George L. Jorgensen, the owner of a farm containing one hundred and sixty acres, in Sharon township, Audubon county, Iowa, and one of the well-known citizens of this township, was born on July 6, 1861, in Denmark. He is the son of Christian L. and Anna (Albertson) Jorgensen, and is a brother of Albert H. Jorgensen, whose life history is recorded elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Jorgensen's parents were both natives of Denmark; his father, a sailor by occupation, followed this occupation all of his life not only in his native land, but in America. In 1872 he came to this country and after locating in Chicago, sailed on Lake Michigan for three years, at the end of which time he returned to Denmark to his family and lived there the remainder of his life, passing away in 1913. He was a veteran of the Danish-Prussian War of 1848 and the father of the following children: George L., Carrie, Albert H., Sophia and Anna. Johanna is deceased.

George L. Jorgensen received his education in the Danish schools and after leaving school, worked in the neighborhood as a farm hand until he came to America in 1879; at this time he was only eighteen years old. Nevertheless, he came determined to succeed in the new country and brought with him a strong heart and a sound body, which have served him well in the quest of fortune.

After locating in Shelby county, Iowa, on coming to America, he worked here as a farm hand for three years and then moved to Cass county, Iowa, where he worked for one year. In 1883, when he was twenty-two years old, he located in Sharon township, Audubon county, Iowa, and purchased the farm upon which he is now living. Having in the meantime been able to save considerable money from his earnings as a farm hand, Mr. Jorgensen first purchased eighty acres of land, for which he paid twelve dollars an acre. He found it necessary to break the sod, as the land consisted largely of raw prairie, and he built a two-roomed house, fourteen by twenty-two feet and about eight feet high. Since 1883 he has invested approximately five thousand dollars in various kinds of improvements. He raises sixty acres of corn each year, which averages not less than fifty bushels to the acre. Mr. Jorgensen feeds sixty head of hogs every year and a carload of cattle; he keeps only a very high grade of live stock and this has been the feature of his success of mixed farming. Mr. Jorgensen had only nine dollars in money when he arrived in America, and it must be admitted that he has achieved a remarkable success.

Three years after arriving in this country, or in 1882, Mr. Jorgensen was married to Sarah A. Stone, the daughter of Frank and Mary Stone. Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen have had eight children, four of whom, three daughters and a son, are now married. The children are, Anna, Frank, George, Nettie, Clara, Albert, Sarah and Carrie. Anna married Chris Jorgensen and has six children, Frank, Elmer, Ralph, Mignus, Thelma and Norma; Frank married Christena Hansen, and they have one child, Ramona; Nettie married Albert Petersen and has three children, Ralph, Esther and Clifford; Clara married Vigo Rasmussen and has four children, Irma, Donald, Victor and Lanor.

Mr. Jorgensen is prominent as a citizen of Sharon township, which is evident from the fact that he has held nearly all of the township offices. He has served as trustee, school director, road supervisor and township clerk. Politically, he is a progressive Republican and one of the ardent admirers of Senator Cummins in this section. The Jorgensen family are members of the Danish Lutheran church and Mr. Jorgensen has held practically all of the offices in the congregation.

No citizen of Sharon township is better known outside of the township perhaps than George L. Jorgensen, and no citizen of Sharon township is better liked by the people of his neighborhood who know him best. While he has been keenly interested in his progress as a farmer, he has not neglected the larger interests, and his support in behalf of worthy public movements can always be depended upon.