CHRISTENSEN, CHRIS M.

CHRISTENSEN, CHRISTIANSEN, HANSEN, WARNER, LARSEN, MADISEN, NELSON, CLAUSEN, MAUSHAUND, RASMUSSEN, BENSEN, JENSEN, MCGREGOR, DELPERDANG

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/18/2004 at 13:04:02

Biography reproduced from page 508 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Kossuth county finds a worthy representative of its farming interests in Chris M. Christensen, the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land in Swea township. The place is splendidly improved, a comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, the latest improved machinery, a valuable grove and well tilled fields are features of his farm. Mr. Christensen is a native of Denmark. He was born March 23, 1864, of the marriage of Christian and Caroline (Christiansen) Christensen, who were natives of the same country. The father was both a fisherman and a farmer during his active life, but is now living retired and with his wife resides in Langland, Denmark. In his family were seven children: Alfred and Chris, who are residents of Denmark; Chris M., of this review; Sinne, the wife of Rasmus Hansen, a resident of Wright county, Iowa; Tina, the wife of Nicholas Warner of Spokane, Washington; Annie, the wife of John Larsen of Goldfield, Iowa; and Christina V., of Denmark.

Chris M. Christensen spent the first twenty years of his life in his native land and came to America in 1884, reaching Eagle Grove, Iowa, on the 25th of October. He secured employment immediately and for three years worked as a farm hand. He then went to Humboldt county, Iowa, where he cultivated a tract of land for four years. In the spring of 1891 he came to Kossuth county and invested his earnings in one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 33, taking up his abode thereon the following spring. Without interruption he has continued upon this place to the present time but extended the boundaries of his farm in 1908 by the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres on section 34, adjoining the original tract. He has since bent his energies to the further development and cultivation of the place and its excellent appearance is proof of his practical and progressive methods. In addition to cultivating the crops best adapted to the soil and climate he is engaged quite extensively in raising Chester White hogs and high grade cattle, while at the head of his herds he has pure-blooded bulls. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made when he took possession of his farm, but with characteristic energy he began the task of developing the raw prairie into richly cultivated fields and today has one of the fine farms of Swea township. In the midst of his broad fields stands a comfortable and attractive residence and not far distant are large barns and sheds affording ample shelter to grain, stock and farm machinery. When he first came to this place Bancroft was his trading point but with the building of Armstrong a near-by market was secured.

On the 25th of February, 1885, Mr. Christensen was married to Miss Frances Malvine Madisen, who was one of a family of thirteen children: Hans, who is a resident of Hardy, Iowa; Tina, the wife of Matt Nelson, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Fred, a resident of Goldfield, Iowa; Francis Malvine, the wife of the subject of this review; Christina, who married Chris Clausen of Goldfield, Iowa; Sinne, the wife of Henry Maushaund, who is engaged in farming in Swea township; Christian, who makes his home in Denmark; Rasmus, who is engaged in farming in Swea township; Mary, the wife of Matts Rasmussen, a resident of Goldfield, Iowa; Annie, who married Martin Bensen, of Ringsted, Iowa; Martin, a resident of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; Andrea, who resides in Hardy, Iowa; and Sinne, deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are the parents of eleven children. Carrie married Fred Jensen, who is engaged in farming in Seneca township, Iowa, and they are the parents of two children, Bernard and Morris. Jennie is the wife of H. McGregor, who is engaged in farming in Swea township, Iowa, and they have two children, Francis and Glenn. William resides with his parents on the home farm. Agnes became the wife of Leo Delperdang, of Bancroft, Iowa. Minnie married Edward Jensen, who is engaged in farming on his father’s ranch in Seneca township, Iowa, and they have one child, Everett. Annie, Ella, Roy and Forrest reside at home and are pupils of district school No. 8, Swea township. Two children are now deceased: William, having passed away at the age of two years, and a daughter, who died in infancy.

While Mr. Christensen advocates republican principles he votes independently especially at local elections, where the only real consideration is the capability of the candidate. For three years he has filled the office of trustee in Swea township and for five years was school director in the Eighth district. He holds membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge at Swea City, and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church of Seneca township. High and honorable purpose animates him in all his life work. He contributes to the work of general improvement and progress here and his influence is always given to material, political and moral advancement. His has been a creditable life history, for, coming to the United States when but twenty years of age he has here made good use of his time and opportunities and has continually worked his way upward until he is now one of the leading farmers of Swea township, possessing a valuable and productive tract of land. He never allowed obstacles or difficulties to brook his path if they could be overcome by persistent and honorable effort and he is, therefore, today one of the successful agriculturists of Kossuth county.