Karen Marie Nielsen

Karen Marie Nielsen is the third child and first daughter of Jacob Nielsen and Ellen Hansdatter, both of Denmark. The Nielsen Family crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship “Emerald Isle.” Illness on board the ship plagued many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they sailed to America. Their goal was to reach Nebraska to begin their trek to reach the Great Salt Lake Valley. However, illness required many of the Saints to be quarantined when they arrived in New York. Eventually, the family took the train to Nebraska where they joined the John G. Holman Company to cross the plains to Zion. The Company left Florence on September 1, 1868.

Not long after the Company left Nebraska, 12-year-old Karen Marie passed away. (The cause of death is unknown, however, many Saints on board the Emeral Isle suffered from cholera.) Karen Marie was buried somewhere in Nebraska along the Mormon Trail.