The El Reno Democrat. (El Reno, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 6, 1908, newspaper.
C. H. DeWaide was here today from Oklahoma City making arrangements to begin the construction of a two-story flat on lots which he recently purchased on the northwest corner of Wade street and Macomb avenue. The building will be 118 by 150 feet in size, and strictly modern.

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The El Reno Democrat
El Reno, Oklahoma
23 Jul 1908, Thu • Page 3

Jensen and Newland report two extensive real estate transfers which were closed up yesterday. They sold to C. H. DeWaide of Oklahoma City, lots 15 and 16 in block 175, in the original town of El Reno; lots 7, 8, 11 and 12 in block 25, Keith’s addition, and lots 7 and 8 in block 1, Jensen’s addition. Mr. DeWaide will construct building on the lots. They also bought from Mr. DeWaide four lots at the northwest corner of Wade street and Macomb avenue, up which a modern residence will be built.

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The El Reno Democrat
El Reno, Oklahoma
21 Jan 1909, Thu • Page 2

Tom Jensen is moving into his beautiful new residence at 315 East Wade street. It is one of the finest homes in the city.

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The Peoples Press
El Reno, Oklahoma
30 Jun 1911, Fri • Page 1

SITE SELECTED FOR OUR $95,000 POSTOFFICE.

The site for the proposed new government building will be used as a postoffice, has been selected. It comprises lots 16 to 22 inclusive in block 73, corner of Bickford and Rogers, opposite the Kerfoot hotel.

The deal was made by Jensen & Newland, who, with J. W. Maney, were the owners of the lots which were purchased by the U. S. treasury department. J. C. Plant, the inspector, was here last November and viewed the various sites offered. The consideration was $5,900, and the final consummation was reached yesterday afternoon. Sixteen sites had been offered.

The building to be erected will cost $95,000. It is not known just how soon the work of construction will begin.

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Thomas Jensen was a trustee at Oklahoma City University from about 1923 to 1932

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The El Reno Daily Tribune
El Reno, Oklahoma
02 May 1945, Wed • Page 5

Attack Fatal To Thomas Jensen
Pioneer Resident Dies Unexpectedly

Thomas Jensen, 67, of 315 East Wade street, died at 10 p.m. Tuesday at his home after a heart attack.
He came to El Reno in 1889, later moved to Fort Worth, Tex., where he was employed by the Rock Island railway in the treasurer’s office. After this he was employed as a train dispatcher at Chickasha, moving back to El Reno in 1901, at which time he entered the real estate and insurance business.
Survivors include his wife, of the home address; a son, Paul E. Jensen, Joplin, Mo.; a daughter, Miss Gladys Jensen, Wichita, Kan.; a twin brother, Frank Jensen, Dallas, Tex.; and a sister, Mrs. Mabel J. Humphreys, Topeka, Kan.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wilson funeral home.

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Joplin Globe
May 3, 1945
THOMAS JENSEN, FATHER OF JOPLIN MAN, DIES
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jensen, were notified Tuesday night of the unexpected death of his father, Thomas Jensen, at the Jensen Home in El Reno, Okla., from cerebral hemorrhage. The elder Mr. Jensen died at 10:05 o’clock Tuesday night.
A resident of El Reno for many years, Mr. Jensen had visited in Joplin on numerous occasions. He was in the insurance business in El Reno. Besides his widow and his son here, Mr. Jensen leaves a daughter, Miss Gladys Jensen of Wichita. Funeral plans are indefinite awaiting arrival in El Reno of relatives.

