James F. Irvine Jr. ¹²

  General Notes:

James Franklin Irvine, one of the well-to-do younger members of the
farming community of Howard county, is a gentleman of energetic habits,
who has been most successful and prosperous in his chosen work. He was
born in the county in which he now resides, first seeing the light on
March 23, 1878.
James F. Irvine is the eldest son of George Irvine, who was one of the
first settlers and whose home was the first building erected in the
settlement of Howard county. He now resides in Kelso precinct on Oak
Creek, where he owns a valuable estate. Our subject grew up on the home
farm, receiving his early education in the local district schools, later
attending the Grand Island Business College, from which he was graduated
in 1898. After leaving school he engaged in farming on his own account,
purchasing the old Oak Creek farm, containing about three hundred and
twenty acres. This land was owned by his uncle, James Irvine, and was a
well-improved tract. He worked this place up to 1906, adding to its value
in many ways, and disposed of it at a very good profit. He then purchased
one hundred acres situated on the North Loup river, lying about miles
northwest of St. Paul, in section seventeen, township fifteen, range
eleven, and has made of this a fine property, having the place equipped
with every convenience for conducting a model farm, and all the land is
under cultivation. He is progressive in his methods and a thoroughly
practical farmer.
Mr. Irvine was married on March 28, 1900, at Nysted, Nebraska, to Sophia
Caroline Mortensen, the Rev. Peterson officiating. Mrs. Irvine comes of a
prominent pioneer family in Howard County, her father, Rasmus Mortensen,
having settled in this part of the state in 1873. Mr. Mortensen was born
at Odense, Finland, and there married Josephine Magdeline Larson, who was
born in Salkenberg, Sweden [sic]. They came to America in 1873, and
immediately immigrated to Howard County, Nebraska, where Mr. Mortensen
bought the Paul Anderson homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. This
was their home place until Mr. Mortensen's death, November 20, 1897. Mrs.
Mortensen continued to live on the farm in Warsaw precinct until 1900,
when she moved to Dannebrog, which has since been her home.
Four children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Irvine: Earl
Clayton, Ethel Viola, George Lee, and Ray Franklin.
Mr. Irvine takes a commendable interest in local affairs, and in 1902 was
elected county assessor.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census Record, 1880, Kelso Precinct, Howard County, Nebraska.

James married Sophia Caroline Mortensen on 28 Mar 1900 in Nysted, Howard County, Nebraska. (Sophia Caroline Mortensen was born in Mar 1879 in Nebraska.)

  Marriage Notes:

Mr. Irvine was married on March 28, 1900, at Nysted, Nebraska, to Sophia
Caroline Mortensen, the Rev. Peterson officiating.