Schmidts familietræ (www.sm1.dk)

(E-mail 2005: You have made me a very happy person....I am a descendent of Søren Christian Christensen and Kristine Halkjær. My Grandfather was Peter Nygaard Christensen, He and his brother Klavs came to the United States in 1924 and 1914 respec tively. I have been to Velling, Skjern area of Denmark in 1979 and met my grandfathers living  Sisters Inger, Kristine and Marin. I also have my genealogy online and invite you to look at it. The direct address is http://www.mtco.com/~dpc/d0001/g 0000032.htm#I015 I have been researching my grandfathers line for a number of years and have run into walls because of the language barrier and distance. And you have filled in a huge gap.  I would like to correspond with you more if that would be ok with you . I do not know how we are related but I do have lot of photos of these individuals of you are interested I am more than happy to share.  Respectfully Donald Christensen Marseilles Illinois

Memorys of Klaus and Peder Christensen By Grandson of Peder Don Christensen

Peder Nygaard Christensen b. October 18, 1894 in Rinkøbing,Hind,Stauning,Østerby Denmark. d.January 31, 1980 in Ottawa Illinois from complications of pneumonia brought on by a fall where he suffered multiple rib fractures. He was buried als o at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery along with his wife Ida Anna Friederike Christensen and his brother Klaus Berg Kristensen. Klaus returned to Denmark and did very well the 9 years in the United States. When he returned to Denmark he wanted to brin g another back with him as he had secured a job for his brother. It is told that Klaus wanted his brother Søren Astrup to return with him, but for some reason I am not aware of, Peder came with Klaus back to the United States and both Peder an d Klaus settled in Ottawa Illinois, which was a farming community. After coming to the United States started working at the job Klaus gave up at Reynolds Manor as a gardener. Peder also was a respected member of the Zion Lutheran Church and tha t is where he fell in love with a petite Pomeranian girl named Ida Anna Friederike Lenz. On September 10, 1925 they were married at the Zion Lutheran Church. Together they had 3 boys Henry Soren, Russell Peter and Robert Allen, and 1 daughter Doro thy Caroline. All three sons have passed away and Dorothy Caroline Christensen Galloway is the only living child of Peder and Ida. Peder also worked for the Thorton Estate doing gardening. During this same period of time the Great Depression ha d engulfed the United States and employment was very hard to get if any. Peder, to provide for his family would work in the farming community, it was said that he would work a full day to receive a chicken to bring home to feed his family. Pede r worked at Libby Owens Ford also, but did not like being in a factory so he always had jobs where he was outside. Peder also worked for the City of Ottawa twice as a laborer doing such things as cleaning the streets, plowing snow, clearing debri s etc. He also worked for the State of Illinois doing the same type of work. After his retirement he worked as a dogcatcher, that is the person who picks up stray animals and takes them to a place for holding until they can find the owner of th e animal. Peder liked to tell stories, one such story he used to tell me was. When he emigrated to the United States he hide on the ship, because he did not have a ticket, he was discovered and was forced to make his way to the United States holding ont o a rope while being pulled through the water, with sharks nipping at his feet. Being a child I believed him and could not wait for his next adventure. He was such a great person, so kind and happy and athletic. He would always greet you with a hu ge smile on his face. If Peder met a person that needed money, he would give that person what he had even if it was his last cent. Peder and Klaus so enjoyed the letters they received from their brothers and sisters. Klaus would translate them int o English but Peder would not, I don't know if he was unable to do translation or if he just wanted to keep them to his self. One of the highlights for Peder was when his sister Inger's granddaughter Inger Villadsen came to visit him Decembe r of 1978. In January 1979 I went to Denmark to visit with Peders living sisters, they were Maren Bendtsen, Kristine Christensen (Peder referred to her as Stine) and Inger Melgaard. I was so overwhelmed by the kindness the Villadsen family and ev eryone else who cordially invited me into there home. One last story when I was a child Peder always referred to me as the Dane in the family, (I think because Peder and I shared the same birthday) and one-day he and I would return to Denmark. Ped er was going on into the last year of his life and it was obvious the he and I would never go to Denmark together, and that is the reason I returned on behalf of my grandfather.]