Christensen, Andrew C. 1850-1922
OLDEST PIONEER IS LAID TO REST
Andrew C. Christensen Buried At Fredericksburg Today.
Andrew Christian Christensen, better known as “Andy” to all us Minden and Kearney folks, passed away last Monday morning, Nov. 6, 1922, and today, in the presence of a host of mourning friends and relatives his body was laid to rest in Fredericksburg cemetery, only a stone’s throw from the place where he spent so many years playing his part as one of the pioneers of Kearney county.
It is more than forty-eight years since he took his place among us and during all that time he worked faithfully and successfully for his family and the community and in the molding of a wild and unproductive land it is now. Time after time he was elected to some office of public trust and in each position he acquitted himself with honor to the people he represented. His name is written large in the hearts of our early settlers who found him ever ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. To them his pocket book was open and his cheering encouragement and ready sympathy put many a man on the road to success and happiness.
His life story was that of all the early settlers. He came with little means, his capital being mostly a stout heart, a sound body, and a full measure of determination. He suffered every hardship of pioneering, but stuck to his guns and was one of the big helps in making this country into a habitable and comfortable land. No greater tribute can be paid to a man’s character and grit.
Mr. Christensen was born in Haastrup, Flyn, Denmark, May 4th, 1850, and at the age of 17 years came to America to carve for himself a place as a citizen of the U. S. A. For a short time he lived at Marshalltown, Iowa, but soon after the great Chicago fire, he went to that city and then to Minnesota. He was seeing the country before choosing a spot on which to settle permanently. From Minnesota, he floated down the Mississippi and thru the southern states, finally wandering further west, being in Colorado in the early seventies, where he worked for three years in a gold mine. In March, 1874, he left Denver with a small party composed of himself, Jens Andersen, N. F. Petersen and is brother, Lars Christensen. They headed for Nebraska in a covered wagon bent on taking up government land in Kearney county. They were fifteen days making the trip and encountered plenty of buffalo, antelope, Indians and bad whites enroute, but largely through the diplomacy and quick wit of “Andy” the party managed to get over the wild and woolly plains without mishap.
On April 9th, 1874, the party arrived at their destination and Mr. Christensen immediately filed on a claim near Fredericksburg. Just across the way and southwest of the homestead, he took up a timber claim and planted and nursed through its early years what is now known as Woodlawn Grove, the only picnic park in Kearney county.
Shortly after arriving, Mrs. Christensen was elected Justice of the Peace, and ever since that time was a factor in the politics of the community, being elected later as a State Representative and serving as a member of the 29th Assembly. He was regularly a committeeman in the Republican party and in 1900 served as a presidential elector, going to Washington with the other 7 electors to cast his vote for President McKinley. He is the only man from Kearney to have been so honored.
On November 9th, 1878, he was married in Minden to Miss Celia Clausen and to this union were born seven children, three boys and one girl having preceded him in death. The living children are: Mrs. Herman Thomsen of Ingham, Nebraska; Mrs. Paul Burgeson of Holdrege, Nebraska; and Harry Christensen, of Minden. His wife and two brothers, Rasmus Christensen, of Newark, and Sam Christensen of Minden also survive the deceased.
After spending ten years on the farm, he and his wife and family came to Minden to make their home. For many years he engaged in the implement and real estate business in which he was markedly successful, retiring five years prior to his death.
Just last year Mr. Christensen and his wife were honored with silver loving cups, presented on behalf of the community by the C. C. Club in honor of Mr. Christensen being the oldest pioneer of Kearney County and he and his wife being the oldest couple to have married in this county and made it their home during all of their married life. They were greatly pleased with this tribute from the community and we are overjoyed to think that we thought of doing it in time.
Brief funeral services were held at the home in Minden at 1:30 this afternoon and at the Fredericksburg church at 2:30. Dr. D. D. McKay of Hastings and Rev. J. P. Jensen of the Minden church conducted the services. He has been laid away but his good work will have its influence in this community for many, many years.
Source: Minden Courier, November 9, 1922
