Alfred Christenson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1234-1235 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ALFRED CHRISTENSON. 

	Alfred Christenson, a well known and prosperous agriculturist 
residing on section 9, Mapleton township, Minnehaha county, was born in 
that township on the 24th of December, 1871. He was among the first 
white children born in this section of the state and as an infant was 
rocked in his cradle by the Indians hundreds of times. His parents were 
Christ and Martina (Estensen) Christenson, natives of Denmark and 
Norway respectively. They emigrated to the United States in 1869 and 
were married in Michigan, the father working in the mines at Calumet 
and Hecla of that state. Hearing of the free lands in South Dakota, 
they came west to this state in the spring of 1871, and Mr. Christenson 
immediately homesteaded eighty acres on section 16, Mapleton township, 
Minnehaha county. This land in the Big Sioux bottoms is today some of 
the best in the state. Subsequently Mr. Christenson preempted one 
hundred and sixty acres in Benton township and later bought one hundred 
and sixty acres in Mapleton township adjoining the Benton township 
farm. He resided on his preemption for a period of thirty-three years 
but after the death of his wife, in 1898, returned to Denmark, in which 
country he has since remained. 

	Alfred Christenson was reared under the parental roof and 
received his education in the public schools. He continued at home 
after attaining his majority, being associated with his father in his 
farming enterprises until 1898, when he located on the place where he 
now resides and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. 
This farm was then owned by his father, and Alfred Christenson operated 
it as a renter for about eleven years. In 1909, however, he purchased 
the property, which embraces one hundred and ninety-two acres. He had 
purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land in Brown county in 1905 
but disposed of the same before buying his home farm. He likewise owns 
the northwest quarter of section 21, Mapleton township, which he 
purchased in March, 1913, and in 1915 he purchased three hundred and 
twenty acres on section 28, the same township. As an agriculturist he 
has won a well merited and gratifying measure of success, carrying on 
the work of the fields in a practical, progressive and resultant 
manner. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Lumber 
Company, the New Hope Grain Company of Crooks, South Dakota, and the 
Baltic Lumber Company. 

	In 1905 Mr. Christenson was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Mary 
Brekke, a native of Norway and the widow of Andrew Brekke. By her first 
husband Mrs. Christenson had three children: Halver, Anna and Andrew. 
To her and Mr. Christenson have been born six children, five of whom 
survive, namely: Carl, Ingel, Cerena, Alice and Sophia. All the 
children are at home 

	Mr. Christenson exercises his right of franchise in support of 
the men and measures of the republican party and has acted in the 
capacity of supervisor for about four years, while for about two years 
he ably served as constable of the township. Fraternally he is 
identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, while his religious 
faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, 
to which his wife also belongs. His entire life has been spent in 
Minnehaha county and he enjoys an enviable reputation as one of its 
representative agriculturists and respected citizens.