Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession number |
2004.042 |
Object Identification Number |
2004.042.007.002 |
Object Name |
Legging |
Donor |
Clemsen, Rosa |
Description |
Part of Jens Peter Jensen's WWI uniform (2004.042.003-.011). One of a pair of puttees (2004.042.007.001 and 2004.042.007.002). Each individual legging, called a puttee, is a strip of wool measuring about 106 inches long and 4.0 inches wide. Attached to the pointed end of this wool strip is a long, narrow strip of canvas. The long wool strip would be wound around the ankles and up the calf to just below the knee, and the canvas strip would wrap around the wool strip and tie to secure the legging in place. |
Dimensions |
W-4 L-160.5 inches |
Creation Date |
1918 |
Year Range From |
1918 |
Place Of Origin |
USA |
Owned By |
Jensen, Jens Peter |
Used By |
Jensen, Jens Peter |
Material |
wool |
Associated People |
Jensen, Jens Peter Clemsen, Rosa |
Search Terms |
Jensen, Jens Peter Clemsen, Rosa WWI World War I World War One Elk Horn Shelby County Kimballton Audubon County Atlantic Cass County Military Uniform puttee legging Camp Dodge Haldager Rorbeck |
Given In Memory Of |
In Memory of Jens Peter Jensen |
Provenance |
These leggings, called puttees, were worn both to support the ankle and to keep out mud, snow and water. This World War I uniform belonged to the donor's father, Jens Peter Jensen. Jens entered the Army in May of 1918. His basic training was taken at Camp Dodge in Des Moines. Jens then served 13 months with the U.S. Infantry in France. The museum's collection contains two photographs (2004.042.001 and .002) of Jens P. Jensen in his uniform. Jens Peter Jensen was born July 31, 1893, in Haldager, Vendsyssel, Denmark. His parents were Christian Jensen and Mette Kirstine (Pedersen) Jensen, and he had three sisters and four brothers. He immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark in February of 1913, aboard the ship "United States," and came to the home of his aunt and uncle (Christian J. and Valborg C. Christensen) in the Elk Horn, Iowa, area. His first few years were spent working for area farmers as a hired hand to earn his first few dollars. He also briefly worked for the Northwest Railroad between Atlantic and Elk Horn. He attended the Danish Lutheran College in Elk Horn to learn English, and participated in the gymnastics program there. In May 1918, Jens entered the Army. His basic training was taken at Camp Dodge in Des Moines, and then served 13 months with the U.S. Infantry in France. Following his discharge from service, he returned to Denmark to visit family, and there met a woman. The two corresponded after he returned to the U.S. and he convinced her to immigrate. In November 1923, Johanne Jorgine Kristine Jensen arrived in the U.S. with friends (Peder A. and Laura Andersen). After passage through Ellis Island, she arrived in Elk Horn and stayed at the home of Jens' cousin (Anthon and Anna Christensen), caring for his wife who was ill, and his young children. (Johanne was born Oct. 25, 1903 in Haldager Vadum Sogn, Jylland, Denmark, to Jens Peter Jensen and Marthine Jorgine (Christensen) Jensen.) Jens and Johanne were married February 19, 1924, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They farmed southeast of Elk Horn for two years and then moved to a farm near Rorbeck, in Clay Township, Shelby County, where they stayed for 10 years. The donor, Rosa, was born at this farm on January 6, 1932. In 1936, the family moved to a farm southeast of Elk Horn, and finished raising their family here. Jens passed away in August 1970, and Johanne remained on the farm. She entered the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn in July 1998. |
Images |
068\2004042007002.JPG |
Date Received by Museum |
07/06/2004 |
Collection |
Military Service |