JENSEN, Jens Bertinius (Ben) 1862-c1940

JENSEN, OLSDATTER, MARTIN, RUSLEY, ANDERSON

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 15:34:51

Jens Bertinius (Ben) Jensen was born March 2, 1862 on a farm in Cedar township, Mitchell County, Iowa to Jens Jensen and Mari Olsdatter, the seventh of their ten children. Besides his 9 siblings, he had 4 half-siblings (his father was married twice).

Found in the 1870 census living at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa: Jen Jenson 40, Mary Jenson 32, Martin Jenson 18, Peter Jenson 13, Betsey Jenson 11, Benton Jenson 8, Rachel Jenson 6, Lewis Jenson 1.

Found in the 1880 - 1905 censuses living at Center, Winnebago, Iowa:
1880: Jens Jenson 65, Mary Jenson 52, Peder Jenson 22, Bertinius Jenson 18, Ellianne Jenson 16, Lars Jenson 11.

Ben was married 3 times:
to Mattie Martin on December 8, 1881;
to Julia Rusley on March 24, 1931 and
to Ellen C Anderson on March 24, 1902 (all at Iowa.)

He had 2 sons with Ellen: Joseph A (born June 5, 1903) and Elmer Benjamin (born July 1911).

Found in the 1920 census living at Mount Valley, Winnebago, Iowa: Ben Jensen 57, Ellen Jensen 38, Joseph A Jensen 16, Elmer B Jensen 8, Olai Anderson 23.

Found in the 1930 census at Newton, Winnebago, Iowa: Ben Jenson 68, Ellen Jenson 48, Binjamin Jenson 18.

Found in the 1940 census at Forest, Winnebago, Iowa: Ben Jensen 78, Ellen Jensen 59.

Believe he died in or after 1940, probably at Winnebago County, Iowa although I could not find his death date nor his burial site.

Found at the Winnebago County Iowa Gen Web site under "biographies" - History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, page 108.

"Jens Ben Jenson, living on section 9, Newton township, is a representative of the Norwegian element in the citizenship of Winnebago county - an element that has done much toward developing this district. He was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, March 2, 1862, and is a son of Jens and Mary 0. Jenson. He was reared and educated in Mitchell and in Winnebago counties, being but nine years of age when in 1871 his parents removed to Winnebago county. His youthful days were spent under the parental roof until he had reached the age of nineteen, when he began earning his own living as a farm hand and was thus employed until 1892. He was thirty years of age when he purchased his present place of eighty acres on section 9, Newton township, on which he has now resided for a quarter of a century. He immediately took up the task of improving and developing the property and has since continued its cultivation with the exception of a period of two years when he rented his farm. His work is carefully and systematically carried on and everything that he does is characterized by good judgment and unfaltering industry. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills and also in the Lake Mills Creamery Company.

On December 8, 1881, Mr. Jenson was married to Miss Mattie Martin, who passed away in August 1886, and on the 24th of March, 1891, Mr. Jenson was again married, his second union being with Miss Julia Rusley, who departed his life in November 1899. For his third wife, he chose Ellen C. Anderson, whom he wedded March 24, 1902. To them were born two children: Joseph A., who was born June 5, 1903; and Elmer B., born in July 1911 (Elmer's Find A Grave Memorial# 123693395).

Mr. Jenson holds membership in the Lutheran church and he votes with the republican party, keeping well informed at all times on the questions and issues of the day. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, esteem him as a man of genuine personal worth and good business ability. He has lived in the county for forty-six years and has therefore witnessed the greater part of its growth, progress and development. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days when this was a pioneer district, and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present."