Kilde: Ole Damgaard, 2018.
Født: Side 5.
Drev landbrug på Vancouver Island, bl.a. i Cape Scott.
Source: geni.com (private user).
Jens Christian Hansen Holm
1869-1921
By Virginia L. (Holmes) Thomson
For the Holmes Family Expedition of August 2000.
September 9, 1999.
One-half of the branch of the Holm Family History forged by Jens Christian Hansen Holm began with the birth of Jens to Hans Peter Holm and Ellen Marie Dorothea Holm on April 11, 1869 at the Holm family farm called 'Kokholm' near Vonsild, Denmark. Jens had two sisters (Marie and Kirstina), three brothers (Rasmus, Johannes and Carl [Karl]). Carl emigrated to Buenos Aires, Argentina; Jens and Kirstina emigrated to Chicago, Illinois. The other siblings remained in Denmark.
NOTE: Hans Peter died 1881 at Kokholm in Vonsild, Denmark, and Ellen Marie Dorothea died 1920 in Kolding, Denmark.
The second-half of that branch of the Holm Family History began with the birth of Jenny Marie Schultz to Johann Nissen Schultz and Hansine (Sine) Schultz on August l, 1874 in Grundy County, lowa, near Cedar Falls. The new-born baby was premature; the doctor assumed the baby would not survive, and he left. The neighbor who came to assist Sine would not give up that easily - she placed the baby in a shoe box and kept the baby near the warm stove, out of any drafts. She took care of both the mother and the baby for some time. That loving attention to a baby in danger kept little Jenny alive. Whoever that neighbor was, we give her our heartfelt thanks.
Jenny, the little baby girl did indeed survive - and she grew into a strong, healthy young lady. She survived the rigors of traveling by trains, by steamships, by horses and buggies, by horseless carriages and eventually by those 'newfangled' propeller-driven airplanes. Jenny became the wife of a man who was a farmer, a fisherman, a carpenter and an inventor. She became a widow at age 46 but lived long enough to almost complete her 105th year. Not bad for a 'slim-chance' premie who was not expected to survive that first night. Little Jenny (called 'Mussen' or 'Little Elf' by her mother) even outlived all five of her younger full-term healthy siblings. But, I'm getting ahead of the story.
The illness of Jenny's grandfather, Nis Johansen Schultz in 1875, prompted Johann and Sine to return to Denmark. When Nis died in 1878, Johann inherited the family farm 'Skovrup' in Christiansfeld, Denmark. While in Denmark the Schultz family increased by four sons (Walter, Nis, Jeppe and Johann) and another daughter (Marie). One day, the young girl, Jenny, saw German soldiers coming up the road, and Denmark was once again invaded by Germany. The Danish children learned the German language and history in school from a German teacher. Young Jenny, who had completed a needlepoint with Danish symbolism and a Danish flag, was ordered to 'take out' the Danish flag and needlepoint a German flag in its place. Later, when away from German rule, Jenny 'took out' the German flag and replaced a Danish flag in the needlepoint piece. That precious needlepoint still exists!
In 1889, Johann realizing his sons were approaching the age of conscription into the army, turned the farm over to his brother, Thomas and returned his family to Fredsville/Cedar Falls, lowa.
As a young man, Jens decided his future lie not in Denmark, but in America. Upon arrival in Chicago, IlIinois, he became a member of the Young People Society - a group established to provide a safe social environment for young Danes.
One day in November of 1892, Jens was asked to accompany a group of young Danish men assigned to meet the train carrying, among its passengers, young Danish people to Chicago. Thus began a new life history for Jens when he met young Jenny Marie Schultz from Fredsville/Cedar Falls, lowa, who was returning from a visit to her parents. Jenny was an advanced student of the violin. Pastor Nelson, the minister who baptized Jenny in Cedar Falls, later became her music teacher in Chicago. In 1890, Jenny's uncle purchased a violin in Germany as a 16th birthday gift for her as Jenny was going to Chicago to become an advanced student of the violin at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. However, those plans changed when she met a certain young man.
The two, Jens and Jenny, were attracted to each other and, after attending the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, they became engaged. Jens left for Salinas, California to obtain a wheat farm in a new Danish Colony that was organizing a farming community there, and then he sent for Jenny. So, in November of 1893, Jenny took a train to California. She and Jens were married in Salinas, California on December 7, 1893 in the home of a Danish school friend of Jens - who was also named Jens Holm, by the way!
