Cornelia Mortensen

Cornelia was a pioneer of Salt Lake City, 1848; Provo, 1849; Parowan, Utah, 1851; and Sanford, Colorado, 1887. She grew up with the building of Parowan, with natural leadership ability, inherited, perhaps from her father who also played an important part in the building of Parowan. With her keen intellect and constant desire to obtain knowledge, she developed early into a power that was felt for good wherever she went.

She had little formal schooling; books were scarce and time to read them even more so. As she spun and wove as all pioneer women were required to do, she placed a book directly in front and conveniently near the spinning wheel or loom. As she worked she caught a few words or a thought which she stored in her memory, which she was able to call forth in her many public duties throughout her life. Her ability to lead and direct public affairs reached the point where many declared her to be the most outstanding woman of southern Utah.

In the fall of 1910 at the fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, her son recorded, "I walked up the steps of the platform holding Mother by the arm. Elder John Henry Smith called, 'Bro. Mortensen, bring your mother and sit with us.' As we approached he put his arm around her, then turning to me, said, 'You have a wonderful mother. I have known her since her infancy. She has the best blood in this nation in her veins. Don't ever do anything to cause her sorrow.'

"Again, in 1918 while Emeline B. Wells, a life-long friend of Mother's, was convalescing in an apartment in the Hotel Utah, Mother was there to spend the day.... I went there to see her. As I arose to leave, Aunt Em said almost the exact words that Elder Smith had said, but added, 'Had your mother lived in Salt Lake instead of the country, I am afraid it would have been President Cornelia Lee Mortensen in place of President Emeline B. Wells, General Relief Society President of the Church. I say this in all seriousness for your mother is one of the few natural born leaders.'"

When Parowan celebrated its centennial, much of the program on the twenty-fourth of July was devoted to the memory of persons who had once lived there. Lars and Cornelia Mortensen were referred to as, perhaps, the most outstanding couple of early day history. A poem written by their son, Arlington, was read as a tribute to their memory. That, in view of the fact that they had moved away from Parowan sixty-four years before, was bona fide evidence of the esteem in which they were held.

Cornelia served her church continually for twenty-five years. She was good in obstetrical nursing, having a record of upwards of two thousand deliveries with but two losses. She died at the age of ninety-two.

She married Lars Mortensen 29 Dec 1863 in Parowan, Iron, Utah. He was born 25 Jul 1842 in Haarbolle, Praesto, Denmark. He was the son of Peder Mortensen and Lene "Helena" Pedersen. Lars died 27 Jun 1910 in Sanford, Conejos, Colorado, and was buried 30 Jun 1910 in Sanford, Conejos, Colorado.

They had 12 children:

Cornelia Adella, born 24 Jan 1865, died 24 Sep 1889.

Nancy Evelyn, born 17 Dec 1866, died 27 Jan 1937.

Helen Laurette, born 11 Oct 1868, died 5 Dec 1939.

Lars Hamner. born 9 Nov 1870, died 20 Jan 1967.

Alice Gertrude, born 22 Dec 1872, died 8 Jul 1957.

Minnie Montez, born 21 Dec 1874 in Parowan, Iron, Utah. She married Franklin Jacob Adams 1 Jan 1895 in Verdure, Utah. He was born 7 May 1872 in Parowan, Iron, Utah. He was the son of William Adams and Mary Barbara Bolang. Minnie died 1 Apr 1895 in Bluff, San Juan, Utah, and was buried Apr 1895 in Bluff, San Juan, Utah.

Arlington Peter, born 20 Feb 1877, died 30 May 1960.

Rulon Erastus "Rule" Mortensen, born 18 Aug 1879, died 17Jul 1960.

Morten Junius, born 29 Sep 1881, died 28 Oct 1963.

Golda Georgette, born 7 Nov 1883, died 5 Apr 1949.

Wilford Woodruff, born 9 Mar 1886 in Parowan, Iron, Utah, died in childhood 20 Feb 1893 in Sanford, Conejos, Colorado.

Pearl Caroline, born 22 Apr 1889, died 6 Oct 1970.

Cornelia was born January 16, 1846, in Nauvoo, Illinois. She was the daughter of John Doyle Lee and Nancy Bean. She passed away December 24, 1937, in Sanford, Colorado. She was also the loving stepdaughter of Zechariah Bruyn Decker. Cornelia married Lars Pedersen Mortensen, October 10, 1865, Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah. Cornelia was a pioneer of Salt Lake City, 1848; Provo, 1849; Parowan, Utah, 1851; and Sanford, Colorado, 1887. She grew up with the building of Parowan, with natural leadership ability, inherited, perhaps from her father who also played an important part in the building of Parowan. With her keen intellect and constant desire to obtain knowledge, she developed early into a power that was felt for good wherever she went. She had little formal schooling; books were scarce and time to read them even more so. As she spun and wove as all pioneer women were required to do, she placed a book directly in front and conveniently near the spinning wheel or loom. As she worked she caught a few words or a thought which she stored in her memory, which she was able to call forth in her many public duties throughout her life. Her ability to lead and direct public affairs reached the point where many declared her to be the most outstanding woman of southern Utah.

