Ted S. (Thyge) and Marie (Jensen) Thygesen

THYGESEN, JENSEN, OLSEN, KNUDSEN, PETERSON, HANSEN, LAMBERTZ, SAND, JONES

Posted By: Jennifer J. Jensen (email)
Date: 5/9/2004 at 12:28:01

Ted S. (Thyge) and Marie (Jensen) Thygesen

Ted S. (Thyge) Thygesen, a farmer and stock raiser in Douglas Township, Audubon County, was born March 22, 1869, in Bregninge, a town on Ærø, a 6-by-22-mile island on the southern edge of Denmark. He was baptized on December 10, 1869.

Ted was the son of Soren K. and Catherine Marie (Iversen) Thygesen, both natives of Denmark. Soren Thygesen served in the War of 1864, principally assisting in hauling the wounded to headquarters. He and his wife were the parents of six children, George, Ted S., Soren, May, Katie and Anna, all of whom except Anna and May came to the United States. George and Soren were farmers in Sharon Township. Katie also lived in Sharon Township and May died in infancy in Denmark.

After receiving a limited education in Danish schools, Ted quit school at age 14 to work on the farm. From ages 14 -20, he was engaged as a farm worker. In 1896, when he was 26 years old, he traveled to America on the steamship, New York. Other young men from his home island traveled on the same steamship, and he carried only one suitcase to begin his new life.

Ted landed in New York City on March 21, 1896, and after being processed through Ellis Island, traveled to Brayton, Iowa. He worked on a farm in the vicinity for three years. For the next few years, he rented farms in Cass and Adams County. He moved to Audubon County in 1903 and purchased 120 acres of land in Sections 15 and 22 in Douglas Township. Three years later, he bought 40 acres adjoining his original farm.

Ted Thygesen was married in 1897 to Marie (or Mary) Jensen in Atlantic, Iowa.

Marie Krestine was the daughter of Lars C. (1829–1897) and Anna K. (Olsen) (1848-1911) Jensen. The Jensens lived near Børglum, Denmark, a small fishing village in northern Jutland.

Marie was 20 years old when she traveled to America with her brother, Anton (age 17), on the steamship, Norge. Their ship departed from Frederikshavn, Denmark. The travelers arrived in New York on May 4, 1896. They joined their mother’s brother in Corning, Iowa, to make their home. Marie made her living as a seamstress.

Marie’s father planned a move to America because many of his friends and relatives had already left Denmark. Several of his children – Mary, Anton, Jim and Christian – had relocated to Iowa. When Lars died unexpectedly in 1897, Christian returned from Iowa to bring his mother and the remaining family to the United States. These siblings included Tilde, Rena, Emma and John. They traveled to America on the steamship, Umbria, and landed in New York on October 21, 1900. From there, they joined Marie and other family members in Corning, Iowa, to begin their new lives in America.

Ten children were born to the Thygesens, Anna (Simon L. Jensen), Laura (Edward Knudsen), Willie (Bessie Duhling), Katie (Frank Lambertz), Bertha (Alfred Knudsen), Chris (Mabel Christensen), Minnie (Carl Peterson) and Lydia (Nels Hansen). Twin sons died in infancy. SEE ALSO: Simon L. and Anna (Thygesen) Jensen

Marie and several of her children were baptized at the Ebenezer Danish Lutheran Church near Audubon on September 27, 1903.

Ted was a Republican and served as director of the township schools for six years.

Ted Thygesen died on January 27, 1923, of throat cancer. Marie lived with her children for her remaining years. She died on December 30, 1956.

The Thygesens were members of the Ebenezer Danish Lutheran Church. The family attended services regularly and the children were confirmed there. Ted and Marie, as well as their twin sons, are buried in the Ebenezer cemetery. Marie’s mother and a number of the Thygesen children are also buried there.