Marten Larsson

Martin Larsen/Marten Larsson was born in Skijvarp, Malmohus, Sweden on 15/16 July 1822. Martin was christened 19 July 1922. He was the 2nd child born to Lars Martensson and Bengta Hansdr [Hansdotter]. His older brother was named Marten as well but only lived a year, so when he was born, his parents used the same name for him. Siblings: Marten Larsson (1820-1821), Gertrude Larsson (1824-1879), Ingar Larsson (1826-1828), Hans Larsson (1831-1837). Martin learned to work with leather and became a shoemaker by trade. He married Ingrid Nordstrom from nearby Bjaereso on 29 October 1849 in Stora Köpinge, Malmöhus, Sweden. They were the parents of Lars Martin (1849-1877), Laurentia Christina(1850-1855), Erick Martin (1851-1918), Junius Martin (1854-1925), Hans Johan Zacharias (1859-1896) and Sophia Kristina Bendigte (1861-1925). The missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints found the Larsen family and taught them and on 15 May 1854 Martin and Ingrid joined the church which made them very unpopular in that area, so around 1857 they left Sweden and moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. The family changed the spelling of their name from Larsson to Larsen at that time. L.D.S. membership records indicate that Martin was baptized by Neils Larsen and confirmed by C.E. Madsen. He was ordained to the office of an Elder exactly 7 years later on 13 August 1861 by S.C. Madsen. His wife, Ingrid died in 1872 in Copenhagen, Denmark and Martin was left alone to raise their children. After her death, their son, Erick Martin Jr. traveled to America and then returned to Norway to serve a mission for the church. He labored in the northern tip of the country and as he completed his mission the time was at hand for the converts to immigrate to the United States so they all gathered in Denmark in 1877 in preparation for the trip. Martin and his sons Junius and Johan and his daughter Sophia traveled with Erick to America at this time. The church paid the fares for all those without the means so when they arrived in Salt Lake City, they worked to pay back the money so that others could have a chance to come to America as well.

Following are some details from "A Compilation of General Voyage Notes" concerning the voyage to America.

". . . The first company of the season's emigration from Scandinavia sailed from Copenhagen, June 21, 1877, in two steamships, namely, the 'Argo' and the 'Pacific.' There were 471 souls of emigrants and eight returning missionaries, namely, Erik F. Branting, John A. Anderson, Sven Nilsson, Christen Jensen, Hans Peter Iversen, Eric M. Larsen, Hans Thunnesen and Jens Keller. For several days prior to the departure, the emigrating Saints had gathered in Copenhagen from the different conferences, and the elders who had the emigration affairs in hand were very busy at the mission office, making their arrangements. The emigrating Saints seemed very satisfied and happy in saying goodbye to the lands of their nativity, to gather with the people of God in the valleys of the mountains. The embarkation of the Saints took place without accident or the least disturbance. The greater part of the emigrants went on board the 'Argo,' while a small company, mostly emigrants from the Christiania and Goteborg Conferences, took passage on the 'Pacific.' About 6:30 p.m. the 'Argo' steamed out of the harbor and was soon afterwards followed by the 'Pacific.' After a successful voyage across the North Sea, both ships arrived safely in Hull, England, on Sunday, June 24th, the 'Argo' at 9 o'clock a.m. and the 'Pacific' at 8 o'clock p.m. The emigrants landed the following day (June 25th) and proceeded at once by railroad to Liverpool, where they boarded the steamship 'Wisconsin,' together with a number of British, German, Swiss, and Dutch Saints. Bishop John Rowberry was appointed captain of the whole company, while Elder Erik F. Branting was continued as captain of the Scandinavian emigrants. The 'Wyoming' [Wisconsin] sailed from Liverpool, June 27th, and arrived in New York, July 7th. From New York the journey was continued by rail westward the same day and the emigrants arrived safe and well in Ogden and Salt Lake City, July 14, 1877. Three Scandinavian couples were married en route and a hour after the arrival in Salt Lake City, the wife of Martin Christensen, from the Aalborg Conference, gave birth to a daughter. . . ." (HSM, pp.229-30).

