MEIDELL, Jens (1857-1930)

MEIDELL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/2/2020 at 22:58:00

Jens Meidell
(June 13, 1857 – September 11, 1930)

Ida County Pioneer Record, Ida Grove, Iowa, Thurs., Sept. 18, 1930, p.3
Lived in Ida Co. For Fifty Years
Jens Meidell Expires Sept. 11 on His Farm West of Holstein
Holstein, Sept. 16 – Jens Meidell was born at Rosendahl, Norway, on June 13, 1857. Here he was baptized and after proper instruction in the way of salvation confirmed in this faith in the Norwegian Lutheran church. Soon after his confirmation his father emigrated with his family to the United State, settling on Clinton County, state of Iowa. In 1880 the family moved to Monona County, and in the same year to Ida County, where they located on a farm which since that time has been his home. Thus he also can be counted among the few remaining residents of this community who have witnessed its change from a wild prairie to a highly developed farming community, who could tell of the changing scenes of the past half century.
Although he spent his life on the farm, his interests in life were manifold. Possibly the one thing he loved best was music, that universal language of mankind. Though he never had the advantage of having an instructor in music he nevertheless succeeded to a marked degree in mastering the reed organ. Lutheran church music was his special delight and often he would quietly steal away to the church. Such seclusion, evidently soul in the words and the chorals of the beautiful hymns of the church. Such seclusion, evidently the result of some bitter experiences in life, seemed to predominate in his character; in the eyes of the world a tragedy, for the sincere Christian a blessing.
Though afflicted with physical ailments for many years, it was only about two years ago that they began to make serious inroads upon the body. Especially during the last few months he began to fail very rapidly and the end came rather unexpectedly last Thursday night, September 11, at the ripe age of 73 years, 2 months and 27 days.
Besides numerous friends and distant relatives he leaves to mourn his passing his aged stepmother, one brother, Andrew of Holstein, three sisters, Mrs. Anna Jensen of Silverton, Oregon, Mrs., Anna Hodgson and Mrs. Martha Applegate, both of Berkley, Calif., with their immediate families.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, September 14, at the home and at the Norwegian Lutheran church 4 miles west of Holstein. Interment was made in the Norwegian church cemetery. Rev. Sig. H. Sandrock, pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran church of Holstein, officiated.