Maria's Story
Birth: May ??, 1866 | female | in København, Denmark
Death: August 17th, 1866 | Infant | in Nebraska
Memorial: Stone 14 | left column
Maria was 3-months-old when she sailed from Denmark to America on the ship Cavour with her parents Karen Kirstine Jørgensdatter and Ole Nielsen, and her older brother, Lars Peter Nielsen. After the family arrived in America, they traveled toward Nebraska. Her father, Ole, passed away near St. Joseph, Missouri. Karen and her two children continued on to Nebraska, and with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joined the Abner Lowry Company to go to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The company departed Nebraska on August 13, 1866.
The Company had journeyed only a few days when cholera broke out amongst many of the Saints. Both Maria and her mother, Karen, passed away and are buried together alongside the Mormon Trail in Nebraska. Her brother, Lars Peter, was cared for by friends and was adopted by a family after arriving in Zion.