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August E. Christophersen
Born January 26, 1862 |
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August E. Christophersen, one of the prosperous farmers of Jones county, Iowa, and a man who has gained all he owns through the exercise of his natural faculties. is a good example of the best type of German-American. His birth occurred in Langenhorn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, January 26, 1862, a son of Ingwer and Botille (Detlefson) Christophersen, both natives of that place, where the family had lived for several generations, although originally from Norway.
In 1881 the Christophersen family emigrated from Germany to Jones county, Iowa, where settlement was made upon a farm in Oxford township. Here they all began developing the land or working at trades, and endeavored to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the new home. They displayed the true German perseverance, industry and thrift which seem to characterize the people from the fatherland, and they steadily prospered. The death of the father occurred at Wyoming, Iowa, in 1881, when he was sixty-six years old. His widow still survives at the age of eighty-five years and lives south of Olin. There were seven children in this family, as follows; Nicholas, who passed away in Germany; Brodena, who married S. M. Lorenzen, of Jones county; August E.; John, who lives at Danbury, Iowa; and three who died in infancy.
Until he was nearly thirty, August E. Christophersen worked at the carpenter trade, but in 1891 he made a trip to his old home in Germany. In 1892 he began renting land, and after ten years bought his present farm of two hundred acres, located on sections 36, 35, 25 and 26, Hale township with his residence of section 36. The land is all in good condition and produces large crops. Nearly all of the improvements on the place have been made by Mr. Christophersen. He carries on general farming and stock raising and understands every detail of his work perfectly so that he is able to produce the best results.
It was while in Germany in 1891 that he married Julia Anna Brodersen, of Bordelum, Schleswig, Germany, who was born June 18, 1871, a daughter of Jacob Brodersen, who still lives in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Christophersen became the parents of six children, all born in Jones county, Iowa, as follows: Matilda, Dora, Ingwer, Jacob, Anna and Albert. The last named died at the age of two years. Politically he has always supported the candidates and principles of the democratic party. His religious training was given hill in the Lutheran church. Mr. Christophersen is a hard-working German of simple tastes, a born farmer and thoroughly reliable man in every respect.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 447. |
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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