JENS AND KAREN CHRISTENSEN BLAIR
Jens Nels and Karen Christensen (or Blair) were both born in Loster,
Denmark. Karen was born December 11, 1853, and passed away in 1937.
Jens was born May 5, 1852, and passed away at his home five miles
north of Verdigre on January 25, 1935.
They were married at Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 28, 1878, and
celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on January 3, 1929, at
their home northwest of Verdigre.
Jens, with his brother Jurgen, came to America in 1892 with only 65
cents in his pocket. Other friends came, too. There was no work in
Denmark.
They changed their name to “Blair.” Many reasons were given for the
name change.
Jurgen went to Utah and settled there.
[pg205 PHOTO Blairs: 1. Casper, 2. Chris, 3. Martenus, 4. Martin,
5. Tony or Anton, 6. Elsie Bartling, 7. Frank Blair, 8. Grandma
Blair, 9. Grandma Blair’s sister.]
Karen and seven children came to America two years later. They were
Casper, Martin, Chris, Anton, Elsie, Martenus, and Frank. Two
children had died in infancy in Denmark. All the children were
married but Casper. They all lived around Creighton, Verdigre and
Winnetoon. Elsie married Ed Bartling and lived in Creighton. Anton
went to Colorado and Frank later moved with his family to Pilger.
They settled near Osmond, later moving to a farm near Brunswick
where my father, Peter N. Christensen, was born. Two more girls were
born, JoAnn and Rose. Rose passed away shortly after birth.
In 1894 they moved to Knox County where he bought a homestead
relinquishment from Jim Tikalsky. He lived here the remainder of his
life. Casper, a son, bought the farm and farmed many years and later
sold it to Bill and Mary Knori.
I am a granddaughter and have many fond memories of this farm. My
grandfather told me if I could catch a pig by the tail I could have
him. Somehow, I caught the pig - with lots of help I’m sure. There
were many barn dances, parties, and get-togethers with my cousins. I
remember sitting in the bay window and listening to the phonograph
given to my grandparents on their Golden Wedding. The house later
burned when the Knoris lived there.
[pg205 PHOTO Pete Christensen [Blair]]
My grandparents and all their children have passed away. Many of the
third generation are gone. JoAnn Doane, the last of the children to
pass away, came back to my native home and lived at Alpine Village
Nursing Home for a few years. In earlier years, she owned a beauty
shoppe known as JoAnn’s Beauty Shoppe.
-Submitted by Mrs. Harold (Elvira) Jensen
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