Chapter Five jorgen Christopherson Folkmann 8 Jorgen Christopherson Folkman “The fllowing is history on Jorgen Christopherson Folkman that recieved from Sister Kathryn Hunt during the research I conducted on Seppe. ‘With a feeling of sacredness, most of us direct our thought to these courageous, God-fearing people who left their homeland to come tothe tops ofthe mountains, and say “mny parents, my grandparent cor my great grandparents were among them.” We are indeed grateful forthe heritage which is ours. It is made possible because ‘they were willing to endure the trials and hardships of pioneer life. The more one ‘understands what these trials were, and the di cuties they faced, the more one sincerely appreciates the besings that come from their faith “These early Ssints saw meckness grow into strength, humility grow into power, and lowliness into wisdom and understanding and inteligence. They pet their possessions ina wagon and this thin God (Our highest tribute to those who have gone before is not grief but gratitude Family History of Jorgen Christopherson Folkmann ‘Denmark, jutting out ito the Baltic Sea north of Germany, is Europe's oldest kingdom, Numberous finds and excavations indicate that Denmark has been inhabited for at least four thousand to five thousand years and possibly much longer. The country's position atthe entrance to the Baltic Sea, one of Europe's oldest trading routes, going back to prehistoric times, favored early settlement here. ‘Denmark consists of one peninsula and 493 islands and islets, all of them quite lt “The highest hills only si hundred feet above sea level. The sea, of course, isthe natural link between the different part ofthe country, and so the Danes became a seafaring nation vite early in history, They roamed the neighboring seas and conquered neighboring. landsChapter Five - Jorgen Christopherson Falkmann “4 Denmark's scenery isthe gentlest and most idyllic ofall the Scandinavian ‘countries, Its green pastures are dotted with brown and speckled cows, red or white farmhouses and whitewashed churches, Its quaint gardens and wind-carressed groves ext to blue inlets and sandy beaches breathe a fairy-tale atmosphere of charm and harmony. ‘The Folkmann ancestors are found on one ofthese islands, Bornholm, as far back ‘as records exist. The Lutheran Church is the state church of Denmark, and the king must ‘bea member of that church. the sea and agriculture, along with related occupations provided th livelihood, for most ofthe Danes. Jorgen was a blacksmith, his trade necessary to carry on agriculture Jorgen and Gjertrud Jorgan Christopherson Folkmann was a blacksmith by trade on his native island of ombotm, Denmark, and enjoyed a good busines, He was born on th 10th of September 1792 in Vester aie to Christopher Olsen Fotkmann and BisheTpsen (Ceppesen). Nothing i known of his early ie. When he reached manhood he married Gjerturd Kristine Ten on the 29th of March 1817. Gjertna, daughter of Jeppe Sorensen and ane Pedersen, was bor onthe 19th of March 1790 in Asker, Bornholm, Denmark Jorgen and Giertrud lived in Asker and were th parents of eght children, three boys and five gr Important Dates Bint oF Jorgen C. Folkman, 10 September 1752 [Birth of Gjertrad Kristine Ipsen, 19 March 1790, Births oftheir eight cildren + Bergette 1818 + Christiane, 1820Chapter Five - Jorgen Christopherson Folkmann, 45 + Bleebeth, 1822 + Elscbeth, 1823 + Joppe, 1824 + Christopher, 1827 Jens, 1829 + Forging, 1832 Death of Gjertrud,20 November 1848 Jorgen’ emigration to America, 25 April 1837 Death of Jorgen, 10 September 1864 Jorgen and Gjertrud were God-fearing stalwart members ofthe Likeran Church, the prevailing church in Denmark at that time, they gave ther children a good religious background and set a good example for them to follow. Their ancestors as fer back as 1620 were all bor in Dornholm. Gjertnad die on the 20th of November 1848 atthe age of39, Emigration to America ‘Mormon missionaries arrived in Bornholm and preached at their street meetings of ‘the restoration of the gospel by the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Folkmann family listened to their message and ther testimony. Several of Jorgens children were baptized members (of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was much opposition to the Church in Bornholm, and Jorgens sons were viens of mob persecution. Jorgen was baptized on the 30th of December 1856, and onthe 25th of April the following year he ‘emigrated to America with is son and daughter-in-law, Jens Peter and Matilda, The new converts othe Church were urged to leave ther homes and go to Zion wher ll he Saints were gathering in Salt Lake City in the tops of the mountains.