Charlotta Christina Arlekulen

Charlotta Christina Arlekulen is the daughter of Johanes Arlekulen and Anna Christina Warnicke, both from Sweden. Charlotta's father passed away in 1864 in Sweden before her family could immigrate to America. Charlotta’s mother, Anna, along with her grandparents and other family members sailed to America on the ship “Cavour.” After their arrival, they desired to travel by train to Nebraska where they hoped to join a company to journey west to the Salt Lake Valley.

Disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Anna was among those afflicted with cholera (a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water). Authorities refused to allow her on the train. On August 10, Charlotta Christina was entrusted to Anna’s parents to travel to Nebraska. Anna died that same day.

The grandparents, Charlotta, and the other children joined the Abner Lowry Wagon Company, leaving Nebraska on 13 August 1866. With the passing of her mother, Charlotta lacked the nourishment she needed and passed away on September 23. She is buried along the Mormon Trail in Wyoming.

From the John August Warnick journal: “On Sept. 22nd, August's three year old niece, Christina, died leaving only August, his wife Mari, their little daughter, Caroline, and a brother Charles. Only four of the original eleven were left to continue on to Zion.”