JENS PETER HYEN.
The occupation of farming, to which the major part of the active life of Jens Peter Hyen has been devoted, is the oldest pursuit for a livelihood known to mankind, and the one in which he will ever be most independent. Mr. Hyen has been connected with the general growth of Audubon county for many years, although he is a native of the little kingdom of Denmark. He is a well-known and popular citizen of Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa. While primarily attending to his agricultural interests, his life has been somewhat devoted to his fellow men, and he has been untiring in his efforts to inspire a proper respect for law and order. He has been ready at all times to uplift humanity along civic and social lines.
Jens Peter Hyen, whose name in his native country was Jens P. Peterson, was born September 18, 1871, in the part of Denmark known as Vensysel, Jylland. He is a son of Peter and Mary Ann (Nelsen) Paulsen, who were born at the same place where Jens Peter, their son, was born. The father was a laborer and he and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom Jens Peter was the fifth.
Jens Peter Hyen received a good education, attending school during the week days in the winter and during the summer he herded cattle. He took up farm work later in life and was able to finish his education. He followed farming until he came to America, with the exception of one year which he was compelled to spend in the army. In 1903 Jens Peter Hyen came to the United States, bringing his family with him. He landed at Quebec, Canada, first, and came from Quebec to Audubon county, Iowa. He first worked by the month from June 20, 1903, when he arrived in Audubon county, to October of that year. After this he purchased a milk route and hauled milk to a creamery for two and one-half years. In the meantime he purchased some calves and pigs and rented a small farm. He received his first two pigs for two days work in helping a man put up hay. The pigs were small and sickly and he thought they would die. That winter Mr. Hyen killed one for his meat and the other one he kept for a brood sow, and in the next spring he had eight pigs from this sow. Mr. Hyen rented land only two years and then purchased a hundred and twenty acres of land in 1908. This land was located in Hamlin township, and he was compelled to pay a hundred dollars down as a first payment. One year later he bought forty acres more, and now has a hundred and sixty acres. When Mr. Hyen left Denmark he had only a hundred dollars in money. He has lived here for twelve years and done more in that period than most men do in forty years.
On November 8, 1898, Mr. Hyen was married in Denmark to Anna Kattrina Madsen. who was born on September 13, 1879, in Himmerland, Denmark. She is the daughter of Ole and Susanna Mary (Fredricksen) Madsen, who were also born in the same place as their daughter, whose father was a farmer and shoemaker by trade.
Mr. and Mrs. Jens Peter Hyen are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living. Four of the children were born in Denmark. They are as follow: Magner, born on October 20, 1899; Olga, September 27, 1901; Mary, September 26, 1902; Pauline, December 25, 1903, died in infancy; Elmer, May 4, 1905; Violet, April 12, 1907; Ester, June 12, 1909; Nels P., October 4, 1912; Mamie, February 4, 1915. All of the children live at home with their parents.
Mr. Hyen assisted in the organization of the Farmers Savings Bank at Hamlin and is one of the stockholders of this bank. He is also a stockholder in the West Hamlin Creamery Company. Mr. Hyen does general farming and stock raising. He owns a gas engine with which he shells his corn, saws wood, grinds feed, etc. He also has an interest in the Elkhorn Telephone Company.
Mr. Hyne is a Democrat, though he has never been active in political affairs and has never held office. The family are all members of the Danish Lutheran church.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 414-416.
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