Person:William Christensen (5)

William A. Christensen, interested in mining and making his home at Wales, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Utah. He was born in a log cabin at Wales, October 9, 1884, his parents being Peter and Mary Ellen (Roscoe) Christensen, who were married in February, 1882. The father came to Utah with one of the hand cart companies in 1860, when the work of pioneer development was being carried steadily forward. He settled at Moroni and was on active duty throughout the Black Hawk war, receiving now a pension in recognition of the valuable aid which he rendered in that period. In 1863 he was sent back to Missouri, driving a church team in order to aid immigrants in reaching this state. On the 8th of November, 1863, he wedded Wilhelmina Hervinghoff, who had nine children and passed away in 1881. In 1872 he had removed to Wales, where he followed farming and brickmaking, manufacturing most of the brick for the homes and churches of Wales. He is still hale and hearty at the age of seventy-three years. It was after the death of his first wife that he wedded Mary Ellen Roscoe and they became parents of eight children. Those who survive of the father's two marriages are Lorenzo, Roscoe, Herman, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth, Erastus P., Albert, Soren, Louis, Julius and William A

The last named was a pupil in the public schools of Wales and from his boyhood days has been more or less closely connected with farming interests. He has become the manager of sheep raising interests as well and at the present writing is engaged in mining. His has been a life of activity, his earnest purpose, close application and unremitting industry constituting the basis of his growing prosperity.

It was in his native town of Wales, on the 17th of March, 1913, that Mr. Christensen was married to Miss Myrtle Romero, who was born in Emery, Utah, July 30, 1896, a daughter of John and Julia Etta Romero, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen have four children: Elroy, Adelbert William, Othello and Bard. The family are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mr. Christensen is a republican in his political views. He is a representative of pioneer stock--a man of worth in the community in which he makes his home, his upright life and high principles gaining for him the respect and confidence of those with whom he is associated.

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.