"DEPARTURE. -- The S. S. Wisconsin left Liverpool on the 27th ultimo, with quite a company of emigration, including from Scandinavia, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, and England, some 714 souls, with the returning elders as follows: Bishop J. Rowberry, who had charge of the whole, Brother E. F. Branting in charge of the Scandinavians, Brother Martin Lenzi in charge of the Swiss and German, Brother P. J. Lammers in charge of those from Holland, and Brother Rulon S. Wells as recorder; also Brothers L. Wirthlin, S. Nilsen, J. A. Andersen, C. Jensen, H. P. Iversen, H. Thunneson, C. Larsen and Jens Keller, who would aid after organization in securing the comfort and welfare of the traveling Saints. It was remarked by officers of the Guion Co. that they had never seen a company start with such precision before, there was no hitch anywhere; the inspection was passed successfully, and noted by the examining physician as including a remarkably healthy and extra proportion of children. The company have the hearty prayers of the Saints in Europe for their safe arrival in Zion; and for the returning elders, blessing for their labors in the gospel, and best wishes for pleasant renewal of the associations of family and friends."

MS, 39:27 (July 2, 1877), p. 428

"Wed. 27. [June 1877] -- The steamship Wisconsin sailed from Liverpool, England, with 714 Saints, in charge of John Rowberry. The company arrived at New York July 7th, and at Salt Lake City July 14th."

CC, pp.98-9

The trip from Copenhagen, Denmark to Salt Lake City, Utah took 23 days. After his arrival in Salt Lake City, Martin married Julia Petersen on 15 November 1878. At this time, Martin was called by the prophet, along with other families, including his son Erick and his family, to settle in Sevier County, Utah. The new settlements south of the Salt Lake Valley had need of skilled leather workers. The 1880 Utah Census record shows Martin in Joseph, Utah with his spouse Julia and from there they moved to Castle Valley, Utah. Erick moved his family back to Brigham City in 1883 and I think that Martin came back at the same time. Martin and Julia made their home in Bear River City, Box Elder, Utah where Martin passed away 5 August 1893. The death notice that appeared in the paper read as follows:

LARSEN-At Bear River City, August 5, 1893, Martin Larsen, born in Sweden, July 15, 1822. He emigrated to Utah in 1877 and died a faithful Latter-day Saint in full-fellowship of the Church.

He was buried in the Bear River City Cemetery. His grave is unmarked but according to the cemetery records it is located in A2/13 1st from S.E. Corner.

DOCUMENTATION:

"Sweden, Baptisms, 1611-1920"

Name: Marten Larsson

Gender: Male  

Christening Date: 19 Jul 1822  

Christening Place: SKIVARP,MALMOHUS,SWEDEN  

Birth Date: 16 Jul 1822  

Birthplace:  

Death Date:  

Name Note:  

Race:  

Father's Name: Lars Martensson  

Father's Birthplace:  

Father's Age:  

Mother's Name: Bengta  

Mother's Birthplace:  

Mother's Age:  

Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C40337-2  

System Origin: Sweden-ODM  

GS Film number: 147167  

"United States Census, 1880"

Name: Martin Larsen 

Event Type: Census 

Event Date: 1880 

Event Place: Joseph, Sevier, Utah, United States 

Gender: Male 

Age: 58 

Marital Status: Married 

Occupation: Shoemaker 

Race (Original): W 

Ethnicity: American 

Relationship to Head of Household: Self 

Birthplace: Sweden 

Birth Date: 1822 

Spouse's Name: Julia Larsen 

Spouse's Birthplace: Sweden 

Father's Name: 

Father's Birthplace: Sweden 

Mother's Name: 

Mother's Birthplace: Sweden 

Page: 506 

Page Letter: C 

Entry Number: 3092 

Affiliate Film Number: T9-1338 

GS Film number: 1255338 

Digital Folder Number: 004244810 

Image Number: 00185 

Household Gender Age Birthplace  Self Martin Larsen M 58 Sweden  Wife Julia Larsen F 53 Sweden 

Martin LARSEN travelled from Liverpool to New York 27 Jun 1877 - 7 Jul 1877.

Last Name: LARSEN First Name: Martin Age: 56 Origin: Copenhagen Conference, Denmark Standard

Surname: LARSEN Given: Martin Head: Surname LARSEN

Voyage Information Ship Name: Wisconsin Vessel Type: Single-Screw Steamship Departure: 27 Jun 1877 from Liverpool Arrival: 7 Jul 1877 at New York SourceBMR, Book #1042, pp. 81-90 (FHL #025,693); Customs #621 (FHL #295,773); SMR, 1877 (FHL #025,696); Der Stern vol. 9 (1877), p.109-10

Burial Information: Larsen, Martin Birth: 7/15/1827 Death: 8/15/1888 Place of Birth: Sweden Place of Death: Bear River, Utah Grave Location: Bear River City Cemetery , A2/13 1st from S.E. Corner This information conflicts with the newspaper article but I can see where the mistakes could have been made in the transcription from hand-written text in the cemetery records.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 14 2018, 11:07:36 UTC

Husförhörslängder;

1826-1831 https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/C0068945_00093 Skivarp, Kropp