Mary's History…

Mary seems to have name problems with much of the family today. Her father, Jacob Christensen, died when she was young, her mother then married Christian Poulsen after a time, and it is with him that the family comes to Zion.

As her step-father and perhaps the only father she ever really knew, along with several half brothers and sisters and her mother, all going by the Poulsen name, it was only natural that she was often referred to as Mary Poulsen. Her older brother Soren even took the name of Poulsen in America. He (Soren) and his descendants are known to this day as Poulsen's. I sometimes remind them they are really Jacobsen's, but I suppose it matters not, as long as you know from which you come.

Danish last names at the time, about 1856 were just getting fixed at this time in history. No longer were you Jacob's son or datter, but both boys and girls were to use the "sen," as in Jacobsen, to denote their name. So more or less everyone took the name of whom they were at the time and that would be Jacobsen for Mary.

Also… because of the many Mary Sorensens' in Mendon, they took the first initial of the husband for a middle name. Thus Mary I. Sorensen tells her apart from Mary A. Sorensen who was Abraham's wife, or Maren Andersen Sorensen, who married Henry and was known as Mary H., & etc.

History of Mary Jacobsen Sorensen—

Mary Jacobsen was born in the town of Vemmelev, near Slagelse, Sorø amt., Denmark on May18th, 1850. Her father’s name was Jacob Christensen and her mother’s was Bertha Hansen. Her father was a well-to-do farmer and Mary and her brother Soren were blessed with very pleasant surroundings. But in a very short time their lives were changed for on October 20th, 1851 her father died at the early age of twenty-nine. Her mother was left with two small children. Mary six months old, and Soren three years. Her mother found it very difficult to take care of the farm and the children. But within two years of her husband’s death she found another man who proved to be a real father to the children and never made any distinction between them and those who came from the second marriage. Christian Poulsen was a man of faith and integrity and he with his wife Bertha sold their large farm when they embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1861, and emigrated to Salt Lake City in 1862.

The voyage across the ocean was a very hard and stormy one. They were eleven weeks on the water in a sailing vessel. The water became stagnant, and cholera broke out. Many lost their families. Christian Poulsen saved his family by paying the cook for boiled water. None of them died.

They came to Providence, Cache County, Utah, in the fall of 1862. They spent much of their means helping poor saints to emigrate. Mary claims the honor of walking every step of the way across the plains from Omaha, Nebraska to Salt Lake City, Utah. They spent two years in the old Providence Fort and passed through many hardships.

Mary labored very earnestly at home for a number of years assisting the family. Though only eleven years of age she took entire charge of the family during the year her mother, Bertha was sick. In 1869 she married Isaac Sorensen of Mendon. She made her home here and soon became one of the people and worked hard for the advancement of civic and religious affairs of the town. She has never changed residence, even living on the same corner since 1869.

She has raised a large family of eleven children, ten now living. One died in 1918 at the age of thirty-four years. Besides taking care of her family she has done a wonderful work in the ward. She clothed and fed five children besides helping to keep her husband in the mission field in Denmark for two years. She was a constant help among the sick in town and almost every one having sickness sent for her, for she was by birth a natural nurse. Her wonderful presence and faith that all would be well seemed to change the atmosphere of the sick room as soon as she entered and she could soothe the children with wonderful stories of her experiences.

She assisted in caring for the dead, laying them out and in preparing them for burial, helping in most instances to make the clothes. She was always a public worker, working in the Relief Society for many years. She was a teacher for ten years, had charge of the mothers work for five years and was Relief Society President for twelve years. She was always willing to help with everything that was elevating for her own children and other children in the town. Her house was always open for band practice no matter how stormy the weather and often sat up late at night making costumes for her own and other children when they took part in various events. Her house was also open for visiting brethren from other wards and stakes. She fed many a stranger without a murmur; everybody was welcome at her home. She is and always will be much beloved by all her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She has taught them the gospel from childhood and sees her reward for so doing and observing the great commandments. Mary was a true wife in the home in every respect. She is seventy years old in another month. Her husband is past eighty years and both are still able to earn their living. They celebrated their golden wedding on November 15th, 1920. This was an event that the entire town took part in. A dinner was served at home for all the relatives, then a public dance and program was given for the town. Although Isaac was eighty and Mary seventy, they danced the entire evening and enjoyed themselves very much.

Two years after this event November 7th, 1922 Mary was called upon to be separated from her husband. He died after an illness of fourteen months. During his sickness, she was a patient nurse for all his ills. Since that time, she has lived on in her own home. Her youngest daughter living with her to care for her in her declining years. Her health is still good considering her age. Her home is still open to all who wish to come, and she makes every one feel at home and welcome.

Last year May 18th, 1930, she celebrated her eightieth birthday; this was a wonderful event. All her children that are living were present, also all the grand and great-grandchildren. A banquet was served to seventy people. A public program and dance followed. The orchestra was all of her posterity and the program was furnished by her own family.

Mary Jacobsen Sorensen has led a wonderful active life. She has worked hard to educate her children and give them a chance in the world. All four of her sons, her husband and a daughter have filled missions. All her children grew to man and womanhood and all were married in the temple. Nine are living at the present time.(1)

As an aside, and so I don't leave this out… Mary always told the grandchildren, when they had tears well up in their eyes, regardless the reason— "Ve don't cry. Ve are Vikings." And she meant it as well. Isaac and Mary were both proud of their Scandinavian heritage, both proud to be descendants of the Vikings. I think the Norse long ship a fitting emblem for the family web site.

1. Hannah Sorensen Whitney, History of Mary Jacobsen Sorensen, 1920, Unpublished typed manuscript.