Christen Jensen spoke to a reporter from the Ledger-News from Antonito, Colorado1. He told of some of the experiences he had while he was in the military. The following comes from that conversation. Christen spoke with the Ledger Editor way back in 1929. He was 82 years of age at the time.
Christen Jenson was born in England and came to America in 1862. From New York, he went to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1863 he walked from Omaha to Salt Lake City, Utah. Quite a hike. He got a job with the construction of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, a piece of architecture which cost over $4,000,000 when completed.
In 1868, Christen was employed by the Church officials at Salt Lake City to make trips to Cheyenne, Wyoming with an oxen team to bring back those where were coming to Salt Lake City to make permanent settlement among their friends and neighbors, the Latter Day Saints.
In 1865 he was in the federal army and acted as a scout for the Federal Forces. At one time the Navajo had surrounded the party of scouts who had been out to recoinoiter. Five of the party met with death at the hands of the Indians.
Christen Jensen escaped barely with his life. He rushed back to headquarters and sommoned aid who rounded up the band of Navajos and thus ended a very bloody incident. Christen served with honor and distinction during the entire Black hawk Indian wars in Utah and Wyoming. He reported a very interesting incident.
He was acting as government agent scout and had not had any sleep for several days. He was almost overpowered with listlessness. He chewed up some tobacco and in order to stay awake, he put some tobacco juice in his eyes. That was the first and last time he ever did that! After nearly getting back to camp he collapsed and was brought in by soldiers. Once at camp, he slept for more than 48 hours.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
Christen Jenson was born in England and came to America in 1862. From New York, he went to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1863 he walked from Omaha to Salt Lake City, Utah. Quite a hike. He got a job with the construction of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, a piece of architecture which cost over $4,000,000 when completed.
In 1868, Christen was employed by the Church officials at Salt Lake City to make trips to Cheyenne, Wyoming with an oxen team to bring back those where were coming to Salt Lake City to make permanent settlement among their friends and neighbors, the Latter Day Saints.
In 1865 he was in the federal army and acted as a scout for the Federal Forces. At one time the Navajo had surrounded the party of scouts who had been out to recoinoiter. Five of the party met with death at the hands of the Indians.
Christen Jensen escaped barely with his life. He rushed back to headquarters and sommoned aid who rounded up the band of Navajos and thus ended a very bloody incident. Christen served with honor and distinction during the entire Black hawk Indian wars in Utah and Wyoming. He reported a very interesting incident.
He was acting as government agent scout and had not had any sleep for several days. He was almost overpowered with listlessness. He chewed up some tobacco and in order to stay awake, he put some tobacco juice in his eyes. That was the first and last time he ever did that! After nearly getting back to camp he collapsed and was brought in by soldiers. Once at camp, he slept for more than 48 hours.
1. Looking into the Past, Ledger-News, Antonito, Colorado, 78th Year Number 15, Thursday, Sept. 16, 1971.
2 comments:
Thank you, Kent for the histories. I hope the family will read them. Sometimes it takes years before people become interested in their heritage. I like the histories. I remember Grandpa Jensen. I was about 4 years old when he died.
I still have more to add for Grandpa Jensen. Keep watching this space.
If nobody reads the history at all, it is worthwhile to me because I am getting to know Grandpa Jensen better. It is fun too to find other resources that help to clarify his history.
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