Maren Evensen Johnson

January 14, 1818 – January 13, 1889

Maren Evenson was born January 14, 1818 in Oestar, Riser, Norway. She was the daughter of Even Heleksen and Inger Erickson Heleksen. She married Christopher Johnson November 30, 1843. Her husband was a sea captain. While he was out at sea, she heard the Elders preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was converted to its truthfulness. When he came home, he was very angry and he and a neighbor planned to mob the Elders who were to preach that night. His wife told him that they would be humbled by the Lord. The next day the two men were both stricken so that they could not move. Nothing helped them until the Elders were called. He was made well and was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were baptized January 24, 1854.

Maren, her husband, and their seven children left Norway on a sailing ship on April 4, 1861. They were a very religious family and were anxious to gather with the Saints in Utah. They did not have the financial means to travel with some of the emigrants. Since Christopher was a sailor, he and his wife and family sailed on a sail ship. It landed in Quebec, Canada, May 17, 1861. They stayed there one year where Christopher and his older boys worked to get enough means to move on to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the winter of 1862. On June 12, 1863 her eighth child was born.

In July 1863, they continued on to Florence, Nebraska where they joined the John Saunders Ox-Team Company with Fera More Little as emigration agent. They reached Salt Lake City September 6, 1863. In 1864, the settled in Mt., Pleasant, Sanpete County, Utah, living in a dug-out for the first few months. There were many Indian problems. She lived in Mt. Pleasant until her death January 13, 1889. Her husband preceded her in death by thirteen years, passing away February 8, 1876. Both of them are buried in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery.

She and Christopher Johnson were parents of eight children: John Christopher, Ida Christina, Even or Jim, Christopher Martin, Henrik or Henry, Inger Elizabeth, Abraham or Abram, and Josephine Maria.

Written by Viola Madsen Spencer, sent it by Viola Madsen Spencer, Camp Sego Lily of Daughters of Utah Pioneers of South Utah County, Payson, Utah.