now 20,000 acres (81 km2) and a show place with a well kept yard featuring an artificial lake. Political involvement Jansen took an interest in politics and supported causes he felt would better his adopted country. He participated in county and state Republican conventions. Jansen did not seek political office for himself, but in 1880 his neighbors elected him justice of the peace. Later he served as Nebraska state representative and then state senator. He turned down nomination for Governor of Nebraska because of the position's requirement to enforce the death penalty. Jansen was elected alternate delegate to the 1884 Republican National Convention and was a delegate-at-large to the 1896 convention that nominated William McKinley. In 1900 President McKinley appointed Jansen as one of twelve commissioners to the Paris World's Fair. In 1901 he represented Nebraska at the state funeral of McKinley. Retirement In 1909 Jansen sold his ranch and moved to Beatrice. He donated land and funds for construction of the Mennonite Deaconess Home and Hospital in Beatrice. He continued to be active in the community and General Conference Mennonite Church until his death on 6 June 1923. Works Jansen, Peter (1921), Memoirs of Peter Jansen, self-published, Beatrice, NE. References American Mennonites Republican Party members of the Nebraska House of Representatives Republican Party Nebraska state senators People from Beatrice, Nebraska People from Jefferson County, Nebraska American people of German-Russian descent Emigrants from the Russian Empire to the United States 1923 deaths 1852 births