Charles Christian Jenson and Sarah Dorthea Peterson

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that I have the text of a diary of Sarah's. Contact me (see sidebar) if you'd like me to e-mail you a copy.

Charles Christian Jenson was born to Jens Iver Jensen and Inger Nielsen Sondergaard on December 21, 1870, in Ephraim, Utah. Yes, those spellings are right--Charles changed the spelling from "-en" to "-on." Charles first appears in the 1880 census in Elsinore, Sevier County, Utah.

Sarah Dorthea Peterson was born to Peter Cornelius Peterson and Johanne Thompson on February 28, 1871, in Ephraim, Utah. Sarah first appears in the 1880 census in Ephraim, Utah.

Charles Christian Jenson

Sarah Dorthea Peterson

Charles and Sarah were married September 18, 1895 in Salt Lake City, Utah (see this marriage record index). They had three children: Charles Easton Jenson, Hannah Ethel (or Ethel Hannah, depending on where you look) Jenson, and Dorothy Sarah Jenson. Dorothy died young, at the age of 15.

Clockwise from back: Charles Christian Jenson, Jens Iver Jensen (Charles' father), Charles Easton Jenson, and Thomas Christian Jensen (Charles' grandfather)

From left: Canute Peterson (Sarah's grandfather), Charles Easton Jenson (Sarah's son), Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson, Peter Cornelius Peterson (Sarah's father)

Clockwise from left: Charles Christian Jenson, Charles Easton Jenson, Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson, Hannah Ethel Jenson

Charles attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore (see the Directory of Deceased American Physicians) around 1896-1898. Charles Easton was born while the family was living in Maryland.

Charles Christian Jenson, graduation from medical school

You can see the family in the 1900 census, the 1910 census, and the 1920 census (in the 1920 census, they also have a boarder named Earl V. Storm) in Ephraim, Utah.

The Jenson family was mentioned several times over the years in the local small-town newspaper, the Ephraim Enterprise. Here are a few of their appearances:

• Aug. 9, 1899: Ad for Dr. Jenson's practice (bottom left corner)
• March 15, 1900: Dr. Jenson advises smallpox patients to stay home
• June 6, 1901: Dr. Jenson helps diagnose insanity case (this one's a little scandalous)
• July 14, 1910: Dr. Jenson elected school trustee
• Aug. 25, 1910: Dr. Jenson is new treasurer on school board
• Aug. 24, 1911: Dr. & Mrs. Jenson travel (Eastern Utah Advocate; bottom of middle column)
• May 16, 1914: Ethel Jenson contributes to Local Notes as a 7th-grader (second from bottom)
• March 6, 1915: Surprise party for Sarah Jenson

Charles Christian Jenson with his parents and siblings

Charles Christian Jenson died of lobar pneumonia on May 11, 1924 in Ephraim, Utah, according to his death certificate. Sarah continued to live with her son, Easton; you can see them in the 1930 census and the 1940 census in Ephraim.

Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson

Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson

Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson died March 19, 1963 in Orem, Utah. Charles and Sarah are buried in Ephraim Park Cemetery; see photos of their gravestones.

FamilySearch has additional photos of Sarah Dorthea Peterson Jenson. They can be viewed here.