Birth: 14 May 1851 in Tjæreby,Terslev,Soro,Denmark
Christening: 22 Jun 1851
Death: 6 Apr 1904 in Santiago,Sherburne Co,Minnesota
Burial: Abt Apr 1904 Danish Cemetery,Becker,Sherburne Co,Minnesota,USA

Note: The biography is a work in progress. Please contribute or correct any mistakes. If old family stories are off on a date or small detail, that in itself, is part of family history. Thanks, Martha-Lisa Mode Flinsch - Great Grandaughter of Maren Hansen
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Maren was the Matriarch of the Hansens in America.

Maren Sophie Jeppesen Born May 14, 1851 Tjæreby, Terslev, Denmark. Maren was born to Jeppe Pedersen (Birth 24Nov1811 Lynge, Soro, Dnmr. Christening 24 NOV 1811 Lynge,Soro,Denmark Death 5 Dec 1864 Tjereby, Terslev, Soro, Dnmr. Burial 11 Dec 1864 Tjereby, Terslev, Soro, Dnmr.) and Ane Hansen (b. 21 Aug 1814 Tjereby, Terslev, Soro, Dnmr. d. 1 Oct 1891 Terslev, Soro, Dnmr. Burial
9 Oct 1891 Tjereby, Terslev, Soro, Dnmr.)

She married Jens Hansen, November 15, 1873 Terslev, Denmark and they had a farm in Denmark. She gave birth to ten children in Denmark. One died in infancy in Denmark. Children dying in infancy was common in those days. Raising the other eleven to adulthood was much more uncommon. One of their sons was a special needs child with a developmental disability. Although he could not attend school and there was no special education, he was taught to read and write at home. That indeed was an an accomplishment.

In their middle years, Jens and Maren moved to Minnesota in the Spring of 1892. They had two more Children in Minnesota. She died April 6, 1904 Santiago Township, Sherburne County, Minnesota. She was buried in Danish Cemetery, Becker, Sherburne County, Minnesota.

One day in about 1900, the Hansen and Petersen (eldest daughter married a Petersen) family had some photos taken in their Sunday clothes. Maren is the matriarch with the hat and apron. She is seated in one photo and standing in the other. Her youngest daughter, Fanny, the little blond girl in the plaid dress, is my Grandmother.
- Martha-Lisa Mode Flinsch, October 2014
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Condensed from remarks made by Fanny's youngest son Charles J. Mode (Grandson of Maren) at the memorial of Harry Petersen's eldest son Vernon Petersen (Great Grandson of Maren). Great Grandson Vernon Petersen

Brief Remarks for Vern Petersen’s Memorial Service 11/7/09 at Freedom Village, West Brandywine, PA – Revised 5/5/10, By Charles J. Mode
Vern’s and my relationship is the result of multigenerational contacts that have occurred during a time span of more than a century. The saga begins around 1891 when Jens Hansen and his wife Maren Sophie Hansen sold their farm in Denmark and migrated to Minnesota, where they had bought a farm. In the annals of migration this was an exceptional event, because unlike most immigrants at the time, who were either in their teens or twenties, Jens and Maren were in their forties and had a family of 11 children.

From Charles J. Mode:
"Jens Hansen and his wife Maren lived near Haslev, a prosperous agricultural community situated south of Copenhagen, Denmark. Then as now, thatched roofs were part of the landscape. But such outward appearances of quaintness should not be interpreted as a lack of sophistication. For, being near Copenhagen, which was not only the capital of Denmark, but also among the leading economic, cultured, and scientific centers of Europe. The residents of Haslev were constantly being exposed to a social environment of new possibilities and ideas. No doubt, this environment led to an unusual event in the life of this family. Jens Hansen was 43 years old and his wife was 40. at these ages, most people with families in the 19th century Denmark would have viewed a move to America and the learning of a new language as nearly inconceivable. Yet, when a letter was received from a friend in Minnesota offering to sell his farm because he wanted to dig gold in Alaska. Jens Hansen sold his farm in Denmark and bought the farm in Minnesota."
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Condensed from Verna Harris's story of her mother "Anna" Hansen and the Hansen family:
Ane "Anna" Hansen Christianson Daughter of Jens Hansen
Verna Marian Christianson Harris Grandaughter of Jens Hansen

... She ["Anna" Hansen"] was 16 years old when they came to the new land, so she remembered it well. It must have been a nearly impossible hardship for mother Maren [Maren Sophie Jeppesen Hansen Wife of Jens Hansen] to get ready a family of 11 [nine children, 2 parents] for moving. And she was to leave her homeland and her own family behind. Mama said they lived in a long low house, and Maren's mother, Grandmother Jeppsen lived in a couple rooms at one end. She was blind and all the children loved her. They quarreled with each other about taking a bowl of soup that their mother had made for her. For the chance to go over to sweep her floor or do little chores for her. Mama often got to go because she was older. I have wondered who cared for her after the family left.

If it were a hardship for grandmother Maren. It must have been a most challenging task for grandpa Jens, who had to have a sale, keep and pack the most necessary clothing, tools, and household goods for 12 people, one a small baby. He bought 11 tickets so I assume the baby was carried on. Aunt Fanny [Fanny Emilie Hansen Mode Daughter of Jens Hansen] was the baby. I suppose that they boarded a liner in Copenhagen, and it was large, a 5-deck ship.

Mama talked about the trip over durinq our Cando winters, and I wish now that I had asked more questions. They had a space on the third deck with their trunks and belongings packed around them. Her mother had brought two large kettles along and each day made a large pot of soup or stew. Grandpa could buy supplies at the ship's store, and there was a huge coal range that the passengers could use. I'm sure that they had to carry their own water and dispose of their waste which went overboard in those days. People couldn't keep very clean, and Mama said the smells were almost overwhelming. They were even worse when they went by the 4th deck stairs and bilge area. They were not supposed to go up on deck. But Mama said they did sneak up for a breath of fresh air when they could. Their crossing was not too rough, but most of the passengers got motion sickness anyway. It lasted over two weeks and then they were quarantined at Ellis Inland for three days. That was as bad or worse than the voyage, Mama said.
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Sherburne County Courthouse, Elk River, Minnesota, Deaths Book C, Page 51, #26,
Mrs. Maren Sofia Hansen, Santiago Twp. Female, Housewife, Date Of Birth May 14, 1851,
Denmark, Date Of Death April 6, 1904, age 51 years, 10 months, 23 days. Cause, Carcinoma
of Uterus. Parents, Jeppe Peterson & Anna Hansen, Denmark. Filed 7 April 1904.
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