NIELSEN, Jens - 1914

NIELSEN, PAULSON, HANSEN, MOGENSEN, GREGG, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 02:27:48

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

JENS NIELSEN.

The history of Jens Nielsen is a record of industry and achievement which should prove a source of inspiration and encouragement to all who are dependent upon their own resources in the battle of life. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he had to face the difficulties which encounter the stranger in a foreign country, without money or friends. He emigrated to the United States fortyone years ago and made his way direct to Cherokee county, Iowa, where he devoted his attention to farming throughout his active business career, now owning one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Cedar township. For the past five years he has lived retired in Meriden, discharging the duties of postmaster, however, from March, 1909, until August, 1913. His birth occurred in Denmark, October 27, 1848, his parents being Niels and Christine (Paulson) Jenson, likewise natives of that country. The father, a manufacturer of wooden shoes in Denmark, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1876 and settled in Cedar township, Cherokee county, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, improving and operating a farm until called to his final rest in June, 1906. The period of his residence in the community covered three decades, and he became widely recognized as a substantial and esteemed citizen here. His widow, who still resides on the old home place, has attained the age of eightyone years.

Jens Nielsen was reared and educated in his native land, attending school for two days of each week in the summer seasons and for three days of the seven throughout the winter months. At the age of twentytwo years he enlisted in the Danish army, serving as a soldier for sixteen months. In 1872, wishing to test the truth of the many favorable reports which had reached him concerning the opportunities and advantages of the new world, he came to the United States and direct to this county. It was in the nighttime that he alighted from the train at Cherokee with but two dollars in his pocket and unable to speak a word of the English language. The next morning he walked seven miles to Meriden and secured a position as a farm hand at a wage of eighteen dollars per month, being thus employed for seventeen months. On the expiration of that period he had saved sufficient money to purchase a yoke of cattle and make the first payment on eighty acres of land on section 31, Cedar township. He broke the land and erected buildings thereon and subsequently bought an adjoining tract of similar size at thirtyfive dollars per acre, so that his farm now

embraces one hundred and sixty acres. His first tract cost him only eight dollars per acre. The property is now worth at least two hundred dollars an acre and could not be secured at that price. Mr. Nielsen was busily engaged in the work of the fields until the spring of 1908, when he left the farm and removed to Meriden, where he has since lived retired. Here he purchased an attractive and commodious residence and ten lots, or one block, in the eastern part of the town. In March, 1909, he was appointed postmaster of Meriden and ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in that connection until January, 1913, when he resigned, though he was not relieved until the following August.

On the i9th of March, 1881, Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Hansen, a daughter of Hans P. and Anna M. (Mogensen) Hansen, who spent their entire lives in Denmark. The father, a carpenter by trade, passed away in April, 1870, while the mother was accidentally drowned in the year 1903. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen were born four children, as follows: Clara, who is the wife of Arthur Gregg, a farmer of Cedar township; Karl, who died on the 28th of September, 1905, at the age of twentyone years; Mabel, who gave her hand in marriage to Harvey Williams and resides in South Dakota ; and Katie, a trained nurse in Sioux City, Iowa.

In politics Mr. Nielsen is a stanch republican. He has served as school director for a period of nine years and for eight years acted in the capacity of road supervisor in Cedar township. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World at Meriden. Former years of toil and wisely directed industry have brought him the competence which now enables him to spend his declining years in well earned ease amid all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.