Contra Costa County Biography

JIERGEN CHRISTENSON (deceased)

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
                 In reviewing the lives of the settlers of Contra Costa County 
due mention should be made of the name of Jiergen Christenson, one of the most 
prominent and enterprising ranchers of the eastern section. He was a native of 
Denmark, born December 10, 1834. At the age of eighteen he came to America, 
arriving in New Orleans in January, 1853. A short time afterward he went to St. 
Louis, where he remained until 1858. Then he crossed the plains with ox-teams 
and came to San Francisco. Here he first found employment in a coffee and spice 
house with Charles Bernard, and by close application to business was made 
manager and conducted the business for sixteen years. About 1865 he settled on 
two hundred and fifty acres, and at one time he leased over seven hundred acres, 
in Marsh grant. While a resident of Utah, Mr. Christenson was united in marriage 
to Hanna Wallace on April 6, 1850, and she died on January 20, 1917. To this 
union there were twelve children, five of whom are now living. Thomas W. 
Christenson, wife of Joseph Sloan (deceased), was born January 12, 1863. Mr. and 
Mrs. Sloan had three children - Joseph Jr., born November 6, 1885, and his 
children are Margery, born October 25, 1911, and Violet, born January 7, 1913; 
Violet Sloan, born June 8, 1894; Rosetta Sloan died at the age of two years. 
Charles Bernard Christenson was born April 3, 1869, and is now a resident of 
Taft, California; his children are Jiergen, born August 4, 1901, and Wallace, 
born September 8, 1902. James Henry Christensen was born January 3, 1888, and is 
engaged in the grocery business at Capitola, California; his son, Henry M., was 
born July 15, 1902. Florence A. Christensen was born January 27, 1881. Thomas W. 
Christensen, the eldest son, was united in marriage to Emma Brown, of San 
Francisco, in 1891; to this union was born Blanche, wife of A. Hudson, and 
Chrissie, who died at the age of fifteen years. Jiergen Christensen was a 
Republican in his political views. Fraternally, he was a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The land he bought Mr. Christensen improved in 
many ways. He erected a large and commodious residence, besides barns and other 
buildings, which were above the average in his locality. He was a man greatly 
beloved by all, and his death, which occurred on June 4, 1910, was deeply 
mourned, and his useful deeds perpetuated his memory.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 605-606.