The La Jara chronicle., 1910-07-01
LARS A. MoRTENsEN KILLED
BY A HAY RAKE

their most beloved neighbors and
respected citizens, a pioneer and
handcart veteran, Elder Lars A.
Mortensen.
A runaway accident was the cause.
Monday. June 27th, Mr.. Mortensen
was working in the bayfield,
north of Sanford and failed to re-
turn home at the usual time. His
wife became greatly worried over the
delay and finally. about 3 p. m, be-
came convinced something serious
had happened to him and two of his
sons were dispatched to look for him.
After searching through the field
with lanterns for sometime they
found his hat and a broken hay
rake and finally discovered Mr.. Nor
tensen, himself, lying on his back.
dead, his face and body mutulated
by the hoofs of the horses and the
teeth of the rake. Investigation goes
to show that the tongue of the rake
which was partly fastened on with
wire had come loose. the horses had
evidently dashed sideways and Mr.
Mortensen was thrown from his seat
and dragged under the rake. A tooth
Of the machine had passed through
his eye into his brain. A number of
bones We're broken and appearances
indicate that his body was dragged
by the rake about 100 yards after the
accident. The accident must have
occurred about. or shortly after, sun
down. as he had been seen at work
up to that time
The deceased was born on the is
land of Muen, Denmark. July %, 1912.
His father, Peter Mortensen. and the
entire family embraced the Mormon
gospel and while Lars was still a boy
sold their farm and emigrated TO
America. When they reached Iowa
they had means enough to have fit
ted out an excellent OK team and
wagon. but just at that time the hand
cart companies were starting for
Utah and the Mortensen family will
ingly $40 .ficed their property for
the common -. and shared with the
They Joined one of what has be
come known in history as The Two
III Fated Companies of 1856" Leav-
ing the Missouri river behind them
they started westward across the
plains pushing all their belongings,
food. clothing, babies. everything, in
ordinary hand carts. Winter over
took them midway of their journey
and for over a month in midwinter,
they struggled through snow three
and four feet deep on short rations.
The death rate during this portion of
the trip was very high, averaging five
or six day and one day it is recorded
that l3 died.
All of the MortenSen family. how
ever, were spared and this little fam
lily of nine now numbers between four
and five hundred. After reaching
Salt Lake City the Mortensen family
moved Immediately to Parowan and
there settled.
In 1863 Lars responded to a call
to return to Missouri to relieve en-
igrants. He left his father on his
dying bed and he only survived his
sons departure four days. In Dec
ember, 1868, he married Cornelia
Decker. and became a prosperous and
respected citizen in Parowan, being
honored with many public trusts and
offices, among them. Sunday school
N "a hnr nf hn hnn
ric, and high counsellor. In 1886 he
moved with his family to the San
Luis valley, Colorado, becoming one
of the pioneers of Sanford His Of
flee in the bishopric at Parowan
was held open for him for years, the
people of that community hoping he
would return.
In his new home he continued his
active church labors. He was made
Sunday school superintendent, in
five years. He has also been a mem
Der of the high counsel up to the
present time. In Parowan. under
the tutorage of Alfred Durham, he
made study of music and was very
gifted in this art. He has held the
positions of stake and ward choris-
ter. band and orchestra leader-the
latter up to the present time, always
being leading spirit in a musical
and social way. He composed nearly
all the band and dance music and
arranged and copied the hymns that
We're used here before printed music
could be had.
He is survived by his wife, seven
teen children and forty grandchildren