Karen Laurense Einersen

12 May 1841–22 November 1906

Born 12 May 1841 at Saeby, Hjørring, Denmark.[1] Daughter of Axel Einersen and Karen Helene Gundersen.[2] Baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Christian August Madsen, 11 Sept. 1861.[3] Emigrated to the U.S. aboard the ship Franklin with her family, arriving in New York in late May 1862.[4] Migrated to the Salt Lake Valley, arriving by Sept. 1862.[5] Married Christian August Madsen, 27 Sept. 1862, at Salt Lake City.[6] Moved to Gunnison, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory, 1862.[7] Served as a Sunday School worker in Gunnison, ca. 1865–1900.[8] Active participant in the Sanpete Co. Silk Association, beginning 1876.[9] Counselor in the Mt. Pleasant Relief Society presidency, by 1877.[10] Represented Gunnison at the Territorial Beekeepers Convention, 10 Apr. 1883, in Salt Lake City.[11] President of the Sanpete Stake Primary, ca. 1883–1888.[12] Attended meetings for the Sanpete Stake where EBW was present, 1883–1888.[13] Submitted a prohibition petition to the Utah territorial legislature, 11 Feb. 1886.[14] President of the Gunnison Relief Society, by 1891.[15] Member of the Relief Society general board, 1892–1902.[16] Signed the articles of incorporation of the Relief Society, 10 Oct. 1892.[17] Corresponded with EBW, 1893–1902.[18] Attended social events with EBW as a member of the Relief Society general board, accompanied by her husband.[19] Elected as a city trustee for Gunnison, 2 Nov. 1897.[20] Died 22 Nov. 1906 at Gunnison.[21]

 

[1] Den Danske Folkekirke, Sæby købstad (Hjørring), Kirkebøger, 1629–1916, vol. 5, p. 52, line 6, Karen Helene Laurenize Einarsen, microfilm 49144, DGS 7223663, image 56/628, FHL. “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 27 Apr. 1861–20 Feb. 1864, p. 151, line 20 (2936), Karen Helena Laurence Einersen, 27 Sept. 1862, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 11 May 2020), Karen Helena Laurense Einarson (L782-WDM).

[2] Den Danske Folkekirke, Sæby købstad (Hjørring), Kirkebøger, 1629–1916, vol. 5, p. 52, line 6, Karen Helene Laurenize Einarsen, microfilm 49144, DGS 7223663, image 56/628, FHL. “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 27 Apr. 1861–20 Feb. 1864, p. 151, line 20 (2936), Karen Helena Laurence Einersen, 27 Sept. 1862, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL.

[3] “Endowments of the Living, 1851–1884,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 27 Apr. 1861–20 Feb. 1864, p. 151, line 20 (2936), Karen Helena Laurence Einersen, 27 Sept. 1862, microfilm 183404, DGS 5270327 (restricted access), FHL. Record of Members Collection, 1836–1970, Gunnison Ward, part 1, pp. 16–17, line 126, Caroline Helene Laurenza Madson (Einarson), CR 375 8, box 2697, folder 1, image 10/396, (limited access), CHL.

[4] European Mission Emigration Records, Scandinavian Mission, 1852–1920 (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/sources/60380685813611288740-eng/european-mission-emigration-records-scandinavian-mission-1852-1920?firstName=Karen%20Helene&surname=Einarsen, accessed 29 May 2020), Karen Helene Einarsen.  “Karen Helene Einarsen,” Saints by Sea (https://saintsbysea.lib.byu.edu/, accessed 29 May 2020). “Karen Helene Einarsen,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 11 May 2020).

[5] “Karen Helene Einarsen,” Pioneer Database (https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/, accessed 11 May 2020).

[6] “Sealings of Couples, Living and by Proxy, 1851–1889,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Endowment House, vol. D, 22 Nov. 1861–29 Dec. 1866, p. 105, line 5043, Christian August Madsen and Karen Helena Lawrence Einarsen, 27 Sept. 1862, microfilm 1149514, DGS 7226455 (restricted access), FHL.

[7] 1870 U.S. Census, Gunnison, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory, p. 9, Helene Madsen. 1880 U.S. Census, Gunnison, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory, ED 67, p. 10B, Helena Madsen. 1900 U.S. Census, Gunnison, Sanpete Co., UT, ED 124, p. 3B, Helena A. Madsen.

[8] Jubilee History of Latter-day Saints Sunday Schools, 1849–1899 (Salt Lake City: Deseret Sunday School Union, 1900), 340.

[9] Rebecca Wareham, “Silk Culture Past and Present in Sanpete,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Oct. 1898, 50.

[10] Mt. Pleasant Relief Society, Mt. Pleasant, Utah Territory, to Mary Ann Young and Others, Mary Ann Angell Young Papers, 1852–1882, George W. Thatcher Blair Collection, 1837–1988, MS 15616, CHL.

[11] Edward Stevenson, “The Bee-Keeper’s Convention,” Salt Lake Herald, 15 Apr. 1883, 9.

[12] “Sanpete Stake,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Jan. 1884, 119. “Visit to Sanpete and Meetings,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Sept. 1885, 60–61. “Notes by the Way,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Jan. 1887, 117. “R.S., Y. L. M. I. A. & P. A. Reports,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Oct. 1888, 78. “Gunnison, Death of Esteemed Woman,” Deseret News, 22 Nov. 1906, 3.

[13] “Sanpete Stake,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Jan. 1884, 119. “Visit to Sanpete and Meetings,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Sept. 1885, 60–61. “Notes by the Way,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Jan. 1887, 117. “R.S., Y. L. M. I. A. & P. A. Reports,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Oct. 1888, 78. EBW, Diary, 16 Dec. 1887 and 15 June 1888.

[14] “Thirty-Second Day,” Salt Lake Herald, 12 Feb. 1886, 8.

[15] Edward Stevenson, “Notes from Gunnison,” Deseret Weekly, 5 Dec. 1891, 24. “Relief Society General Conference,” Woman’s Exponent, 15 Apr. 1896, 141–142. “R. S. Reports. Sanpete Stake,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1897, 214.

[16] History of Relief Society, 1842–1966 (Salt Lake City: General Board of Relief Society, 1966), 52. Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia: A Compilation of Biographical Sketches of Prominent Men and Women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Andrew Jenson Memorial Association, 1936), 4:193.

[17] EBW, Diary, 10 Oct. 1892. Relief Society Historical Files, 1888–1984, Articles of Incorporation, 1892, CR 11 301, images 1–2/4, CHL.

[18] EBW, Diary, Memoranda 18 Oct. 1893; 17 Sept. and 16 Oct. 1900; 13 Oct. 1902.

[19] EBW, Diary, 7 Apr. 1891; 5 Apr. 1894; 1 Oct. 1895; 10 Sept. 1898; 2 Oct. 1900.

[20] “Non-Partisans Win at Gunnison,” Salt Lake Herald, 3 Nov. 1897, 3. “Gunnison, Death of Esteemed Woman,” Deseret News, 22 Nov. 1906, 3.

[21] “Utah State Archives Indexes,” database and images, Utah State Archives (https://archives.utah.gov, accessed 11 May 2020); Utah Department of Health Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Death Certificates, series 81448, file no. 0602500/395 (1906), Karen H. Lawrence Madsen. “Gunnison, Death of Esteemed Woman,” Deseret News, 22 Nov. 1906, 3.