Mette's Story
Birth: October 30th, 1855 | female | in Voer, Børglum, Denmark
Death: July 28th, 1863 | 7 years old | in Nebraska on the Mormon Trail
Memorial: Stone 12 | left column
Mette Marie Larsen is the second of three children born to Morten Larsen and Ane Hansen, both from Denmark. The family immigrated from Denmark to America, sailing on the ship “B. S. Kimball.” Upon arriving in America, they traveled to Nebraska to join with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They signed with the William B. Preston Company to cross the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. The Company left on July 10, 1863.
Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. While in Nebraska, 7-year-old Mette became ill and passed away from unknown causes. She is buried in Nebraska along the Mormon trail.
From the diary of O.J. Morgan: “28 off at 7 A Young Girl died on the road this Morning in on[e] of the waggons[.] we camp at 11[.] off at 2¼[.] Pikes Peak Emigrant Train pass through our camp to-day on their way home[.] camp at 4 after travel 15 miles[.] verry heavy storm as we camp.”