NOTE: That friend worked in the Salinas Courthouse. In later years, when Ellen sent for a copy of her birth certificate, she discovered that all the records had been burned in a fire some years before.
However, the friend, Jens Holm, wrote a letter verifying that he knew the Holm family and that he knew when Ellen was born.
During the years Jens and Jenny farmed their land near Soledad, California, men traveling alone throughout the area would stop at their door and ask for a night's lodging. Jenny would serve the man a meal and Jens would let him stay overnight in the barn - after Jens asked for the man's matches. (Jens didn't want anyone smoking in the barn - there was danger of losing the barn to fire). In the morning Jenny would serve the lodger breakfast and send him on his way with a sandwich or two and his matches.
Two children were born there on the farm, Hans Theodore Harvard Holm on January 12, 1895 and Ellen Marie Holm on May 24, 1896. The farm, however, was not as productive. After five or six years of crop failure, Jens gave up their rented farm and filed for bankrupcy. The owner of the farm was required to settle for one team of horses, a wagon and $200. They moved into a house in Salinas and because Jens needed money, he sold the team of horses back to the farm owner. Needing more money, Jens worked for a sugar factory for two or three months - but he did not like that terribly hard labor. He longed for another answer.
Niels Hansen, a Dane who had become a partner with Jens that last year on the farm, read an article about a new settlement of Danes at the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, B.C, Canada, in the Danish-language paper called 'Bien' (Bee) published in San Francisco. The article was written by Carl Christiansen, who had arrived at Cape Scott in February 1889 with his wife Hannah and their 6-month old baby girl, named Tily. He described Cape Scott as 'Der plat jeg elsker' (The spot love).
Niels decided to check out this opportunity and left for Vancouver Island in early 1899. The anticipated communique from Niels did not arrive when expected, so Jens decided to check out the Cape Scott settlement himself in the spring of that year. After 'looking things over' he decided the family would settle in the new Danish Cooperative Community and he sent a letter to Jenny via the supply boat. Jenny, with Ted and Ellen, arrived on the August or September supply boat with their few possessions, including a cast iron stove with a broken grate. One possession they brought along survived not only this move but all the moves that Jenny made during her life. It is a crystal and silver cruet (castor) set, a wedding gift from the Christian Veyerup family of Salinas, California in 1893. Fortunately, all the pieces are still intact. Another item that always went with them when they moved was a wooden horse Jens built about 1895. (More about that later.)
The three (Jenny, Ted and Ellen) had traveled north via the steamship 'Queen City' and upon arrival at Cape Scott, they 'went over the side' into a rowboat which then delivered them to the shore (when cattle arrived, however, they were just pushed off the ship and allowed to swim to shore - no rowboat for them). Jenny said the weather was fairly nice. The Holm family stayed for a few days in a driftwood plank shelter on the beach affectionately called 'Castle Gardens'. The Danes tend to be ironic with their humor. 'Castle Gardens' is the name of a famous, beautiful park in Copenhagen, Denmark (Kongens Have?). Over the years, the Cape Scott 'Castle Gardens' offered temporary shelter to new arrivals until their homes were built or until an abandoned, existing home could be repaired. The Holm's first meal was made from a huge fresh halibut they purchased from the Indians who used Fisherman's Cove as a stop-over on their journey between the mainland and their fishing grounds at sea. NOTE: The accepted title for Indians in Canada now, is First Nation People.
For a short time, the Holm family stayed at Niels Christian Nelsen's near Fisherman's Bay, Cape Scott in a one-room log cabin. Then, they took up an abandoned homestead (through N.C. Nelsen) from a bachelor who had built a 4-room log cabin.
To establish and retain a homestead, yearly improvements were to be made and reported to the Provincial Government in Victoria. Then, if successful, after five years of work, title was to be given by the government to the applicant. Jens worked hard on the log cabin and the land. He made the windows for the cabin at Nelsen's warehouse; he cleared more land of stumps; and he prepared the ground in front of the cabin for a garden. Jenny planted vegetables and flowers each year as the ground in their portion of the Cape Scott area was quite rich and productive.
The community's plan was first, to grow fruit and vegetables; second to hunt deer (for the meat, for the skin to make clothes, etc., and for the horns from which to make buttons). Third, was to trap mink and marten for their fur. Lastly, they fished for halibut and salmon. The goal was to transport the surplus of these products throughout Vancouver Island via the road that the Provincial Government promised to build.
