CHRIST CHRISTENSEN.
One of the most active and successful farmers of Audubon county, Christ Christensen, one of the prominent citizens of Kimballton, Iowa, is now living retired. Born on August 15, 1847, in Vensyssel, Denmark, he is the son of Christ and Inger (Jensdetter) Christensen, who were both natives of Denmark and followed the occupation of farmers. They lived and died in their native land, rearing a family of four children, three of whom are now deceased. They are Kirstine Marie, deceased; Christina, who lives in Utah; Caroline, who is deceased and Christ, the subject of this sketch.
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Christ Christensen, who was educated in the schools of his native land, lived at home until seventeen years old, working out as a farm hand and serving as a soldier in the Danish army from April 25, 1870, to July 30, 1871. Three years later he came to America, locating in McLain county, Illinois, where he remained for three years. Moving to Rock Island county, Illinois, he remained there four years and in 1881 came to Audubon county, Iowa, locating in Sharon township, one mile south and one-half mile east of Kimballton. There has been nothing phenomenal in Mr. Christensen's success, but it has been attained by steady and consistent efforts. He first purchased forty acres of land at seven dollars an acre and later forty acres more at fifteen dollars an acre. From time to time he added land until he now has one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, with many improvements which Mr. Christensen himself has made. During his active career as a farmer he made a specialty of stock raising and was very successful.
In March, 1878, Christ Christensen was married to Ansine Christensen, of Denmark, who came to America in 1873. To this union have been born six children: Inger, who lives one mile north of Elk Horn and who married Marinus Larsen; Helena, who is the wife of Andrew Topp, of Sharon township; Peter, who is employed in the First National bank at Audubon, Iowa; Caroline, who is a teacher and lives with her brother on the farm; Anton and Martinus, who also live on the home farm. Mr. Christensen has been able to give all of his children a splendid education and has every reason to be extremely proud of their accomplishments. They have had the advantage not only of the home schools but also the high school, and the schools of Des Moines and Omaha. In 1911 he built one of the finest modern homes, consisting of eight rooms, to be found in the city of Kimballton and is now living retired in this beautiful home. A director and vice-president of the Landsmen's National Bank of Kimballton, he is also a director and vice-president of the Kimballton & Elk Horn Lumber Company, a director of the Farmers Shipping Union, a member and organizer of the Farmers Butchering Company and treasurer of the Kimballton Creamery Company for two years, a concern which he helped to organize.
A stanch Democrat in politics, Mr. Christensen served as township clerk from 1884 to 1892. During the past two years he has been serving on the city council of Kimballton and was also treasurer of the Danish Lutheran church of Kimballton, of which all the members of his family are faithful and loyal adherents. Mr. Christensen takes a wide interest in the affairs of this church. Although he and his wife started in in a small way, they have reared and educated a splendid family of children and have also attained for themselves and their children a substantial competence. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are well-known and popular socially in Kimballton and vicinity, and thev have many warm friends in Audubon county.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 672-673.
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