Uncle John

Johannes Fredrick 17 Nov 1888 - 26 May 1974

Uncle John came to America with his older brother Peter Gregor (see my previous post) in 1908.

In the 1910 census he is listed as living in Carlston, Freeborn County Minnesota as a hired man. He is 22 years old and single. In the same household is Elsie Jensen, 21, single, a servant. She also immigrated in 1908. (Due to their son's death record, I know that Elsie's maiden name was Jensen.)

In the 1920 census (and in 1930's census) it says that John came to America in 1908 and Elsie came in 1909.

In 1920 John and Elsie farmed in Carlston. They had four children at that point: Inger, 8, Holger, 6, Erling, 4 yrs 10 months, and Dagny, 2 yrs 8 months. Also living with the family was Hans P, 35 (who immigrated in 1907 - see previous post).

In 1930 they have one more child - Hartel, born about 1925 and Inger is not listed. In this census John is listed as John F Jenson (note spelling difference). In the 1930 census it says that they married at ages 22 and 23 respectively. So if the 1910 census record is correct about their marital status, they must have married some time in 1911. Their first child was born in about 1912.

John registered for the draft in June of 1917 when he was 28 years old. He gives his place of birth as Ryde, Denmark and says that he farms in Wells Minnesota.

Elsie Marie Jensen lived 28 Feb 1888 - 7 Oct 1964.

Uncle John died of colon cancer and also had hypertension and heart disease. He and Elsie are buried in the Carlston Cemetery (about 16 miles northwest of Albert Lea).