Grandmother Serena Johannsen Hammersmark Christensen, was born March 23, 1887, Sognadal, Rogaland, Norway. She was named after her father Johannes Johannesen. His farm was named Hammersmark and she took the farm’s name Hammersmark as her last name. Her father was working in the woolen mills as a mechanic when he became acquainted with the Mormon Missionaries from Wyoming. Serena was thirteen years old when baptized with her parents in 1900. Serena took a course to become a midwife in 1908. Serena sailed to England in 1909 and crossed England to Liverpool by train with three other girls and the Mission President Enoch Christopherson. They all stayed in the Mission Home in Liverpool until they boarded the boat for America. The boat landed in Portland, Maine a week before Christmas.

Then they boarded the train, for Salt Lake City, Utah. Serena planned to stop in Wyoming, where an Elder who she knew in the mission field had offered to loan her the money to come to America. Serena notice the lady on the train who she had helped when coming across the water, she was from Birmingham, England. she had twins, she enjoyed helping this mother. When the train got to Chicago the women left her twins in the care of Serena and got off the train to purchase some milk. She got lost and and the train left with out her. Leaving Serena the twins to tend. The mother of the twins was headed for Salt Lake and when the train reached Colorado. The railroad officials offered free passage on to Salt Lake City for Serena if she would continue the care for the twins. The Mission President Enoch Christopherson, He said Serena could stay with his family. There was a great region in Salt Lake City. When the mother caught cup with her babies. Says Serena. “I was so happy to be there and found some people who spoke my language and let me live with them. The Spence’s spoke only English in their home, so with their help Serena rapidly learned the English language. Serena wrote Elder Christopherson in Wyoming and explained to him she liked Salt Lake City and still wanted to pay for the ticket to America.

Serene with parents & siblings
in 1900 census at Ørsland in
Sokndal kommune, Rogaland:
Johannes Johannessen 1844(farmer&blacksmith),
Engel Jakobsdatter 1856,
..Jakob Johannessen 1892,
..Serene Johannesdatter 1887.

Serene left Norway from Bergen,
where she then lived, on Dec. 4, 1909.
Dest.: Amk Cody Wyonning

(Info from Torkel, FAG #48106268 19aug16)