Individual Details

Thea left the Eker clerical district in Busterud, Norway for America in the Spring of 1871. They listed their destination as Red Wing, Minn. In the 1880 Federal census Thea is living in Gilman, Pierce County, Wisconsin, with her mother Sophie, who is now a widow, and a sister, Mathilde A., age 8, born in Wisconsin.. Mathea "Thea" is age 12, born in Norway.

Thea and Hans Jenson were married in 1893. Hans's health failed and by 1905 she was supportiing the family by taking in washing to support the family of five. In 1910, she lists her occupation as "laundress at home". The children are now 18 (Markus), 14 (Henry) and 11 (Aagott).

In September., 1916, Aagotte, who was in high school, weote "Well, school starts Monday. I'm taking music lessons, crocheting lessons, will go to school and will also sew for the druggist's wife. I'll be very cultured in the end. Mother intends to have me be a somebody."

HSO, 17 Jan 1919, p1
Mrs. Thea C. Jenson and daughter, Aagotte, came to Hudson Wednesday where Mrs. Jenson stayed for a few days with her niece, Mrs. J. A. Stayberg and family while Miss Jenson left on Thursday for North Dakota where she will teach the coming year.

Thea's health begin to failed in 1919. Aagotte was home for Christmas when she wrote, "Tomorrow is the day. Mother takes her plaster off. She looks a lot better but it been working so hard on her she's had but little sleep. I'm sure she'll feel "almost" fine when her back it healed.

Thea was being treated by Dr. Till, the "plaster doctor." Till ddidn't have any kind of degree, college or medical, but people came far and wide to be treated by him. His treatment consisted of applyng a paste, consisting of kerosene and croton oil, to the patient's back, which he claimed would cure any ailment, from bunions to cancer. His theory was that illness is caused by poisons that seep into the body, and that the patient would be cured when the plaster drew those toxins out. The mixture was sponged on the back, which immediately began to boil and blister, supposedly lifting the toxins out of the patient’s body. A local clergyman recalled, "Till would feel the patient’s jugular vein and tell them what their trouble was. The sufferer’s back was laid bare. Till would take his sponge and smear his croton oil concoction from neck to base of spine. Cloutier in the meantime would sew in the person’s garments some cotton batting. This would soak up the running matter from the skin inflamed by Till’s powerful counter-irritant. In time the back would almost be like raw beef. The batting would remain two weeks and then a second treatment might be in store."

After Christmas Aagotte returned to Medina, North Dakota where she was teaching.

Thea was staying with the Hendrick Olsen family in Woodville when she wrote Karine on Wednesdy January 21st, 1920, asking her to "go out to Till and get me some medicine. I have the diary for two weeks now so bad that I am all played out. I can not hardly walk across the floor. I think he can give something to quiet my stomach. It was two weeks Tuesday since I was there. I send three dollars. Keep the change, and I will be glad if you do this for me. Bring the bottle out to Till."

HSO, 6 Feb 1920, p5
Sergeant Marcus Jenson of 10 Aero Squadron, Texas, arrived in Hudson on Tuesday, and his sister, Miss Aagotte Jenson of Medina, N.D., also arrived on Tuesday to stay with their aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Jenson, while in attendance on their mother, Mrs. Theo Jenson, who is seriously ill at St. John's hospital, St. Paul. Henry Jenson of Minneapolis was in Hudson Thursday last, after attending to affairs at their home in Spring Valley.

Spring Valley Sun, 12 Feb 1920, Local Items
Mrs. Thea Jenson, who was in a St. Paul hospital, died Monday from the effects of cancer. The funeral will be held from the Spring Valley Congreational church, Saturday at 2 o'clock, the Rev. J.M. Peterson officiating, and burial will be made in the Lutheran cemetey beside her husband. Her three children, Henry, Marcus and Miss Aagot, were with her when she died.

