Chapter 14
Christensen History
My grandmother was Minnie Christine Christensen. She was born September 14, 1882 in Sjaelland, Denmark and died February 25, 1962 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She married Peter Julius Hansen (Apr 12, 1881-Jun 27, 1968) February 11, 1905. Minnie was the daughter of Martin A Christensen (March 1861-Aug 10, 1938) and Christina M Sorensen (Feb 1859-1940). Both were born in Denmark and died in Council Bluffs Iowa.
Martin A. Christensen was born March 1861 in Denmark and died 10 August 1938 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1882, he married Christina Maria Sorensen in Fredericksborg, Denmark. She was born February 1859 in Denmark and died 1940 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They had three children in Denmark before coming to the United States: Minnie Christine (my grandmother), born 14 September; Arthur, born October 1884; and Christian, born March 1887. According to the 1900 US census, Martin arrived in the United States in 1889 and he was naturalized. His wife Christina Marie, daughter Minnie, and sons Arthur and Christian arrived in 1890, According to the 1910 census, Martin arrived in 1890, so he may have gone back to Denmark to bring back his wife and three children. Their next four children were all born in Council Bluffs: Frederick, born 14 September 1890; Sina, born May 1893; Emma, born January 1895; and Nora M., born 26 May 1897. In 1929. Martin lived at 1912 South 9th with his wife and family. Martin worked as a mechanic and installed gas lights in the house. His obituary from the Council bluffs Nonpareil:
“Funeral services were August 10, 1938 at Cutler Funeral Home. Rev Fred C.M. Hansen officiated. Music was by Mrs Emil Moen. Pallbearers were Don J Hansen, Sr, Everett Hansen, Fritz Hansen, Jack Christensen and Jack O’Hara.” Martin died just five days after my birth, and I was only two years old when Christina died. I remember Mom talking about them, but don’t remember any of the details.
The story passed down was that the marriage of Pete and Minnie was “arranged” through (not by) the Danish Brotherhood. They were married in St John’s English Church in 1905 as reported in the Monday Feb 13, 1905 Council Bluffs Nonpareil:
“Married Saturday - Mr. Peter J. Hansen and Miss Minnie Christensen, Both of Council Bluffs, were married Saturday evening at the parsonage by Rev. G. W. Snyder, of St. John’s English Lutheran Church. Mr. And Mrs. Hansen will occupy their new home at 810 Avenue A.” The Thursday Feb 10, 1955 Nonpareil reported their golden wedding anniversary party: “
Supposedly, Minnie had been in love with Dick Stevenson. Later in life, after her sons had grown up, she ran off with Dick to the Ogden hotel. Her sons came and brought her back home. My mother told me the story of Minnie and Dick Stevenson, but I don’t remember when it happened. I do know that in 1925, Dick was married to Bessie, and they were listed together in the City Directories until 1935, when his wife’s listing changed to Cora. Dick was living at the Ogden when he died 18 October 1943 of heart trouble. Dick Stevenson was the brother of Rolla Lee Stevenson, who married Mom’s mother, Rose Parker Johnston, after her divorce from Grandpa Howard. That would make Dick the step-uncle of my Mom.
I remember my grandparents, Pete and Minnie, very well, having spent a lot of time at their house across from Mercy hospital. Pete always seemed happy. He was a great teaser and enjoyed smoking his pipe. Minnie cooked some big family meals at holidays. In April of 1952, there was a big flood from the Missouri river. The west end of town, where we were living, was evacuated. My younger brother Fred and I went to live with Pete and Minnie at their house across the street from Mercy Hospital, where he worked. I remember he took us to work with him. It was a great adventure for us.
I also remember spending many times with Minnie’s youngest sister, Nora, who married Art Larsen. Nora was born May 26, 1897 in Council Bluffs and died March 17, 1979 in Council Bluffs. Arthur Ernest Larsen was born December 28, 1893 in Council Bluffs and died November 5, 1963 in Council Bluffs. They were married October 21, 1923 and lived in Lake Manawa, Iowa. Arts parents were born in Denmark (1930 census). Art was a carpenter. Nora's mother lived with them in 1930. There were no children and they had been married about 10 years in 1930. Lake Manawa is located just south of Council Bluffs and Highway 92 in Lewis Township. In my day, we would drive south on 7th Street from the church to visit Uncle Art and Aunt Nora. Don, Fred and I would sit on the back porch (closed in) and play card games or talk with Art, while Nora fixed some kind of goodies. As I recall, their house was very near the main road entrance to the north end of the lake.
Art was the son of Theodore Larsen (1864-1933) and Anna Pedersen (1868-1947). Both were born in Denmark and died in Council Bluffs. From his obituary in the council Bluffs Nonpareil:
“Arthur E Larsen, 69, Manawa, died Tuesday at an Omaha hospital after a short illness. Born in Council Bluffs, a retired carpenter, WWI veteran, member St John Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 2, Carpenter's Union 364 AF&AM. Survivors wife Nora M, 2 sisters Mrs Wayne (Lucy)Snyder of Manawa and Mrs Robert (Frances) McPherson of St Petersburg Florida, and brother Robert T Larsen of San Diego California.”
I don’t remember any of the other Christensen children, but some of them probably attended the holiday dinners at the Hansen house.