Bio of GJERTSEN, Henry John (b.1861 d.1911), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

HENRY J. GJERTSEN - Vol II, pg 722-725
Having spent the first seven years of his life in Norway, his native land, Henry
John Gjertsen then came with his parents to the new world and was thereafter a
resident of Minnesota to the time of his demise, which occurred December 2,
1911. In the meantime he had gained distinction as a lawyer and lawmaker, nor
was he unknown along agricultural lines. In public affairs he took the deepest
interest and in his relation to the public manifested a most progressive and
helpful spirit that had its root in a patriotic love of the country, for while
he was born on the other side of the Atlantic, he practically knew no other home
than Minnesota. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Tromsoe, Norway,
on the 8th of October, 1861. His father, Herman J. Gjertsern, was born in
Bergen, Norway, and represented an old and well known family of that city. At an
early age he rtmoved to the northern part of Norway, settling in Tromsoe county,
whore he married Albertina, the daughter of the Wulf family, and there he
engaged in agricultural pursuits and shipping interests until about twenty-eight
years of age, becoming a sea captain. He then abandoned the sea and left the
Land of the Midnight Sun, coming to the new world with his family. He settled in
Hennepin county, Minnesota, not far from Minneapolis, and concentrated his
attention upon the improvement of his farm. His son, Henry J. Gjertsen, was
accordingly reared as a farm bred boy and in the summer months worked in the
fields, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools. Later he
enjoyed the added advantage of training in the Red Wing (Minn.) Seminary and
still later he took up the study of law, which he pursued for two years in
Minneapolis law offices and was admitted to the bar when twenty-three years of
age. His course in the collegiate department of the Red Wing Seminary had
covered a period of six years. This was a theological institution and it was the
desire of his parents that he enter upon the work of the ministry, but after he
had completed his course he felt that he preferred law practice and it was then
that he began preparation for the bar. While yet a student of law he became
interested in some important and fiercely contested litigation which finally
reached the supreme court, and almost before he was regularly admitted to
practice he was recognized as an attorney of record in the supreme court of
Minnesota. He was also admitted to practice in the supreme court of the United
States. He remained an earnest and discriminating student of legal principles
and in the preparation of his cases seemed to lose sight of not a single point
that would have bearing upon his cause. He never specialized in any particular
branch of the law but continued in general practice, trying all sorts of cases
and trying them well. In his last years he had charge of many insolvency cases,
growing out of the failure of local banks. From the beginning he was successful
in his law practice and for a considerable period he followed his profession in
partnership with Harry Lund, under the firm style of Gjertsen & Lund. He was
widely recognized as one of the leading Scandinavians of Minnesota and was
frequently mentioned for judicial honors.
Mr. Gjertsen always gave his political allegiance to the republican party from
the time that age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he took an
active interest in both local and national politics. At different times he
served on the county and congressional committees and he was an active worker in
the Republican League, serving as a delegate to its national conventions. He was
always called upon for campaign speeches and from the platform earnestly
advocated republican principles and their adoption. He held many appointive
positions of public trust. Under the administration of Governor John Lind he was
made a brigadier general on the governor's staff and acted in that capacity for
two years. Under Governor Samuel R. Van Sant he became judge advocate general
and occupied that position for four years. He served as a member of the
Minneapolis charter commission and in 1902 was elected to the state senate from
the forty-second district. He carefully con­sidered all the vital questions
which came up for settlement before the general assembly and was the author of
the bucket shop law, passed in 1905. He was also active in the work of compiling
and adopting the revised code. His activities con­stituted an important element
in local and state progress, for his influence was ever on the side of reform
and improvement.
On the 4th of January, 1883, Mr. Gjertsen was united in marriage to Miss
Gret-chen Goebel, a daughter of Casper and Katherine (Breideband) Goebel, who in
1873 became residents of St. Paul, Minnesota, and afterward removed to Red Wing,
whence they came to Minneapolis. Here the father died in 1894, while the mother
passed away in the '80s. Casper Goebel was a brother of the father of Governor
Goebel of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Gjertsen had a daughter, Beatrice, who studied
voice culture in Germany under Madam Mallinger and also received training from
the great composer, Richard Wagner. She became a prima donna in the Royal Ope'ra
at Weimar, Germany, possessing a high soprano voice of rare beauty, and she also
sang in Belgium. She is now the wife of Dr. W. A. Bessesen of Minneapolis and
their children are: William Aaron, Henry Adrian, John Truman and Monica Laura.
Mr. Gjertsen was a loyal follower of Masonic teachings and was also identified
with several other fraternal organizations and also with local clubs and
societies. He took an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare
and upbuilding of the city and in his church relations was a Lutheran, doing all
in his power to promote the work of the church and extend its influence. He was
one of the organ­izers of the Odin Club and served for one term as its
president. He likewise belonged to the Sons of Norway. He remained an active
factor in the world's work to the last and only a few short hours before his
death was busy in his office. He passed away December 2, 1911, and deep regret
at his going was felt throughout Minne­apolis and wherever he was known, for he
had made for himself a large place in the community as a lawyer, as a citizen,
as a club and fraternity man and in other connections. Notwithstanding all this
his interest and attention centered in his home and his best traits of character
were reserved for his own fireside.