Based on the assurance of a connection with other communities on the island, the Cape Scott community worked hard to accomplish their plans. In addition to building their homes, the men built buildings for a community hall, a school, a church, and a commissary. Farms were created, a school was established, and a co-op store was begun. Carl Bein (or, Brink?), Christiansen (who was called CB), a teacher from Cedar Falls, lowa, taught school. The co-op store was run by Niels Christian Nelsen (who also served as the postmaster).
Fishing boats were built - some of which were damaged or lost if the fisherman happened to be out fishing when a severe storm suddenly appeared - or when the fisherman was trying to enter the natural channel during rough weather. Over time several men were drowned; and even some of the young children were lost while playing on or too near the water. Other tragedies often developed because medical aid was non-existent. Only 'home-remedies' were available and they were ineffective in cases of blood poisoning, pneumonia, tuberculosis, severe wounds, etc. Also, difficulties in childbirth sometimes resulted in the death of the mother and/or the child.
During the summers many men left to fish at Rivers Inlet on the B.C. mainland coast. They worked for Wadhams Cannery; returning to Cape Scott in the fall.
In addition to working on their own place the Holm's were active in the community. For instance, Jens was a member of the School Board and Jenny played her violin at the dances held in the Community Hall. The Holm's became quite good friends of C.B. and his first adopted son, William. Jens and CB enjoyed their intellectual discussions; William, Ted and Ellen enjoyed each other's company.
In 1903, Jenny longed to see her parents Johann and Sine. Nis and Johnnie (two of Jenny's brothers) had come to Cape Scott, (Nis on June 24, 1903 from Alaska, after participating in the Yukon gold rush from 1898 to 1903; and Johnnie on July 24, 1903). Nis left as Johnnie arrived. Both brothers agreed to pay the fare to lowa for Jenny, Ted and Ellen to visit Jenny's parents. Of course this offer was too good to pass up and Johnnie escorted the three on the trip to lowa. They left Cape Scott on August 24, 1903.
Jens batched that winter at Cape Scott. Then, the three travelers returned on the May 24th boat in 1904. I'm sure he was quite glad to see them! NOTE: Johann died in 1911 in Fredsville, lowa and Sine died in 1921, also in Fredsville, lowa.
On March 3, 1905, a third child, Signa Jonette Holm, was born in the Holm's log cabin at Cape Scott. Mrs. Marie Christiansen, a neighbor and friend, assisted Jenny with Signa's birth.
The Holm family enjoyed life there in the Danish Community. However, the fact that the promised road had not materialized, the future looked bleak. Also, Jens and Jenny realized the higher levels of education were not going to be available there at Cape Scott. And then, the community received word that the steamship company was discontinuing service to Cape Scott in 1907. Jens and Jenny decided to move to Seattle. So in 1907, they sold the 160-acre claim to Marie Christiansen for $200, collected their $24.72 from the community's Childrens Savings Bank, collected $24.76 from their share account of the Co-op on February 16, 1907, and moved the family to Seattle, Washington. There in Seattle, Jens worked as a carpenter helping to build the Danish Hall at 14th and Fir. The Danes held festive dances and important meetings at the hall over many years. NOTE: Sometime after World War II, ownership of the Danish Hall changed hands and the building served as a house of worship.
NOTE: The Danes had a church - the Danish Lutheran Church at 24th and East Spruce. That church building was sold; a new Lutheran Church was built on Phinney Avenue, across from Woodland Park.
Jens worked on another project during his stay in Seattle. He helped to build the buildings for the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific (AYP) Exposition, and he helped to remove those buildings designated as 'temporary', after the exposition. The property which contained the exposition is now the site of the University of Washington.
Also, Jens designed, built and patented an Extension Table. He entered that table at the AYP and won the Grand Prize. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce asked Jens for permission to place that table on temporary display in their building. It remained there - at least until Ellen tried to retrieve the table. No one knew where it was! Someone had moved it - without permission from the Holm family. Perhaps someday it will turn up!
In 1908, another son, Arthur Stephen Holm, was born in Seattle in a house the Holm family rented at Westlake and Denny. NOTE: This house and many other buildings were demolished when the Denny Regrade engineering process washed Denny Hill down into Elliott Bay.
In 1909, the family moved to a house near Green Lake in Seattle and Ted and Ellen attended Green Lake Grade School.
