Mortensen, Andrew

Andrew Mortensen was born in Denmark on January 29, 1874, to parents Niels and Caroline Mortensen. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1884, initialing settling in Minnesota for fourteen years before relocating to Texas. In 1906, Andrew moved to Fresno County, California, along with his parents and sisters, Christine Christensen and Myrtle Wintermute.

In 1909, Andrew purchased a thirty-five-acre ranch situated three-fourths of a mile southeast of Reedley, California. Married to Clara Reves, he raised seven children on the ranch: Edmund, Freddie, Ella, Roy, Henry, Verna, and Agnes. He successfully improved the land to yield high harvests of raisins and other local crops, while actively participating in the community and attending the Danish Lutheran Church.