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The El Reno Daily Tribune
El Reno, Oklahoma · Thursday, May 03, 1945
Jensen Funeral Rites Arranged
Heart Attack Fatal to Pioneer Resident
Funeral services for Thomas Jensen, 67, of 315 East Wade street, who died at 10 p.m. Tuesday at his home after a heart attack, will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday in the First Methodist church with Rev. R. A. Anderson, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be made in the El Reno cemetery.
Arriving in El Reno from Nebraska in July 14, 1889, Mr. Jensen farmed and operated a milk route for his father on land where a large part of the residence district now stands.
Mr. Jensen was the first messenger boy in El Reno for the Rock Island railway, for which company he worked for a number of years, serving in various capacities. During that time he learned telegraphy and opened the first Western Union office here.
He was train dispatcher at Chickasha in 1901, at the time of the Wichita-Caddo land rush, but always claimed El Reno as his home. He returned here at the death of his father in July 1901, and had been engaged in real estate, insurance and kindred lines since then.
Survivors include his wife, of the home address; a son, Paul E. Jensen, Joplin, Mo.; a daughter, Miss Gladys Jensen, Wichita, Kan.; a twin brother Frank Jensen, Dallas, Tex.; and a sister, Mrs. Mabel J. Humphreys, Topeka, Kan.
Wilson funeral home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

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The El Reno American
El Reno, Oklahoma
03 May 1945, Thu • Page 1

Thomas Jensen, Pioneer Telegrapher, Real Estate Man Dies from Stroke
Father Staked South Part of El Reno in Opening
Canadian county lost one of her interesting pioneer citizens Tuesday night when Thomas Jensen, whose father staked the claim upon which a portion of El Reno is located, died at his home at 315 E. Wade from a paralytic stroke. He had been conducting his normal business routine during the day and spent a portion of the evening with his friends at the Elks club.
Born at Ulysses, Nebr., July 21, 1877, Mr. Jensen came to El Reno with his father, Thomas Jensen, a short time before the opening of 1889. The father, attracted by the prospects of the new country, arrived at Fort Reno in advance of the opening and there met a close friend, the late Dr. A. H. Jackson, with whom he had formerly served in the Nebraska legislature. The doctor secured a commission as deputy U. S. marshal for the senior Jensen and his duties were to help police the border line territory to prevent prospective home-seekers from entering the country before the opening date.
Gave Location for Station
Impressed with the possibilities of a future town on the site of El Reno, Mr. Jensen and Dr. Jackson on the day of the run, April 22, 1889, staked adjoining claims, Dr. Jackson taking the southeast quarter and Mr. Jensen the southwest quarter of section 9. The latter tract is now the southeast portion of El Reno, lying south of Watts street and east of Choctaw avenue. The southwest corner of the quarter was donated to the Rock Island for ground for a station, which is now the present freight office.
The junior Jensen, who was only 12 years at the time of the opening became the first telegraph messenger when the station was located here and during his spare time studied the telegrapher’s code. He soon mastered the key and gained much prominence as the “boy telegrapher.” At 13 years of age he was assisting the regular operators as a relief man. Thus he had much of the responsibility of the local office during the heavy rush of the opening of the Cheyenne & Arapaho country in 1892, and also served in the North Enid office during the opening of the Cherokee Strip. His first full-time job was as night telegrapher at Minco, and for a time he was telegrapher in the Western Union office at Oklahoma City.
At the age of 15 he went to the Fort Worth Western Union office as treasurer. He was called out on relief jobs so frequently that he finally asked for a dispatcher’s job and was assigned to the Chickasha station. He held this and other posts along the Rock Island railway until 1901, when his father died. He then relinquished the dispatching duties and took up his father’s real estate and insurance business here. He continued in this work until his death. During the past two years he has been the agent for the U. S. lease conversion apartment properties here.
Mr. Jensen treasured the incidents of his pioneer days in El Reno and has been a regular contributor to the American’s pioneer editions. He was an active member of the First Methodist church and former secretary of the El Reno Kiwanis club.
Survivors include his wife of the home, his son, Paul, of Joplin, and his daughter, Miss Gladys of Wichita, a brother, Frank, of Dallas, and a sister, Mrs. Mabel J. Humphreys of Topeka.
Funeral rites will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Methodist church by Rev. R. A. Anderson and interment will be made in the El Reno cemetery.

