Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-07-24
Jens Nielsen, Nearly rs,
Sleeps Away Quietly
At Home.
Lived Fruitful and UnaS-,
suming Life; Buried at
Cedar Falls, la.

The end of a very useful life came
at 2:15 o'clock Sunday afternoon
when Jens Nielsen. resident of Askov
village and inventor of the Viking
pump, closed his eyes for the last
time and slept peacefully away at
the age of nearly 76 Mr. Nielsen had
rot been in very good health the past
year, gradually failing, but the last
week he became very ill and was
obliged to remain in bed. A weak
heart is what caused his final demise.
Mr.. Nielsen was born on September
%, 1854, at Uggerlose, pr. Holbaek,
SHETLAND, Denmark, and spent his
Childhood there. He came to America
as young lad Of only Is years, in
1870, going to Cedar Falls, Iowa,
which city he made his home for 81
years.
In Quarry Business.
At first he did common labor.
worked on farms, and railroad con-
struction work on the Northern Pa
cific railroad west of st. Paul and up
into Canada. After having worked
around for about ten years, Mr.. Mel
sen went into the quarry business in
Cedar Falls, in which business he re-
manned about So years supplying
limestone for the community. 1t was
while here that he conceived the idea
OF better pump. In the spring of
each year there was much water to
be pumped out Of the quarry holes,
and he was constantly working on
some Improvement of a pump.
InventS Pump.
On Feb. 2, 1904, he had his inven-
ton patented and gave it the name of
the Viking pump, but as in the case
of so many inventions, capital was
needed to make a go of it and Mr..
Nielsen up to this time had not been
able to accumulate much capital,
having only small quarry employ
ing one or two men, but after con-
siderable thought, energy, and time
spent on his invention, he finally per-
suaded some local Cedar Falls bust
form alton of corporation to build
a factory and manufacture the Viking
pumps. The corporation became
known as the Viking Pump Co. and
is still conducted under that name,
the pumps being sold all over the
world.
Mr.. Nielsen was for many years vice
president of the organization. but
last year withdrew as an officer, how
ever, still maintaining some stock in
the corporation.
A Large Factory.
The pump, or his invention, is rath-
er simple but does excellent work,
and a good market was quickly Gre
ated for it, after the manufacture was
going good in 1912 Many Viking
pumps are to be seen i'm creameries
and Oil stations, especially the STAN
dard Oil COmpany's supply tanks, and
they are used in some automobiles.
The pump has the advantage of being
able to pump water, oil, gasoline, or
III fact any fluids. improvements
were made and additional patents
taken out in 1910, 1912, and 1915.
The Viking Pump Co. at Cedar Falls
employs several hundred people and
covers city block.
Relatives Called.
When it became known that Mr..
Nielsen was sinking rapidly and that
death might occur soon, word was i'm
mediately sent to his daughter, Mrs.
Charles w. Olsen, in Cedar Falls.
Inn
dren, Mrs. Alfred Frederiksen and
husband. Mrs. Carl Jensen, and Miss
Vera Olsen, arrived by auto Sunday
morning about six hours before Mr..
Nielsen passed away, but he had then
already become unconscious and did
not recognize them. The Cedar Falls
folks left again Sunday evening to
make arrangements for the funeral at
Cedar Falls to be held there Thurs
day when the big Viking Pump fac
tory will be closed in honor Of the
inventor.
To AskOv I'm 1921.
After being in America about 10
years, Mr.. Nielsen was married at
Cedar Falls in 1881. His wife passed
away in 1899 in the same city. One
daughter, Mrs. Charles w. Olsen, was
born to this union. In 1921, Mr.. Mel
sen came to Askov and was married
again on July % Of that year to Mrs.
A. N. Sorensen VINO survives as does
also his daughter, three grandchiI-
dren and two great grandchildren.
Mr.. Nielsen's parents died in Dem
mark many years ago and were never
in America. Besides his immediate
family there are also two step-sons
at home-Elmer Sorensen. who is 4
student, and Edwin, a 10
cal high school student.
Continued on Page 10)