Ellen Jorgensen Dahl

Ellen Jorgensen Dahl

Ellen Jorgensen Dahl was known as a "good, honest, faithful soul, with strong likes and dislikes, and freely expressed her thoughts of anyone, anything or any matter." She had a strong dislike for idleness and little patience for those who would prefer to idle away their time instead of working.

She showed her faithfulness as a 13-year old child who stood guard at a religious meeting in Sweden, watching for an approaching mob. As a 14-year old, Ellen learned Danish and English to help translate and nurse others in need at the Keokuk, Iowa settlement. As a 15-year old, Ellen walked across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley where she stayed the remainder of her life, spending her life in service to others.

Ellen's outgoing personality and rye sense of humor helped as she served those in her Relief Society and ward. Ellen was called as a Relief Society teacher at the organization of the West Jordan Relief Society on April 12, 1868.  She was later called as the ward treasurer on July 6, 1891 and served until the ward was divided on December 15, 1895.

As a midwife proficient in pioneer medicine, Ellen blessed the lives of many women. She kept track of women who were pregnant or sick in her local Relief Society group and frequently traveled by carriage to a patient's home to deliver a baby, administer her homemade medicines, cook meals and would often stay two or three days with a family until the mother had recovered. 

Some of Ellen's medical skills came while working as a nurse in Iowa, but were also learned from Native Americans in Sanpete County and the East Jordan area. Ellen helped anyone that needed assistance, no matter their race. After helping one Native American woman deliver a baby, the woman named her daughter 'Ellen' as a way to pay Sister Dahl back for her assistance. 

Ellen's desire to serve continued until the end of her life. As she became sick and near death, Ellen was upset because she was unable to help her daughter Louise who was recovering from giving birth to twins. When Ellen died in November of 1912, she left behind a number of bottles of medicine. Nobody knew how to administer them or how to use them properly so most of her knowledge was lost. 

Ellen Jorgensen Dahl was an incredible example of a hardworking, respected woman who served others throughout her life. Her sacrifice brought forth blessings to her family, neighbors and posterity. I'm blessed to be Ellen's great-great-great granddaughter.

Birth: 9 March 1842 ~ Lyngby, Malmohus, Sweden

Death: 8 November 1912 ~ Murray, Utah, United States