Soren Jensen

Soren and AnneSine Jensen Family Back row, l-r: Mary, Esther, Myrtle, Albert, Sorena, Emma, Anna Front row, l-r: Henry, Nels, James H. Mother, Father, Peter, Edwin, Andrew

Soren Jensen was born August 3, 1842, at Vejle, Denmark and as an orphan boy emigrated to America in 1864. He worked in New York City and on a farm in Illinois, moving to Omaha in 1865 -- two years before Nebraska gained statehood. Anne Sine Petersen born January 12, 1848, emigrated with her parents, Jens and Ane Petersen from Aalborg, Denmark as members of a Mormon colonization group in 1860. They came west by covered wagon to St. Joseph, Missouri and then by steamboat to the Mormon Camp at Florence. Great Grandpa Petersen did not believe in polygamy so the family broke away from the Mormons and became missionaries of the reorganized group and Great Grandpa preached at old DeSoto. Soren Jensen and Anne Sine Petersen married August 27, 1866 in Omaha. In 1867 they homesteaded west of Blair in Lincoln township. They farmed this homestead until 1901, then moved to the home on the northeast corner of Twentieth and Nebraska Streets. Thirteen children were born into this family and all lived and reared their families in Washington County. Soren died June 23, 1917 and Anne Sine passed away December 3, 1931 and both were interred at Blair Cemetery. The thirteen children had seventy-three grandchildren and a count in 1980 showed one hundred seventy-six great grandchildren, over four hundred great, great grandchildren and well over one hundred great, great, great grandchildren. The majority of the descendants still live in Washington County, are active in farming, business, civic and governmental affairs. The Children and Grandchildren Anna Jensen married Jens Blaak Jensen, May 10, 1887. Children -- Sena Wulf, Soren C, Hanna, Chris E., Johannes Emil, William J., Eleanore Kastl Hart, Mable Schafer, Esther M. Schenck and Stella J. Hall. Emma Marie Jensen married Peter A. Svendgaard June 1, 1886. Children -- Sena Andersen, Soren, Alfred, Elizabeth Andersen, Nels, Andrew, Odessa Brown, Alvin, Goldie Follen and Pearl Stricklett. James H. Jensen married Hannah Mary Hansen, June 15, 1892. Children -- Elnora Jensen, Leona Jones, Elmer, Lillard, Edna Kruse, Verna Gutschow and Reginald. James Peter Jensen married Emma Miller February 12, 1895. Children -- Clarence Leslie, Clarence Bertel and Howard. Mary 10, 1902, married Ora Odessa Carter, children -- James Peter, Soren, John P., Edythe Larsen, Dorothy Ballere and Alfred C. Nels M. married Ann Truhlsen November 3, 1897. Children -- Myrtle Ross, Mildred Lommis, Harold, Alton, Marshall and Enid Wardell. Mary M. Jensen married John C. Reeh. Children -- Lyle R., Blanche M. Voss and Odella Diestel. Later married Charles Siekkotter, February 22, 1905. One child, Gladys Marie Wilkins. Andrew George Jensen married Anna Wulf March 14, 1900. Children -- Harland C. and Raymond M. Edward A. Jensen married Amy Charlotte Anderson April 20, 1904. Children -- Herbert Clarence, E. Merton, Cora Mae Jensen and Mary Ann Jensen. Esther Jensen married Edwin Gilbertson September 16, 1903. Children -- Lyle E., Kenneth B., Charlotte Wilson and Myrtle Kennell. Albert A. Jensen married Marie Voss June 3, 1908. Children -- Helen A. Ludwig, Leslie S., Laverne Marie Hancock, Mariam A. Dotson, Albert Gerald and Robert Wendell. Sorena Dosena Jensen married George Kuhr, Jr. June 16, 1909. Children -- J. Merton, Lelah and Georgia Mardell Ryan. Myrtle Mina Jensen married F. Larson March 25, 1914 to Henry Voss. Children -- Harry, Henrietta Lippincott, John Russell and Kenneth Merton.

Source: Washington County Nebraska History 1980, page 424. The Washington County Historical Association.Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, Texas, 1980.