Brown County MN Archives Biographies.....Christiansen, Wilfred 1884 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 24, 2014, 10:35 pm

Source: See Below
Author: L. A. Fritsche

WILFRED CHRISTIANSEN.

    Wilfred Christiansen, the popular register of deeds for Brown county and a
former well-known merchant of this county, is a native son of Brown county,
having been born on a farm in Linden township, November 26, 1884, son of Rasmus
and Johanna (Jacobson) Christiansen, natives of Denmark, for many years
well-known residents of this county, now living retired at Madelia, in the
neighboring county of Watonwan.

    Rasmus Christiansen was born and reared in a village near the city of
Copenhagen in his native land, last born of the four sons born to his parents,
and there became a miller. While still a young man, about 1866, he came to the
United States and for some time lived in Wisconsin. About 1875 he came into
Minnesota and for some time was engaged as a miller at Mankato, from there
coming to Brown county, where he entered an eighty-acre homestead in Linden
township and set himself to the task of clearing and developing the same. Three
years later he married Johanna Jacobsen, who also was born in Denmark, daughter
of Jacob and Anna Jacobsen, who, upon coming to this country, first settled in
Wisconsin and later came to this county, locating in Linden township. Jacob
Jacobson in early life was a sailor, but after coming to America followed
farming the rest of his life, both he and his wife spending their last days on
the Linden township farm, he being eighty-five years of age at the time of his
death, she also having been well along in years when she died. They were the
parents of four children, Paul, Nels, Johanna and Christina.

     After his marriage Rasmus Christiansen established his home on his
homestead tract in Linden township and his agricultural venture speedily
prospered. He gradually added to his land holdings until he became the owner of
a fine farm of two hundred acres and was accounted one of the most substantial
citizens in that neighborhood. He not only was diligent in his own business, but
found time to give a good citizen's attention to public affairs and served for
some time as a member of the board of county commissioners. In 1911 he sold his
farm and he and his wife retired to the village of Madelia, where he died on
August 22, 1915. The family are earnest members of the Lutheran church and the
children were reared in that faith. There are six of these children, all of whom
are still living, namely: Alma of Madelia; Robert, of Kariman, South Dakota;
Alvine, who married the Rev. P. W. Erickson, of Argyle, Wisconsin; May, wife of
Lars Larsen, of Madelia; Wilfred, more generally known among his friends as
"Fred," the immediate subject of this biographical sketch, and Annetta, wife of
Caleb Ash, of Gwinner, North Dakota.

     Wilfred Christiansen was reared on the paternal farm in Linden township,
this county, growing up with a full acquaintance with the labors of the farm. He
received his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of
his home, supplementing the same by a course in the commercial school at
Mankato. At the age of sixteen he started out "on his own hook," working at farm
labor or such other pursuits as presented themselves and presently engaged his
services as a commercial traveler and was "on the road" for a year. He then went
to Gwinner, North Dakota, and there started to learn the machinist's trade, but
after a couple of years of such employment decided to return to the farm, and
for three years thereafter lived on a rented farm, which he operated quite
successfully. He then engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in North
Dakota and was thus engaged in that state for a year, at the end of which time
he returned to this county and worked in the same line at Hanska. He later
established a general store at Linden and was in business there until his
election in 1914, three years later, to the important and responsible public
office of register of deeds for Brown county, after which he moved to New Ulm.
Mr. Christiansen entered upon the duties of that office in January, 1915, and is
now serving in that capacity. Mr. Christiansen has ever given close attention to
civic affairs and during his residence at Hanska was president of the village
board.

     On June 6. 1912, Wilfred Christiansen was united in marriage to Grace
Halverson, who was born at New Ulm, daughter of Louis and Mary (Knutsen)
Halverson, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Linden township,
this county, who now reside at Hanska, in this county. Louis Halverson is a son
of Ole Halverson and wife, who emigrated to this country and became early
settlers in Wisconsin, later coming to this county, where they spent the
remainder of their lives, well-known pioneers of this community. They were the
parents of five children, Louis, Clement, Halvor, John and Annie. Mary (Knutson)
Halverson is a daughter of Amund Knutson and wife, early residents of this
county, who later moved to the adjoining county of Renville, where they spent
the rest of their lives, both being well advanced in years at the time of their
death. They were the parents of thirteen children, Mary, Knut, Ross, John,
Halvor, Waldemar, Carrie, Clara, Regina, Marie, Bessie, Rena and Grace. Four
children were born to Louis Halverson and wife, Bird, Grace, Orie and Nora.

     To Wilfred and Grace (Halverson) Christiansen two children have been born,
Raymond and Verne. Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen are members of the Lutheran church
and take a warm interest in all good works hereabout, being held in high esteem
by their many friends. Mr. Christiansen has proved a very capable register of
deeds and is one of the most popular men about the court house.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY MINNESOTA
ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

L. A. FRITSCHE. M. D.
Editor

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Old Families

VOLUME II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana



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