Jens Ben Jenson

JENSON, MARTIN, RUSLEY, ANDERSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 1/16/2007 at 22:33:31

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.

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.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, Vol. II, 1917, page 108.