About 1910, the north called again and the family moved to Rivers Inlet on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada's mainland (north and east of Vancouver Island). While living in the family-half of Wadhams 'warehouse/housing building' (the bachelors lived in the other half) Jens was one of the fishermen working for Wadhams Cannery. His was usually the 'high boat' - that meant he was the best fisherman in the camp by bringing in the most fish on most days. NOTE: The fishermen were paid the same price (50 cents) for each fish, regardless of the size of the fish - except, they only received 5 cents for each humpback salmon.
Ted fished with his father many times. They had a small tarp rigged up at the bow of their open skiff. They also had a small cookstove there to prepare their meals. Each morning the small boats would form a convoy by tying their bow line to the boat in front of them. Then a larger boat would pull them out to the fishing area. In the evening, the larger boat would reverse its route, picking up each of the small boats and bringing them back to Wadhams Cannery.
While the family was living at Wadhams (after living in Seattle) Ted came up to Wadhams during his summer break from school. He brought his bicycle and Art remembers Ted giving him a ride. When they reached the end of the walk, they fell into the underbrush - but they were not hurt. Signa and Art were still quite young. They enjoyed making friends with the fishermen and playing on the dock and on the shore. Art remembers falling off the dock onto the gravel beach. The fall knocked the wind out of him, but he wasn't hurt. There was a high bluff jutting up from the shoreline so the only areas to play were the beach and the dock. They must have led charmed lives for they avoided serious trouble in a very dangerous environment - especially for two very young children!
Jenny augmented the family income by setting up Holm's Bakery and baking and selling bread to the bachelors. The Indians (now, First Nation People) were especially fond of her bread as well.
The desire to have their own home again probably was what prompted the move to Campbell River. About 1911, Jens bought two lots at 9th and Cedar on the hill above the town of Campbell River from the Thulin family. Jens began work on the house during several trips to Campbell River - in between fishing for Wadhams Cannery at Rivers Inlet. The family remained at Wadhams until they could move into the partially finished house. The 28' x 28' house had corner windows for Jenny's house plants, and Jens' own originally designed roof composed of four diamond-shaped sections that met at the peak of the roof. Jens engineered the roof to channel the rain runoff into rain barrels placed at each corner of the house. When Jens drew his plans for the roof, everyone who saw them said it would not work. However, the design proved a success and Jenny had plenty of water for her garden that was on their adjoining lot, downhill from the house. Jenny was proud of her garden and loved working in it - especially early in the morning. Signa and Art often talked about waking up in the morning as Jenny cleared rocks from the garden. She tossed them downhill where they struck tree trunks and the slats of the garden fence in an uneven cadence. What a UNIQUE alarm clock!
When Jens and Jenny were on the farm in Soledad, California, one of the colts died. Jens skinned the colt and treated the skin. He built a wooden horse and stretched the colt's skin on it. All four Holm children played on that remarkable horse. Art said he remembers falling asleep on the horse - he didn't say whether or not he fell off. Art remembers the chickens at the Campbell River house very well - they chased him all around the yard. Perhaps they were reacting to his red hair?
Jenny sewed clothes for other women wherever she lived in those early years. Art remembers seeing women standing on a table (when each would come in for a fitting) while Jenny measured and fitted the dresses and coats on them. She made the family's clothes and taught Ellen and Signa to become expert seamstresses.
One of Jens' community support activities was to serve as a member of the Campbell River School Board. He earned a living building many of the houses in Campbell River for he was an excellent carpenter /cabinet maker as well as an experienced successful fisherman and an inventor.
Art remembers fishing with his Dad and slipping through the dangerous, often deadly, Seymour Narrows with their small wooden boat. The skill-level of a boatman to calculate the right time to go through the Narrows determined the success or failure of the journey. Jens was an expert.
Midway between the lookout (on Wilfred Point at the south end of Seymour Narrows) and Maud Island is the site of the infamous Ripple Rock, two menacing rock pinnacles whose summits used to provide only a few meters clearance at low tide - (which) caused damage to dozens of ships and claimed 114 lives .... In 1958, the largest man-made, non-nuclear explosion in history reduced the rock by 370,000 tonnes to create a clearance of 13m; however, in 1984, a cruise ship was holed off Maud Island and, although it limped to Duncan Bay, it sank at the dock.' HIKING TRAILS III CENTRAL and NORTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND and QUADRA ISLAND, Eighth Edition, 1996 Published by Vancouver Island Trails Information Society
Ted and Ellen (who were on their own by that time) went to Seattle where they found various jobs and continued their schooling. Ellen graduated from Lincoln High School and attended the University of Washington in 1916 and 1917. In 1916, Ellen was in a special program - she attended Lincoln High School and the University of Washington, half-days to each institution.
