Lauritz Larsen

Lauritz Larsen was the second of nine children born to parents Niels Peter Larsen and Karen Kirstine Svendsen, both of Denmark. Lauritz. After emigrating to America from Denmark, the family joined the Robert F. Neslen Company to journey to the Salt Lake Valley (Utah).

While in Wyoming, 1-year-old Lauritz passed away and was buried in Emigration Canyon.

In his mother’s (Karen) history it is recorded: “On the trek to Utah her infant son Lauritz died. She could not part with the child or bear to leave him on the open plane so she carried his dead body for two days. Finally, she was forced to bury him over 100 miles from their destination.”

In Lars Christian Pedersen journal of the journey, it reads: “On the evening of the 7th as we were camping on the “Big Moore” [Lauritz Larsen] a child, 1 year old, of N[iels]. P[eter]. Larsens died and next morning elder P[eder]. A[ndersen]. Fjelsted died after a long illness both being buried in the same grave on the 8th of September, after which we started for Great Salt Lake Valley where we arrived on the 15th [September] 1859 at 6 o’clock P.M. and camped on the [“]Union Square” that night.”

In Johanne Mariah Petersen journal, it reads: “Several in this company died on the road, among them was P[eder]. A[ndersen]. Fjeldstad and a baby belonging to N[iels]. P[eter]. Larsen, the elder from Pleasant Grove was who baptized me into the Church. These two were buried in the same grave."