Person:Christian Jensen (8)

could be born Aug 13 1886

News Paper

Omahan and His Father Fell While Working on Postoffice

Talk of what to do with the old Postoffice has stirred the memories of two Omahans who watched the structure rise in 1898-1902. For Chris Jensen, 76 of 1053 South 28th Street, it brought reminiscence about two broken ribs---his father's. "I was 16 at the time and helping my father, a mortar-mixer," he recalled . "We were washing down the west side, cleaning and pointing the mortar. A Rope slipped and my father fell. I was on the other side of the plank, so I slopped right on top of him, breaking his ribs. He wasn't laid up for long though, He was a wiry fellow." The accident wasn't more serious, he explained, because the two of them landed on a pile of dirt." The younger Jensen stayed in the construction field despite thes early mishap and later learned carpentry. He retired eight years ago. Handling the massive stone blocks which form the Postoffice walls was made easy by drilling holes through them. A steel bolt and ring were fastened, Mr Jensen said. Then the blocks could be moved around wigh block and tackle and cranes. Martin L. Anderson 89, Hamilton Hotel, recalled his interest in the Postoffice construction as a sidewalk superintendent. "I remember that when they first dug into the ground for the foundation they encountered a creek bed," he said. "It took them weeks to get the water pumped out so they could lay the foundation." Mr Anderson, worked in Omaha, and Kansas packinghouses before his retirement.

There is no birth record in Lemars, Plymouth County, Iowa for Christian Jensen, the son of Ole and Mary Jensen. According to the 1900 Cenxux Card, Christian Jensen was born in August 1886 in Iowa. He always gave his birthdate as August 11, 1886. The family lived at 3039 South 18th Street at that time. In 1907 he was listed in the Omaha City Directory as a laborer and lived with the family at the rear of 372 South 24th Street. In 1908 he was listed as a laborer and lived with the family at the rear of 908 North 28th Street. On March 30, 1909 Chris Andrew Jensen, age 22 years, married Anna K. Rasmussen, age 18 years, the daughter of Hans Rasmussen and Kirsten Mortensen Rasmussen of Denmark. She had been living in Genoa, Nebraska prior to the marriage. They were married for twenty years and had eight children: Ardelle (Hort), LaVerne (Swanson), Dorothy (Bergelt), Shirlee (Collier), Leo, Sammie, Hilbert, and Robert. Their marriage ended in divorce. He married his Second wife on July 29, 1944 and they continued to live in Omaha. His second wife was Agusta (Gusty)Caroline Anderson. Her hobby was weaving rugs and she had a large loom. She also raised lovely African Violets in her windows. They lived at 1053 Aouth 28th Street at the time of his death. Chris died on April 3, 1963 at his home. He had Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease. He was buried in the Graceland Park Cemetery, in Omaha, Nebraska.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Douglas, Nebraska, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T623).

   Precinct 10 Omaha city Ward 2, Sheet 9A, Family 180, Lines 26-33, NARA microfilm publication T623