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Mosen |
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Tversted |
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Jeppe Larsen |
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Christen Jensen |
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Jens Laurits Jensen |
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Imigration 1880 |
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From Denmark to South Dakota |
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Christen Jensen Christen Jensen was born June 7, 1841 in Hoejstrup, Mellergaard, Torslev Parish, Denmark. Christen was the youngest of five children born to Jens Simonsen and Karen Marie Jensdatter. He grew up on the Mellergaard farm learning to til the soil and “occasionally attended school“. On November 19, 1861 he married Inger Larsen, who was born February 22, 1843 in Klattrup, Torslev Parish, Denmark to Lars Jensen and Johanne Marie Isaksdatter. Christen and Inger’s childhood homes were only about one mile from each other. Both were christened in Torslev church – Christen on August 1, 1841 and Inger on April 13, 1843 and it was in this same church that they were married. Following their marriage, Christen and Inger moved just 300 meters from Mellergaard to the farm, Mosen, where eight of their eleven children were born. Like their parents, the Jensen children born at Mosen were all christened in Torslev Church. Their first child, Lars Christen Jensen was born December 29, 1863, but he passed away June 8, 1864, just six days after Christen‘s mother, Karen, passed away. Then on November 8, 1865, son Jens Lauritz Jensen was born, followed by daughter Karen Marie Jensen on November 10, 1867, namesake of Christen‘s mother. On February 6, 1869 Christen purchased the Mosen farm and on November 22, 1869 he and Inger had their fourth child, Soren Christian Jensen, followed by son, Johannes Christian Jensen on November 23, 1871 and daughter Anne Sophie Jensen on February 25, 1875. According to family stories, Jens Simonsen’s farm reverted to Christen following his father’s passing on November 19, 1873. In 1877 Niels Peter Jensen was born on March 4th, but died at the age of four months on July 10th. The last to be born at Mosen was daughter, Ottilia A. Jensen, November 9, 1878. On April 8, 1880 Christen completed a contract registering himself, his wife and his six surviving children for emigration from Denmark to Albert Lea, Minnesota, USA. April 15, 1880 Christen sold the Mosen farm for 10.000 Danish Kroner (about $1.770 US) and on April 29, 1880 arrived at the Port of New York, USA aboard the SS Allemannia, from Hamburg, Germany. It’s still a mystery how or if the Jensen family actually made their way from New York to Albert Lea, Minnesota, but in 1880 their immigration journey was complete when they settled in Lake Preston, “Dakota Territory” and Christen staked his Homestead Claim on Section 26 of Township 110 north and Range 54 west in Spring Lake Township, Kingsbury County where he resumed his occupation of farmer and stock raiser. In addition to this land, he secured a timber claim southwest of the Whitewood Church and later purchased three quarters more until he eventually had 640 acres improved and under plow until his farm and it was said to be one of the finest farms in the township. July 17, 1881, son Olaf Anton Jensen, or “Tony” as he came to be known, was born an American citizen in Spring Lake Township, Kingsbury County. In 1881 tragedy struck the Jensens when daughters Anna Sophie and Ottilia A. contracted diphtheria during a big storm. With no doctors in the area, son Jens Lauritz, took a horse and snowshoes and made his way across Lake Whitewood to Lake Preston, where he changed horses and went on to DeSmet. There was a farmer who studied medicine and went out to help people in need. Unfortunately by the time Jens returned with help, both girls were dead. Because the weather was so bad, they were buried on the Christen Jensen farm. When the farm was sold to son John, the bodies were moved to the Lake Whitewood Cemetery where they are laid in unmarked graves next to their parents. Named for the girls lost to diptheria, daughter, Anna O. Jensen, was born on June 2, 1883. Son, Lewis E. Jensen, followed on May 17, 1886. Christian Jensen was a staunch Republican and an active member of Whitewood Lutheran Church where he served as Treasurer. In 1916, he and Inger left the farm and bought a home in the town of Lake Preston, 1 1/2 blocks north of the school house from the northeast corner. Daughter Anna O. and her husband Lewis Ledahl moved into the house just north of them. In 1929 the couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary with a large gathering of family and friends. Christ was 89 and Inga was 87. At that time they were the parents of 11 children, six of whom were living, and had 28 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. In July 6, 1931 Christian died at the age of 90 from an infected rupture of a double hernia. He wore a truss for many years and in those days operations were unheard of. One day the rupture came out and could not be repaired. Infection set in and he passed away. In 1934 Inger suffered a broken hip that couldn't be set. She laid in sand bags for a long time. Daughter Anna O. and daughter-in-law, Mary, cared for her, but finally worn out, infection set in and she died November 1, 1934 at the age of 91. |
