Joseph Larsen

Joseph Larsen is the fourth child of eleven children born to Johannes Larsen and Ane Jorgensdatter, both from Denmark. The family of five immigrated from Denmark to America, crossing the ocean with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Upon arriving in America, the family joined the Edward Martin Handcart Company to journey to the Salt Lake Valley. While in Nebraska, Ane gave birth to a son, Joseph.

Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, premature birth, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Cholera, a bacterial disease caused from contaminated water, infected many of the travelers. Furthermore, the handcart company left late in the season, subjecting the Saints to severe weather and limited food. Baby Joseph died and is buried about three miles west of Green River, Wyoming.

From a story written by a granddaughter of Johannes and Ane: "Bad weather overtook them when they were nearing Fort Bridger. It was late in November, cold, sickness and death had taken its toll. Anne's baby took sick. It was so cold in the wagon with no place to comfort the little one and difficult to give him medicine. He was so small, just nine weeks old. Cuddled close to her breast, the tiny body gave up during the night. This was a heart rendering tragedy for Johannes and Anne and the children. Christiana often talked about the sad day when the wagon train moved out and the family remained behind to bury their tiny brother Anne held the lifeless body close to her, hugging the white bundle with tears streaming down her cheeks as Johannes dug a shallow grave in the hard, frozen ground on that first day of December 1856.

“Grandmother had a small cedar chest that she was impressed to put inside her feather (bed?) She knew not why but when her baby passed away she knew why. It was used for her little ones casket. The ground was frozen hard but grandfather chopped a hole large enough in which to bury it.”

Of the 576 pioneers in the Martin Handcart Company, 145 perished before reaching the Salt Lake Valley.