Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07

An Illustration of an Incident wher
I'll nth is Stranger than Fiction

"Tr nth is stranger than Fiction
The details of one Of the most singular
trades ever consummated in this part OF
the country have just come 70 light
through The fling for record OF a deed
TO tract Of land IN the western part of
the country. The deed is from Chris
Christensen to Nils Jensen, and CONVEYS
eighty acres of farm land to the latter,
but the remarkable part of the deed is
the consideration given for the land.
1t reads as follows:
For and in consideration of one wom-
an to wit: The wife Of Nils Jensen. :"
The queer document caused an investiga-
ton to be made, and the following TO-
mantle story was learned by the curious
newspaper man who went to the farm of
Christensen.
Nine years ago Christensen left Swe-
del for this country 10 make his fortune,
and when he started he left in the old
country young woman who was to be
his wife as soon as he became able to send
for her
This girl, Nina Peterson was the
daughter of poor drunken shoemaker,
who led his family dogs life, and was
contln ually on the verge of starvation.
After Christensen left, Nina expected
TO hear from him constantly. but no let,
ter ever reached her, and she had no idea
to what part of the United States he
| went. She could not write to him
Among the young men Of the town was
| Jensen, who also looked with loving eyes
upon Nina, but she would have nothing
to do with him for her heart was true to
Chris. As year after year went by with
| no word from her absent lover, the maid
came to the conclusion that he was rec
reant, and this idea was fostered as much
as possible by Jensen, who was at last
successful in getting Mina's consent to
marry him
| The drunken father also insisted that
the wedding should come off, and more
to get away from such an unhappy home
than through love OF Jenson, Nina con-
sented and they were married. This was
| FIVE years ago. After two years of hard
times in the old country, Jensen deter
mined to try his fortune in America, and
with his wife and one chilo he started for
the new world.
After wandering about for some time
| they landed In Nebraska with no money.
Jensen obtained work on farms in differ
ent parts Of the state, but was unable to
get ahead financially.
The man and wife drifted over the
state. doing work at such places as they
could get employment. until at last they
| reached this city, and about month ago
| they heard that man and woman were
wanted to work on farm in the western
part of the country. Jensen applied for
the place, and as chance would have it
| the man and woman were employed on
the farm of Christensen, but the people
| were so changed that no recognition was
had.
| Something familiar in the woman's APP
rearance led Christensen to make in
quiries, and he discovered that it was lis
toughest love. He said nothing to either
Jensen or his wife, but a few shrewd
questions showed him that Jensen knew
more about the reason for his letters
never reaching Nina than the husband
was willing to acknowledge.
One evening ne began telling a story
| to his hired man and wife, and recounted
| the story of his life from beginning to
the present. He told how Jensen had
taken the letters from the postoffice and
destroyed them, and when he got
through the latter was so overcome with
what he thought was Christensen s
| knowledge that he confessed his lnfamy.
The three talked long into the night
about the matter, and before the morning
came it was decided that Jensen would
give up the woman, who openly said she
did not love him, and he agreed to get
a divorce and give up his wife and child
if Christensen would give him start in
the world Nina was willing and anxious,
and the result was that the deed TO the
eighty acres of land was passed and the
woman is now living as the wife Of
Christensen. A divorce was procured and
the marriage followed on the same even
ing. Jensen lives at the farm until be
can build house, and the whole lot seem
happy over the new turn Of pfeairs.-
| Fl. Worth Gazette.