Compiled by his granddaughter Norma Jensen Kowallis (1958)
James Jensen, the son of Peter C. Jensen and Annie Hansen, was born at Hyorslow, Denmark, June 10, 1853. There were but two children in the family, himself and a sister who died as a baby. They lived inland. Their house was made of clay or adobe brick. His father was a brick maker and James helped him in the business as he grew older. His mother was a weaver. James’s given name was Jens Peterson. When they arrived in America, they changed his name to James Jensen so that he would have the same family name as his father.
He and his parents became converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like many other converts, they had the desire to go to Zion. In company with his parents, he started on the long journey to America and Zion.
James was eight years old when they left Denmark. On the voyage over he celebrated his ninth birthday. They sailed from Alborg, Denmark to Hamberg, Germany. On Tuesday the fifteenth day of April, 1862, in company with 410 other Scandinavian Saints, the boy James, His father and mother, set sail for New York, on the sailing vessel Franklin. Christian A. Madsen was in charge of this group of Latter Day Saints converts. After leaving Hamberg they sailed through the English Channel. To a young boy, it was a wonderful sight to see England on one side and France on the other. During the voyage, the waters were very rough. The ship was tossed around on the Atlantic for six weeks and two days. Some days they would go back five miles and the next only make one mile ahead. These faithful Saints endured much hardship and sickness during that voyage. An epidemic of measles broke out on board ship. Fifty of the children died, and were buried at sea. They would sew a sheet around the dead, fill it with a weight and lower the body into the ocean.
During this epidemic a selection was made of the three most capable women to cook for the sick. Of these three, James’ mother was placed in charge. She saw to it that James received the same good food and care that the sick received. He remained well throughout the entire journey.
On May 29th, these Scandinavian Saints sailed into New York Harbor. For the first time they looked on their new homeland – America! Their promised land! Tired and discouraged but with faith in their hearts, they took their belongings and stepped onto American soil. The new land seemed to give them new courage. Buried in the sea, lay some of their most precious treasures, but the Gospel they had embraced, gave them hope for a bright and wonderful future. They bowed their heads in silent thanks and prayed for strength to continue their journey. With the beacon of Zion beckoning them, they turned to the West. They stayed at Castle Garden a few days then took the train to St. Louis, Missouri.
At this time the civil war was in full swing. It was necessary to stop the train many times because they were afraid the track might be torn up. After checking the track, they would continue their journey. At St. Louis they changed from train to boat and sailed up the Mississippi River to Florence, Nebraska. They arrived there on June 9th, 1862. They stayed here for about five weeks while they gathered up the supplies necessary for the journey to Salt Lake city. The supplies were all paid for before they left Denmark. The outfit consisted of a new Shutter Wagon, two yolk of oxen, two cows, a small stove, a sack of sugar, a sack of bacon, flour and other edibles. They organized the first independently owned and outfitted company to cross the plains. Brother Madsen was still in command of this company. Most of the time the company of Ola M. Liljenquist, whose company left Hamberg a week later than the Madsen group, traveled with them. On July 14, five hundred immigrants with eighty wagons began the long trek across the plain. It was a long hard trip and at times it seemed as if the journey would never end. However, there were many happy experiences, and for a boy of nine, it was a magnificent adventure. He was seeing an entirely new world. There were buffaloes, Indians, and every day was filled with new adventure.
They arrived in Salt Lake City, Tuesday September 23, 1862. James and his parents didn’t stay here long, but moved south to Pleasant Grove and then to Mt. Pleasant. James’ mother had ready-made cloth of her own weaving, which she used to buy a four-room house, with a two-acre lot and also thirty acres of farmland. As soon as they were settled, his mother set up three looms to weave cloth. She hired two girls to operate two of them and she handled the other one by herself. This mother was not only industrious, she was kind. She became acquainted with four needy families. She bought ten acres of land near Mt. Pleasant and divided it equally among these families so that they might have a home. In 1864 this stalwart in the Jensen family passed away. This was indeed a hard blow for a boy of eleven, who needed his mother’s help and guidance so much.
Sometime later James’ father married a woman by the name of Kirstina. James and his father moved to Fort Ephriam where she lived. They bought a nice white rock, four-room house across from the Latter Day Saint Church. They lived here for over a year.
At this period, there were many malicious lies being circulated about the Mormons. There were quite a few Josephites living in Ephraim and they had complained that the Mormons were misusing them. With so many crimes already laid to their credit, the government was only too willing to put their restraining hand on this wayward child – the Mormons. In spite of the protection, the Josephites decided to move on to Goshen where they prepared to return to Omaha, Nebraska.
