HANS MORTENSEN.
Hans Mortensen has attained pronounced prestige in Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, by reason of natural and acquired ability and also because of his prominence in the commercial and financial life of this township. Mr. Mortensen takes a deep and abiding interest in everything which pertains to the material advancement of Hamlin township. Every enterprise intended to promote the advancement of Audubon county is certain to receive his hearty support. He is rated as one of the progressive citizens of the community in which he lives and the high respect in which he is held by all classes of people is a deserving compliment to an intelligent, broad-minded and most worthy man.
Hans Mortensen was born on May 13, 1877, in the province of Schleswig, Germany. He is the son of Nels and Carrie (Rattenborg) Mortensen, who were natives of Denmark and farmers. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Hans was the third. He received a good common-school education but, being the eldest son, he was, to his regret, compelled to quit school and go to work before he had proceeded far with his education.
When Hans Mortensen was three years of age, the family came to the United States, landing in New York City. After landing in this country, the family proceeded to Cass county, Iowa, locating near Atlantic, where they remained for nearly two years. Then they came to Audubon county and located near Gray. Later they moved to Sharon township and after that to Hamlin township, where the parents died.
Mr. Mortensen lived at home until he had reached his majority and then worked out by the month for one year. He was then married and rented land for three years, later purchasing one hundred and twenty acres in Sharon township. After five years, he sold this farm and purchased eighty acres in Hamlin township. He lived upon this farm for four years.
In 1910 Mr. Mortensen purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Hamlin township. This farm was without any material improvements at the time Mr. Mortensen acquired possession of it. Subsequently, he built a large ten-room house, with a bath, pantry, closets and all of the modern equipments for the up-to-date country house. It it a most modern home and has furnace, gaslights, waterworks, etc. Mr. Mortensen also built good barns, sheds, silos, etc. His silo holds one hundred and fifty tons of ensilage. The barn is a very large structure, fifty-two by sixty feet, and has a basement and a brick foundation.
On September 5, 1900, Mr. Mortensen was married to Elizabeth Juel, who was born on March 18, 1884, in Schleswig, Germany. She is the daughter of Nels and Mary (Carstensen) Juel, who came to the United States about 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Mortensen have one daughter, Valborg, who was born on October 26, 1904.
Mr. Mortensen has the most modern improvements on his farm that may be found in this section of the state of Iowa and he has a reputation of having the best set of buildings in Audubon county. The improvements cost approximately ten thousand dollars, outside of Mr. Mortensen's own work and other incidental expenses. He also has a splendid orchard. Mr. Mortensen helped to organize the Farmers Savings Bank and is a director of this bank at the present time. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Threshing Company.
Politically, Hans Mortensen is a Democrat. He is at present the trustee of Hamlin township and is filling this office with credit to himself and to the people who elected him. The Mortensen family are members of the Danish Lutheran church and are active in the support of this denomination.
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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. 732-733.
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