Ingvert Christensen

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Svens tipoldemors søsters søn:

Ingvert Christensen

1869 - 1950

Ingvert blev født 18. dec. 1869 på Eggebæk Mark i Tinglev Sogn. I løbet af de næste 7 år flyttede familien flere gange. De boede bl.a. i Bedsted Sogn og i Bov Sogn. Ingverts far, Andreas købte 9. marts 1877 et husmandssted i Gårdeby, Tinglev Sogn. Der var 8,24 ha jord til ejendommen. Adressen var Gårdebyvej 4.

Denne gård har adressen Gårdebyvej 3, og billedet er fra 1888. Den gård, Ingverts forældre havde, lignede måske denne nabogård. (Billede fra Tinglev Lokalarkiv)

Kortet er fra 1893 (David Rumsey)

Ingvert har altså gået i skole i Tinglev Sogn. Denne skolegang betød senere i livet meget for Ingvert. Børnene fra Gårdebyvej gik i skole i Broderup (tysk navn: Brauderup). Skolen havde i 1873 27 elever.

Ofte var drenge og piger fra 9-10 års alderen tjenestefolk på gårde i nærheden for at skaffe familien penge. Det betød ofte, at børn fra fatttige familier arbejdede i sommerhalvåret og gik i skole i vinterhalvåret.

Fra bogen 'Beiträge zur Schulgeschichte des Kirchspiels Tingleff'

af Hans Fr. J. Hansen.

Billede fra bogens side 128: Brauderup Schule 1864 – 1911.
Billedet fra 1900.
(Tinglev Lokalarkiv)

Ingvert blev konfirmeret 29. marts 1885, og kort efter rejste hans storebror Hans Nicolay til Amerika. Ingvert blev i 1885 helt sikkert sendt ud som tjenestekarl på en gård. Hans Nicolay har sendt breve hjem til familien på Gårdebyvej 4, og måske også breve til sin lillebror, hvor han fortalte om landet på den anden side af Atlanten. Her kunne man tjene gode penge og anskaffe sig en gård, der var væsentligt større end et husmandsted i Danmark.

En dag lige efter jul 1889 stod Ingvert på banegården i Tinglev og vinkede farvel til sin familie og sin hjemstavn. Han kom aldrig tilbage, men holdt kontakt med familien.

Marina og Andreas må have fældet en tåre den dag.

Perronen på Tinglev station 1887
(Billede fra Tinglev Lokalarkiv)

Efter mange dages søgning fandt jeg Ingverts udrejse på FamilySearch. Fantastisk!

Passagerlisten dækker perioden 1. jan. 1889 til 16. februar 1889.

Ingvert hed ikke Christiansen, men Christensen og var 19 år, men det må være den rigtige person.

Iflg. listen sejlede han fra Hamburg til New York. Han var arbejder og medbragte 1 stk. bagage!

Se hele passagerlisten

Gail Bulkley, som er oldebarn af Ingvert, har lavet en slægtsbog, og her har jeg fået lov at hente væsentlige passager.

Gails bedstemor Frances Love har beskrevet sin fars liv, og dette er et citat:

Ivor Christensen was born December 18, 1869 to Andrew and Mary (Ericksen), both natives of Germany. He received early education in the public schools. When he had completed his education, he resolved to seek his fortune in the New World beyond the sea. At 19 years of age, 1889, he bid farewell to his father and mother taking a ship to America. Upon his arrival in this country, he had only 21 cents in his pocket as he proceeded to the territory of Wyoming, and joined his brother, Hans, who was residing at Carbon in Carbon County, Wyoming. Soon after arriving there, Hans was taken with a serious illness and he soon died. Ivor was unable to speak the English Language, but he made the best of the situation, and occupied himself in ranching and mining, both in Wyoming and Colorado for about two years.

Det var altså i de værste vintermåneder, Ingvert begav sig ud på den lange rejse uden penge til at klare sig for. Han må have været lettet, da han nåede frem til sin bror og var sikret et arbejde hos Hr. Kuykendall i Saratoga, Wyoming.

