PETER M. JESSEN.
Specific mention is made in this volume of many of the worthy citizens of Audubon county, citizens who have figured in its growth and development and whose interests have been identical with its every phase of progress. Each has contributed in his place to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is Peter M. Jessen, a successful and well-known farmer of Hamlin township. Peculiar interest attaches to Mr. Jessen's career from the fact that he is one of those men born in a foreign land who has carved out his success in a new and strange country, where, for a time, language, manners and customs were entirely different.
Peter M. Jessen was born on January 6, 1870, in North Schleswig, Germany, the son of Peter A. and Marn (Juhler) Jessen, who also were natives of the same country while it was a province of Denmark. The elder Jessen was a farmer by occupation, but also worked at carpentering and masonry work. Peter A. Jessen and wife were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, Jens C., Peter M., Martin A., Chris A., Marie Stone, Mrs. Christena M. Peterson, Mrs. Ottolena Petersen, Andrew and Nes, all of whom are living in Audubon county, having come from their native land. The family came to the United States at different times, Martin and Jens coming here first in the fall of 1888. In the spring of 1889 Peter M. came to this country and the rest of the family came later, the parents coming last in 1893.
Peter M. Jessen, after arriving in this country, came directly to Marn[e], Cass county, Iowa, where his two brothers were located. He obtained work on a farm and has followed agriculture ever since. He worked out by the month for three years and then rented a farm in partnership with his brother, Martin, although he had purchased his present farm previous to this. He rented land for three years and then purchased an old house of four small rooms and moved it to his farm. He built some straw sheds and then moved to his own land. He lived in this house for nine years, when he built his present eight-room home. He had erected barns, cribs, hog houses and a windmill before that. The land was new prairie and nearly all of it had to be broken for the first, time. This land cost him twenty-two dollars and a half per acre, but is now worth many times that amount.
In December, 1891, Marn Smith, who became the wife of the subject, came to the United States, locating first in Chicago, where her parents already lived. She was born on March 9, 1873, in North Schleswig, Germany, near where Peter M. Jessen was born, and was a daughter of Hans and Hannah (Brandt) Smith, who also were natives of Schleswig, where Hans Smith was a general laborer. Hans Smith and wife were the parents of four children, Mrs. Elsie M. Paulsen, Mrs. Rosie Petersen, Arthur H., and Marn, the wife of Mr. Jessen. In April, 1892, Marn Smith came to Audubon, where she was married to Mr. Jessen on July 12th of that year.
Peter M. Jessen and wife are the parents of eight children: Marne Hansina, born May 12, 1893, married Peter Hundebl, and they are now living in Allerup Tjarefborg, Denmark, and have one child, Kattie; Walter P., born on May 27, 1895; Hannah, born on November 17, 1897; Thomas P., born on August 31, 1901; Marlow H., born on July 4, 1904; Rosie, born on June 6, 1907; Lillie, born on March 27, 1909; Ethel, born on June 16, 1912.
Mr. Jessen does general farming and stock raising. He is a stockholder in the West Hamlin Creamery Company, and has been on the board of directors for a number of years, being now president of the board.
The Jessen family are earnest and devout members of the Danish Lutheran church, and Mr. Jessen was one of the organizers of the St. John's Lutheran church in Oakfield township. Politically, Mr. Jessen is an adherent of the Democratic party, but, with the exception of serving on the board of school directors, he has not held public office, nor has he been especially active in political affairs. Mr. Jessen is one of the well-known citizens of Hamlin township, progressive in his methods and broad-minded in his viewpoint. He is admired and respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.
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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. 711-712.
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