I definitely have a soft spot for items with a Denmark connection because of my own Danish roots. I have many Jensens in my family tree, but I don't believe that this photograph, marked "L.P. Jensen, RR3, Albert Lea, Minn." is tied to my family. Jensen in Denmark is like the Smith surname here in North America.
To narrow down the date of the photo, I researched "Jensen Bros." in Albert Lea. According to the Minnesota Historical Society's Directory of Minnesota Photographers website, they were in business in Albert Lea roughly from 1896 to 1912. However, their Alden, Minn. studio operated for a only a few short years between 1898 and 1900 so we can conclude that the photograph was taken during those years.
From my Danish research experience, I suspect that L.P. stands for "Lars Peder (Peter)." It could, of course, be any combination of names. A quick Ancestry.com 1900 census search, with Albert Lea, Freeborn, MN as the location, produced only two L.P. Jensens, one L.P and the other Lars Peter. I discovered in subsequent censuses that L.P. is also a Lars Peter Jensen.
Family #1: 1900 Federal Census, Albert Lea, Freeborn, Minnesota, ED #44:
L.P. Jensen, b. Oct 1849, Denmark, immig. 1882, married 1878, farmer, owns farm.
Christine P. Jensen, b. March 1849, Denmark, Mother of 7 children, 2 living.
Holger, b. Oct 1887, born Minnesota, at school
Family #2: 1900 Federal Census, Albert Lea, Freeborn, Minnesota, ED #41, West Clark Street:
Lars P. Jensen, b. Dec 1852, Denmark, immig. 1875, married 1890, butcher, rents house.
Emma Jensen, b. Apr 1866, Ohio, Mother of 2 children, 2 living.
Arthur Jensen, son, b. Aug 1885, Minn., deliveryman
Wallace Jensen, son, b. Apr 1891, Minn., at school
Stacia Jensen, dau, b. Sep 1896, Minn.
In the 1920 US Census, the Lars P. Jensen of family #1 is now a widower, and son Christian M. Jensen (mistakenly identified as "wife") is living with his father. Christian M. Jensen appears as Lars P. and Christine's son in the 1895 Minnesota State Census, and the 1910 US Federal Census, in Albert Lea.
It's difficult to say for certain if either family is a match, but I'm leaning towards Family #1 as a better possibility. The young man in the picture could be Holger. L.P. owns a farm, and the inscription on the back of the photograph indicated a rural route. However, the woman in the photograph doesn't seem old enough to be Christine, age 51.
What are your thoughts?
Update, June 4, 2012: This photograph is on its way to
Denmark to be reunited with family. It was confirmed that it
is a portrait of Lars Peter and Christine Petrea Jensen and with a son, probably Holger (See Family #1 above).
The family sent me a photo, taken quite a few years earlier, from the very same
studio. It's them all right!
Somewhere "out there" is a map showing ED# and RR# for Albert Lea. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestion, Iggy! I wonder where I might find such a map. I'll see if their local library might have something.
ReplyDeleteI googled some info trying to find information on my great grandfather and this popped up. The boy in the second photo is spitting image of my 14 yr old son Alexander all the way to the chin. Nobody in my family knows my great grandfather's name on my father's side as he died in a house fire in or roughly around 1911 in Albert Lea MN. My grandfather Christian M. Jensen was born in 1910 he was 6 months old when his father died and 3 siblings. His mothers name was Mary Myran. I am not sure if we are in any way related but I found this story and the timeline very interesting. Any other info you have may help piece together a long family puzzle. Both great grand parents are immigrants from Denmark. That is all I know. Thanks for listening. Jenifer Jensen
ReplyDeleteIf that is Holger then that is my grandfather. I don't have any younger pictures to be sure. Can you share the picture that was sent to you for verification? Your email ID bounced when trying to send you info.
ReplyDelete