

The three children that were buried at sea:

Andrew (Anders) Nilson Born 1 Jul 1847 - Buried at sea 1862

Ann Nelson Born 4 Sep 1849 - Buried at sea 1862

Henry (Henrik) Nelson Born 16 Apr 1859 - Buried at sea 1862

Family links:

Spouse:

• Olive Poulson Dahlin Nelson (1820 - 1898)

Children:

• Nels Hans Nelson (1845 - 1928)*
• Anders Hansson (1847 - 1862)*
• Anna Hansson (1849 - 1862)*
• Augustus Nelson (1852 - 1918)*
• Bengt Hansson (1855 - 1856)*
• Mary Olive Nelson Madsen (1858 - 1924)*
• Henrik Hansson (1859 - 1862)*
• Calculated relationship

Burial: Mount Pleasant City Cemetery Mount Pleasant Sanpete County Utah, USA Plot: A_19_4_2

Maintained by: Lana Hardy Originally Created by: Utah State Historical So... Record added: Feb 02, 2000 Find A Grave Memorial# 142579