Archives West Finding Aid

This collection focuses on the families of Neils Jessen, Jesse Miller, Charles Moreau, Peter Jessen and Nathan Miller. In 1862, the family of Neils and Maren Jensen immigrated to America from Denmark as converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After arriving in Salt Lake City, they became disillusioned with the Church's practice of polygamy. The Jensens joined a small sect called the Morrisites, which had branched off the LDS Church. This church was founded by Joseph Morris. Morris had been an active member in the LDS Church but was opposed to many of the practices and traditions of the Church (e.g. polygamy). After being excommunicated twice from the LDS Church, Morris began the Church of the First Born (also known as the Morrisites).

Followers of Morris gathered in Weber County until a confrontation with the LDS Church called the Morrisite War in 1862. After Joseph Morris was killed in the Morrisite War, the sect dispersed into various areas of the West with many eventually settling in Deer Lodge, Montana. What drew the Morrisites to htis area was their belief that Jesus would return to Earth in Deer Lodge. However, internal divisions further split the Morrisites into two different sects. This division also split the Jensen family between the two sects. Over the years membership in the Morrisite Chruch never grew above eighty people. Following the deaths of two prominent church officials, Andrew Hendrickson and George Johnson, in the 1920s and 1930s the Morrisite movement perished as well.

One of the Jensen children, Alice Mary, was wed to Peter Jessen, who came to America from Prussia around the time of the American Civil War. Another child of Neils and Maren Jensen, Annie, married Jesse Miller. Jesse Miller was born in Iowa and then later moved to the Deer Lodge area. The Charles and Zepherina Moreau family came to America from Quebec. Nathan Miller, son of Jesse and Annie Miller, married Clara Rose, daughter of Charles and Zepherina Moreau. Joan Crum's father, Leo Miller, was the son of Nathan and Clara Miller.