Jensen, Henry

JENSEN, SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 19:48:24

Henry Jensen, who carries on general farming on section 13, Sherman Township, is the owner of a good farm of two hundred and sixty acres, and the well tilled fields and neat appearance of the place indicate the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is justly ranked among the leading agriculturists of the community. As he has many warm friends in the neighborhood we feel assured that this record will be received with interest by many of our readers.

Mr. Jensen is a native of Schleswig, Germany. He was born October 12, 1849, and is a son of Henry and Margaret Jensen, who were also born in Germany. In the country of his nativity, he remained until twenty years of age, being reared to manhood in the usual manner of fanner lads. It was in 1869 that be bade adieu to home and friends and crossed the broad Atlantic to the United States. At Hamburg he took passage on a steamer bound for New York City, and after arriving in the eastern metropolis of this country he at once made his way westward to Iowa, locating first in Scott County, where he remained for several years. He had no capital, and the livelihood, which he must gain, must be secured through his own efforts. He began working as a farm hand by the month and received $22 and his board as a compensation for his services. Continuing in Scott County until 1875, he then came to Jasper County in the spring of that year, and with the capital, which he had acquired through his former service, he purchased the farm on which he has since resided.

While living in Scott County, Mr. Jensen was married in January 1873, to the lady of his choice, being Miss Lena Smith, who was born in Iowa. By their union they became parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, as follows: William, Herman, Meta, Lewis and Hulda.

Whatever success Mr. Jensen has achieved in life is due entirely to his own efforts. He entered upon his business career in the country with no capital, but he had steadily worked his way upward, overcoming the difficulties and obstacles in his path. His labors have brought him a competence and he is now surrounded by all that goes to make life worth the living. Mr. Jensen belongs to the Lutheran Church of Newton. He has served as School Director for one year, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend and one whose interests he does his best to advance. In politics he is a supporter of Democratic principles, but has never been an aspirant for official honors, preferring to devote his time and attention to business cares and the enjoyment of the home. He need never have occasion to regret his immigration to America, for his career here has been a successful one. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 196.