Ingvert har ikke fortalt sin datter, hvad der i virkeligheden hændte med hans storebror den julidag i 1889. Hele historien finder du på denne side.

Det var besværligt at hedde Ingvert i USA, så han kaldte sig hurtigt Ivor.

De første år arbejdede han ved landbrug og minedrift, dels i Colorado dels i Wyoming.

Derefter bosatte han sig i en årrække i Carbon i Wyoming. Fra 1868 fandtes der kulminer her. Ivor fandt sikkert ud af, at arbejdet i minen var hårdt og kedeligt, så han uddannede sig til brandmand hos mineselskabet.

Illustreret Atlas fra 1889. Carbon (Old Carbon) er med,

selvom byen kun havde 1.000 indbyggere.
Se et mere detaljeret kort her (Kilde: Davis Rumsey).

From History of the Union Pacific Coal Mines, 1868-1940
Carbon findes ikke mere. Intet er tilbage. Billedet lånt fra denne hjemmeside.

Ivor var en begavet og markant person, som interesserede sig for datidens maskiner, hvorfor han også anskaffede sig en cykel. I minen blev han hurtigt betroet ansvaret for maskinernes drift.

På billedet nedenunder kan man se, at Ivor var en høj flot fyr. Her i brandmandsuniform.

Avisudklippet er fra Rawlin Daily Times, 10. september 1975.
Gails bedstemor Frances Love gemte udklippet i sin skrapbog, og det er hende, der har sat kryds ved Ivor og lavet rettelser.

Ivor havde flere øgenavne i Carbon. Han blev kaldt ”The Terrible Swede” og ”Big Evi”. Det må have været kærligt ment, for det lykkedes ham at besnære en af byens smukkeste piger, Bertha Alice Stephenson.

Bertha boede i Carbon med sin familie, og var en ung pige på 22 år, da hun blev gift med den 31 årige Ivor den 27. Januar 1900.

Dette bryllup fik en længere omtale i avisen:

Transcription of text in document
Rawlins Semi-Weekly Republican no. 9 January 31, 1900, page 4 CARBON CORNER. Carbon, Wyo., January 30, 1900.

Married, at the home of the bride in Carbon, Wyoming, Saturday, January 27th, Rev. Steere officiating, Mr. Ivor Christensen and Miss Bertha Stephenson. A large company of friends and relatives were gathered at the pleasant home of Thomas Stephenson last Saturday evening to witness the marriage of these deservedly popular young people. The occasion was a most delightful one to all present and our host was in his happiest mood, and busied himself in making things pleasant for the guests. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen will live in the Stephenson home. Mr. Stephenson will remove to Kansas. J.W.S

Den 1. april 1901 blev Ivors liv ændret drastisk. Hjemme sad Bertha med deres lille søn, William på 3 måneder. Ivor var på job i minen, da en maskine ved sort uheld fik fat i hans bukseben, og Ivors ene ben blev trukket ind i maskinen. Hans ben blev så beskadiget, at det måtte amputeres.

Denne tekst er fra ”Coal Mine Inspector Annual Report, 1901” side 9 og har overskriften:

Non-Fatal Accident

I den lokale avis ”The Journal” blev ulykken omtalt 6 dage senere i en lille notits mellem reklamer. Der stod:

Ivor Christensen who some years ago was known as ”The Terrible Swede” in bicycle circles was so badly injured at Hanna a few days ago that amputation of one leg is necessary.

På billedet her kan man se, at hans eneste hjælpemiddel ud over træbenet er en stok. Ivor er den høje mand i den lyse jakke. Man kan se, han er en mand med karisma.

