Rasmus Peder Hansen

Rasmus Peder Hansen is the son of Poul (Paul) Jacobsen and Lucie Hansdatter, both from Denmark. After the family immigrated from Denmark to America they joined the James G. Willie Handcart Company with other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They departed Iowa on July 15, 1856 to trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley. The pioneers suffered many trials with frigid temperatures and storms being among their largest threats.

On the October 13, Paul (father) passed away and buried by Greasewood Creek in Wyoming. Not a month later on November 6, as the company was camped, 16-year-old Rasmus died as did many other Saints in the company. Not far from arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Rasmus is buried by the banks of the Weber River.

The company journal reads: “Nov. 6th. Archibald McPhiel, from Greenock, Argyleshire, Scotland, died about 2 a.m. aged 40 years. Much snow on the ground this morning & still more falling. Go down Echo Kanyon, roads very bad at the crossing of streams; forded Weber River & camped on its banks. It snowed most of the day. The camping ground presented a most dismal appearance, as we rolled on to it there being much snow on the ground & it being late at night. Rasmus P. Hansen, from Lan [blank space] Denmark, aged 16 years, died this evening.”