Cache-Box Elder-Weber County UT Archives Biographies.....Hristensen, Charles M. 1869 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 14, 2012, 2:32 am

Source: See below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

CHARLES M. CHRISTENSEN.

    Commercial enterprise in Logan finds a worthy representative in Charles M.
Christensen, the secretary, treasurer and manager of the Spande Furniture
Company. His life story had its beginning on the 17th of November, 1869. He was
born at Brigham Utah, a son of James and Mary (Engberg) Christensen, both of
whom were natives of Denmark and have now passed away. On leaving that country
James Christensen crossed the Atlantic to America but did not tarry on the
eastern coast. He made his way immediately to Utah, where he arrived in 1861,
becoming one of the first residents of Manti. He had followed merchandising in
Denmark and on coming to Utah he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits
and stock raising, conducting the business with capability and prosperity
throughout the remainder of his days. He was a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints and his active support thereof indicated his zeal
and fidelity to the cause. The mother of Charles M. Christensen came to Utah In
1862, when but thirteen years of age, and was married in Salt Lake City Five
children were born to them, all sons, and Charles M. was the first in order of
birth. The mother passed away at Newton, Utah She was a very devoted follower of
the church, loyal ever to its religious teachings.

    After mastering the branches of learning taught in the district schools of
Newton, Cache county, Charles M. Christensen became a student in the Brigham
Young College at Logan, from which institution he was graduated in 1892 on the
completion of the Normal course. He afterward attended the University of Utah,
where he pursued special studies. He has been dependent upon his own resources
from the age of seventeen years and his first employment was with the Oregon
Short lane Railroad Later he was engaged in construction work in Idaho and
Montana when the road was changed from a narrow to a broad gauge line. He
followed that work for about two years, after which he eagerly embraced the
opportunity of continuing his studies and by broader educational training
becoming better qualified for life’s practical responsibilities and duties. From
the earnings he saved in his first employment he met the expenses of his college
course. He took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in Weber and
Cache counties for ten years, and during that time he also entered the sheep
growing business and took up general agricultural pursuits in Cache county. He
worked diligently and persistently, making wise use of his time and
opportunities, and in that way met with a very substantial measure of
prosperity. After several years, however, he sold his interests and turned his
attention to commercial pursuits, engaging in the furniture trade. In 1905 he
formed a partnership with the late John Spande and the following year the
business was incorporated under the name of the Spande Furniture Company with
Mr. Christensen as the secretary, treasurer and manager. He has since occupied
that position in the company, being active in control of the business, which has
steadily grown in volume and in importance. His course has at. all times
measured up to the highest commercial standards and his enterprise has been the
basis of his steadily advancing success.

    In Logan Temple, on the 20th of November, 1893, Mr. Christensen was married
to Miss Bernice Ledingham, a native of Salt Lake City and a daughter of
Alexander and Mary (Griffiths) Ledingham, the former now deceased. They were
representatives of old pioneer families of Salt Lake. Her father was of Scotch
birth and became one of the early settlers of Utah, establishing business in
Salt Lake City as a hardware merchant, where he conducted his store for many
years. The mother was born in England and is still living at the age of
eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen have become parents of a daughter
and five sons: Gladys Ledingham; Lieutenant J. Morris Christensen of the
Students’ Army Training Corps; Charles Cecil; Norman Ledingham; Frank Alton; and
Alexander Ledingham.

    Mr. Christensen is a republican in his political views and keeps well
informed on the questions and issues of the day but does not seek nor desire
office as a reward for party fealty He has been a member and director of the
Logan Commercial Boosters Club since its organization and has done active and
effective work for the society in its efforts to uphold the civic standards of
Logan, to extend its trade relations and advance its welfare in every
particular. He belongs also to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
in which he has been an earnest and effective worker. He has been active in the
Sunday school work and his loyalty to any cause which he espouses is one of his
marked characteristics. During the period of the great European war he was a
member of the Council of Defense for Logan, He has always found his chief
pleasure at his own fireside in the midst of his family and friends. He is
preeminently a business man, having always given close attention to the
interests under his care, and it has been through individual effort that he has
worked his way upward to the creditable position which he now occupies in the
commercial circles of Logan. His example is one which might well be followed by
others who must start out in life as he did without financial assistance.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from

UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL

ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME IV
CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1920

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