John Charles Jessen (1878-1937)

JESSEN, LARSON, GOLLY, MALMANGER, HEARST, NORDSKOG, HUNTROD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/4/2022 at 16:49:36

From Nevada Evening Journal September 24, 1937 (page 1)

J. C. Jessen Dead; Funeral Services Sunday Afternoon

J. C. Jessen, 59, Story City attorney and former Story county legislator, died at Mary Greeley hospital, Ames, Thursday afternoon at 4:00, from the effects of injuries sustained in an automobile crash Wednesday afternoon at 5:30, on No. 30 just in the west edge of Ames.

Funeral services for Mr. Jessen will be held at Grace Evangelical church, Story City, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 in charge of his pastor, Rev. G. L. Bergeman.

In the crash, Jessen enroute home from Boone, collided with a westbound car, driven by Mrs. C. F. Wheeler of St. Paul, when the driver of the Minnesota car lost control, as one the wheels caught on the edge of the paving.

Mr. Jessen, suffering from what appeared to be fatal injuries was hastened to Mary Greeley hospital, where all possible aid was given but he passed away at 4:00 Thursday.

The injuries consisted of bones of the left leg broken at the hip and above the knee, of the right leg below the knee, the left arm broken below the elbow, a broken collar bone, a splintered rib pierce his lung and several severe contusions on the head.

John Charles Jessen was born at Chicago, Illinois, February 10, 1878 of Danish parentage. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and later to Pine River, Wisconsin, where the father died.

It was in the year 1885 that the mother, now Mrs. Caroline Larson of 239 I avenue, Nevada, with her four children, came out to Story county and located at Story City. About two years later she was married to Chris Larson, who owned a farm north of Nevada, and there the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He worked on the farm and attended the rural schools, he being the first student in the township to receive a common school diploma, and also received a second grade teachers certificate.

Later he attended Iowa State college, completed the one-year dairy course and operated a creamery at Shannon City, Iowa, for about three years.

He entered Drake university law school in Des Moines in 1902, graduating from there in 1905. He located for practice first at Zearing where he remained for two years, and it was there that he met Miss Catherine Golly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Golly, who later became his bride.

Remaining in Zearing for two years, he moved to Story City, where his home had since been, and where he continued in the active practice of law.

He was married June 22, 1910 to Miss Catherine Golly and she with their daughters, Arlene at home and Wilma, teacher at Fort Madison, survive him.

He was elected to the state legislature as representative from Story county in 1914 and served in the 36th and 37th general assemblies.

During he long residence in Story City, he had been active in public, civic, social and religious affairs of the community and was held in very high esteem.

He had served as mayor of the city and city solicitor, as well as taking a prominent part in the activities of the Greater Community congress of the town.

He had served for several years as teacher of the Brotherhood class of Grace Evangelical church, as well as in other capacities in community leadership.

The deceased leaves besides his wife and daughters Arlene and Wilma, his aged mother, Mrs. Caroline Larson of Nevada, his brother, Jesse Jessen of Nevada and sisters Mrs. Martin Malmanger of north of Nevada and Mrs. Emma Hearst of Cedar Falls; half sisters, Mrs. S. B. Nordskog of Cedar Falls and Mrs. Harrison Huntrod of Colfax and half brothers Lewis Larson of north of Nevada and Chris Larson of Des Moines.