I am trying to find more information on several members from the same family, as I have reached a dead end. The relatives that I have some information regarding are Rasmus Jensen and his son Nels Peder Jensen and daughter Sofie (I believe she was born Ane Sophie Jensen, however) E (Jensen) McGunn.
Rasmus Jensen was born 4 or 5 Nov 1832 in Denmark (I believe Jyderup, Denmark); I believe that another member was able to locate the correct baptism record, which indicates the following: born 4 or 5 Nov 1832, baptized 16? Dec 1832, parents Jens Christiansen and Karen Frandsdatter of Jyderup. My relatives did not know his date of death but the best guess was around 1906 and that he was buried in Traill County in a cemetery outside of Blanchard. However, I believe this is possibly incorrect. His daughter Sofie (Jensen) McGunn is buried in Hunter Cemetery in Hunter, Cass, North Dakota, USA. There is a grave there with the date of birth of 4 Nov 1832 and date of death of 28 Jul 1901 for Rasmus Jensen. I believe that his wife was Maren Kirstine Jensen, per the marriage record as well as the supporting information on the baptism record for his son. Per this marriage record, he was 39 years old and Maren Kirstine Jensen was 30 years old – both of Jyderup; married 17 May 1871 in a church with Erik Jensen and Jens Nielsen of Jyderup.
He supposedly came over on a ship in steerage at the age of sixty-six (66) to Blanchard, Traill, North Dakota.
I was able to track down a passenger list that indicates the following:
Ship: Thingvalla
Cost: $10.00 (paid by N. Jensen)
Port of Departure: Copenhagen, Denmark
Departure Date: 3 May 1899
Port of Arrival: New York, New York, USA
Date of Arrival: 20 May 1899
Destination: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Whether going to join a relative, and if so, what relative, their name and address: ‘to my son N. P. Jensen Blanchard, ND’
Age: Sixty-six (66) and three (3) months
Last Residence: Holbæk, Denmark
Nationality: Danish
He states he has never been in prison, almshouse or supported by charity. States in good mental and physical health; not crippled or deformed. He states he can read but can’t write. Has never been to the US at that point. He is listed as single. His occupation states he is a laborer. I am positive this is my relative, as his son is Nels Peder Jensen (at that time) of Blanchard, Traill, North Dakota, USA.
Danish Emigration records indicate the following:
Name: Jensen, Rasmus
Occupation: Arbejder
Age: 66
Destination: NY.
Contract no.: 44000
Registration date: 5/3/1899
Birth place: ?
Birth place: ?
Last res. parish: Jernløse (Nr.- og Sr.-)
Last res. county: Holbæk
Last residence: S. Jernløse, Holbæk
Destination country: USA
Destination city: New York City
Destination state: New York State
Name of ship: Thingvalla
Remarks:
ANM:
IDcode: D9701J3011
His son Nels Peder Jensen (also spelled Nils or Niels sometimes) was born 28 Oct 1872 in Denmark (I believe Jyderup, Denmark) and died 13 May 1957 in Otter Tail, Minnesota. His baptism record states: born 28 Oct 1872, baptized 23 Mar 1873, parents Rasmus Jensen and Maren Kirstine Jensen of Jyderup. My family cannot confirm the name of his mother, and his death certificate only lists his father. He arrived in New York in approximately 1892. He travelled to Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA next, and supposedly arrived there with ten cents in his pocket. Not long after that, he went to Wisconsin, USA and worked in the woods. In about 1893 he resided East of Underwood, Otter Tail, Minnesota, USA with the Lars Olson family. He attended school in a little country school across the road from the family's house. He learned English and also how to read. He did not want his children to learn Danish, and thus it was rarely spoken at home.
By the 1900 census, Nels Peder Jensen is listed in Blanchard Township, Traill, North Dakota, USA as the head of the household. His occupation is listed as a farmer. His father is listed as Rasmus Jensen and his sister is listed as Sofa Jensen (correct name would be Sofie). Nels Peder Jensen lists his citizenship date as 1891 (in the US for nine years). Rasmus Jensen lists his citizenship date as 1899 (in the US for one year). Sofie Jensen lists her citizenship date as 1893 (in the US for seven years). Sofie and Nels are listed as speaking English, able to read and write. Rasmus is listed as not being able to speak English, but able to read and write. Nels is listed as owning his home with a mortgage; farm number 13. All are listed at dwelling number 18. I cannot read what was enumerated, but it states that Rasmus was born approximately in 1833 or 1832 and was 67 years old and single at the time of the census which was dated June of 1900.
According to what I know, Nels Peder arrived first. He ended up on the Bonanza farm of Clyde Preston. My grandmother and great grandmother both state that he sent for his sister and father to join him in the US. He met his wife on the same bonanza farm; his sister Sofie also met her husband on the same bonanza farm.
Clyde Preston is listed on the Bohnsack Township, Traill, North Dakota census of 1900 at dwelling 21 as the head of household of a farm that he owns without mortgage. James W. McGunn (the future husband of Sofie) is listed as a member of the household.
By the 1910 census, Nels Peder is listed in Otter Tail, Minnesota with his wife and children; no mention is made of Rasmus. He married Maren Christine (also known as Mary Christine) Carlson who worked on the same bonanza farm.
Sofie E. Jensen was born 19 Jun 1870 in Denmark and died in North Dakota, USA (I have her death certificate). She married James W. McGunn who worked on the same bonanza farm as her brother. It is important to note that although Rasmus raised Sofie and treated her as his daughter, she was not his biological daughter. She was the biological daughter of his wife (and the mother of Nels Peder) prior to their marriage; I do not have her name and no one in my family has her name. By the 1910 census in Blanchard, Traill, North Dakota, USA she is listed as the wife of James W. McGunn in dwelling number 27 with their children.
Sofie and Nels Peder were not the only children of Rasmus; he had at least two other daughters who remained in Denmark. An 1880 census indicates Rasmus and Maren Kjerstine with their children Ane Sophie (9), Niels Peder Jensen (7), Ane Marie Jensen (4), and Jensine Jensen (1)
Most of the information regarding Rasmus, his two other daughters, his parents, and his wife are just from that information. I would love to find more information about any of these people that would support their names, et cetera. I would be overjoyed if I could find any living relatives in Denmark as well.