Anna "Marie" Hansen

Anna Maria Lovgren was born in Rostanga Sweden. She was confirmed and lived in Billinge, a small village in the area. She joined the church May 13, 1862. She was an excellent seamstress and had a lovely singing voice. Her family was very musical as was her son, Joseph who could play anything 'by ear'. She loved to dance and taught her children to dance. She was neat, orderly, and smart. She could write well in English. She blond with blue eyes and loved to socialize. She was very religious. She emigrated to the USA on the Kenilworth as a companion to a woman who was ill. She arrived in NYC, traveled across the country by rail to Kansas where she joined the wagon company of AH Scott, arriving October 8,m 1866. She settled in Brigham City. According to Melba Hansen Shand: While Niels Peter Hansen was laboring in and around Roskilde as a missionary, he had met a Miss Anna Marie Lovgren (Lofgren), who was engaged as a nurse at a mental hospital near Roskilde and had accepted the Gospel. An acquaintance had been formed that was destined to bear fruit only a few years later, for as he entered the home of James Nelsen, the little fiddler, on the corner of Second South and Main Street. A mutual attachment quickly developed that culminated in their marriage November 15, 1866, by Judge J. C. Wright, at whose home she was living.

Niels Peter Hansen and Anna Marie Lovgren were endowed and sealed for time and eternity May 3, 1870 in the Old Endowment House. He had chosen to be sealed under his father's sir name, Nielsen. Records show full name to be Hans Peter Nielsen.

They fixed up as comfortably as their limited means would permit, and set up housekeeping back of his shoe shop, where they lived about a year. When their new home was completed, they moved in. There, Mary A. and Eliza were born. In the fall of 1869, this place was traded with Jens Andersen for a place in Smithfield, Cache County, where they moved. While here, a daughter Rachel and their first son, Neeley were born. While living here, their poverty was extreme, on account of poor health, lack of employment, low wages, and inexperience. He tried without success farming, tanning, herding, etc. The house was made of studding filled in with adobes, and the roof was covered with straw. Although very poor, they were blessed with many friends and good neighbors.

In the summer of 1874, the place in Smithfield was traded with a Mr. Clow for a place on First East, just North of the courthouse in Brigham City. They lived on First East for about ten years. At this place, Joseph F. and John August were born. The later lived only eight months. Having bought a three acre lot on Fifth South and 2nd and 3rd East, part of the house was moved out there in hopes of improving his wife's health and also adding to their income by raising fruit and chickens. Due to poor health, his life's companion was taken from him in death 9 October 1884 (written by Melba Hansen Shand)