Home > United States of America > Colorado > Conejos County > Sanford > Sanford Cemetery > Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen

Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen

View larger map

Birth	:	15 Jan 1846 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	24 Dec 1937 Sanford, Conejos County, Colorado, USA
Burial	:	Sanford Cemetery, Sanford, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.2374992, -105.9103012
Plot	:	134-B
Description	:	Buried 26 Dec 1937; Sanford Cemetery Record. The following information is from Sherry Smith: Daughter of John Doyle Lee & Nancy Bean Loving stepdaughter of Zachariah Bruyn Decker Married Lars Pedersen Mortensen, 10 Oct 1865, Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah Cornelia was a pioneer of Salt Lake City, 1848; Provo, 1849; Parowan,Utah, 1851; and Sanford, Colorado, 1887. She grew up with the building of Parowan, with natural leadership ability, inherited, perhaps from her father who also played an important part in the building of Parowan. With her keen intellect and constant desire to obtain knowledge, she developed early into a power that was felt for good... Read More	Buried 26 Dec 1937; Sanford Cemetery Record. The following information is from Sherry Smith: Daughter of John Doyle Lee & Nancy Bean Loving stepdaughter of Zachariah Bruyn Decker Married Lars Pedersen Mortensen, 10 Oct 1865, Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah Cornelia was a pioneer of Salt Lake City, 1848; Provo, 1849; Parowan,Utah, 1851; and Sanford, Colorado, 1887. She grew up with the building of Parowan, with natural leadership ability, inherited, perhaps from her father who also played an important part in the building of Parowan. With her keen intellect and constant desire to obtain knowledge, she developed early into a power that was felt for good wherever she went. She had little formal schooling; books were scarce and time to read them even more so. As she spun and wove as all pioneer women were required to do, she placed a book directly in front and conveniently near the spinning wheel or loom. As she worked she caught a few words or a thought which she stored in her memory, which she was able to call forth in her many public duties throughout her life. Her ability to lead and direct public affairs reached the point where many declared her to be the most outstanding woman of southern Utah. In the fall of 1910 at the fairgrounds in Salt Lake City, her son recorded, "I walked up the steps of the platform holding Mother by the arm. Elder John Henry Smith called, 'Bro. Mortensen, bring your mother and sit with us.' As we approached he put his arm around her, then turning to me, said, 'You have a wonderful mother. I have known her since her infancy. She has the best blood in this nation in her veins. Don't ever do anything to cause her sorrow.' "Again, in 1918 while Emeline B. Wells, a life-long friend of Mother's, was convalescing in an apartment in the Hotel Utah, Mother was there to spend the day.... I went there to see her. As I arose to leave, Aunt Em said almost the exact words that Elder Smith had said, but added, 'Had your mother lived in Salt Lake instead of the country, I am afraid it would have been President Cornelia Lee Mortensen in place of President Emeline B. Wells, General Relief Society President of the Church. I say this in all seriousness for your mother is one of the few natural born leaders.'" When Parowan celebrated its centennial, much of the program on the twenty-fourth of July was devoted to the memory of persons who had once lived there. Lars and Cornelia Mortensen were referred to as,perhaps, the most outstanding couple of early day history. A poem written by their son, Arlington, was read as a tribute to their memory. That, in view of the fact that they had moved away from Parowan sixty-four years before, was bona fide evidence of the esteem in which they were held. Cornelia served her church continually for twenty-five years. She was good in obstetrical nursing, having a record of upwards of two thousand deliveries with but two losses. She died at the age of ninety-two. Cornelia & Lars had 12 children.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen's memorial?
Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen's memorial is located at: Sanford Cemetery, Sanford, Conejos County, USA.
When did Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen death?
Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen death on 24 Dec 1937 in Sanford, Conejos County, Colorado, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Cornelia Decker Lee Mortensen's memorial?
Latitude: 37.2374992
Longitude: -105.9103012

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Lars Pederson Mortensen

(1842 - 1910)

Children

Cornelia Adella Mortensen Mickelsen

(1865 - 1889)

Helena Laurette Mortensen Peterson

(1868 - 1939)

Lars Hanmer Mortensen

(1870 - 1967)

Rulon Erastus Mortensen

(1879 - 1960)

Wilford Woodruff Mortensen

(1886 - 1893)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Sanford Cemetery
Sanford, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2374992, -105.9103012

2. La Jara Cemetery
La Jara, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2977982, -105.9610977

3. Old Manassa Cemetery
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1575012, -105.9366989

4. Sowards Cemetery
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1577988, -105.9381027

5. Nance Family Cemetery
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1569020, -105.9380870

6. Flower Family Graves
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1519000, -105.8915000

7. Los Cerritos Cemetery
Los Cerritos, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1494000, -105.9127000

8. New Manassa Cemetery
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.1486015, -105.9203033

9. Gate to Heaven Cemetery
Los Sauces, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2375000, -105.7560000

10. Los Lasauses Pentecostal Cemetery
Los Sauces, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2362520, -105.7557920

11. Los Sauces Church Yard Cemetery
Los Sauces, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2658620, -105.7464570

12. La Isla Cemetery
Manassa, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0864860, -105.9555750

13. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2841988, -106.0980988

14. Saint Joseph Church Old Cemetery
Capulin, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2814000, -106.1118000

15. Old Capulin Cemetery
Capulin, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.2980995, -106.1097031

16. Lobatos Cemetery
Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0630989, -105.9116974

17. Conejos Cemetery
Antonito, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0842018, -106.0175018

18. Warshaver Cemetery
Antonito, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0828018, -106.0152969

19. Antonito Cemetery
Antonito, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0819016, -106.0156021

20. Becker Cemetery
Alamosa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.3669014, -105.7478027

21. Alamosa Municipal Cemetery
Alamosa, Alamosa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4495000, -105.8591000

22. Alamosa Spanish Cemetery
Alamosa, Alamosa County, USA
Coordinate: 37.4592000, -105.8929000

23. Mogote Presbyterian Cemetery
Mogote, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0522003, -106.0868988

24. Las Mesitas Cemetery
Las Mesitas, Conejos County, USA
Coordinate: 37.0651770, -106.1091540