Hannah Maria Jensen was born in Hyrum, Utah in 1868.  When she was twelve years old, she quit school and went to work.  She worked for neighbors doing wash and cleaning up their homes for 35 cents a day. 

In January of 1890, she married James Peter Mortensen and moved to Salem, Idaho to live on his homestead which had a two room log house with a dirt roof. 

She loved to crochet and sew.  She pieced more than 100 quilts and gave them to her children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. 

(Excerpts taken from a history written by Carma Mortensen Ricks)