Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Marius Sorensen, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in section 1, Providence township, and who is numbered among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of the community, was born in Denmark, near Wiler, August 11, 1850.  He is a grandson of James and Mary Christensen, who died at the ages of eighty-six and eighty-seven years respectively.  They had six or seven children, including Soren Jensen, the father of our subject.  He too was born in Denmark, devoted his entire life to farming and died in his native land in 1868, at the age of fifty-four years.  His wife died in 1852.  In early manhood he had married Maria Clausen and they became parents of six children, of whom three are yet living:  Jens Christian Sorensen, of Denmark; Marius, of this review; and Mary, the wife of Soren Winther, of Denmark.  After losing his first wife the father married Anna Mary Christensen and they had four children, of whom three are yet living:  Peter C., Anton C. and Margarita.

Marius Sorensen came to America in 1884. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native country and had been reared to farm work.  He served in the regular army at three different times, becoming a soldier in 1872, again in 1S74 and 1876.  Crossing the Atlantic to the new world in 1884 he settled in Pomeroy, Iowa, where he worked on a section six months.  He afterward worked at the plastering trade for a year and then turned his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared, renting a farm for one year.  At the end of that time he went to Newell and rented a farm in Providence township, where he lived for three years.  He afterward cultivated a rented farm in Grant township for four years and for one year rented a farm in Providence township, where he now lives.  At the end of that time he bought the property, comprising one hundred and sixty-seven acres of rich and productive land, to the further development and improvement of which he has since given his attention.  His farm is well equipped with good buildings and everything necessary to facilitate the work of the fields, including the latest improved machinery.

Pleasantly situated in his home life Mr. Sorensen was married August 2, I880, to Miss Sorena Johansen, a daughter of Johannes and Anna Metta (Jensen) Knudsen, both of whom were natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives.  They had four children:  Jens Johansen, of Denmark; Anna Merta Lena, the deceased wife of Hans Larsen; Christiana, the wife of Jorgen Bonde, of Grant township; and Mrs. Sorensen, the wife of our subject.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen has been born a daughter, Metta Christina, now the wife of Hans C. Bodholt and they have one child, Sena Bodholdt.

Mrs. Sorensen was born in Denmark. August 11. 1860.  She is an estimable lady, who has proved of such assistance to her husband in his farm work.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are members of the Lutheran church and politically he is a republican, giving earnest support to the principles of the party, for he believes that it contains the best elements of good government.  While he still maintains a feeling of deep interest in the land of his birth, his strongest attachment is for the land of his adoption, and Buena Vista county finds in him a worthy representative, active in its interests.  As the years have passed he has gained a place among its substantial and prosperous citizens and his life record shows what may be accomplished through persevering and indefatigable industry.