James’ father, who was not in accord with the church, had been disfellowshipped. As a result, he took James and followed the Josephites. However, they did not join the Josephite faith. His new wife Kirstina stayed and kept the house and five acres of land. James and his father turned their backs on Zion and headed East to Omaha with the Josephites. This company consisted of forty-four wagons and their supplies. On the journey, James rode a pony. It was his responsibility to drive the cows. He received about fifty dollars for the work he did on the trip. The work wasn’t always unpleasant because he usually had two or three girls helping him with the work.
Omaha was a town of about twenty-five adobe huts and business shacks. Here the boy James, as a means of earning his living, peddled apples from a basket carried on his arm. They only stayed here a month or two and then crossed over to Christian City, Iowa, then back to Omaha. From Omaha they moved to Fremont, Nebraska. Here James attended school for about four months. Although this was the only formal schooling he had, he continued to educate himself. He could read well, was quick with numbers and kept well posted on the happenings of the day. They remained in Fremont about a year when they decided to return to Omaha. Here they stayed nearly another year, making more bricks. On April 4, 1868, Peter C. Jensen took out his citizenship papers. About this time James heard a missionary who was a native of Denmark give a talk. This talk so impressed him that he told his father he was going back to Utah. His father said that if James was determined to go, he would go with him.
They took a train to Fort Benton, Wyoming, which was as far as the railroad went at that time. Here, there was a company composed of mostly Danish people preparing to go to Utah. The church had sent out teams and wagons from Salt Lake City to furnish them transportation. Brother Larson was in charge. Peter Jensen told Brother Larson that he had decided to follow his son because James had always been a good boy and had followed him wherever he went.
Brother Larson put James in charge of one of the wagons. On this wagon were two girls whose families lived in Omaha. One was Swedish and one Danish, but they both talked Swedish. From Fort Benton to Salt Lake City, James was kept very busy. He was the only one who could interpret the Danish Language.
Before James and his father arrived in Salt Lake City, Brigham Young had taken a contract to lay 90 miles of the railroad from the head of Echo Canyon to Promotory. “The sturdy Utah men and boys flocked with pick and spade and wheel-barrow and cart to open grade from the Wasatch to the Promised Land.” Thus was the event recorded in history. The work was well on its way when James and his father arrived. They needed work, so the railroad was indeed a welcome opportunity for them. They headed straight for Weber Canyon.
They worked under a sub-contractor by the name of Shurtliff. James, who was fifteen now, started out carrying water but he also helped lay the ties and hauled dirt in the wheelbarrow. He said it was surprising how fast these willing workers could build that grade, with only wheelbarrows and pick and shovel to work with.
Soon a new song was being sung by the workman along the route:
At the head of great Echo, the railway’s begun,
The Mormons are cutting and grading like fun;
They say they’ll stick to it until its complete –
When friends and relations their longing to meet.
Hurrah! Hurrah! The railroad’s begun
Three cheers for our contractor;
His name’s Brigham Young.
Hurrah! Hurrah! We’re honest and true
And if we stick to it, it’s bound to go through.
Now there’s Mr. Rheed he’s a gentleman too . . .
He knows very well what the Mormons can do.
He knows they will earn every cent of their pay.
And are just the right boys to construct a railway.”
James joined the singing. In later years as a grandfather, his grandchildren loved to sit on his knee while he sang this song of the railroad. He would beat out the rhythm with his feet.
The railroad was nearly completed by Christmas and most of the workers were no longer needed. James and his father moved to Five Points and went to work on the Central Pacific. They were working here on May 10, 1869 when the railroad was completed and the Golden Spike was driven at Promotory. It was a happy day for Utah, as well as the nation. Throughout Utah, the citizens expressed their joy in a great celebration.
With the railroad completed, James found it hard to find work. However, he was so desirous of getting ahead that he would come to the flour mill every day to see if they would give him a job. When they said “no”, he would stay and help without pay. One day his opportunity came. One of the employees took sick and they needed someone to help in his place. James was right there working and knew the job better than anyone else, so naturally he was hired. He kept on working there and proved to be such an energetic, capable worker that he was made night supervisor. One night as he was making the rounds of checking the machinery, there was suddenly a terrific dust explosion. James was thrown to the floor. They found him lying there cut badly, but not fatally. He soon recovered. He worked at the mill at night, and during the day made bricks at the brickyards, which was located west of the Mount Fort School on a hill.