Ivor var indlagt i 7 måneder på hospital i Rock Springs. Hvordan mon Bertha klarede hverdagen i de 7 måneder. Rock Springs ligger langt væk. Benet blev amputeret ved knæet, og han fik et træben. Det var måske slut med at cykle, og han kunne heller ikke arbejde i minen mere. Union Pacific Coal Company gav ham nu et job som 'Postmaster'. - Han havde i 2 år tidligere haft et lignende job i Old Carbon, nu fik han altså jobbet i Hanna. Dette job udførte han med Berthas hjælp.

Citat fra bogen
”Progressive Men of the State of Wyoming”
Udgivet 1903
På side 619 omtales

Ivor Christensen

The capable postmaster of Hanna, Carbon county, Wyoming, is a progressive and capable young business man. A native of the Fatherland, Ivor Christensen was born in 1869, and is the son of Andrew and Mary (Erickson) Christensen, both natives of Germany. His father was born in 1840 and has always followed the occupation of farming in his native country, where he is still living. He was a soldier in the Germany war with Austria in 1866, and the Franco Prussian War in 1870 and 1871. He was the son of Hans Christensen, also a native of the Fatherland, as was also the mother, who was born in 1839, and is still residing in Germany. Their son, Ivor, grew to man's estate in his native country, and received his early education in the public schools in the vicinity of his boyhood's home. When he had completed his education, he resolved to seek his fortune in the New World beyond the sea, and bidding farewell to his father and mother he took ship and came to America. Upon his arrival in this country, he proceeded to the then territory of Wyoming, and joined his brother, Hans, who was residing at Carbon in Carbon County. Soon after arriving there, his brother was taken with serious illness and soon died. Ivor was unable to speak the English language, but he made the best of the situation, and occupied himself in ranching and mining, both in Wyoming and Colorado, for about two years. At the end of that time he returned to Carbon county and secured employment as a fireman in one of the mines and soon became familiar with all the machinery connected with mining operations. He also occupied all the time that was at his command in study, and acquired a general knowledge of the English language.

In 1901 he met with a serious accident in the mine where he was employed, and was there for confined to the hospital for seven months. Upon his recovery from his injuries, he came to Hanna and was appointed the postmaster at that place. He was familiar with the duties of this position, from the fact that previous to his injury he had been the postmaster at Carbon for about two years. He had also served as a member of the city council of Carbon during his residence in that place. In the year 1900 Mr. Christensen was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Stephenson, a native of England, who came to America with her parents in 1880, when but two years of age, they made their home in Illinois until 1888. Disposing of their property at that place they moved to the then territory of Wyoming and settled in the town of Carbon, Carbon county, where Mr. Stephenson and family are wellknown and highly respected citizens. To this union has been born one child to bless their home life, William E. Their home is noted for its generous and genial hospitality.

Mr. Christensen is affiliated with the order of Knights of Pythias, and takes an active interest in the fraternal life of the community where he resides. He is also a stanch member of the Republican party, and is one of the most active and prominent among the leaders of that political organization in Carbon county. He has been often solicited to become a candidate for positions of trust and honor in the gift of his party, but thus far has consistently declined to do so, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to the care and management of his private business interests. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, and is looked upon as one of the rising young men of that section of the state.

Politik

Ivor var altså medlem af Det Republikanske Parti, og han blev valgt til at være Carbon County Commissioner i flere år. I Hanna var han en meget respekteret mand, og i 1914 stemte 108 ud af 109 stemmeberettigede på ham.

Ivor bestred jobbet som ’Postmaster’ i 30 år, og i alle disse år boede familien i en bolig bag postkontoret.

I 1907 begyndte Ivor at købe jord op. Han havde et partnerskab med William Stephenson. William var Berthas bror. De dannede et firma sammen. Det hed "The Christensen & Stephensen Sheep Co.

Der var periodevis mange ansatte til at klare det praktiske arbejde. Efterhånden kom dette firma til at eje store landområder. Noget af jorden blev lejet ud til olieselskaber. Jeg tror, Ivor havde næse for at øge sin formue.
Pengene blev dog ikke brugt på at rejse til Europa for at besøge sit gamle fædreland.

