Person:Lauritz Christensen (7)

LDS BRANCH RECORDS

Aarhus

        Soren Christensen                 58      Brickmaker      Jutlands 
        Else Christensen                  48 
        Peder Christensen                 18 
        Lauritz Ulric Christensen         15 

[Aarhus Conf. 1860 on "Wm Tapscott", Emig.S.M.- film 025696] _______________________________

The life work of Lauritz Christensen is the expression of a most progressive spirit combined with resourcefulness and indomitable energy. He has promoted farming interests according to modern ideals and is today the owner of a valuable property. He still remains active in the conduct of his farm in Sanpete county, although he has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, and in this work he is ably assisted by his sons. Mr. Christensen was born in Denmark, April 28, 1845, a son of Soren and Elsie (Weber) Christensen, who came to Utah with a handcart company in 1860, traveling with the company commanded by Captain Stoddard. They settled at Moroni and Soren Christensen was a member of the Home Guard during the Indian troubles. He made farming his life work and died in 1882, while the mother of Lauritz Christensen survived until 1892. He also has a living brother, Peter Christensen, who makes his home at Wales, Utah. In the common schools of Denmark, Lauritz Christensen pursued his education and was a youth of fifteen years at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. In the winter of 1859 he taught a Mormon school in Denmark. He has always followed farming and he continued to live at Moroni until 1875, when he settled at a place now called Jerusalem and has there resided for forty-four years. He has promoted his farm work according to the most progressive and scientific methods. He tunneled in the mountain for water and has a good stream furnishing an adequate upply for all purposes. On his place is a twenty-acre orchard devoted to fine fruit and his farm comprises three hundred acres of rich and fertile land. In addition his sons have an equal amount and several of his boys work with him. He is the proud father of seven tall, stalwart sons, all over six feet in height, and five daughters. Mr. Christensen has never become interested in outside investments, concentrating his efforts and attention upon his agricultural and horticultural pursuits. People come from all over his section of the state to his place for fruit, which he sells fresh from the trees, and his orchards with his large farm make him financially independent. He has a most comfortable home and substantial outbuildings which furnish ample shelter to grain and stock, and his farm work is carried on with the most highly improved machinery. In Salt Lake City, on the 19th of May, 1873, Mr. Christensen was married to Miss Caroline Christensen, a daughter of Niels and Christiana (Christensen) Christensen and also a native of Denmark. She came to Utah with her parents in a handcart company in 1858 and her father followed the occupation of farming in this state. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lauritz Christensen are Lauritz U., Niels A., Sorn Ezra, Joseph, William E., Ernest Leroy, Claud, Elsie Lavinia, Julia Etta, Emma Irena, Dorothy, Cecelia and one who has passed away in infancy. Mr. Christensen is a man over six feet in height and his is a stalwart family and one which in substantial traits of character measures up to its physical standards. Mr. Christensen has lived to see remarkable changes in the county from pioneer times to the present. He is one of the veterans of the Black Hawk war, in which he rendered signal aid in defense of the colonists. He was sure and quick of aim and he remains one of the best shots in the county. His skill with the rifle did effective work in quelling the Indians and bringing the war to a more speedy close. He held the rank of second lieutenant but was known as Captain Christensen and had command of sixteen men who were picked out by him for special duty. Three of these were attacked at one time by more than thrice their number, but by quick action they killed six Indians and the remaining red men fled. The more serious engagements in which Mr. Christensen participated were at Salina canyon and Fish Lake. As they did George Washington in colonial days, the Indians learned to fear and respect him. The Fort Bridger Indians offered one hundred dollars for every Mormon scalp. Had Mr. Christensen been as inhuman as the red men were, he could have had his belt full of Indian scalps. Though a just man, he has ever been kindly in disposition and, unlike the early trappers, he did not even make notches on his gun to show his skill in making "good Indians." His political allegiance has been given to the democratic party and he served as justice of the peace in Moroni but otherwise had not held or desired public office. Mr. Christensen belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and made a trip to the Missouri river for emigrants in 1864 with Captain Canfield's company. He is an extremely well preserved man, courteous and friendly to all, quiet and unassuming but possessing a keen intellect and wit. His well preserved powers enable him to still manage his property, remaining yet a very active factor in the world's work. His experiences have been broad and varied, sometimes fraught with danger, while in the early days the difficulties, hardships and privations of pioneer life were many. As the years have passed he has stood in the forefront of those who have been leaders in the agricultural and horticultural development of Sanpete county and he is today reaping the rewards of his labor.

Description: Utah was settled by Mormon pioneers in 1847, and it became the 45th state in 1896. This database contains a four-book series published in 1919. The first volume is a history of the state from before the Mormon settlers arrived through about 1920. The last three volumes contain biographical sketches of prominent people throughout the state. For those researching early Utah history, this will be a helpful database.

Source Information: Ancestry.com, comp. Utah Since Statehood, Volumes 1-4. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original data: Noble Warrum, ed. Utah Since Statehood, 4 volumes. Chicago, IL; Salt Lake City, UT: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919.