At this time, Karen Sophia Hansen, a young Danish girl, known as Sophia by her friends, came to Ogden to locate her sister and mother. Her mother was working for Peter C. Jensen, James’ father. During her visit, she and James grew very fond of each other. They were married on the 4th of July 1870, and went to live in Five Points, just north of Ogden.
James and his father were taking care of the brickyards. They lived right at the yards. The new bride, James, his father, and Sophia’s sister slept right out under the sky. Sophia’s mother slept in the shack they used for cooking.
They felt they could do better so they moved to Pleasant Grove. Living conditions here were not much improved. They lived in a dugout. It was just a room dug into the side of the hill with a covering over the opening. James and his father continued to make bricks here. Their first child, Annie, was born in this dugout on April 6, 1871. It was a cold and damp place to care for the tiny new baby. They moved from here to Alpine City where another baby, James was born.
After his birth, they moved back to Five Points. James’ father Peter C. died here on March 6, 1874. From the Five Points area they moved to Harrisville where Julia and Eva were born. They then lived in Farr West for a short time. They moved again and this time it was to Pleasant View, a lovely little town at the base of beautiful Ben Lomond Peak. They lived in a brick house on the Willar Cragun property. It was situated almost south of where Bernard Cragun now lives. Eph L. and Sue M. were born here.
In about 1877, James started selling dry goods and merchandise. He had a store wagon in which he carried all kinds of notions, cloth and groceries. This wagon was pulled by a span of mules. He made trips to Salina, Pleasant Grove and other towns along the way. He also sold locally in North Ogden and Pleasant View. He would trade groceries and notions for eggs and grain. The eggs were then packed in oats or other grain to keep them from breaking.
When he reached Ogden, he would trade the eggs and grain to D.H. Perry and Scowcroft’s for merchandise. With his wagon loaded with supplies he was ready for another trip. This wagon was not his only means of support, he also had his home supplied with merchandise. Sophia took care of the home store while James was out with the store wagon.
One day Sophia’s nephew Peter Christofferson, who had been working for the railroad, approached their house. He wouldn’t come close to the house until James had brought him a full change of clothing. Smallpox had broke out among the men on the railroad and as a result, the work had all shut down. In order to protect the family, in case he was carrying any germs, he buried his clothes and put on the ones James had brought him. Peter continued to stay with the Jensen family for some time. He had a big greyhound dog named Brave. This dog was loved by the whole family. It liked to go hunting and if Peter wasn’t around it just hunted by itself. Often it would bring a rabbit home. One day Peter prepared to go deer hunting. He talked James into going with him, so in case he should shoot a deer he would have someone to help carry it. They were just east of Edward Wades place, and above where the Highline Canal now runs. As they approached a hollow near here, a rabbit jumped out and ran down the hollow. Peter took aim and shot it. James ran down into the hollow to get the rabbit. As he went to pick up the rabbit a gun fired and Peter cried out “Jim, I’ve shot myself” James raced to Peter’s side and found Peter shot. He had been reloading his gun. As he sat it down on the rock, it slipped, shooting him through the lower abdomen. James wasted no time in going for help. He secured the help of Willard Cragun, who already had his team hitched to a Ludlow wagon. They drove up on the hill as far as they could and then went to get Peter. They carried him down to the wagon. Peter lived until they got to the house where Mary Barker now lives. They took him home where they found Peter’s dog who had already warned Sophia that something was wrong by scratching on the door. The Jensen home wasn’t large enough for viewing the body so they took it to the home of Simeon Cragun. It was just in the process of construction. Peter was placed in one of the two front rooms. The Jensen children were brought here to take a last look at their beloved cousin. James wanted the best for Peter so he didn’t use the Ludlow wagon as was usually used, but had a hurse come out from Ogden. Peter’s dog whined and cried for days. This faithful animal lived with them until he took sick and died. James loved dogs and usually had one or two following close at his heels.
Willard Cragun built a frame building on east corner of 1000 West and Pleasant View Drive. Willard owned the building, but James stocked it with merchandise. He and Sophia moved their family into the two rooms at the back part of this store, which they had finished as living quarters.
