Jesper Jensen

JENSEN, JESPERSEN, MORTENSEN, LARSON

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/20/2009 at 18:02:50

JESPER JENSEN, Supervisor of Audubon County. This highly respected and influential member of the present board of supervisors was born near Aalborg, Denmark, May 1, 1852, and is the elder of two children, the other being a daughter, Mary Ann, residing in the mother country. The parents were Jens and Metta K. (Jespersen) Mortensen. At the time of young Jensen's birth it was the custom in Denmark for the children to assume the given name of the father for their surname, hence his name is Jensen instead of Mortensen. His parents died in their native country, the father about three years ago, and the mother within three weeks of the writing of this biographical sketch. Mr. Jensen's father was quite a large farmer for that country, having about 200 acres of land. Young Jensen in addition to hard work on the farm had the advantage of good schools, and received a fair education, studying the English language, and becoming conversant with its grammar and construction. He early imbibed an idea of coming to America, having a well grounded dislike to monarchial governments, and a strong desire to live where he could be a man. In futherance of this plan, when he arrived at the age of eighteen years he resolved to emigrate, and make his home in the United States. Accordingly, in March, 1870, he embarked at Copenhagen and crossed the North Sea, and landed at Leith, Scotland; after a delay there of ten days he took passage at Glasgow on the steamer North America, the voyage requiring twenty six days. The vessel being delayed off the coast of New Foundland by ice sheets, the vessel was compelled to run into Halifax for coal and provisions, and then the journey was resumed, and May 16 they landed at Quebec. Mr. Jensen went directly to Chicago, which was his destination. It was just after the great fire in Chicago, and he remained there two years, finding ample opportunity to exercise his ability to work. At the end of two years he went to the iron mines of Lake Superior, where there was a boom, intending to work in the mines; but finding that many laborers were losing their lives in the mines by frequent accidents, he sought a less dangerous occupation, and succeeded in getting a position in a powder mill, preferring this perilous work to the more dangerous mines. There he worked six months, receiving $80 per month and board. The panic of 1873 coming on, the mill suspended, and he spent the next six months looking over the northern peninsula of Michigan, visiting among other institutions the famous copper mines. Not finding any suitable employment he returned to Chicago, bought a horse and wagon, and engaged in the express delivery business; finding it profitable, he decided to establish a home, and to that end secured a wife. Mr. Jensen was married March 9, 1874, to Miss Anna K. Larson, who was also a native of Denmark. Her parents were Lars and Kirsten Jensen; here again appears that old style of taking the father's name as a surname. At the end of two years Mr. Jensen entered the employ of the Chicago Street Car Company, and continued there for five years, filling the various positions in the street railway business; his wages were $83 per month. In the spring of 1880 he decided to leave the city. Knowing that a large number of his countrymen had settled in Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, he came direct to Harlan, and after a short investigation he contracted for a part of his present farm on section 15, Sharon Township. He then returned to Chicago, and remained there one year longer with the same company, and in the spring of 1881 he removed his family to their new home. He has since added more land to his original purchase, and has made excellent improvements in the way of a house, barns, cribs and feed yards, so that he has one of the best improved farms in the southwest part of Audubon County; it is well stocked with good grades of cattle, horses and hogs. Mr. Jensen was soon called upon to manage public business, being elected township trustee the second year after coming to the county, a position to which he was reelected, and held until he resigned to accept the position he now holds, having been elected in 1886 a member of the county board of supervisors; his colleagues at that time were Sparks Baker and George McKain. Mr. Jensen has made an excellent record as a safe, prudent, farseeing business man, and his voice has ever been given to render lasting benefit to the county; an instance is his support of the aid given to the County Agricultural Society which has enabled it to be placed upon a substantial basis; another is his hearty cooperation in securing the present county farm. A position of this kind is a difficult one to fill, as there are always many who stand ready to criticize every move where the public business is concerned; but Mr. Jensen has the satisfaction of knowing that his ideas have been sanctioned by the best men in the county. He has recently suffered the loss of his estimable wife, Mrs. Jensen dying of consumption after a lingering sickness, April 12, 1889, in her thirty second year. She was the mother of seven children Lawrence C., Waldemar, Louise, Alexander, Amanda, Victor, Anna K. Mr. Jensen is a member of the Lutheran church, of the Danish Brotherhood, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a staunch Republican, and has always taken an active interest in conventions and general political work.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO
pages 825-826