Jens Black and Johannan Bolette (Lette) Black Dalley

While I was reading the trail excerpts from the Hans Peter Olsen Company (1854),  I came across a diary that was very interesting. It was talking about my great great great grandfather, Jens Black. I had just finished his blog page on the LeRoy Black Blog. I knew that he had several wives.. but in all of the papers and histories that I had been going through there was no mention of this wife.


This is what I read:
Read Johannan Bolette (Lette) Black Dalley's Trail Excerpt

The following is just the section that talks about my Great Great Great Grandfather, Jens Black. 

We went up to here Kansas City now is and camped on the bank (of the Missouri River). In our company was a man by the name of James Black, whose wife died of cholera at St. Louis. He began paying attention to me, but I did not encourage him, as I disliked him, although I couldn't tell why. He was good looking and attractive in manner. In a way, I was dependent on my uncle, and he and his wife were very persistent in persuading me to yield, although I repeatedly told them all I did not want to marry until I reached Salt Lake City. This marriage was most unfortunate for me and resulted in great unhappiness, for as I became better acquainted with him my dislike increased. Although he was a Mormon, he did not entertain the same ideas in regard to living the principles as I did. He was also ill-tempered and jealous.  

  

Reading this was kind of a shocker. I wanted to find out a little bit more about this marriage that was most unfortunate for Johanna and resulted in her great unhappiness.  

I did a little bit more research and found out that Jens and Johannan were not only married, they also had a daughter together. Her name is Elizabeth (Eliza). So, I had no record of  the marriage or their daughter. I needed to find out more. What happened to the daughter and who did Johannan marry after Jens? 

I have recently joined the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and they have prepared and collected thousands of biographies of early pioneers (1847-1869). They also have photographs of many of the early church members. 

I filled out some paper work and sent in my request for some histories. One of the histories I was interested in was one for a man named James Dalley. He was the husband of Johanna (Lette) just after my Grandfather Jens Black. Maybe his journals would help me find out a little bit more about Jens and Johanna's marriage and what happened to their daughter.

In James's history it reads: On October 5, 1855, a young Danish women, Lette, arrived at the fort with a small baby to support. She was in dire circumstances - no one wanted to hire a women with a small baby. Emma Dalley, the wife of James, invited her to dinner and James told her to stay until she could do better. She worked for her room for a year and then became a permanent part of the family. 

James yoked up his oxen late in September, 1856, and took Emma, their three children, and Lette to Salt Lake. When they were nearly there, they learned that the Endowment House was not yet finished. They had traveled two weeks to make the trip and feared they would have to return with our having the privilege of going through. However, word was sent out to the people who were up there waiting to come in on October 9th, to receive their endowments and be sealed. James and his wife were among the first permitted to go through. James and Emma were sealed first and then Lette was sealed to him. They received their endowments and were sealed on October 9, 1856. James adopted Lette's child. 

James Dalley died in 3 May1905 and is buried in Summit, Utah.

Johanna (Lette) died 26 Jan 1923 and is buried in Jerome Idaho. 

Eliza (Elizabeth) Bertelsen Black (Fransworth) died 16 May 1917 and is buried in Summit, Utah


So in just a few minutes of reading.. I came across a journal that mentioned my Great Great Great Grandfather, a wife and a child that we didn't know about. It just goes to show you that we all need to read and do a little research to find out what we can about or ancestors.. like the title to my history blogs..

"We live as long as we are remembered"!