Johannes Hansen

Johannes Hansen is the sixth of eight children born to Hans Hansen and Ane Kjerstine Johansdatter, both natives of Denmark. The family immigrated to America and traveled to Florence, Nebraska where they joined the John R. Young Company. With a desire to journey to the Great Salt Lake Valley with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Company left Nebraska on June 30, 1863.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Within a week into their travels, 1-year-old Johannes became ill and passed away of undocumented causes.

Captain Leemaster, who was over their group of Saints, emptied his grub box for a coffin. They buried Johannes where they camped for the night, by the Mormon Liberty Pool near the Mormon Trail in Nebraska.