Spring Valey Sun, 19 Feb 1920
Mrs. Martha Jenson
Martha Peterson was born March 16, 1868, at Eker, Norway, and came to America in 1871.
She came first to Prescott, then to Gilman.
Sher married H.H. Jenson Oct. 1, 1893 at Hudson. To them were born three children--Marcus, Sergent Pilot in the Aero Squad, now stationed at Kelley Field, Texas; Henry, now in Minneapolis; Aagot, teaching at Medina, N.D.
Mr. Jenson died Oct. 31, 1905.
She has only one sister, Mrs. Jacobson, living at Couer d'Alene, Idaho, who could not come out to the funeral.
She died in a St. Paul hospital Feb. 9th, of cancer, from which she had suffered a long time but wihich did not confine her to bed but a short time. Her children were with her.
Funeral was held at Spring Valley last Thursday, Rev. J.M. Peterson officiating, and she was buried beside her husband in te Lutheran cemetery in the village.
Mrs. Jenson was a woman who had the respect and affection of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
Those from out of town who attened the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. N.J. Jenson and Mr. and Mrs. John Staberg of Hudson; Mrs. P. Salseth, Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Olson and Mrs. Gus Delander, of Woodville; Mrs. P. Simonson and Miss Josie of South Wilson; Mr. and Mrs. S.K. Simonson of Baldwin; Theodore Olson of Minneapolis; Helmer Peterson of El Paso, and Mrs. Albert Anderson of Eau Claire.

HSO, 20 Feb 1920, p8
Mrs. Hans H. Jenson
Mrs. Thea C. Jenson of Spring Valley passed away at St. Johns hospital, St. Paul, Feb. 9, after an illness of a couple of weeks. Mrs. Jenson was for many years a Hudson resident. Her husband died fifteen years ago. She leaves to mourn her passing three children--Sergt. Marcus Jenson of the 11th Aero squad, of San Antonio, Texas; Henry F. Jenson of Minneapolis; and one daughter, Miss Agatha, who was teaching at Medina, N.D., when the children were sent for. The burial took place at Spring Valley on Feb. 12. Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Jenson, Sr., and a number of other relatives from our city attended the funeral. "A faithful loving worker she earned her rest and will be sadly mourned by her children, relatives and friends."

Thea's sister was Martha Caroline "Lena" Jacobson. In the 1880 census she is listed with Thea and their mother, Soffie Pederson. Lena was married to Hjalmer Jacobson on 1 Jun 1900 at Martell as Martha Caroline Pederson, daughter of Christoper Pederson and Annie Sophie L. Pederson. Hjalmer and Lena have a son, Peter Christpher, born 2 Jul 1903 at Gilman. When Thea dies in 1920 Lena and Hjalmer are living in Coer d'Alene, Idaho where Hjalmer is a grader at the sawmill and Peter, age 16, attends school. The three are next found in 1930 in Spokane, Washington, Hjalmer is a mill worker at the match company and Peter is a mechanical engineer in general electrical work. Hjlmer, 73, and Lena, 68, still reside in Spokane in 1940. Hjalmer is working a a lumber grader for the match factory.

Birth	16 Mar 1868	Eiker, Buskerud, Norway
Christen	2 Aug 1868	Haug i Eiker, Buskerud, Norway
Immigration	Apr 1871	From Oslo with a destination of Red Wing, Minnesota
Immigration	28 Apr 1871	Eker, Buskerud, Norway to Red Wing, Minnesota
Marriage	30 Sep 1893	Hudson, St. Croix County, Wisconsinis. - Hans Hendrik Jenson
Death	9 Feb 1920	St.Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota
Burial	12 Feb 1920	Spring Valley, Pierce, Wisconsin

Spouse	Hans Hendrik Jenson (1840 - 1905)
Child	Marcus Jenson (1892 - 1972)
Child	Henry T. Jenson (1895 - 1973)
Child	Aagotte Elena Jenson (1899 - 1989)

Father	Kristofer Pedersen (1839 - 1880)
Mother	Anne Sophie Larsdatter (1849 - )
Sibling	Martha Caroline "Lena" Pedersen (1872 - )