Few hard facts are known about Anders Christian Christensen. But just as with other biographies concerning the Christensen clan appearing on this website, much of the information used in writing this piece was taken from a book written by Anders great-granddaughter, Virginia Christensen Keeler (1901-1970), hereafter VCK, entitled Some Christensen’s Who Came from Thy (J. Grant Stevenson, Provo, Utah, 1969). 1 When she wrote her book forty years ago and reminisced about our early forefathers in Denmark, she had valuable information at hand, information that has not been located anywhere else to date. 2 Other supporting documentation was taken form the research work of Anders’ great-great grandson, George S. Tate (1942- ), hereafter GST, which is now part of World Connect on this website. This biography was then composed during December 2009 by another great-great grandson, W. Bart. Christenson, Jr., Provo, Utah.
Table of Contents/photographs | Table of Contents/documents | ACC Additional Family History | Website Home | Christenson Line | Howells Line | Contact MeLike his wife Mette Kirstine Christensdatter Hvid, Anders Christian Christensen was born, grew up, and spent his life on a farm in Thyland (Thy) on the Jutland Peninsula, in northwest Denmark. 3 But whereas his wife descended from Danish nobility about which she was wont to occasionally put on airs, which tendency irritated Anders, he was quite content to know that he derived from simple Danish farming stock that evidently took origin in straight-line fashion from the ancient Vikings who first peopled the region. 4
He was born in the small farming village of Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg, Thisted, Denmark, on 20 April 1808, the son of farmer Christen Christensen and his wife [Karen Andersdatter], where he was home christened. He was then formally presented to the Hvidbjerg v. Aa Parish on May 22nd. 5 He had an older sister, Inger Cathrine, two younger brothers, Niels and Niels Christen, and a little sister, Ane Kirsten, who died before she was two months of age. 6
When his father died in 1838, as the oldest son Anders now age 30 took over the farm. Here he continued to reside, a confirmed bachelor, with his mother. However, with his mother’s continued urging to find a wife 7, he eventually found and married Mette Kirstine Christensdatter Hvid from the nearby village of Swindborg, Orum Parish. They were married on 5 December 1843 at the Hvidbjerg v. Aa Lutheran Parish. He was 36 years old, and she was 32. 8 It was Mette’s first marriage, too, although she already had given birth to a son, Christen, four years earlier, out of wedlock.
Anders and Mette eventually had six other children between them, another son and five daughters. Even so, Anders adopted and raised young Christen as his own during his lifetime. A listing of their children now follows (based on the work of VCK and GST):
Christen Christensen was born 14 March 1839, in Lyngholm Mark, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark. Evidently, he never married. He died 23 February 1866, at age 27, in Norhaa, Thisted, Denmark.
Karen Andersen was second born, 18 March 1844, in Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark. She married Mikkel Jensen Skaarup 21 June 1872, in Thorsted, Thisted, Denmark. She died 15 March 1926, in Thorsted, Thisted, Denmark.
Mads Christian Andersen Hvid came next. He was born 19 March 1845, at Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark. He married Else Marie Pedersen 25 May 1876, in Thorsted, Thisted, Denmark. He died after November 1923.
Else Kathrine (Else K) Andersen was fourth born. She entered the world at Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark on 9 February 1847. She married Lauritz Mathias Christian Christensen 22 April 1866 in Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark. She died in Manti, Sanpete, Utah 19 November 1923.
Ane Kirstine (Stine) Andersen, the third daughter and fifth born child was born 12 Ocrtober 1848 in Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark. She married Svend Poulsen in Thorsted, Thisted, Denmark, 4 July 1875. She died 18 March 1920 in Kobenhaven, Kobenhaven, Denmark.
Edel Marie Andersen was sixth born, but only survived a few weeks. She was born 23 January 1850, in Kjallerup, Hvidbjerg v. Aa, Thisted, Denmark, where she subsequently died on 14 February 1850.
Pouline, the fifth daughter and seventh born child was born 22 August 1852 in Norhaa, Thisted, Denmark. She married Lars Christen Christensen in Thorsted, Thisted, Denmark 11 January 1891. She died 7 March 1925. 9
Table of Contents/photographs | Table of Contents/documents | ACC Additional Family History | Website Home | Christenson Line | Howells Line | Contact MeAs already detailed in the biography about his wife, Anders could not accept nor tolerate the new religious teachings embraced by his daughter Else K, in January 1865. So, along with his wife, although to a somewhat lesser degree, he also turned his back on Else K. She left home shortly thereafter, never to see her parents again during mortality. 10
He died in Norhaa, Thisted, Denmark 10 May 1878. 11 His proxy temple work was subsequently performed by Else K's husband, the son-in-law he never wanted to meet, in the Manti Temple, in Utah. 12
Table of Contents/photographs | Table of Contents/documents | ACC Additional Family History | Website Home | Christenson Line | Howells Line | Contact MeSources of Information:
1. Virginia C. Keeler (1901-1970), Some Christensen’s Who Came from Thy…, published by J. Grant Stevenson, Provo, Utah, 1969, based on documents in her possession at the time of writing the book; copy of book in possession of W. Bart. Christenson, Jr., Provo, Utah, or found at BYU-HBLL, Call # BX 8670.1 .C4623k.
2. Op. cit.: Virginia C. Keeler (1901-1970), Some Christensen’s… pp. 65-66.
3. Op. cit.: Virginia C. Keeler (1901-1970), Some Christensen’s… pp. 1-2.
4. Op. cit.: Virginia C. Keeler (1901-1970), Some Christensen’s… pp. 64-65.
5. See 1808 (birth) Record of Anders's birth and christening …, found in the Document section of this file.
6. See Christen Christensen (1761-1838) in the World Connect section, on this website.
7. Op. cit.: Virginia C. Keeler (1901-1970), Some Christensen’s… p. 63.
8. See 1843 (age 36) Record of Anders's marriage to Mette Kirstine Christensdatter …, found in the Document section of this file.
9. See Christen Christensen (1808-1878) in the World Connect section…
10. See Mette Kirstine Christensdatter (1811-1872): Biography… on this website.
11. See 1878 (age 70) Anders's death date and place..., found in the Document section of this file.
12. See 13 March 1891 Manti Temple Sealing of Spouses..., found in the Document section of this file.
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