Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868 Jacob F. Secrist/Noah T. Guymon Company (1855) Age 48

Departure: 13 June 1855 Arrival: 7 September 1855

Company Information: 368 individuals and 58 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Mormon Grove, Kansas (Near Atchison). Jacob F. Secrist died on July 2 and Noah T. Guymon became captain of the company.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund,

Find a Grave

Birth: Apr. 9, 1808

Death: Apr. 27, 1876

Jorgen Jensen was born in Haderslav County in the Jylland (Jutland)peninsula of Denmark. There are several villages and a town called Brandrop (or variants) in the area, and it is not clear which village/town was his.

According to family anecdotes, Jorgen Jensen served in the military, and because there were so many Jensen surnames among the soldiers, he was encouraged to adopt an extra surname that would be unique to him. He adopted the name "Svane" ("Swan"), because an old house in his family had been called "The Great White Swan." [SOURCE: Dean K. Swaner [grandson of Christian John Swaner], "Christian John Swaner, a Pioneer Builder," The Pioneer [periodical publication of Sons of Utah Pioneers], Vol. 23, No. 4 (July-August 1976): 16-17.

OBITUARY PUBLISHED IN THE DESERET NEWS Saturday, 29 April 1876, page 3: "At Big Cottonwood, Salt Lake County, April 27, 1876, of old age and debility, JORGEN JENSEN SWANER, aged 68 years, 2 weeks and 3 days. Deceased was born at Brandrop, Denmark, April 9, 1808. Joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1854; left Denmark the same year with his wife and family; arrived in Salt Lake City September 7, 1855 and was a firm advocate of the principles of the gospel. He was the father of eleven children and had ten grand-children."

NOTE: He is interred in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. In the cemetery records (1848-1884, page 184), he is incorrectly indexed as Jorgen JENSON SWARNER. He was the father of Ephraim J. Swaner & others.

Family links:

Spouses:

• Julia Ann Larsen Swaner (1813 - 1868)
• Helena Gustava Hogberg Swaner (1835 - 1915)*

Children:

• Martha Caroline Swaner Swaner (____ - 1897)*
• Mary Louisa Swaner Swaner (____ - 1882)*
• Elizabeth Catherine Swaner Strong (1842 - 1916)*
• Christian John Swaner (1843 - 1881)*
• Meriam Swaner (1846 - 1855)*
• August Jorgen Swaner (1849 - 1883)*
• Juliane Marie Swaner (1851 - 1855)*
• Ephraim Jorgensen Swaner (1856 - 1907)*
• Christena Gustava Swaner Larsen (1868 - 1899)*

Inscription: No headstone for Jorgen Jensen Swaner

Note: Incorrectly indexed as Jorgen JENSON SWARNER.

Burial: Salt Lake City Cemetery Salt Lake City Salt Lake County Utah, USA Plot: Section H-5-5-4W (owned by his son, Christian J. Swaner)