Buried in Blair Cemetery.

NICK JESSEN, 85, OLD SETTLER, DIES

RETIRED COUNTY FARMER HAD RESIDED IN BLAIR FOR 25 YEARS

Nicklaus “Nick” Jessen, 85, a Washington county old settler and for 25 years, since retiring from active farming, a resident of Blair, died last Thursday at his home on east Jackson street. He had been in failing health most of this year.

Mr. Jessen and his wife had observed their 50th wedding anniversary last January 10.

The body was removed to the Campbell Mortuary. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Methodist church, the Rev. John P. Brooks officiating. Pallbearers were C.R. Brundage, Rudolph Mencke, Neal Thompson, George Staben, Oscar Hopkins and Lester Hansen. Interment was in Blair cemetery.

Mr. Jessen was born January 27, 1855, in Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and while a resident of that country was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

In 1880 he came to America, settling in Washington county. He was married to Helen Shubeska in Omaha January 10, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Jessen farmed in several parts of Washington county prior to retiring in 1915 and moving into Blair.

Surviving Mr. Jessen are his wife, Helena; one son, John P. Jessen of Florence; and a grandson, Russell John.

#2-10 Oct., 1940 - The Enterprise

NICK JESSEN RITES ARE HELD HERE SUNDAY

Early Settler Dies At 85 Years and 9 Months Of Age

Nicklaus Jessen passed away at his home on East Jackson street, Blair, on Thursday, October 3, 1940. He had been in failing health for the past six months, and the end was not unexpected.

Deceased was born in Denmark on January 2, 1855, and came to Washington county in 1880 and on January 10, 1890 he was united in marriage to Helena Shubenska in Omaha.

He farmed a number of places in this county, accumulating enough property to retire in 1915, coming to Blair where he lived until his death.

Nick Jessen, as we all knew him, was a good citizen, a man of integrity and of industry and was a faithful husband and a kind father.

He leaves to mourn his death his widow and one son, John P. of Omaha and one grandson, Russell John, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church at 2 p.m. Sunday after a brief service at the home conducted by Rev. John P. Brooks, and burial was made in the Blair cemetery.

The music was furnished by Miss Gertrude Mead and Mrs. E. J. Hancock. The pallbearers were C. R. Brundage, Rudolph Mencke, Neil Thompson, George Staben, Oscar Hopkins and Lester Hansen.

(Note: Nick’s wife’s name is spelled both “Helen” and “Helena,” as written in the original obituary.)

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.