"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Fred T. Christensen, a retired farmer, now living in Windom, is one of Cottonwood county's worthy citizens who has ever taken a delight in nature and existence, because he has been in touch with the springs of life, having spent most of his years on the farm. Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark, November 22, 1846. He is a son of Christopher and Dorothy Christensen, both natives of Denmark, where they grew up, were married and established their home on a farm, the father being a farm laborer, and they both spent their lives in their native land. Eight children were born to them, the subject of this sketch and his sister being the only ones to come to America.

Fred T. Christensen received his education in the common schools of Denmark, and he began life as a farmer there and when twenty-three years of age came to the United States, locating at Lake Superior, Michigan, where he worked in the iron mines for several years, then moved to Minneapolis and worked at loading lumber for two years, then went back to Michigan, where he worked at loading iron ore on lake steamers for one year, then came to Minnesota and took up a claim in Wadena county, but on account of the many Indians in that locality, who were not by any means desirable neighbors, he returned to Minneapolis and worked there until 1876, then bought a homesteader's right on eighty acres, for fifty dollars, in Amo township, Cottonwood county. When leaving Minneapolis for Cottonwood county, subject and wife drove all the way in an open township, where he had bought eighty acres during the previous fall, before moving here. He worked hard and managed well, added many important improvements and succeeded as a general farmer and stock raiser, and increased his holdings to two hundred and forty acres of valuable and productive land in one section and eighty in another section. Having accumulated a comfortable competency he retired from active life in 1906, moved to Windom, where he purchased a commodious home and about three acres of ground, and is now enjoying his declining years in peace and plenty. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished all unaided. When he arrived in America he was without funds and was compelled to work his way to Michigan.

Mr. Christensen was married in 1875 in Michigan to Mary Jensen, a daughter of Jens and Christena Hansen, and not having any children they adopted a son, John, who married Esther Nelson, is now farming in Westbrook township, Cottonwood county, and they have two children, Delbert and Evelyn.

Politically, Mr. Christensen is a Republican of the old school. He is a member of the Lutheran church.