Fortunately, when the infamous 'flu epidemic' hit, those Holm family members who were in Seattle, and those who were at Campbell River escaped that horrible illness - although, they knew some people who died from the epidemic. Thank goodness, the Holm's survived that dangerous time!
In 1919, Ellen returned to Campbell River and then went up to Menzies Bay where she raised dairy cows. The milk was picked up and transported to the Comox Creamery for processing. Ellen also sold candy, ice cream and tobacco and was the Post Mistress delivering mail between Quatsino and Sea Otter Cove in British Columbia, Canada. Ellen was the youngest Post Mistress in Canada. But, in 1926, Ellen sold her dairy herd and returned to Seattle.
During World War l, Ted entered the Nation Guard and was stationed at Fort Worden near Port Townsend, Washington. That fort and Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, Washington, were the 16-inch gun emplacement sites for the defense against possible enemy invasion via the Admiralty Straits. After his discharge from the service, Ted returned to Seattle. In the early 1930's Ted opened one of the first restaurants to specialize in serving hamburgers only. His Delux Hamburger Shop, on 10th N.E. in Seattle, offered a luscious hamburger 'with all the trimmings' for a whole 10 cents!
In 1920, Jenny's mother, Sine, visited Jens and Jenny at Campbell River. At Christmastime, she went to Seattle, where she told Ellen (who was in Seattle at that time) about Jens being terminally ill, and then Sine traveled on to visit old friends who had settled in California. Ellen immediately went to Campbell River. Jens, who had been ill for six months or so, died on April 9, 1921 - just two days before his 52nd birthday. Signa was 16 years old; Art was almost 13. Jenny was only 46.
Signa and Art were in school in Vancouver, Canada. Art was enrolled in a military academy situated on King's Highway. Signa was taking classes majoring in liberal arts - but Ted decided it would be best if she took subjects that would help her earn a living. So, she learned typing, bookkeeping and Canada's Pittman shorthand - skills that served her a lifetime. While going to school, both Signa and Art worked for wealthy families doing what they required in exchange for their room and board. The work was oftentimes quite demanding of them, but they retained the resulting strong work ethic - a strength that aided them many times in their lives.
Wherever she went, Signa made friends easily, they were very important to her and she maintained those close friendships throughout her life. NOTE: Within a short period of time, the entire Holm (Holmes) family had moved to Seattle. In 1927, when Jenny decided to sell the house, she gave Ellen a Power of Attorney to take care of the sale.
Art went up to Campbell River to move Jenny's things. He crated their belongings such as Jens' first hand-made extension table, Jenny's sewing machine and other furniture; along with Jens' Danish pipe and his wooden shoes, and other things. Some things went down the old, dry well - including the old bicycle and probably the old wooden horse, as well. Thus, the next segment of the Holm Family History was begun.
Jenny, who was much loved by family and friends, was a positive influence in the lives of everyone who knew her. Despite a couple of car accidents when she escaped serious injury, and the loss of a gall bladder while she was in her 80s, she continued on in good health and excellent spirits until her death shortly before her 105th birthday. At that time she left three generations of 'Holmes' behind her - with many more to come!
This story about Jens and Jenny is a vital part of the family history that we all share. Along with the Jens and Jenny Holm Family History, each family of three of the Holm (Holmes) children (Ellen did not have any children) has their own stories to share with their children and grandchildren; stories to share with the other families; and stories to record and to preserve for the future generations to come.
The preceding pages of information provided in the Holm Family History was based on notes made by Jenny Marie (Holm) Holmes and Ellen Marie (Holm) Holmes Hansen and the stories told by them to Virginia L. (Holmes) Thomson over the years. Some additional information was provided by: Arthur S. Holmes, James S. Holmes, John A. Holmes and William S. Holmes. Information about Ted and Signa was contributed by their children, Jerry F. Holmes, and Charlotte (Holmes) Lloyd (for Ted) and JoEllen (McComb) Vinyard (for Signa ).
JENS CHRISTIAN HANSEN HOLM
(1869-1921)
by JoEllen (McComb) Vinyard and Virginia (Holmes)Thomson
(Skrevet ca. i år 2000)
And Papa, What Do We Know About Him?
If we think of one symbol for Papa, it would be as a lighthouse for the family and for the community. Our recollections about Papa are really bits and pieces, but not an impression of the whole man. None of us who are here now, knew him - except of course, Arthur (han er siden død), and he provides what he can remember about his father. Our knowledge of him is what is reflected in those who loved him.
Was he Inventive?
On November 13, 1906, Jens received patent #835,790 from the U.S. Patent Office for an Extension Table. This table was exhibited at the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition (AYP) in 1909 - he was awarded the Grand Prize. He had applied for that patent on November 22, 1905 in Cape Scott, British Columbia, Canada. Nis Schultz signed the application as one of the witnesses.
On January 28, 1908, Jens received patent #877,773 from the U.S. Patent Office for a wrench - an adjustable wrench, a ratchet wrench. He had applied for that patent on April 24, 1907 in Cape Scott, British Columbia, Canada.
Jens invented a power free washing system for Jenny while they were at Cambell River. It was a lengthwise, vertical device, about waist high. It was all operated by turning wheels and pulling levers. The clothes went through a wash cycle with a tub of large paddles similar to our modern machines, then through the wringer device, back into a tub of rinse water, wringer again and finish.
Jens' design for their Cambell River House was unusual and ahead of its time. His plans for the house included corner windows for Jenny's plants, and a unique roof composed of four diamonds that met up at the top center. This roof design accomplished three purposes: One, it allowed maximum room in each of the four rooms on the second floor; Two, it directed all the rain runoff into the rainbarrels placed at each corner of the house, allowing storage of plenty of water for Jenny's garden; and Three, of course it kept the house dry. The other carpenters who looked at the plans told Jens that the design would not work - Jens, who was a confident inventor, said it would, and he proceded to construct the house. That house remained there at 9th and Cedar in Campbell River until it was torn down for construction of a condominium in the … (?)
What Was He Like Socially?
We would guess he had a subtle sense of humor, but was not a great extrovert at large groups. We believe he was a 'quiet man', the brave and hard worker whose family always came first. He could work longer and harder than most. And, he was probably smarter than his peers.
He Was Loved?
We do know almost all about Grandma Jenny and the fact that she gave up a promising career to follow and marry him. We know that at the age of 80 when asked about him, she said she missed him even more. We can feel, when reading the old letters and in the comments made by Arthur, Signa, Ellen and Ted over the years, that he was loved and very respected. So if we look at him as a person reflected from Jenny, we get a glimpse of what a fine and gentle man he must have been.
(This account was found in Ellen's notes): When we (Mother, Ted and I) were visiting our grand-parents in Fredsville, Iowa, in 1903-04, for nine months, my father batched by himself. Some of his friends would drop in and play cards and smoke. Mrs. N.P. Nelson, came by on her way to the store to see how he was faring. The house was blue with smoke. She said 'Sikken en rog - her in og see paa de bule gardiner, u hu do (uha da ?)'. 'Nu maa Jenny nok kom hyim'. We kind of think she was talking about the house being full of blue smoke and that perhaps if Jenny knew about it she would not come home. (??)
(This also was found in Ellen's notes - Jens' letter was written about 1903): When we were in the east, Papa wrote a letter while waiting for the steamer 'Tees' to arrive. Upon hearing her blast he ended the letter, 'Nu Blasser Floyten (blæser fløjten), Farvel'. He did not sign his name, placed the letter in an envelope, stamped it, but forgot to address it to Mother in his haste to get down to help launch the big dory. It took four men to row out to the steamer to get their provisions for the store. The mail was turned over to the Purser of the boat. Jens' letter was returned by the Post Office by the next month's boat, addressed as above, :'Nu Blasser Floyten, Farvel'. ('The whistle is blasting, Farewell'.) The postmaster, N.C. Nelson, being a Dane understood the meaning and returned the letter to Jens Holm. These words have been a byword in the family ever since, upon leaving in haste.
