H. P. CHRISTENSEN PASSED AWAY LAST SATURDAY

H. P. Christensen was born in Vejle, Denmark, the 21st day of August, 1862, and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, in his home church. After his confirmation in 1876, he worked for four years as a cabinet maker’s apprentice. In March, 1880 he set sail for America, (via Cunard Anchor Line), making a brief stop at Glasgow, Scotland. (It took 21 days to cross the Atlantic). By train from New York to Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and by bus from Kingston to Timbert, where Mr. Christensen worked as a farm hand for 1 ½ years at $14 a month. For the next year he worked in the woods near Ornisville, and then moved to Pennsylvania where he worked for about 1 ½ years in the coal mines at Howesdale. In June, 1883 he came to Herman, Nebr., and secured work on the Rose farm. For two years he followed the carpentry trade in the community and at Orum and Fremont and then took up farming.

During these years his mother kept house for him. On the 3rd day of May, 1888 he was united in marriage to Rosa Miller. A farm was purchased 3 ½ miles southwest of Herman, and in this home four children were born, one of whom, Alfred, died at the age of four November 22, 1897. Mrs. Christensen died March 24, 1899.

The following year, June 8, 1900, Mr. Christensen made a trip to Denmark (via White Star Line) to visit his sister and friends at Vejle, the place of his birth. On August 21, the same year he set sail from Esbjerg, Denmark, for England, crossed England by rail to South Hampton and set sail for New York (on S.S. America), and returned to his home at Herman the 6th of September.

Margrethe Jonasen accompanied him from Vejle, and they were united in marriage October 12, 1900. They lived on the farm near Herman until 1922 when they moved to Blair and purchased a home on the corner of First and Grant Street, where they have lived ever since.

During the past year Mr. Christensen’s health has been failing. Death called him last Saturday, November 14th, at the age of 74 years, 2 months and 23 days.

Surviving him are his wife and three children: Louis A., of Florence; Mary Nelson, of Herman and William who is on the home farm. Two sisters also survive him, the one in Denmark and the other at Howesdale, Pa., and also nine grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the First Lutheran Church Tuesday November 17. Interment was made in the Blair Cemetery.

There is an additional obituary on file that was published in the Pilot Tribune on November 19, 1936. The only additional information not included in the Enterprise article is that the Rev. James N. Lund officiated the service.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave # 114194061