JAMES M. CHRISTENSEN.

JAMES M. CHRISTENSEN.
James M. Christensen, whose life history has been marked by steady progression, is today one of the valued and representative young business men of Wyoming, being vice president and manager of the Gem City Grocery Company and connected with the wholesale and retail trade in Laramie. He was the founder and promoter of this business, which has grown to extensive proportions. Ralph Waldo Emerson said : “An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man.” and the substantial wholesale and retail grocery house conducted under the name of the Gem City Grocery Company is the visible evidence of the life of well directed energy and thrift which James M. Christensen has led. He was born in Denmark, January 23, 1873, and is a son of James and Martina Christensen, both of whom were also natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives, the mother passing away in that country. The father is a prosperous farmer and still resides in Denmark. They reared a large family of thirteen children. James M. Christensen, who was the third in order of birth, spent his boyhood days in attending school in his native land until he reached the age of fourteen years. when his textbooks were put aside and he turned h;s attention to farm work, and since that time he has learned his lessons in the school of experience, where he has gleaned much valuable knowledge. He began to earn his living as a farm hand and was thus employed until he reached the age of eighteen, when he decided to come to the new world, having heard many favorable reports concerning its business conditions and opportunities. After crossing the Atlantic he made his way direct to Laramie, Wyoming, where he arrived on the 22d of April, 1891. He then secured a position with the Union Pacific Railway Company and was employed by that corporation until 1894. After a short time he became connected with the University of Wyoming and retained a position there for six years. He afterward went to Watsonville, California, to visit his brother and spent ten months in that place, at the end of which time he again came to Laramie. Not long afterward he embarked in business on his own account in a small way, opening a little grocery store on the 1st of November, 1901, at the northwest corner of South Second street, and Custer avenue. In December he was joined by his brother, who had previously resided in California, and the partnership between them lasted two months, when the brother sold his interest to Herman Madsen, after which the store was conducted as a partnership arrangement until July 22, 1902. The business was then reorganized and incorporated under the style of the Gem City Grocery Company with Frank Coolican as the president, James M. Christensen, vice president, Louis Tyvold, secretary, and Chris Madsen, treasurer. Under the new organization the trade of the house has continuously and rapidly grown, additional space being required from time to time. The present place of business occupied by the company was formerly occupied by the Trading Commercial Company, which was on the verge of failure when the Gem City Grocery Company was formed. They bought out the stock of the older company and have since occupied the building. New life and enterprise were infused into the undertaking and in January, 1903, Mr. Christensen was elected manager and continued to direct the affairs of the business until January, 1909, at which time he severed his connections with the house and became a representative of the Morey Mercantile Company of Denver, Colorado. He continued to act in that capacity until February, 1911, when he returned and again became associated with the Gem City Grocery Company as manager and vice president. Since that time he has confined his active interests to this growing concern. In fact he has been a most potent element in its progress from the start and the establishment of the company is such as would be a credit to a city of much larger size. The house is a model in its equipment, its cleanliness and in its business management. While the business was begun with but one employe today there are more than twenty clerks' and salespeople and the trade relations of the house are being constantly extended. The business has far outgrown the original building and a substantial warehouse is being added in the rear for the storage of goods, in addition to two other similar buildings that are now filled to capacity with staple lines necessary to supplying a large business. On the 2d of September. 1896, Mr. Christensen was married in Laramie to Miss Jennie Johnson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Johnson. She passed away at Oak's Home, in Denver, Colorado, September 17, 1907. On the 27th of December, 1911, Mr. Christensen was again married, his second union being with Miss Laura Bangs, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs: Hans Bangs, of Laramie. They have become the parents of three children: Wesley James. who was born in Laramie, October 17, 1912; Stanley Bangs, born January 8, 1914; and Eloise, born March 8, 1917. Fraternally Mr. Christensen is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and is a Shriner. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Danish Brotherhood. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church, of which he was trustee for twelve years. He has served on the school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while his business affairs have claimed much of his time and attention he has always found opportunity to cooperate in measures and movements which are for the benefit of the community and stands at all times for those interests which advance the welfare of city and state. He served as a member of the city council of Laramie one term and is now the active head of the Laramie Chamber of Commerce, having been recently elected to the presidency. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen occupy a prominent social position. He has recently erected an attractive residence at 104 South Eighth street, which is a model of its kind, being one of the fine homes to be found in this section of the state. In the style of architecture it is most attractive and is equipped with every modern convenience. It is likewise elegantly and tastefully furnished and one of its charms is its warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Christensen certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. Coming to the new world when a young man of twenty years, he has been watchful of every opportunity pointing to success and has never hesitated to take a forward step when the opportunity offered. Anyone meeting him face to face would recognize in him those qualities which are termed rare. The soubriquet of “Sunny Jim” was for a long time applied to him by his friends and intimate acquaintances, and most appropriately, too, from his cheerful manner and congeniality. In his record there has been nothing sinister and nothing to conceal. He has been guided at all times by a conscientious regard for his obligations toward his fellowmen and his business record has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's losses. On the contrary, he has followed constructive methods, meeting competition openly and building up his interests through close application, honorable dealing and undaunted enterprise.

