Merced-Stanislaus County CA Archives Biographies.....Jensen, James Robert 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 13, 2006, 3:36 am

Author: John Outcalt (1925)

JAMES ROBERT JENSEN

   One of the first purchasers of real estate in the town of Gustine at the time
the town was laid out is James Robert Jensen, who stands out prominently among
the enterprising and progressive men who have been influential in promoting the
agricultural, industrial and social prosperity of this part of the state. He was
born near Newman, on January 23, 1883, a son of Chres and Marie (Hansen) Jensen,
both natives of Denmark. The father, Chres Jensen, came to California in very
early days and settled at Hills Ferry, now Newman, Stanislaus County; he was
married to Miss Marie Hansen at Modesto, who had come to California a short time
before their marriage. The father leased land near Newman for a time, then he
purchased 500 acres which he devoted to grain raising. There are seven children
in the family, all living: James R. the subject of this sketch; Sallie M., Mrs.
Nicolaisen, residing in Newman; Elmer C; Grover N.; Irene; Harvey C; and Leslie
F. The father passed away at the family homestead at the age of sixty-five
years; the mother is still living at Newman.

   James Robert Jensen attended school at the Newman district school and during
vacation time helped on the home ranch. At the age of seventeen he began to
learn the machinist's trade at Newman, and after completing the trade worked as
a journeyman for seven years at various places in California. He located in
Gustine in 1907, when the town was laid out, purchased the property where his
present modern garage stands, built a blacksmith shop and followed this trade
for three years. He took his brother, Elmer C, in as a partner in 1910 and
together they went into the automobile business and became distributors for the
Oakland automobile. Mr. Jensen is now the agent for the Chevrolet, and in
conjunction runs a general repair shop, carrying also a full line of automobile
accessories. Mr. Jensen is also interested in agriculture, owning a twenty-acre
ranch near Gustine devoted to grapes and walnuts.

   At Gustine on June 13, 1910, Mr. Jensen was married to Miss Anna Bladt, born
at Newman, daughter of Peter and Anna Bladt, both natives of Denmark, who came
to California with the father of our subject. Peter Bladt settled on a farm near
Newman and raised grain during his active life. There were two children by Mr.
Bladt's first marriage, Peter, and Anna, the wife of our subject. By the second
wife there are three daughters, Rose, now Mrs. Devecchio; Estella, and Fannie,
the wife of E. C. Jensen. The mother of Mrs. Jensen passed away at the age of
twenty-eight years, and her father died at the age of sixty-three years. Mr.
Jensen is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is a member of the Odd Fellows
Lodge of Gustine, while his wife is a member of the Rebekahs of Gustine, of
which she is a Past Grand. Mr. Jensen was a member of the first board of
trustees of the town of Gustine, and served for seven years, and a year and a
half he was chairman of the board, when he resigned.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925


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