Jens Johannesen was born on August 28, 1851 on the Søndre Aalseth farm in Biridalen, Land Prestigjeld, Christians Amt (now called Oppland county), Norway. His parents were Johannes Jensen Aalsetheie and Agnete Hansdatter Tomtbakken.

Jens & Ingeborg Johnson wedding (1877)

Jens was baptized on August 31, 1851 at the Øvre kirke near his parent’s home. His witnesses at his baptism were Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Grøterud, Kirstine Aalsetheie, Hans Grøterud, and Christian Nielsen Lunden. He was also confirmed at this church.

Jens Johnson family (1901) Back row: Nettie (Mrs. Cornelius Shoger), Oscar, John, Agnes (Mrs. John Christianson) Front row: Jennie, Jens, Mathias, Alfred (front), Ingeborg, Matilda

Jens grew up on the Søndre Aalseth farm with his siblings – Kirstine, Helene, Ingeborg, Mathea, and Anton.

Jens immigrated to America in 1873 at the age of 22 and came first to Charles City, Iowa from which he walked to Osage, Iowa. He found work with some of the Norwegian farmers near the Rock Creek Lutheran church southwest of Osage. He Americanized his surname to Johanson, and later changed the spelling to Johnson. It is of interest to note that Jens’ brother, Anton, and his wife, Agnette Gulbrandsdatter, and two small children, immigrated to America in 1875 on the ship Albion which arrived in New York on April 18, 1875. On this same ship was Agnette’s sister, Ingeborg Gulbrandsdatter and brother, Ole Gulbrandsen.

Gulbrandsdatter sisters Agnette (Mrs. Anton Johnson), Johanna (Mrs. Mathias Nelson), Ingeborg (Mrs. Jens Johnson)

Jens was united in marriage to Ingeborg Gulbrandsdatter on December 31, 1877 in Osage, Iowa. They became the parents of eight children – John Gustave, Anne Agnethe (Mrs. John Christianson/Mrs. Herman Klemesrud), Nettie (Mrs. Cornelius Shoger), Anton Oscar, Jennie Antonette (Mrs. Martin Oursland), Mathias, Matilda Mary (Mrs. Julius Anderson), and Alfred Lawrence. The oldest son, John G., married Clara Shoger, daughter of Andrew and Betsy (Larson) Shoger.

Rock #4 (Mitchell county, Iowa) circa 1897-98 The Tubbs, Johnson and Jeffries families all lived on farms located 6 miles west of Osage.

Ingeborg Gulbrandsdatter was born on February 17, 1852 on the Ruud farm in Biridalen, Land Prestigjeld, Christians Amt (now called Oppland county), Norway. Her parents were Gulbrand Jensen Ruudsie and Anna Pedersdatter. Ingeborg was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church near her parent’s farm. She grew up on the Ruud farm with her siblings – Petra (Mrs. Ole Bakkum), Johanne (Mrs. Mathias Nelson), Agnette (Mrs. Anton Johnson), Anton

Mathias Johnson confirmation (1907)

and Ole. Ingeborg immigrated to America in 1875 on the ship called Albion which arrived at New York on April 18, 1875. Ingeborg’s sisters – Johanne and Agnette and her brother Ole immigrated to America and settled near Osage, Iowa. Ole returned to Norway after a couple of years. Some of Petra’s children immigrated to America and settled near Osage, Iowa.

Jens may have immigrated to America because of letters received from his

Anna Agnethe “Agnes” Johnson

mother’s sister, Martha – Mrs. Hovel Hovelson who immigrated with her husband and children in 1850 with Christian and Anne Shoger and children. The Hovelson family lived west of Osage, Iowa at the time Jens and his brother, Anton, immigrated to America.

Ingeborg came to the Osage, Iowa area with her sister, Agnette and her family and their brother, Ole. Ingeborg stayed in Osage for a short time where she worked as a domestic for various families.

Jens and Ingeborg began their married life together on a farm in Cedar

Agnes (Johnson) Christianson-Klemesrud and her two Christianson grandchildren

township, Mitchell county, Iowa. By 1880, Jens and his family had moved to a farm in Rock township, Mitchell county, Iowa. Jens worked for a large land owner by the name of William Weinberger whom liked Jens so much that he sold him 80 acres of his land so Jens could have a farm of his own. This farm was located on section 25, Rock township, six miles west and ½ mile south of Osage.

Nettie Johnson

Jens and Ingeborg always spoke Norwegian, but they could understand English. Jens chewed tobacco and always had tobacco in his beard. Ingeborg was a hard working woman and never let her daughters have much idle time. When her two sisters would come to visit for the day, they would sit at the kitchen table and talk and laugh a lot – reminiscing about their childhood in Norway. Jens and Ingeborg were devout members of Rock Creek Lutheran church.

Ingeborg passed away at her farm home on July 17, 1931 from hardening of the arteries, intestinal flu and infirmities of old age. Funeral services were held at the Shelledy funeral home and Rock Creek Lutheran church. She was buried at Rock Creek Lutheran cemetery.

Jens passed away at his farm home on January 7, 1937 after catching a cold around Christmas time. He had been feeling the effects of old age for a number of years.

Funeral services were held at Rock Creek Lutheran church. He was buried next to his wife at Rock Creek Lutheran church cemetery.

 

 

Additional Photographs

Nettie & Cornelius Shoger

Jennie Johnson Cedar Valley Seminary (1909)

 

Julius & Matilda (Johnson) Anderson 50th Wedding Anniversary

Matilda (Johnson) Anderson

 

Matilda Mary Johnson Confirmation (1910)

(l to r) Nettie (Johnson) Shoger, Agnes (Johnson) Klemesrud, Matilda (Johnson) Anderson, Marlys Shoger, and Lynn Shoger

 

Copyright 2009 Larry Shoger
Webization by K. Kittleson