James M. Christensen, whose life history has been marked by steady progression, is today one of the valued and representative young business men of Wyoming, being vice president and manager of the Gem City Grocery Company and connected with the wholesale and retail trade in Laramie. He was the founder and promoter of this business, which has grown to extensive proportions. Ralph Waldo Emerson said : “An institution is but the lengthened shadow of a man.” and the substantial wholesale and retail grocery house conducted under the name of the Gem City Grocery Company is the visible evidence of the life of well directed energy and thrift which James M. Christensen has led.
He was born in Denmark, January 23, 1873, and is a son of James and Martina Christensen, both of whom were also natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives, the mother passing away in that country. The father is a prosperous farmer and still resides in Denmark. They reared a large family of thirteen children.
James M. Christensen, who was the third in order of birth, spent his boyhood days in attending school in his native land until he reached the age of fourteen years. when his textbooks were put aside and he turned h;s attention to farm work, and since that time he has learned his lessons in the school of experience, where he has gleaned much valuable knowledge. He began to earn his living as a farm hand and was thus employed until he reached the age of eighteen, when he decided to come to the new world, having heard many favorable reports concerning its business conditions and opportunities. After crossing the Atlantic he made his way direct to Laramie, Wyoming, where he arrived on the 22d of April, 1891. He then secured a position with the Union Pacific Railway Company and was employed by that corporation until 1894. After a short time he became connected with the University of Wyoming and retained a position there for six years. He afterward went to Watsonville, California, to visit his brother and spent ten months in that place, at the end of which time he again came to Laramie. Not long afterward he embarked in business on his own account in a small way, opening a little grocery store on the 1st of November, 1901, at the northwest corner of South Second street, and Custer avenue. In December he was joined by his brother, who had previously resided in California, and the partnership between them lasted two months, when the brother sold his interest to Herman Madsen, after which the store was conducted as a partnership arrangement until July 22, 1902. The business was then reorganized and incorporated under the style of the Gem City Grocery Company with Frank Coolican as the president, James M. Christensen, vice president, Louis Tyvold, secretary, and Chris Madsen, treasurer. Under the new organization the trade of the house has continuously and rapidly grown, additional space being required from time to time. The present place of business occupied by the company was formerly occupied by the Trading Commercial Company, which was on the verge of failure when the Gem City Grocery Company was formed. They bought out the stock of the older company and have since occupied the building. New life and enterprise were infused into the undertaking and in January, 1903, Mr. Christensen was elected manager and continued to direct the affairs of the business until January, 1909, at which time he severed his connections with the house and became a representative of the Morey Mercantile Company of Denver, Colorado. He continued to act in that capacity until February, 1911, when he returned and again became associated with the Gem City Grocery Company as manager and vice president. Since that time he has confined his active interests to this growing concern. In fact he has been a most potent element in its progress from the start and the establishment of the company is such as would be a credit to a city of much larger size. The house is a model in its equipment, its cleanliness and in its business management. While the business was begun with but one employe today there are more than twenty clerks' and salespeople and the trade relations of the house are being constantly extended. The business has far outgrown the original building and a substantial warehouse is being added in the rear for the storage of goods, in addition to two other similar buildings that are now filled to capacity with staple lines necessary to supplying a large business.
On the 2d of September. 1896, Mr. Christensen was married in Laramie to Miss Jennie Johnson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Johnson. She passed away at Oak's Home, in Denver, Colorado, September 17, 1907. On the 27th of December, 1911, Mr. Christensen was again married, his second union being with Miss Laura Bangs, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs: Hans Bangs, of Laramie. They have become the parents of three children: Wesley James. who was born in Laramie, October 17, 1912; Stanley Bangs, born January 8, 1914; and Eloise, born March 8, 1917.
Fraternally Mr. Christensen is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and is a Shriner. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Danish Brotherhood. He is a member of the Trinity Lutheran church, of which he was trustee for twelve years. He has served on the school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while his business affairs have claimed much of his time and attention he has always found opportunity to cooperate in measures and movements which are for the benefit of the community and stands at all times for those interests which advance the welfare of city and state. He served as a member of the city council of Laramie one term and is now the active head of the Laramie Chamber of Commerce, having been recently elected to the presidency. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen occupy a prominent social position. He has recently erected an attractive residence at 104 South Eighth street, which is a model of its kind, being one of the fine homes to be found in this section of the state. In the style of architecture it is most attractive and is equipped with every modern convenience. It is likewise elegantly and tastefully furnished and one of its charms is its warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Christensen certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. Coming to the new world when a young man of twenty years, he has been watchful of every opportunity pointing to success and has never hesitated to take a forward step when the opportunity offered. Anyone meeting him face to face would recognize in him those qualities which are termed rare. The soubriquet of “Sunny Jim” was for a long time applied to him by his friends and intimate acquaintances, and most appropriately, too, from his cheerful manner and congeniality. In his record there has been nothing sinister and nothing to conceal. He has been guided at all times by a conscientious regard for his obligations toward his fellowmen and his business record has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's losses. On the contrary, he has followed constructive methods, meeting competition openly and building up his interests through close application, honorable dealing and undaunted enterprise.