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| name | Amelia Munk Christensen |
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| birth_name | Amelia Thomsen Munk |
| birth_date | December 17, 1832 |
| birth_place | Aalbek, Denmark |
| death_date | Interwiki: Death date and age 1914111418321712++ |
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| resting_place | Brigham City Cemetery |
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Amelia was born in 1832 to Mette Marie and Thomas Munk in Albaek near the north tip of rural ::Denmark. Amelia’s best friend while growing up was Laura Hojrup. They were nearly the same age and neighbors. When they were 19 years old, both girls joined the Mormon church. Laura emigrated to Utah immediately where she married William Knudsen and settled in Box Elder (now Brigham City). Amelia missed her friend, but was not able to join her until six years later.
Amelia often went down to the docks to watch the ships depart. On one occasion, a passenger changed her mind about leaving Denmark and told Amelia she could take her place. Amelia hurried home, packed her clothes and returned to the dock in time to board the ship. She found out later her passage was not paid for and the captain planned to leave her in Liverpool, England, with some Mormon converts. Before the ship left Liverpool for America, Amelia hid among the passengers until it left the port. Because so many of the people were sick during the journey, Amelia nursed them, and they returned the kindness by sharing their food.
Upon her arrival in the United States, Amelia walked 1,000 miles across the plains to Utah with the Seventh Handcart Company. She continued on to Box Elder on foot where she stayed with her friend Laura and her husband in their small cabin. (The cabin has been preserved and is located on the south side of the Museum.) Amelia became the polygamist wife of 63-year-old Jens Christensen in 1860. They had four children. Amelia died in 1914.
Notes
The life of Amelia Munk Christensen – a Woman of Faith, Strength, and Courage
Amelia in the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database
Search Brigham City Museum Collections
: People
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