Jurgenseng
Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing
Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",
published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
GERHARD T. B. JURGENSEN is one
of the earliest settlers in what is now known as Lincoln county.
He resides about one mile west from Wilbur and owns and controls an estate
of nearly two thousand acres. He was born in Denmark on August 21,
1834, the son of Reverend Peter and Sophia C. (Brondstand) Jurgensen, natives
of Denmark and noted for their Christian philanthrophy and charitable works.
In the Kolding Latin school, at Kolding, Denmark, our subject received
his early education and during young manhood went to sea on a Danish vessel.
He visited many portions of the globe and finally the ship was lost at
sea. Returning home, he was apprenticed to a farmer and later rented
the land, after which he bought a farm in Denmark. The portion of
the country where he lived was taken possession of by the Germans, who
forced every Danish resident to swear allegiance to their government or
leave the country. They were not allowed to dispose of their property
and through corruption of the government, Mr. Jurgensen, with others was
so harrassed by the Germans, that he was obliged to leave, and was practically
driven from home without a dollar of his hard earned property. In
1872, he landed in America and worked for a time in Iowa and Nebraska.
In 1884, Mr. Jurgensen came with his family to the Big Bend country and
took a homestead and timber culture claims, which were the nucleus of his
present large estate. By dint of hard work, careful management, and
with the co-operation of his family, Mr. Jurgensen has accumulated his
magnificent estate, as mentioned above. The same is very beautiful,
well improved, and productive.
In 1859, Mr. Jurgensen married Miss J. D.
Prysse, who died on March 4, 1900. Recently, Mr. Jurgensen contracted
a second marriage, Mrs. Elsie Christenson becoming his wife on this occasion.
It is interesting to note in this connection that Mr. Jurgensen learned
the English language by his own personal efforts, without instruction,
making himself proficient both in reading and speaking the same.
By his honesty, integrity, and wisdom, Mr. Jurgensen has won the respect
and esteem of all who know him and he is looked up to by the whole community
as one of the most substantial and upright of men. Mr. Jurgensen
has three sons and two daughters living namely, Holger, Viggo, Aage, Mrs.
Peter Lyse, Mrs. Agnesta Downey, and Sarah, deceased.
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