Martin Hogh

HOGH OLESEN NIELSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 16:19:50

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Martin Hogh Family
By Ronald Hogh

Martin Sorensen Hogh was born May 30, 1856 near Vejle, Denmark. He was the son of Soren Jepsen Hogh and Anne Olesen. He attended school in Denmark and became a journeyman carpenter after completing three years of apprenticeship. He owned and operated a small farm in addition to his carpentry work. He married Marion Nielsen. They became the parents of three children: Samuel, Richard and Regina.

In 1890, Martin, with his wife and family left Denmark and sailed to England. His thirty-fourth birthday was spent crossing the North Sea. They landed in England and crossed that country by train. At Liverpool, they boarded a ship for the United States. From New York, the family traveled by train to Sioux City, arriving on June 20th. Upon reaching Sioux City, Martin went to work as a carpenter. One of his first jobs was on the combination bridge project where he built concrete forms. In May 1892, Martin and his family were forced to flee their home by the Floyd River flood. They lost most of their possessions. Upon returning to their house on Stueben Street, they found a cat perched on the clock shelf. In 1894, Marion died and was buried in Sioux City.

On February 16, 1895, Martin married Karentine Mogensen Christiansen, a widow with two children, Nels and Anna. Karentine was born July 17, 1856, near the village of Bagenkop on the island of Langeland, a part of Denmark. She was the oldest daughter of Mogens Christensen and Anne Larsen. In keeping with the Danish custom of using patronymic surnames, Karentine as well as her sisters and brothers used Mogensen as their last name. She grew up in Denmark and came to Woodbury County around 1880, accompanied by her sister, Martha. She married Fred Christiansen, whom she had known in Denmark. They lived on a farm in Liberty Township where Fred died in 1893.

After Martin and Karentine were married they farmed near Salix until 1903. Three children were born to them. They were Frederick, Christian and Martha. On May 25, 1900, Martin became a citizen of the United States in Sioux City.

In 1903, Martin and Karentine rented a farm in Dakota County, Nebraska adjacent to Goodwin. In March, Martin, with help from friends, hauled their belongings to Nebraska in wagons. To save time, the Missouri River was forded near the Floyd Monument. Karentine and the young children made the journey by train.

Marin continued to work as a carpenter after he moved to Nebraska. He died at his farm home near Goodwin, Nebraska, on October 22, 1938. He was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Sioux City. Karentine lived until December 18, 1942, when she died at Goodwin. She is buried beside Martin in Graceland Cemetery.