Hans Andersen Nissen

Born 14 June 1844 in Denmark to Anne Poulsdatter and Nis Christensen
Married Beate Olsdatter Petterborg 3 September 1881
Hans-Norman-Howard
Died in 1888 in Preston
Buried in Preston

1880 Census

Hans Andersen Nissen was born 14 June 1844 in Norre Hoe, Gording, Ribe, Denmark. His father’s name was Nis Christensen and his mother was Anne Poulsdatter. Hans had two
brothers and two sisters and was the youngest of the five children. Hans and his older brother Niels Nissen both joined the Church in Denmark. We do not know when Hans was baptized, but Niels’ baptism date is 31 December 1862.

Hans migrated to Utah in 1868 with help from the Perpetual Emigration Fund. He married Beate Olsdatter Pettorborg and they had four children. Hans died in 1888 when his children were young, leaving Beate a young widow to care for her children.

By Jean Nisson
Hans Nissen came to Utah sometime before May 28, 1873. That's the date on his Certificate of "DECLARATION OF INTENTION" to become a citizen of the United States. The certificate was issued in Salt Lake City, Territory of Utah. He immigrated from Denmark.

Beate Petterborg came from Norway. Hans and Betty were married September 3, 1881. A number of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), who immigrated from Scandinavian countries settled in the north end of Cache Valley in the area around Franklin, Idaho. Franklin is the oldest town in Idaho. The original settlers thought they were settling in Utah Territory. As more immigrants came, they settled north of Franklin and spread out to the east and the west. Hans and Betty are listed among the first settlers in this area. The area was referred to as Worm Creek because of a creek that came from the Wasatch Mountains on the east and meandered through the area. One of the early families were the Bensons. President Ezra Taft Benson grew up in the ward known as the Whitney Ward. I'm certain that the Nissen family knew the Benson family. They would have been neighbors.

The Nissens lived in the area that used to be called Egypt or the Glendale Ward. Around 1882, the ward east of Worm Creek organized a Primary with Julia Jensen, Beate Nissen, Nancy Lawrence, and Ella Clayton as presiding officers. The area west of Worm Creek became known as Preston. It was named for William B. Preston, who later became Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church.