Representative from Story county, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1878, of Danish parentage. His family moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, shortly after his birth and a few years later to Pine River, Wisconsin, where his father died. About the year 1885 his mother with her four children moved to Story City, Iowa, and a couple of years later married Chris Larson who owned a farm north of Nevada, Iowa, where Mr. Jessen grew to manhood on the farm and attended the rural schools, he being the first student in the township to receive a common school diploma and also received a second grade teacher's certificate while attending the rural school. He thereafter attended the Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, and completed the one year dairy course while there and following the completion of his course operated a creamery at Shannon City, Iowa, for about three years. In 1902 he entered Drake University Law School and graduated therefrom in 1905, and located in the practice of law at Zearing, Iowa, remaining there for about two years thereafter, locating at Story City, Iowa, where he has been actively engaged in the practice of law for the past six years. He was married June 22, 1910, to Miss Catharine Golly of Zearing, Iowa. Prior to his entering the legislature he had served as mayor of the town of Zearing, and as city attorney of Story City. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being at present the master of the lodge at Story City. He is a member of the Christian church and takes an active part in Sunday school work, being the teacher of a splendid organized class of young men in the Grace church at Story City, Iowa. Elected representative in 1914, re-elected in 1916. A republican in politics.

Representative from Story county, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1878, of Danish parentage. His family moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, shortly after his birth and a few years later to Pine River, Wisconsin, where his father died. About the year 1885 his mother with her four children moved to Story City, Iowa, and a couple of years later married Chris Larson who owned a farm north of Nevada, Iowa, where Mr. Jessen grew to manhood on the farm and attended the rural schools, he being the first student in the township to receive a common school diploma and also received a second grade teacher's certificate while attending the rural school. He thereafter attended the Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa, and completed the one year dairy course while there and following the completion of his course operated a creamery at Shannon City, Iowa, for about three years. In 1902 he entered the Drake University Law School and graduated there from in 1905, and located in the practice of law at Zearing, Iowa, remaining there for about two years thereafter, locating at Story City, Iowa, where he has been actively engaged in the practice of law for the past six years. He was married June 22, 1910, to Miss Catharine Golly of Zearing, Iowa. Prior to his entering the legislature he had served as mayor of the town of Zearing and as city attorney of Story City. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, being at present the master of the lodge at Story City. He is a member of the Christian church and takes an active part in Sunday school work, being the teacher of a splendid organized class of young men in the Grace church at Story City, Iowa. Elected representative in 1914. A republican in politics.