Jens Berge (1888-1961)
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| Jens Berge and Emma Christopherson, ca. 1914 |
Jens Berge was born on 1 February 1888 in Bergen, Norway. At the age of 18, he arrived in New York on board the Carmania in May of 1906. His final destination was recorded as Whitehall, Wisconsin and he claimed to have an uncle, Andreas Berge, who lived in Chicago. His previous residence was listed as Dale, Norway. He bought the ticket himself, declared an ability to read and write and had $10.00 in his pocket.
Four years later, Jens was living in Steele County, North Dakota working as a hired man on the farm of John Sylvester. On 23 October 1911, Jens became a naturalized citizen. His naturalization certificate described him as 5 feet 11 inches tall with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. At the age of 26, Jens married Emma Christopherson, the younger sister of Olive Sylvester, wife of his employer. The marriage was recorded on November 18, 1914 and by 14 March 1915 a daughter, Agnes Geneva Berge, was born. Two months later, Jens purchased 160 acres in Saint Joseph, Montana located in Hill County. He built a 12 x 16 house along with a 16 x 48 barn including a chicken coop. For the next three years, he grew wheat, oats and flax. His first son, Obert, was born on 3 January 1917 and a few months later he registered for the draft. Jens claimed exemption from military service due to having a wife and two young children to support.
Jens and family are back in North Dakota by 15 November 1918 where son, Elmore Jennings Berge, was born. By the time of the 1920 United States Federal Census, they are living near the town of Franklin not far from Emma’s brother-in-law, John Sylvester. In 1926, daughter Phyllis was born. According to his obituary, Jens retired from farming in 1958 and moved to Washington State, where he died on 29 October 1961. Jens was buried in Washington Memorial Park in Seattle.
Works Referenced
1910 United States Federal Census, Finley, Steele County, North Dakota, enumeration district 206, page 10B, dwelling 17, family 17, Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 28 Jan 2012) citing NARA microfilm publication T624.
1920 United States Federal Census, Franklin, Steele County, North Dakota, enumeration district 163, page 11A, dwelling 192, family 200, Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 Nov 2010) citing NARA microfilm publication T625.
1930 United States Federal Census, Franklin, Steele County, North Dakota, enumeration district 10, page 3A, dwelling 30, family 32, Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 Nov 2010) citing NARA microfilm publication T626.
“Jens Berge.” Certificate of Naturalization. Department of Commerce and Labor. 1911.
“Jens Berge.” Homestead Entry. Department of the Interior. 1918.
“Jens Berge”. Seattle Daily Times; digital image, Genealogy Bank (http://www.genealogybank.com: accessed 7 Aug 2010).
“Jeus Berge”. Certificate of Marriage. State of Minnesota, County of Clay. 1914.
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 28 January 2012) citing NARA microfilm publication M237.
North Dakota State Census 1915 and 1925, Steele County, North Dakota, Franklin, dwelling 52, family 57, Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 26 Nov 2010) citing State Archives and Historical Research Library, State Historical Society of North Dakota microfilm roll ndsc-05240.
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Hill County, Montana, Jens Berge; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 Nov 2012) citing NARA microfilm roll 1684040.
