Niels Poulsen

Niels Poulsen is the thirteenth of fourteen children born to Jens Poulsen and Dorothea Andreason, both of Denmark.

After joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day the Church, the Poulsen's boarded the ship “Kenilworth” and immigrated to America. 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. While on board, disease ravaged throughout the ship and one of Niels’ older siblings died and was buried at sea.

Upon arriving in America, the family traveled to Nebraska and joined the Peter Nebeker Company bound for the great Salt Lake Valley. The company left Nebraska on August 7, 1866.

While westward bound, 14-year-old Niels became ill and passed away of undocumented causes. He is buried along the Mormon Trail west.

Niels’ father, Jens, passed away in October 1866 before the company entered the Salt Lake Valley.