In the fall of 1910 at the fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, her son recorded, "I walked up the steps of the platform holding Mother by the arm. Elder John Henry Smith called, 'Bro. Mortensen, bring your mother and sit with us.' As we approached he put his arm around her, then turning to me, said, 'You have a wonderful mother. I have known her since her infancy. She has the best blood in this nation in her veins. Don't ever do anything to cause her sorrow.'" Again, in 1918 while Emeline B. Wells, a life-long friend of Mother's, was convalescing in an apartment in the Hotel Utah, Mother was there to spend the day.... I went there to see her. As I arose to leave, Aunt Em said almost the exact words that Elder Smith had said, but added, 'Had your mother lived in Salt Lake instead of the country, I am afraid it would have been President Cornelia Lee Mortensen in place of President Emeline B. Wells, General Relief Society President of the Church. I say this in all seriousness for your mother is one of the few natural born leaders.'"

When Parowan celebrated its centennial, much of the program on the twenty-fourth of July was devoted to the memory of persons who had once lived there. Lars and Cornelia Mortensen were referred to as, perhaps, the most outstanding couple of early day history. A poem written by their son, Arlington, was read as a tribute to their memory. That, in view of the fact that they had moved away from Parowan sixty-four years before, was bona fide evidence of the esteem in which they were held.

Cornelia served her church continually for twenty-five years. She was good in obstetrical nursing, having a record of upwards of two thousand deliveries with but two losses. She died at the age of ninety-two. Cornelia & Lars had 12 children.

Census Date: 12 Jun 1870, Place: Parowan, Iron, Utah

Census Date: 2 Jun 1880, Place: Parowan, Iron, Utah

Census: 1st East, Date: 23 Apr 1910, Place: Sanford, Conejos, Colorado

Marriage to Lars Mortensen: December 29, 1863, Parowan, Iron, Utah

Father: John Doyle Lee

Mother: Nancy Bean

Child: Cornelia Lee

Marriage Date: 4 Feb 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Father: Zachariah Bruyn Decker

Mother: Nancy Bean

Child: Cornelia Lee

Child: Sarah Vilate Decker

Marriage Date: 6 Mar 1849, Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Cornelia was born January 16, 1846, in Nauvoo, Illinois. She was the daughter of John Doyle Lee and Nancy Bean. She passed away December 24, 1937, in Sanford, Colorado. She was also the loving stepdaughter of Zechariah Bruyn Decker. Cornelia married Lars Pedersen Mortensen, October 10, 1865, Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah. Cornelia was a pioneer of Salt Lake City, 1848; Provo, 1849; Parowan, Utah, 1851; and Sanford, Colorado, 1887. She grew up with the building of Parowan, with natural leadership ability, inherited, perhaps from her father who also played an important part in the building of Parowan. With her keen intellect and constant desire to obtain knowledge, she developed early into a power that was felt for good wherever she went. She had little formal schooling; books were scarce and time to read them even more so. As she spun and wove as all pioneer women were required to do, she placed a book directly in front and conveniently near the spinning wheel or loom. As she worked she caught a few words or a thought which she stored in her memory, which she was able to call forth in her many public duties throughout her life. Her ability to lead and direct public affairs reached the point where many declared her to be the most outstanding woman of southern Utah.

In the fall of 1910 at the fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, her son recorded, "I walked up the steps of the platform holding Mother by the arm. Elder John Henry Smith called, 'Bro. Mortensen, bring your mother and sit with us.' As we approached he put his arm around her, then turning to me, said, 'You have a wonderful mother. I have known her since her infancy. She has the best blood in this nation in her veins. Don't ever do anything to cause her sorrow.'" Again, in 1918 while Emeline B. Wells, a life-long friend of Mother's, was convalescing in an apartment in the Hotel Utah, Mother was there to spend the day.... I went there to see her. As I arose to leave, Aunt Em said almost the exact words that Elder Smith had said, but added, 'Had your mother lived in Salt Lake instead of the country, I am afraid it would have been President Cornelia Lee Mortensen in place of President Emeline B. Wells, General Relief Society President of the Church. I say this in all seriousness for your mother is one of the few natural born leaders.'"

When Parowan celebrated its centennial, much of the program on the twenty-fourth of July was devoted to the memory of persons who had once lived there. Lars and Cornelia Mortensen were referred to as, perhaps, the most outstanding couple of early day history. A poem written by their son, Arlington, was read as a tribute to their memory. That, in view of the fact that they had moved away from Parowan sixty-four years before, was bona fide evidence of the esteem in which they were held.

Cornelia served her church continually for twenty-five years. She was good in obstetrical nursing, having a record of upwards of two thousand deliveries with but two losses. She died at the age of ninety-two. Cornelia & Lars had 12 children.

Census Date: 12 Jun 1870, Place: Parowan, Iron, Utah

Census Date: 2 Jun 1880, Place: Parowan, Iron, Utah

Census: 1st East, Date: 23 Apr 1910, Place: Sanford, Conejos, Colorado

Marriage to Lars Mortensen: December 29, 1863, Parowan, Iron, Utah

Father: John Doyle Lee

Mother: Nancy Bean

Child: Cornelia Lee

Marriage Date: 4 Feb 1844, Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois

Father: Zachariah Bruyn Decker

Mother: Nancy Bean

Child: Cornelia Lee

Child: Sarah Vilate Decker

Marriage Date: 6 Mar 1849, Place: Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah