DANISH VETERANS OF THE WAR WITH PRUSSIA.
The majority of Audubon County's Danish immigrants arrived in the U.S. after the time of the Civil War. However, some of the immigrants were war veterans regardless, having served with Danish military forces against Prussia at roughly the same time as the U. S. Civil War.
Click on photo to enlarge.
First row (on chairs) from left to right: Mr. Larsen, Harlan; Jens Jensen, Kimballton; Soren Jensen, Harlan; Jorgen Larsen, Kirkman; Rasmus Hansen, Elk Horn; Jes Jorgenson, Harlan; Knud Knudsen, Poplar. Second row (standing) from left to right: John Fogt, Elyria, Nebraska; Rasmus Therkelsen, Walnut; Jacob Brodersen, Harlan; F. Kelgor, Manning, Iowa; Nicolai Jorgensen, Kimballton; John Nissen, Harlan; Jens Larsen, Kimballton.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March 2015 from the Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, by Edward S. White, P.A., LL. B.,Volume 1, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co., 1915, pp. pp. 128b.
The "Danish-Prussian War" was also known as the War of 1864 a.k.a. the Second War of Schleswig. The postcard below belonged to Christine Anderson Petersen. It was addressed and mailed to her father by relatives of Christine's mother in Denmark and is postmarked 1906. Christine told her grandchildren that her grandfather Jorgensen fought in the war and was taken prisoner, always shuddering when she told the story. Jorgen Jorgensen was released unharmed however, and in 1881 he and his wife and four children (Christine's mother and 3 siblings) immigrated to Sharon Township, Audubon County from Sonderburg, Denmark.
Sonderburg is located on the island of Als, and the battle for the island of Als is depicted on the vintage postcard below. The caption reads: From War 1864 - Transition to Als, d. June 29.
Per Christine, the island of Als was only 3 miles long and 1 mile wide.
Click on image to enlarge.
Vintage postcard contributed by Cheryl Siebrass, March 2016
