JENSEN (JENSON), Jens

JENSEN, JENSON, OLSDATTER, LARSDATTER, HENDRIKSDATTER, CHARLSON

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 7/4/2013 at 13:19:52

Jens Jensen was born July ​20, 1814 at Strand, Rogal​and, Norway to Jens Je​nsen (born September 22, 1789 Strand, Rogaland, Norway, died January 17, 1862 Strand, Norway) and Berthe Larsda​tter (born October 5, 1793, died December 6, 1875 both at Strand, Norway). Jens' siblings I have found are:
Anders Jensen (born June 18, 1816 Strand, Norway, died in USA);
Siri Jensdatter (born May 7, 1821 Strand, Norway, died 1889); and
Astri Jensdatter (born October 5, 1825 Strand, Norway, died 1910 Idsal, Rogaland, Norway).

Jens was baptized on July 30, 1814 at Aasen, Strand, Rogaland, Norway. Found Jens birth/baptism records at the Norwegian Digital Archives on line for Strand, Rogaland, Norway 1769-1816, pg 280.

Jens married Berthe Marie Hendriksdatter (born February 2, 1810 Strand, Norway to Henrich Pedersen and Mallene Johannesdatter, died July 26, 1850 Wisconsin) on July 12, 1827 at Strand, Norway. Found in the Norwegian Digital Archives on-line wedding date at Strand in Strand, Rogaland, Norway, 1834-1854, pg 226 entry # 8. Jens Jensen Aaren age 22 & Berthe Hendricksdatter Helland 28 yrs.

They had 4 children all born at Strand:
Berthe Jensdatter (born April 19, 1838, married Ole Helgesen Johnson April 23, 1859 Mitchell, Iowa, died March 7, 1925 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa);

Jens (born January 25, 1841, died 1850 Wisconsin);

Lars (Lewis) born March 16, 1843, died February 4, 1869 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa) and

Peder (born November 17, 1845, died unknown).

Jens, Berthe and children left Norway to emigrate to Wisconsin. Found in the Norwegian Digital Archives on-line emigration record for April 12, 1850 for Jens Jensen Helland age 36 years old; Berthe Hendricksdatter age 40; Birthe Jensdatter b 4/19/1838; Jens Jensen b 1/25/1841; Lars Jensen b March 16, 1843; Peder Jensen b Nov 17, 1845.

Berthe di​ed the same year (1850) in Wisconsin. Jens and his children moved to LaSalle County, Illi​nois.

Jens met and married Mari Ols​datter on December 9, 1851 at Lel​and, LaSalle, Illinois. (Mari born July 29, 1829 Norway, died June 9, 1895 Lake Mills, Winnebago, Iowa).

The couple had 5 children while living in Illinois:
Martin James (born July 14, 1852 Leland, La Salle, Illinois, died September 27, 1930);

Ole Berner (born May 15, 1843 Leland, Illinois, died April 5, 1909 Winnebago, Iowa);

Lars (born October 28, 1855, died October 29, 1855 both at LaSalle, Illinois);

Peter Jens (born February 27, 1857 LaSalle, Illinois, died May 30, 1939 Lake Mills, Winnebago, Iowa);

Bertha Marie (born April 9, 1859 LaSalle, Illinois, married Christian N Charlson abt 1877 Winnebago, Iowa, died May 11, 1925 Winnebago, Iowa).

Jens decided to move the family west to buy farmland in Mitchell County, Iowa. He went in 1858 to find the land.

Excerpt from "The Story of Mitchell County - 1851-1973", written by the Mitchell Co. Historical Society:
Jens Jensen was a Norwegian immigrant who had traveled to Mitchell County from Illinois (leaving his family in Illinois) to look over the land as a possible new home. Jens liked what he saw and returned to Illinois to gather up his family, planning to permanently move to Mitchell county the spring of 1858. At that time, the nearest market for the Mitchell County pioneers was at McGregor, one hundred miles away, with the only means of travel, a team of oxen and a lumber wagon.

Jens made arrangements with his newly found friend, Ole H. Johnson (son of Helge Johnson) to meet up with Ole in McGregor the following spring of 1859 (when Ole would be making a trip to McGregor) and get assistance in moving his family west to Rock Creek, Iowa. Due to heavy rains and high water, Ole was detained by unpassable trails and did not arrive at McGregor at the appointed time. Jens became uneasy and made the decision to start west with his wife on foot, leaving behind their children Berthe, a small baby and others with relatives in McGregor. Jens and his wife took a different trail west than Ole was taking east and they did not meet up with each other. Jens and his wife camped and walked until they finally reached their destination.

Meanwhile, Ole picked up Jens' children and brought them to Rock Creek or Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa. Later that same year Berthe, Jens' daughter, became the wife of Ole H. Johnson.

Jens and Mari settled at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa and had 5 more children:
Jens Jensen (born March 21, 1861, died April 12, 1861 both at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa);

Jens Bertinius (born March 2, 1862, died unknown);

Rachel Eliana (born March 2, 1864, married Nels E Charlson 1882 Winnebago, Iowa, died February 16, 1915 Winnebago, Iowa);

Jens Adolph (born August 17, 1867 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, died January 17, 1868 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa and

Lewis Adolph (born May 21, 1869 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, died Unknown).

Found in the 1860, 1870 censuses living at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa:
1860: Gens Genson 45, Mary Genson 30, Lewis Genson 16, James Genson 7, Ole Genson 6, Peter Genson 3, Mary Genson 1, Martha Johnson 80.

1870: Jen Jenson 40, Mary Jenson 32, Martin Jenson 18, Peter Jenson 13, Betsey Jenson 11, Benton Jenson 8, Rachel Jenson 6, Lewis Jenson 1.

Family moved to Winnebago County, Iowa. 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.

1885: Jens Jenson age 70. Township Number:99; Range: 23; Section:18; Location:N 1/2 SE.

1895: Jens Jenson 80, Mary Jenson 65.

1900: living w/ daughter Bertha Charlson and her family. Widower: Christian Charlson 44, Bertha M Charlson 40, Marten E Charlson 16, Christian Charlson 15, Ella Charlson 12, Samuel C Charlson 9, Ole H L Charlson 6, Clara M Charlson 3, Richard A Charlson 1, Jens Jenson 83.

Jens was a farme​r.

Jens Jensen died February 25, 1906 at L​ake Mills, Winnebago, ​Iowa and is buried at the Salem Lu​theran Church Cemetery, Winnebago, Iowa.

Find A Grave Memorial# 83855625.