Peter Christensen 1848-1936

CHRISTENSEN, HENDRICKSEN, MORTENSEN, ZIEMAN, PAULSEN, OLSON

Posted By: Sharon K HESEBECK (email)
Date: 7/8/2022 at 11:29:24

Peter Christensen of Royal, highly respected and well known In Clay county, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 1936, at 9 .p. m. at the home of his daughter, Mrs. N. C. Olson, East
Seventh street. Spencer, at the age of 88 years and 22 days.
Mr. Christensen enjoyed good health until the last few years, during which .time he suffered from complications incident to old age.
He was taken to the Spencer Hospital August 30, submitting to an operation. Three weeks later he was moved to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Olson, who has cared for him the past eight and one half months, during which time he was bedfast.
Rites Friday
Funeral services will be held Friday at 1:30 p. m. at the house and at two o'clock at the Bethlehem Lutheran church in Royal. Rev. Holger Berthelson, pastor, will have charge.
Six grandsons, Kermit, Harold and Edwin Zitman, Raymond and Curtis Christensen and Art Paulsen, will serve as casket bearers.
Interment will be in Willow Creek cemetery.
Peter Christensen was born in Fyn, Denmark, April 20, ,1848. In early infancy he was baptized in the Lutheran church and was confirmed in the same church during early youth Ames First Home
He came to America when 21 years old and worked on the farm connected with the Iowa State college at Ames for two years. This was during the time Prof. Welch was president of the college.
In 1871 he came to Clay county and homesteaded on section eight
In Lincoln township. On February 24, 1877, he was united in marriage to Miss Kristine Hendrlcksen. To this union were born seven children, all of whom survive.
They established their first home six miles south of Royal. They lived there five years, then moving to the old farm home, now occupied by Simon Syndergaard. Here 27 years of their life were spent. For three years they lived at the present home of their son, Arthur.
At Royal 24 Years
They retired from the farm in the year 1912, and have since lived in Royal, or for the last 24 years.
Mr. Christensen was one of that band of sturdy pioneers, who endured ail the hardships of pioneer life and helped lay the foundation for Clay county's growth.
He was a good neighbor, ever ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in those trying days of pioneer life, and took an active interest in the upbuilding of Royal and surrounding community.
Mr. Christensen had been a member of the Lutheran church ever since it was established at Willow Creek, and later on of Bethlehem Lutheran church at Royal, loyally supporting and regularly attending all church services.
Those Surviving
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Christensen; seven children, Mrs. M. Mortensen of Ames, Mrs. H. G. Zieman of Linn Grove, Mrs. Paul Paulsen of Peterson, Mrs. N. C. Olson of Spencer, H. W. Christensen and C.A. Christensen of Peterson and Clarence Christensen at home.
There are also 19 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; a brother, Knud Christensen of Royal; and a host of friends.
In charge of arrangements was the Cobb funeral home.
Page 12 of Spencer News Herald, published in Spencer, Iowa on Friday, May 15th, 1936