Andrew Jenson…

This is a short and percise historical account of the emigration of the Scandinavian company under the charge of Matthias Cowley. It is to this group which the Sorensen family traveled and belonged, on the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley, or, Zion as they so often refered to it.

The ox-train is shown and noted to have arrived safe and well, with all whom started the journey. There were no deaths along the way in this company. Also please note the change of leadership of the handcart compay at Florence. Elder James P. Park, a Scotsman did not speak a word of Danish, and his replacement with C. Christiansen, a Dane, was much appreciated by that company.

Historical Account of the Journey—

Scandinavian Mission Emigration— On Friday, April 18, 1857, a company of emigrating Saints, numbering 536 souls, bound for Utah, sailed from Copenhagen on the steamer L. N. Hvidt in charge of Elder Hector C. Haight, who accompanied the emigrants to England. After a successful voyage the ship arrived at Grimsby, England, April 21st in the afternoon, thence the journey was continued the following day by rail to Liverpool, where the emigrants, together with four returning Utah Elders from Great Britain, went on board the ship Westmoreland and sailed from Liverpool, April 25th. In the evening of the 24th, while the ship still lay at anchor in the River Mersey, five young couples were married, namely: Carl C. A. Christensen and Eliza Haarby, Johan F. F. Dorius and Karen Fransen, Carl C. N Dorius and Ellen G. Rolfsen, Lauritz Larsen and Anne M. Thomsen and Jacob Bastian and Gertrud Petersen.

Matthias Cowley was appointed by the presidency in Liverpool to take charge of the company, with Henry Lunt and Ola N. Liljenquist as his counselors. The Saints were divided into four districts under the presidency of Elders George W. Thurston, Lorenzo D. Rudd, Chr. G. Larsen and Carl C. N. Dorius. The following discipline or order was observed during the voyage: The emigrants went to bed between 9 and 10 o’clock in the evening and arose about 5 o’clock in the morning. Prayers were held morning and evening, and, as far as possible, also at noon. The Sundays were occupied with fasting, prayers and preaching. Schools were also organized in each district for the purpose of giving the Scandinavian Saints instructions in English. A musical company was organized and the Saints frequently enjoyed themselves in the dance and other innocent diversions. Splendid health as a rule existed among the emigrants and only two small children and an old man (82 years of age) died during the voyage. A child was born May 3, 1857, which was named Decan Westmoreland, after the captain and the ship.

After a successful voyage, which lasted 36 days, the company arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1857. Here they were received by Elder Angus M. Cannon, who, during the absence of Pres. John Taylor, acted as emigration agent; he made the necessary arrangements for the journey of the company through the States. On the 2nd of June, the emigrants continued by rail from Philadelphia, and, traveling via Baltimore and Wheeling, they arrived safely in Iowa City, Iowa, [June] 9, 1857. This place was the outfitting point for the Saints who crossed the Plains in 1857 the same as in 1856. During the railroad journey, a Brother Hammer from Bornholm and three children died. About the 15th of June, a part of the company commenced the journey toward the Valley from Iowa City with an ox-train, under the captaincy of Elder Matthias Cowley, while another fraction of the company, about the same time, commenced the journey across the Plains with handcarts under the leadership of Elder James P. Park.

Several of the emigrants who had not sufficient means to continue the journey to the Valley that year, remained in the States for the purpose of earning money with which to continue the journey later. The ox-train, which consisted of 198 souls, 31 wagons, 122 oxen and 28 cows, arrived at Florence, Nebraska, July 2,1857, in pretty good health; but when the handcart company reached that place the following day a number of the handcart emigrants were sick, owing to the change of food and climate, and also because of over-exertion. Consequently, a council was called for the purpose of considering their condition, and, after some discussion, it was decided by unanimous vote that the company should continue the journey at once and that all who were not strong enough to stand the journey should remain behind, so as not to become a burden to the company. The ox-train rolled out of Florence, July 6th, and the handcart company, which consisted of 330 souls, with 68 handcarts, 3 wagons and 10 mules, continued the journey from Florence, July 7th, under the leadership of Elder Chr. Christiansen, who returned home from a mission to the Western States. Both companies arrived safe and well in Salt Lake City, Sept. 13, 1857.(1)

1. Andrew Jenson, History Of The Scandinavian Mission, page 120-122.