CHRIS KNUDSEN.
The Knutsen family, which is well known in Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa, has as one of the representatives of the second generation, Chris Knutsen, who owns one hundred and forty acres of land in Oakfield township, and who was born on December 3, 1853, in Denmark, the son of Knud and Caroline (Phillipson) Knutsen. A farmer in his native land until he came to America in 1874, Knud Knutsen located in Cass county, Iowa, and there worked as a section hand on the railroad for one year, after which he removed to Audubon county and located in Oakfield township. One year later he purchased a farm of eighty acres and subsequently added forty acres to the original tract. He farmed this land until his death in 1906. His wife, the mother of Chris Knutsen, died in 1910. Knud and Caroline Knutsen had four children, Chris, Peter, Mary and Caroline.
Chris Knutsen, who was educated in the public schools of Denmark, came to America when he was eighteen years old, arriving here in 1871, three years before the arrival of his parents. He located at Atlantic, Iowa, temporarily, and there worked as a section hand on the Rock Island railroad for six years, and then went to Wyoming, where he worked for a time. Upon returning from Wyoming, he came to Oakfield township, Audubon county, and here purchased eighty acres of land in section 16, subsequently buying eighty acres more. Remaining in Oakfield township until 1904, he then moved to Cass county, Iowa, and remained there for five years, when he returned to Audubon county and purchased the farm upon which he now lives. This farm consists of one hundred and forty acres. Ordinarily Mr. Knutsen raises forty head of hogs every year, and by feeding a considerable portion of his grain to the hogs he has been able to derive a very satisfactory profit.
In January, 1880, nine years after coming to America, Chris Knutsen was married to Carrie Hansen, daughter of Hans N. and Ingabore Hansen. They had one child, Kearne, who was born shortly before the death of Mrs. Knutsen. After her death Mr. Knutsen was married to Sena Nelsen, daughter of Rasmus and Bertha Nelsen. Three children have been born to this second marriage, Bertha, Philip and Clarence.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Knutsen are members of the Danish Lutheran church. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Knutsen has held only minor offices, but served efficiently as school director and road supervisor, two of the most important local offices in any community.
Like his brother, Peter, of Oakfield township, and his father before him, Chris Knutsen is a worthy citizen, a man who has conscientiously and honorably discharged all of the duties devolving upon the citizen of a great democratic country. Mr. Knutsen has prospered since coming to this country, and no one is more willing than he to admit that this success is the result of the superior opportunities offered in this country. Mr. Knutsen is very popular with the people of Oakfield township.
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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. 735-736.
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