Wita's Story
Birth: September 25th, 1858 | female | in Nørresundby, Ålborghus, Denmark
Death: July ??, 1860 | 1 year old | in Nebraska
Memorial: Stone 9 | center column | 22nd name
Wita Petrine Amelia Nicolaisen is the daughter of Jens Christian Nicolaisen and Hansena Catharina Smith, both of Denmark. Jens passed away in Denmark in 1860. Hansena and the children immigrated to America. After arriving in America, the family traveled to Nebraska and joined the William Budge Wagon Company. With other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they left Nebraska on July 20, 1860 for the Salt Lake Valley.
Exhaustive travel conditions, disease, injury, lack of food and medicine, prematurity, and extreme weather were some of the greatest threats to pioneers. Shortly after beginning their journey, 1-year-old Wita passed away from unknown causes. She is buried along the Mormon Trail West in Nebraska.