Børneflokken voksede:

Fra venstre:

William Edward Christensen,
født 10. dec. 1900, Carbon

Dorothy Jane Christensen,
født 11. okt. 1904, Hanna

Alice Mathilda Christensen,
født 3. dec. 1902, Hanna

Frances Love Christensen,
født 2. okt. 1906, Hanna

Evelyn Ruth Christensen,
født 18. jan. 1912, Hanna

I 1927 købte Ivor jord i Elk Mountain og en gård, OH Ranch. I 1934 - 64 år gammel - trak han sig tilbage som ’Postmaster’ og nød sin alderdom på gården i Elk Mountain. En pensionisttilværelse, der ikke var som andres. Han døde 80 år gammel.

Læs her uddrag af, hvad hans svigerdatter Janet skriver om ham og Bertha:

He could do any thing ... legs or not. He broke horses, hauled a sheep camp from place to place with an old Chrysler. If the car broke down, he figured out what was wrong and made a new part in the tool shed, and was back in business. Ivor had a 1928 Chrysler. He moved the gas foot down and between the clutch and break ... so he could use his right leg. The right leg was cut off, but he rode horses at the OH right up till he died.

So far as I could ever see, he was kind but demanding. Bill, my husband, had to stay out of school a lot to help. He didn't waste time, would shot coyotes that threatened the sheep. No time for fim. I do remember that he took the family to South Dakota to visit Fanny, Bertha's sister.

The OH was a working ranch ... calving; branding, even chickens and I think a couple of milk cows. There was a bunkhouse for help. I remember Alice going to the penitentiary in Rawlins for trustees for ranch help. His last year, the heifers had not been given enough supplement and calving required a lot of pulling. This was the cause of his heart attack.

He was taken to the mine hospital in Hanna ... did not recover. I admired him greatly; he was on my ... "beam" A MAN.

Bertha og Ivor på besøg hos søn og svigerdatter.
Ivor har barnebarnet på skødet: William Ivor Christensen

Bertha was a helper in the Hanna Hotel when he met her. They lived in the house behind the Post Office.

Bertha died of cancer here in Denver, Lutheran Hospital. The night she died, we were in the room, and Ivor gave her a long and loving goodbye kiss, I never forgot.

So it's "goodbye" Ivor and Bertha. The memories have brought you back for awhile.

My love to you both.

Ivor havde ikke glemt sin familie på den anden side af Atlanten. Han brevvekslede med sin yngste bror Andreas. Det er bemærkelsesværdigt, at brevet er skrevet på dansk. Begge brødre havde gået i tysk skole, og skolen gav ingen undervisning i dansk. De børn, der beherskede det danske skriftsprog , havde lært det hjemme hos forældrene. Ydermere så boede og arbejdede Andreas i Hamborg og var gift med en tysk pige.

Dette fortæller mig, at Ivor talte dansk med sine forældre og søskende, at de altså følte sig som danske. På Marina og Andreas’s gravsten står der ”Hvilested for”. På Tinglev kirkegård ville man på den tid og den dag i dag lave tekst på tysk på gravstenene, hvis man var tysksindet, og tekst på dansk, hvis man var dansksindet.

I årene op til og under 2. Verdenskrig blev Ivor udsat for besværligheder, fordi han var af tysk afstamning.

Hvorfor skiltede han ikke med, at han var dansk…?

Mange oplysninger kommer fra Gail Bulkleys slægtbog. Hun har desuden sendt os disse nekrologer: Bertha og Ivor.

På Ancestry.com har vi fundet Ivor og Bertha i folketællinger 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Her kan man se, at Ivor ikke ejede sin bolig, mens han var ”postmaster” i Hanna. Takket være Gail ved vi, at han var forretningsmand og opkøbte ganske betydelige jordbesiddelser. På noget af jorden var der fårehold, og Ivor tog del i arbejdet.

Gail Bulkley and her husband, Randy