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Note: My Father and Mother and Their Family by Jorgen (John) Peter Nielsen
Father's name was Peter Nielsen, but changed to Peter Nelson when he took out his naturalization papers. He was born February 17, 1849 in a small village, called Vemmelose, (later named Dalmose) a short distance south of the larger town of Slagelse, on the island of Seeland. He learned to read and write and studied the Catechism and Bible history at the nearby school at Gimlinge, under the hard-fisted school mater of the place. He was confirmed in the sinlinge church at the usual age of fourteen. But even before this, had "worked out" herding sheep, cows, and geese. There were several children in the family, but I don't know how many. In 1909, on the way to Japan, I was at the old home where I met Father's oldest brother, then in his eighties, who lived in the old house where their parents had lived. His name was Ole. As far as I know, Father was the youngest in the family.
Father learned the carpenter trade and seemed to have been very proficient in the work. He once told that he had very carefully fitted the floor boards together for the house on which he was working, but when he came to put them down they were badly out of shape. This he couldn't understand, until they told him that they had a dance at the place and had used his flooring boards to dance on.
He had taken the regular universal military training and had risen to the rank of petty officer. While he was still wearing the uniform, he had his picture taken together with his bride-to-be, and the old photo is still in existence. Some years ago a number of copies were made of it, and each one of us is supposed to have a copy.
According to his own statement, he married in 1876, but the exact day, we children never knew. He married Caroline Petersen of the village of Sorbylille, who at that time was very slim, and as he later said, the only girl for him. Where they set up housekeeping, I do not know. On December 18, 1877 a boy ws born to the couple, who according to later reports, was the pride of his maternal grandfather. It happened that I was the one. Because Mother had a brother named Jorgen Petersen, who had at time recently migrated to America, the boy was named for him, receiving hte name of Jorgen Peter. Mother had another brother who had gone to America, earlier than Jorgen. His name was Carl Petersen. He had settled on a farm some fifteen miles N.E. of Council Bluffs, Iowa, about 4 miles straight north of Weston.
Mother thus had two brothers in America, and for this reason and also because she had visions of better living conditions in America, she was quite determined to follow her brothers. Father does not seem to have been overly anxious to go, but in the early spring of 1879 the Atlantic was crossed, and from later reports, it must have been a rough voyage, and it took a long time. But, at any rate, we Council Bluffs, Iowa, on July 4, 1879. Of course, Dad didn't phone to Uncle Carl to meet us. So we had to stop at an old hotel until Dad got a chance to ride out to Uncle Carl's place, and Mother and I followed as soon as Uncle Carl could drive in to fetch us. How long we were with Uncle Carl and Aunt Marie, I do not know. But I remember hearing a good bit about the old, cold house where we spent the winter. It was about two miles west of Uncle Carl's place, near the home of Aunt Marie's parents. Dad got work of whatever kind he could, and it is evident that we got through that first winter somehow.
In the community where we settled, there were a few scattered Lutherans, living in among Seven Day Adventists and Latter Day Saints.
Notes from Jeneen Nelson - Jorgen is rumored to have fathered a daughter, Mildres (b. 1904) - by Victoria Hansen. Victoria Hansen later married Alfred Nelson - who was Jennie Nelson's brother.
1/2009 and 10/2009 - in a conversation with Cleo Christoffersen - she stated that J.P. Nielsen was a missionary and went to Japan. He was born in Denmark. He was a Professor of Theology and Dean of the Seminary at Dana College.
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