He was born in Pandrup in North Jutland (Nordjylland) in February 1880. He had 3 sisters and, at least for awhile, 3 brothers. The family lived in Klostergaard Hede.
Jens' parents were Jens Pedersen and Ane Catherine Jensen. Jens was from Pandrup, but Ane Catherine was from a neighboring county, Ålborg, from a parish called Biersted. The part that always interests me the most and causes me to ask the most questions is how did they meet? Did the families know one another, or did Jens and Ane just happen to bump into one another at a market and think, "Wow!" It always makes me wonder. I like to think that there were some boyish smiles and girlish giggles going on. :o)
In the first year of their marriage, Jens and Ane welcomed a baby girl into their home and named her Karen Elline. Three years later, they welcomed another girl, Inger Marie Petrea. I'm sure Jens was patiently expecting a boy a couple of years later. And he wasn't disappointed. Jens Erik was born in October 1878. A short two years later, Jens Peder was born, then just over a year, another boy was born whom they named Knud. (I guess two Jens in the family was enough!)
This part gets me asking too. If they had boys who were both named Jens, did they call them by their middle names Erik and Peder? It would make sense, but who knows for sure.
Sadly, the following spring, Jens and Ane lost two of their boys. Jens Erik and Knud died just over a month apart. The death records don't state a reason for the deaths, but it can only be surmised that some illness was making the rounds. It could be anything from a nasty round of the flu or something more sinister like smallpox. It's impossible to know for sure without some sort of documentation.
As a mom, I just can't imagine losing two children in that short a time, and at those ages! Jens Erik was only 3 1/2 and Knud had just celebrated his first birthday two months prior. I also wonder if any of the other children were also sick, but survived. There are so many questions that come up while doing this sort of research. I imagine Jens held onto his remaining son a little more tightly after losing the other two.
The following summer, they welcomed another baby girl whom they named Ane Christine (or Kristine). She became known to us as Stine, great-grandfather's sister who also emigrated to America. A healthy six years later, they had another boy whom they named Jens Eriksen. Sadly, again, less than a year later, they lost him on a cold February day in 1890. What a grief to overcome - losing three children in less than eight years!
After their children moved on, married, and raised families of there own...two of whom remained in Denmark, the other two making a new life for themselves in America, Jens and Ane Catherine must have settled into a little quieter life. Ane lived to be only 67 years old, which considering all that she had been through in her life, it's not overly surprising. However, Jens lived to the good age of 79. The first time I saw the following picture, I mentioned that it reminds me so much of Dad (he even owns a hat like in the picture!)...something in the mouth or the eyes. I like to think that Jens was a happy man, and that those good genes have been passed along to his descendants.
This research has been so much fun! And it's amazing how easy it really is to find information. All it takes is a good starter bit of info! :o)
Below is the chart showing Jens' and Ane's information, along with the information for their children. (Just a note - if the pictures or anything with writing is too small, just click on it to open it in a new window. It will be shown at original size and will be easier to read.) Next time, we'll take a look at Johanne's (Jens Peder's wife - my great-grandmother) family!
To be continued...
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