Hans and Maren Larsen

Excerpt from A Sketch of the Life of Hansine Larsen Anderson

by her daughter, Lillie Anderson Zilles

(These excerpts tell us a little about the early life of Hans and Maren Larsen and the process of their immigration from Denmark to America in 1876.  Our direct ancestor Niels Larsen (brother of Hansine Larsen) was 8 years old at the time of their immigration.

Hansine Larsen Anderson was born the 23rd of August 1866, in Aesentrop, Holsbeck County Denmark; the seventh child of eight children. The two oldest children, Jacob and Anna were from a former marriage. The six children of this marriage were Christian, Christena, Hanna, Jens, Hansine, and Niels.

At the age of eleven she immigrated to America. Her father and oldest full brother died in Denmark. Christina was 17 years old at the time of his death.

The oldest half-brother, Jacob, was serving in the army of his native land when the rest of the family left. He came to the United States later, but not to Utah.

Hansine’s father was a butcher by trade. His home was one long building which housed the family on one end. The meat shop and slaughtering part were in the center and the livestock quarters on the other end. Everything was kept clean and spotless. After landing in the United States of America, her mother and six children came to Utah. They made their home in Hyrum, Utah.