Andrew Havig Jensen (1861-1930)

Andrew Havig Jensen (1861-1930) aka Andreas Jensen; Musician, Singer, Choral Leader and Composer; Emigrant to USA in 1882; Plumber and Steam Fitter at L. Wolf Plumbing (b. April 28, 1861, Lister og Mandals amt, Farsund, Vest-Agder, Norway - d. Friday, May 30, 1930, Williams Bay, Walworth County, Wisconsin, 53191, USA)

Birth
Andrew was the son of Jens Jacob Hansen (c1820-1864) and Anna Marie Kjarvaldsen (1822-1888).

Siblings
His siblings include: Hans Kristian Jensen (1844-?); Hans Gabriel Jensen (1846-?); Anton S. Jensen (1849-1906); Juliane A. Jensen (1852-?); Anne M. Jensen (1854-?); Johanne K. Jensen (1856-?); Katrine Jensen (1857-1946) who married Steffen Barca; Jens Jacob Jensen (1859-c1903) who married Anna Olsen (1860-?); and Johan K. Jensen (1863-?).

Farsund, Norway
The whole family appears in the 1865 Norway Census for Farsund.

Emigration
The whole family emigrated to the United States around 1882 after Jens Jacob Hansen, the father, died in Farsund. All of Andrew's siblings were musicians except one.

Marriage
Andrew married Lena Elaine Olson (1860-1938) aka Hannah Eline Olsdatter, in Chicago on May 12, 1883 under the name "Andreas Jensen" and she was listed as "Lena Olsen" on the marriage certificate. Their marriage certificate number was "71512".

Children
Together they had the following children: Mary Marie Jensen (1883-1969) aka Marie Jensen, who was married to Albert Rath (1881-1950) and later married Nels Hemwall (1875-1965); Thea Jensen (1885-1910) who married Max Caro (1882-c1920); Leif Jensen (1886-1955) who married Agnes Hansen (1890-1965); Leonard A. Jensen (1887-1979) who married Gertrude Louise Brock (1892-1944); Josetta Dorothy Jensen (1889-1940) aka Dolly Jensen, who married William James Gogerty (1893-1939); Margerite Jensen (1892-1986) aka Daisy Jensen, who married Francis Joseph Woods (1891-1972) aka Frank Woods; Goldie Jensen (1891-1965) who married William Holm (1891-1983); Eleanore Margaret Jensen (1897-1987) who married Mahlon Edward Shanahan (1900-1993); and the youngest was Alvin Jensen (1899-1986) who married Helen Mae Baldwin (1907-1998).

Chicago, Illinois
Andrew and Lena were members of the Moreland Lutheran Church in Chicago. Andrew appears in the 1910 Chicago City Directory living at 4940 Austin Avenue and working as a steamfitter. Andrew appears in the 1920 US Census, still living at 4940 Austin Avenue.

Williams Bay, Wisconsin
Around 1925 Lena and Andrew moved to Williams Bay, Walworth County, Wisconsin.

Death
Andrew died in Wisconsin on May 30, 1930.

Burial
He was buried on June 02, 1930 in Mount Olive Cemetery in Chicago.

Obituary
His obituary appeared in the Chicago Tribune and reads as follows: Andrew Jensen Funeral Rites to be Held Tuesday. Funeral services will be held Tuesday for Andrew Jensen, 4932 Austin Avenue, choral leader and composer who died suddenly Friday at Williams Bay, Wisconsin. He was 69 years old and had lived in Austin for 40 years. He is survived by his widow and eight sons and daughters."

Memories about Andrew Jensen

 * Muriel Elaine Jensen (1928- ) says: "Andrew had a clock that was given to him at a Royal wedding in Norway where he was a musician. The clock was a present to the Royal but he said they gave it to him because it wasn't considered good enough for the Royal. The clock is still in the family."
 * Edward Albert Rath (1944- ) says: "My aunt Alice Rath (1903-1998) told me that Andrew Jensen once sang for the King of Sweden."
 * David Esbert Johnson (1939- ) says: "I was told that he was given a stipend from the King of Norway for the rest of his life for music he had written. Leonard George Jensen had a manuscript of his music and I don't what became of it."
 * Marie Elizabeth Winblad (1895-1987) told a story of a family member from Norway playing music for the King of Norway or Sweden.