For awhile, Bishop Edward W. Wade went into partnership with James. He soon went to work for Utah Power and Light Company, so the partnership was dissolved. Bishop Wade said they had kept records so well that it only took twenty minutes to settle their accounts. At the Fourth of July celebrations, James was usually in charge of the refreshments stand. The stand would sometimes boast a sign “Ice Cold Lemonade, sold by Jensen and stirred up by Wade.” While living in the store, Henry their seventh child was born.
In connection with the store, a Post Office was established and with James as the first post master of Pleasant View. The Post Office was known as the “View Post Office”. William Wade was the first mail carrier. Julian Wade and Ephraim Jensen also served as mail carriers.
One day James and Willard Cragun went to Ogden with a load of grain. On the way home they were held up by two masked men. They thought James had the money, but when they couldn’t find it on him, they left. It so happened that Willard was carrying all the money. James and Willard were quite sure who the culprits were and so it wasn’t long until they were apprehended.
They did so well with the store that James was able to purchase fifteen acres of land on the North side of the highway and about a block from the store. This land was owned by the Brown brothers. They had received the land through a patent from the Government. James paid the Brown Brothers $800.00 for the fifteen acres of land. As soon as he had this land he started building a home for his family. They built a brick house with a cellar, a main room, and an attic. This house still stands just north of where his son, Joseph now lives. It was in this house that Joseph was born on August 27, 1888. It was indeed small quarters for such a large family. At night they had beds in the attic and on the floor of the main room. James was not one to put up with such conditions and almost as soon as they moved here, he started building a fine brick home just about 100 feet south of where they were living. Here Florence was born. She died in infancy.
Later, Vera, their last child, was also born here. They had just moved into the one section of the new house that was completed and the future seemed very bright. One night they awakened to find the store on fire. As they stood on the porch of the house the children could see the fire eat away their store. Someone had deliberately spilled a big can of oil all over the floor. The building went up in smoke so fast that there was no time to save anything. The loss in merchandise was estimated at between $1,800.00 and $2000.00.
With the store gone James turned all his energy to farming. He planted a large orchard and also several acres of garden. He and Wiley G. Cragun started shipping fruit by train. Soon Wilson decided to go in with Wiley, so James started shipping independently. He was very successful in this venture. He bought a good share of the fruit that was raised in Pleasant View and the surrounding towns. He shipped fruit until the trucks took over the hauling of fruit.
From a Pocket Magazine, published May 1897, giving a brief history of several Utah towns and some of their outstanding citizens, it had the following to say about James Jensen, “The pioneer fruit and produce shipper of Pleasant View has been thus engaged for 17 years, and the high quality of products he has invariably sent to the market of the nation and his inflexible integrity and liberality of dealing, have done no little to enhance the renown of Pleasant View as a great fruit center, and to entrench its business men in the confidence of the commercial world abroad.”
“His shipments reached eastward to Omaha and Chicago, to Idaho and Montana on the North, but the greater bulk finds an eager market in Colorado. Mr. Jensen works along conservative lines, his average daily shipments in season seldom exceeding 6,000 pounds. He is extensively engaged in market gardening, shipping to all neighboring states, peas, beans, lettuce, radishes, potatoes, and all the appetizing table vegetables are raise by himself, he having several acres in garden.
“In the history of the town, Mr. Jensen fills no inconspicuous place. He pioneered in merchandizing here, founding a store (1877) 9 years ago. He was the first postmaster and held the office for five years.” The magazine closes its account of James Jensen by stating that he is “the soul of honor to deal with, and as a public spirited and esteemed citizen, he is in Pleasant Views’ proud front ranks.”
For many years, James was the one who hauled the casket when there was a death in Pleasant View. His fine pair of iron grey horses wore black tassels on these special occasions. The casket was placed in his big Ludlow wagon. Seats were placed along the side for the pallbearers. The casket was raised, and a sheet put over the top. For the convenience of the bereaved, James would purchase the casket for them from Lindquists.
He served as one of the early school board trustees. At this time each town was a separate unit. Other trustees at that time were Thomas Budge and Herbert Rhees.
About 1916, James and his two sons Henry and Joseph, bought a ranch at Robertson, Wyoming, just 12 miles south of Ft. Bridger. Across the fence and to the south of the ranch was the remains of Ft. Supply. It was here that the supplies of Johnson’s Army were burned to detain them and if possible keep them from reaching Utah. At the time the Jensens took over the ranch, there were charred remnants of these supplies that were burned. The best preserved was the piles of charred grain. The ranch was a good investment, but they didn’t care for the hard winters of ranch life, so after a year they sold it.