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The Ulysses Dispatch

Ulysses, Nebraska

24 May 1945, Thu  •  Page 5

DEATH COMES TO FORMER RESIDENT

We are grateful to Vesta R. Dawes, Albert, Okla., for the clippings sent us about her cousin, Thos. Jensen, whose family used to live in Ulysses and moved to Oklahoma back in the late 80’s. he will be pleasantly remembered by the “old timers” here.

Canadian county lost one of her interesting pioneer citizens Tuesday night when Thomas Jensen, whose father staked the claim upon which a portion of El Reno is located, died at his home at 315 E. Wade from a paralytic stroke. He had been conducting normal business routine during the day and spent a portion of the evening with his friends at the Elks Club.

Born at Ulysses, Nebr., July 21, 1877, Mr. Jensen came to El Reno with his father, Thomas Jensen, a short time before the opening of 1889.  The father, attracted by the prospects of the new country, arrived at Fort Reno in advance of the opening and there met a close friend, the late Dr. A. H. Jackson with whom he had formerly served in the Nebraska legislature. The doctor secured a commission as deputy U. S. marshal for the senior Jensen and his duties were to help police the border line territory to prevent prospective home-seekers from entering the country before the opening date.

Gave Location for Station

Impressed with the possibilities of a future town on the site of El Reno, Mr. Jensen and Dr. Jackson on the day of the run, April 22, 1889, staked adjoining claims, Dr. Jackson taking the southeast quarter and Mr. Jensen the southwest quarter of section 9. The latter tract is now the southeast portion of El Reno, lying south of Watts street and east of Choctaw avenue. The southwest corner of the quarter was donated to the Rock Island for ground for a station, which is now the present freight office.

The junior Jensen, who was on 12 years at the time of the opening became the first telegraph messenger when the station was located here and uring his spare time studied the telegrapher’s code. He soon mastered the key and gained much prominence as the “boy telegrapher.” At 13 years of age he was assisting the regular operators as a relief man. Thus he had much of the responsibility of the local office during the heavy rush of the opening of the Cheyenne & Arapaho country in 1892, and also served in the North Enid office during the opening of the Cherokee Strip. His first full-time job was as night telegrapher at Minco, and for a time he was telegrapher in the Wester Union office at Oklahoma City.

At the age of 15 he went to the Fort Worth Western Union office as treasurer. He was called out on relief jobs so frequently that he finally asked for a dispatcher’s job and was assigned to the Chickasha station. He held this and other posts along the Rock Island railway until 1901, when his father died. He then relinquished the dispatching and took up his father’s real estate and insurance business here. He continued in this work until his death. During the past two years he has been the agent for the U. S. lease conversion apartment properties here.

Mr. Jensen treasure the incidents of his pioneer days in El Reno and has been a regular contributor to The American’s pioneer editions. He was an active member of the First Methodist church and former secretary of the El Reno Kiwanis club.

Survivors include his wife of the home, his son Paul of Joplin, and his daughter, Miss Gladys of Wichita, a brother Frank of Dallas, and a sister, Mrs. Mabel J. Humphreys of Topeka.

Funeral rites will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock from the First Methodist church by Rev. R. A. Anderson and interment will be made in the El Reno cemetery.

Mr. Jensen died May 1, 1945.

And coming nearer home, El Reno records the loss of an eminent townman and pioneer in the passing of Tom Jensen, Tuesday night. Though a man of gruff appearance, Tom was one of the kindliest and friendliest men we have ever known and was possessed of a keen sense of humor that made his presence ever a pleasure among friends and acquaintances.

My good friend, Tom Jensen, who died suddenly Tuesday night, stopped by the other day to remark, anent the cloudy weather: “increasing cloudiness and humidity portends copious participation.” – I had him repeat it for me so that I might use it here – One of the wittiest men I ever knew – and the more so because he usually kept a serious fact while cracking his jokes. Several years ago when Tom had that first strike, two of his friends assisted him into an ambulance. As the leaned over him consciousness returned and he recognized one of them as a local undertaker. He remarked in his humorous way: “What are you doing here? I’m not ready for you yet.”

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