History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley 1920:
James L. Jensen is an orchardist whose fine property of sixty acres is known as the Gem Fruit and Dairy Ranch and is situated two miles due south of Emmett. Mr. Jensen is a Dane by descent but was born in Sanpete county, Utah, November 12, 1863. His parents were Lars and Karen Jensen, who came from Denmark to the United States in 1855 as converts to the Mormon faith and at once traveled across the country to Utah. Many members of the family were prominent in the church in that state.

James L. Jensen was reared upon a farm in Sanpete county, Utah, his experiences being those of the farm-bred boy who early devotes his attention to the work of the fields. After reaching man's estate he was married on November 12, 1891, to Miss Fannie Coyner, a daughter of Professor Coyner of the Salt Lake Collegiate Institute and to that marriage was born a daughter, Harriett Frances, who is deceased, as is also the mother. On the 2d of April, 1895, he was married to Miss Ingeborg Mathea Neilson, who was born in Norway and belonged to one of the old families of that country. She passed away October 4, 1900, leaving two daughters: Margaret Irene, who was born April 24, 1896; and Karen Mathea, born July 20. 1898. The two daughters are now young ladies who are at home with their father. Both are graduates of the Emmett high school and the elder is a teacher, now teaching for the fourth term. The younger daughter, Karen, is a student in the College of Idaho at Caldwell. On the 14th of October, 1908, Mr. Jensen was again married, this union being with Miss Martha White, whom he wedded at Lima, Ohio. She was born in Allen county, Ohio, February 11, 1859, a daughter of Eli and Eleanor (Huston) White, who were natives of the Buckeye state. Mrs. Jensen was reared and educated in Ohio, being a graduate of the Northwestern Normal University at Ada. She was a successful and capable teacher for a number of years in Ohio, Idaho and Utah and her work as a teacher in the last two states was done under the auspices of the Women's Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church. "While reared in the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mr. Jensen has become a member of the Presbyterian church and is now one of its elders.

In his political views Mr. Jensen is an earnest republican and for two terms served as justice of the peace in Sanpete county. He came with his family to Idaho in 1911 and purchased his present ranch property two miles south of Emmett, where he is now most successfully engaged in fruit raising, his place being located on the south slope, rendering it largely free from frost. He has fourteen acres of his ranch planted to peaches and his crop of 1919 brought him between four and five thousand dollars. He is also successfully engaged in dairying, having a fine herd of sixteen dairy cows, and this branch of his business is also a gratifying source of income. He raises his own feed for his live stock and he has made his farm a most productive one, while his energy and sound judgment in business affairs have been salient features of his constantly growing success.
Bio by: Amanda Fox

James L Jensen's obituary (published in the November 21, 1936 Idaho Statesman) says he died at his home south of Emmett on Tuesday (November 17) and funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church on the 20th with burial in the Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. He was born November 12, 1863 in Aphriam, UT. He came to Emmett in June 1911. Besides his widow he leaves two daughters, Mrs. Harold Kennedy of Bremerton, Washington and Mrs. Harvey J McNeel of Caldwell as well as Mrs. McNeel's two daughters, Marjorie and Dorothy Jester.

His Daughter Irene was Mrs. Harold Kennedy and his daughter Karen was married to Harold Jester (he died Sep 12, 1929) and was employed by the H J McNeel Construction Co at the time of his death. Karen later married H J McNeel.

When Mr. McNeel died in 1951, Marjorie Jester (Jack) Fletcher lived in McCall and Dorothy Jester (Tom) Thompson lived in Marsing. Fletcher children were Becky and Ann. Thompson children were Kay and Keith.

In Karen Jensen Jester McNeel Brown's January 1972 obituary, her daughter Dorothy Thompson lived in McCall and daughter Marjorie (now Cochrane) lived in Meridian. Karen has married William Brown following the death of H J McNeel. Mr. Brown was a prominent Meridian businessman.

Marjorie Cochrane passed away March 12, 2022. Her obituary is published in the Idaho Statesman May 1, 2022 issue:

Marjorie Cochrane
July 5, 1924 - March 12, 2022
Nahcotta, Washington - Longtime Idahoan Marjorie Cochrane died March 12, 2022, in Nahcotta, Washington. She was born in Caldwell, Idaho, to Karen Mathea Jensen and Harold Jester July 5, 1924. Widowed in 1929, Karen later married Harvey McNeel, who adopted Margie. She graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. She married her high school sweetheart Jack Fletcher and had two daughters, Becky and Ann. The family resided in Idaho's remote mining camps until Jack's untimely death in a mining accident, in 1956. Margie returned to Caldwell where she met and married Byron Cochrane, an architect and WWII veteran. They moved to McCall, where Byron worked for the US Forest Service designing fire lookouts. They had three more children: Cathy, Nancy, and Andrew. Margie worked from home as a reporter for local and regional newspapers. In 1970 the family relocated to Meridian. Margie earned a degree in library science and worked as a librarian in the Meridian School District until 1975, when the family moved to Eagle River, Alaska. There Margie served as chief reporter for the Chugiak-Eagle River Star and immersed herself in studying and writing about Alaska history. She wrote three history books: "Between Two Rivers: the growth of Chugiak-Eagle River, Alaska," "Three Dogs, Two Mules & a Reindeer," and "Bold Women in Alaska History." In 1984 Margie and Byron moved to Kailua Kona, Hawaii, where they grew coffee commercially. They returned to the mainland in 1993 and settled in Nahcotta. Margie spent every summer until she was 94 at the McNeel family cabin in McCall. Margie is survived by five children and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is deeply missed by all who knew her.

Much thanks to Carla Wittenburg Porath for her research into the Jensen family.



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