NELS CHRISTENSEN.
One of the best-known and dearly-beloved citizens of Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, during the last generation, was Nels Christensen, who ably discharged all the duties of honorable and upright citizenship, and who during the years of his struggle for a competence as a farmer of this county, was a power for great good in the community. For many years he was active in the agricultural life of Hamlin township, a prominent member of the Danish Lutheran church, one of the leading geniuses who promoted the organization of the West Hamlin Creamery Company, and a man of wide acquaintance throughout Audubon county. The late Nels Christensen was a man of kindly, charitable impulses, devoted to the welfare of his wife and family and well deserving the reverence which today attaches to his memory.
The late Nels Christensen was born on March 2, 1860, in Sjaelland, Denmark, and in 1882 came to the United States. After landing in New York city, and remaining there for a short time, he came direct to Avoca, Iowa, where he obtained work on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad. After having lived in Avoca about two years, he was sent by the company to Shelby, Iowa, and remained there only a few months and was then sent to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he worked on the section for a time. Later, he was given employment in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific roundhouse, and remained in this employment until about 1890, when he came to Audubon county, and purchased forty acres of land in Hamlin township. Here he lived, doing the duties of each day as they appeared to him, and saving a liberal amount of his earnings, which enabled him to purchase a hundred and twenty acres of land, comprising a well-improved farm, which was in his possession at the time of his death, December 15, 1909.
At the time Mr. Christensen purchased the land there were but two buildings upon it, a house, fourteen by sixteen feet, and a shed barn. During the first summer he owned the farm he built two additional rooms to the house, and in 1902, he built an addition, sixteen by twenty-eight feet on the north of that. In 1913 the family remodeled the house and now have one of the nicest homes in Hamlin township. They have also built good cribs, granaries, barns and other out-buildings.
On June 12, 1884, the late Nels Christensen was married in Harlan, Iowa, to Marie Rasmussen, who was born in Sjaelland, Denmark, and who is the daughter of Rasmus and Marie (Jensen) Hansen. Mrs. Christensen came to the United States in 1884, and was married shortly after her arrival in this country. She has been the mother of seven children, as follow: Jens P., born on June 13, 1885; Emil C., June 24, 1890, married Stella Jensen; Lawrence C., November 19, 1891; Sophus V., April 25, 1895; Harvey, March 15, 1898; Marius, November 13, 1900, and Alice Marie, December 2, 1905. Jens P. lives at home and directs the operations on the home farm. Harry, Marius and Alice are also at home.
The late Nels Christensen was a Democrat in politics, but never held office; in fact, he was never a candidate for office. He was an active member of the Danish Lutheran church throughout his life, and helped built [build] St. John's church in Oakfield township. He was an active contributor in support of the church, and also in support of the construction of the Exira church. All the members of the Christensen family are identified with the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Christensen was a member of the Danish Brotherhood, and was prominent in that lodge.
A worthy citizen of this great county, an industrious and skillful farmer, a kind father and loving husband, the late Nels Christensen is remembered, not only bv his family, who revere his memory, but by the host of friends he gained during his life in this county. Although he himself has gone, his work goes on, because his influence will not die.
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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. 498-499.
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