JOHN NISSEN.
John Nissen, one of the more extensive farmers of this county, and the only member of the Nissen family who has come to Audubon county, was born on June 14, 1867, in Schleswig, Germany, the son of John and Lena (Jacobson) Nissen, both of whom were natives of Schleswig, Germany. John Nissen, Sr., a farmer in his native land, came to America in 1869, and located in Scott county, Iowa, where he rented a farm for eight years, and then removed to Shelby county, Iowa. There he purchased three hundred and twenty acres and increased his holdings eventually to five hundred and twenty acres. He was engaged in general farming and stock raising until his retirement a few years ago, when he removed to Harlan. He is a veteran of the Danish-German War of 1864, having served during the entire period of that memorable struggle. John, Sr., and Lena (Jacobson) Nissen had seven children, Chris, Charles, Peter, Hattie, Minnie, Christina and John, Jr. The mother of these children died on November 20, 1911.
John Nissen, who has made a very flattering success as a farmer, and who now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land in Oakfield township, eighty acres of land in Greeley township, and forty acres of land in Hamlin township, Audubon county, was educated in the public schools of Shelby county, Iowa, and after leaving school farmed with his father until he reached his majority, when he rented land and began farming for himself. After three years he purchased a hundred and twenty acres in Hamlin township, Audubon county, and here farmed for three years, when he sold out and purchased two hundred acres in Shelby county, and farmed there for five years. After selling the Shelby county farm, Mr. Nissen purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, Shelby county, and there was engaged as a farmer for seven years, when he sold out once more, and purchased four hundred and eighty-seven acres in Cass and Adair counties. There he was engaged in general farming for four years, and once more he sold out and purchased the farm in Audubon county, upon which he is now living. In this farm he has invested about ten thousand dollars for improvements of various kinds, such as ditches, drains and out buildings. Ordinarily Mr. Nissen raises fifty acres of corn, and feeds about one hundred head of hogs and seventy-head of cattle every year.
On December 2, 1896, John Nissen was married to Esther Mortensen, the daughter of Peter and Mary Mortensen. Three children, Peter, John and Warren, have been born to this marriage. All of them are living at home with their parents.
Esther Mortensen, although born in Shelby county, Iowa, is a daughter of native-born Danish parents, who came to America during the early seventies, and located in Shelby county, Iowa, being among the early settlers of that county. Her father purchased a farm, and here was occupied as a farmer until his death, March 25, 1903. His wife is living at Harlan, Iowa. Peter and Mary Mortensen were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Mary, John, Marten, Samuel, Fred, Louis, William and Mrs. Nissen.
The success of John Nissen as a farmer in this state is not a matter of accident, since he is possessed of indomitable energy and splendid business ability. He has always been a splendid judge of farm values, and out of the many trades, purchases and sales he has made he has been able to make very satisfactory profits. His reputation for honorable and square dealing in the various communities where he has lived has also been an important factor in his success.
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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. 752-753.
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