Jensen, Richard

JENSEN, CARSARSON, NEMENNY, WEEDY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 21:07:15

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

RICHARD JENSEN

Germany has contributed a large quota of the sturdy, energetic agriculturists of this county, and among them are to be found men of sterling worth and integrity who have succeeded in life through their own energy and perseverance and not as the recipient of any legacy. To this class belongs Richard Jensen, of Liberty township, who has been identified with the farming interests of Clinton county since 1872. He was born in Germany July 29, 1835, and is a son of Andrew Jensen, who was a lifelong resident of the fatherland.

Crossing the Atlantic in 1872, Mr. Jensen came immediately to Clinton county, Iowa, and for six and a half years made his home in Lyons, where he was employed in a factory. In October, 1878, he took up his residence on a farm in Liberty township, south of his present home, and later bought the property which he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and ninety-eight acres. He made all the improvements upon his farm, and successfully engaged in its operation until recently, when he sold the place to his son. He also carried on stock raising, and prospered in al his undertakings, being a man of good business and executive ability. In connection with his farm work he also followed carpentering for a time, and built some of the first farm houses erected in his locality.

Before leaving Germany Mr. Jensen married Miss Augusta Carsarson, who came with her husband to America, and died in this county June 11, 1896. By that union were born four children: Andrew, who now owns the old homestead, married Annie Nemenny, and they have two children, Richard and Oscar; Lena is the wife of Charles Weedy, of this county; Caroline, a resident of Berlin township, Clinton county; and Kheda, deceased.

Although Mr. Jensen usually supports the Republican party, he is not strictly partisan, and votes for the men whom he believes best qualified for office. He served as school director two years, but has never cared for political preferment. He is one of the leading citizens of his community, however, and is deserving of honorable mention in the history of his adopted county.