One day James and his son Henry were taking a load of prunes to the Hot Springs Depot to ship. James’ daughter Eva and her baby were also to arrive on the train and they were going to take her home for a visit. James went into the station and came back with Eva and the baby. Eva and the baby were in the wagon and James was getting in. He pulled the reins off the brake but failed to notice that the bridle had slipped off the one horse. As he pulled up on the reins the one horse bolted, and they both shot out like bullets from a gun. James shot out in the other direction and landed about 25 feet from where the wagon had stood. As the team bolted, they sheared off a large typing post. Next, they crossed a stream of Hot Springs water, then on up over the railroad tracks. They made a circle and headed towards Willard. Henry saw the reins down on the wagon tongue, so he crawled down as far as he could and reached down on the wagon and grabbing the reins. They were now approaching the Livery Barns and he pulled on the reins. The horse with the bridle intact slipped on the wet grass and fell. The wagon kept going and went partly over the horse before it came to a halt. Men rushed up from the Hot Springs Hotel and from the Livery Station. They helped Eva and the baby out, they were badly frightened but unharmed. James even came limping up though his ankle was broken. This happened in October and he was still wearing crutches by Christmas. In spite of the broken ankle, he was still very fond of his horses and always took great pride in his team.
James sold his home and land on the east side of the road to his son Joseph in the spring of 1920. James and Sophia moved into a new home on the west side of the road. He and Joseph worked together on their farms.
James was always honest, his baskets had to be filled well. Those who worked as pickers knew that it was a must to fill the baskets from the top to the bottom with good fruit. He was known for his reliability and always paid his debts.
He loved to talk to people in the orchard. Many people returned again, year after year, not only because of the quality of the fruit, but because of the friendly reception James gave them. They were like part of his big family. He was interested in them and he had the gift of making them feel that they were very special to him.
In his early years, James was so rushed with making a living, that he took out very little time for recreation. As he grew older and the cares of making a living diminished, he began to find great enjoyment in the baseball games. He also liked to go to town and eat at a restaurant. The Old Palace Café was one of his favorites. He liked to sit in the back of Drivers Drug store by the big pot bellied stove and talk over every thing from farming to politics. Here at Drivers he would usually buy some horehound candy or big white mints. These sweets he freely handed to the children.
Not only did he give to the children, but whenever there was money needed for the Church he gave willingly and cheerfully. For a time he served as the head of the Ward Finance Committee, and he never failed to see that his ward teaching was done.
He took great pride in improving the community. He served as road supervisor for years. He also was one of the directors of the Cemetery Association. While he was director, they put in a reservoir. The lateral pipes were put between the graves. This made a big improvement in the appearance of the grounds.
James and Sophia never forgot their grandchildren at Christmas. They would shop for weeks. When Christmas arrived, James would come across the road, bend down low under the barbed wire fence, (we were always going to make a gate, but never did) then he would walk along a foot path through the alfalfa field and to the house. He looked like Santa for sure with his pack of toys. His grandchildren were just as glad to see him as if he were the ‘old man’ himself.
He still drank his tea and chewed tobacco until his son Henry was called on a mission. His son asked his father how he could preach the Word of Wisdom when his own father didn’t live it. James replied, “You go out and preach the Word of Wisdom and we will take care of our part here at home”. He quit his tobacco and his tea and never took it up again. The only tea he used was “Mormon” tea, which consisted of water with cream and sugar in it. After he quit his tea and tobacco, he and Sophia took their family to the temple, where they took out their endowments and had their children sealed to them.
James was never one to complain. If the weather was extremely hot or bitter cold, it was alright with him. If he didn’t feel as well as he might, no one ever knew about it. Until the last year or so of his life, he enjoyed extremely good health. Even then, with cancer gradually taking his life, he refused to give up. He insisted on being in the fields helping oversee the harvesting of the crops. He and his wife made a trip to California and stayed there for most of one winter, while an attempt was made to remove the cancer. The operation helped but very little. For a short while he felt better and they returned home. Even with the cancer growing increasingly worse, James continued to make his way laboriously under that barbed wire fence along the foot path to visit his son and family.
It wasn’t until the very last that he was confined to his bed. On April 23, 1934 he requested that his grand-daughter Audrey, play her guitar and sing for him, “That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine.” At 6:00 A.M., the next morning with his wife and other members of the family keeping watch, he passed quietly away. (April 24, 1934)
Here was a man who was not content to drift with the tide. He looked upward and over came many things that he might have a better life here and hereafter.