His Death - A Terrible Loss
Jens died on April 9, 1921, and was buried on April 11, 1921 at Quadra Island Cemetery, B.C. on Quadra Island across from Campbell River, B.C. In July, 1949, Ellen ordered a monument from Kingsway Monumental Works (at 3070 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C.). The Inscription: 'In Loving Memory of Jens C. Holm, 1869-1921, At Rest'
Description of Monument: Dressed Top, Rock Edges, $30.90
Installation: By L. C. Cook, Brick and Cement Work, at Campbell River, B.C., $23.35
When Jens died, his sister Kirsten (Kirstine), wrote the following:
'As a little boy he was gentle, sweet tempered, quietly absorbed in reading or busy constructing practical implements or furniture or working on some little invention. I remember as a small child (I was 3 years younger then he) I came across a work of his, which made me pause in my carefree life and faintly realize his power of invention.
On part of the floor in the attic, I saw a miniature copy of (our) field, with handmade wooden fences around an exact copy of the original Danish gates on which we so often had climbed together. Brother was absorbed in leading his cattle, made of clay, into other fields, taking care to close gates securely. It held me spellbound for the moment. He made numerous windmills and (he) carved in wood, early and late (in the day).
When I reached sound judgment and clear rememberance, shortly after father's death, brother had left home and was amongst strangers, and not until we were all home, half a year after brother's first trip to California, did I realize and appreciate his gentle disposition and noble youthful aspirations.
The memory of his broad big hearted humane attitude towards his own family and his fellow men'.
Skrevet af Anna Margretha Mortensen i 1978.
Jens Christian Hansen Holm
Mange, mange unge sønderjyder immigrerede en overgang til Amerika for at slippe for preussisk krigstjeneste. Det kan jo ikke have været tilfældet med unge fra 'de 8 sogne' (lige syd for Kolding), men det smittede af, og mange heroppefra rejste ud, farbror Jens ifølge overlevering i første omgang bl.a. som pelsjæger i Alaska. I anden omgang forlader han Kokholm i 1892 sammen med sin 21-årige søster Kirstine for aldrig mere at gense sin fødegård eller land. Havde de to ikke fulgtes, havde bedstemor slet ingen underretninger haft om ham. Via faster Kirstine ved vi, at han ret ofte har været arbejdsløs, og at han har et dårligt knæ at slås med, ting, der som naturligt er, igen foruroliger moderen derhjemme. Allerede i 93 kommer der bud om, at han har forlovet sig med en kun 19-årig Jenny Schultz - Tante Jenny, som stadig lever i Seattle som 105-årig, passet af sin gamle datter Ellen Marie (opkaldelsen nr. 2). Der skrives via Kirstine om giftermål, forpagtning eller køb?? af ranch med 16 el. 18 spand heste.
Dette må åbenbart være gået i orden. Bedstemor sender i hvert fald i 1895 7000 - syv tusinde kr. til køb af heste, maskiner m.m., igen efter den tids forhold en stor dræning af penge, som der i dette tilfælde nok heller ikke er held med. Det går IKKE farbror Jens ret godt; hvad han hutler sig igennem med, ved vi ikke ret meget om, man han får da to drenge plus to piger, som han må have skaffet de nødvendige ting til. Tante Jenny giver på dansk en enkelt gang et lille pip fra sig, men da Bedstemor ikke kender HENDE, og HUN slet ikke mandens slægt og myndige mor, ved vi ikke meget. Familien ender og er stadig i Seattle.
Farbror Jens dør ret ung, også af kræft, men der er stadig efterkommere. Et barn Jerry (50 år) dukkede op i sommeren 1978. Vi kunne nemt vise ham bedstefaderens fødehjem, det var Kokholm, men så skete der en pudsig ting: Vi havde indkredset tante Jennys hjemby som værende Aller el. Fjelstrup nær Kristiansfeld og siger til ham: 'Nu kan vi ikke komme det nærmere. Nu må du trække vejret dybt og tænke dig til, at det var den samme luft, din Bedstemor nok indåndede ------- og der ligger den kirke, din Bedstemor er døbt i'. Ved de sidste ord vågnede Jerry op! (Amerikanere sover altid mere eller mindre, når vi kører tur med dem). 'Døbt, jamen grand-ma' Jenny er da døbt i Iowa'. ----- Tableau. Det havde vi igennem de mange år ikke anet.
De forældre har altså været udvandret, fået Jenny plus evt. flere børn, er rejst hjem igen, og så er enten Jenny rejst derover igen eller også er Jenny rejst derover alene i en alder af 19 år, sandsynligvis det sidste.
Calif, Vanc. Seattle.
