My Genealogy Hound

JENS IVERSON, one of the most enterprising and wealthy farmers of Cosmo township, Kearney county, was born February 16, 1854, in Schleswig Holstein, at one time a province of Denmark, but now belonging to Prussia. He was reared a farmer and followed that vocation in his native country until 1872, when he came to America, landing in New York, but immediately departing for Lee county, Ill., and passing a few days in Chicago, en route. He went to work as a farm hand, was married in Lee county, in 1874, and both he and his wife toiled on together until 1878, in October of which year they reached Nebraska. Mr. Iverson located his homestead on section 34, township 5, range 14, and at the same time took a timber claim on the southwest quarter of section 34, township 5, range 14. On his homestead claim Mr. Iverson built a sod house, broke twenty acres of land, dug a well and made other improvements, and, after a residence there of about two and one-half years, abandoned it and in 1880 settled on his timber claim. He has added two hundred and forty acres to the original plat and has two hundred and fifty acres under cultivation in mixed crops, has plenty of live stock, including graded Durham cattle; his granaries and barns are all commodious frame structures and supplied with every convenience, and groves of timber are pleasant features of his farm. Since residing here he has never met with a total failure in his crops, but in 1887 came pretty close to one, on account of dry weather and chinch bugs. Otherwise, he has been very successful and is now one of the wealthiest farmers of Cosmo township — all his wealth having been gained by his own industry and the aid of his most excellent wife. It will be remembered that when he was first married he lived on a small piece of rented land; in the cultivation of this, his wife assisted at the plow, and since coming here she has never tired of rendering her aid in any respect. He commenced his career in Nebraska with five dollars in his pocket, and owned, besides, an old team and two colts, but no cattle. Now he has an abundance of everything, and Mrs. Iverson has no longer to aid in the farm work; but the couple still cling to the old sod house as a residence.

The maiden name of Mrs. Iverson was Sophia C. Grisen, a native of Prussia, but she has borne her husband no children. In politics Mr. Iverson is a republican and has filled the offices of school treasurer and township treasurer. With his wife, he belongs to the Lutheran church.

Jacob Iverson, father of our subject, is a farmer and is still living in Prussia, at the age of seventy-six years. He married Cristine Damgaard, who bore him nine children — Jens, our subject, being the seventh. Jens Iverson has one sister in America, who is married to Fred Cristisson and resides in the neighborhood. Mrs. Iverson has one brother and two sisters in this country.