Person:Soren Mortensen (1)

A letter written in the 1940's by Andrew's sister,Anna Mortensen MacKersie, states the following: "My fatehr Soren was educated in the public school which he attended until the age of 16. Apparently he had a fair knowledge of German as during the German invasion of Denmark (1860ish), he interpreted the orders of the Germans to people in his area. At the age of twenty all young men had to spend a year or more in the Army. He was opposed to war like many others so he came to the USA in 1864. He had various jobs - was a coachman and a handy man for a wealthy man in Connecticut - worked in a furniture factory in New York but always had the goal of going west and having his own farm. He and his oldest brother, Ole, went to Wisconsin in 1870. Andrea Holm follwed him after they had rented a farm and they were married 4 Nov 1870. Andrew Maria Holm was born in Viborg, Denmark. .

From Tani Perinoni 8 June 2003.

Old Mortensen family sheet provided by Tani adds the following: "...worked as a stable hand for a welathy man in Conecticut and in a furniture factory in New York. He met Andrea Holm in a church in New Jersey and sent for her aftr miigrating to Marquette Co Wisc. They had three sons and one daughter. After Andrea's death of cancer, he married his sister-in-law, Jesina Mortensen. She died of stomach cancer about 1926."

"He and his oldest brother, Ole, went to Wisconsin in 1870, Mother (Andrea Holm) followed him after they had rented a farm and they were married Nov, 4, 1870 (5 a.m.)

"1870 was pioneer days in Wisc. Father's first team as two oxen -- used to heavy work, but he also had a team of horses for driving. About 5 years ago they went to Wisc, they bought a home -- a fairly large house 5 bedrooms - 2 quite small - of course no bath. A big wooden tub was brought in every Fri. night and we were bathed and ready for the Sabbath.

"Every fall as soon as winter really set in one or two young beef animals were killed -- we had our deep freeze - 1 or 2 barrels. The aimals hung over night, being frozen the next a.m. Dad cut it up and it was packed in snow in the barrel. Our cellar was well stocked with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, turnips, etc. Mother dried sweet corn, apples, etc. Dad took our own corn-wheat-and buckwheat to a mill to have it ground for flour. Besides our own eggs, milk and butter, each sring they made at least 2 big cheeses. We also had a patch of cane and a patch of popcorn. The can was taken to a mill and came back a 10 gallon can of molasses.

"What fun to get in the sleigh and a brick for your feet and a stone in your hand to start off with sleighbells jingling to go 10 miles. (Excerpts from a letter Anna Mortensen MacKersie sent her son-in-law.]

Information on the Mortensen family courtesy Tami Perinoni 8 June 2003.

1. ↑ United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).