In Re: CHRISTENSEN, (Peter & (1) Nancy {nee HEMPHILL} & (2) Sara {nee HIBNER}and
their daughter Ruth; Christian & Elizabeth {nee LEA}& Oscar & Matie (nee ?);
Peter Wilbert & Nina B. (nee CASSWELL) and their children, Irwin W and Blanch E; Mary,
and Rose)
CHRISTENSEN, PETER & CHRISTIAN were two Danish immigrants who came to ILLINOIS in the
late 1860's and settled near Elwood, in JACKSON township, WILL COUNTY as farmers.
Peter was the older brother, having been born in June, 1846. Christian was born in
December, 1848. Peter died in September, 1910 and Christian died in June, 1921. They
were both naturalized in Illinois in 1876. They were the sons of JESS CHRISTENSEN, who
immigrated to Illinois in 1885 and lived in turns with his two sons until his death in
August, 1900.
Peter first married Nancy HEMPHILL; then as a widower, he later married Sara HIBNER. So
far I have not learned that Peter was ever a father. In the 1910 census for WILL county
he and Sara are shown to have a 9 year old adopted daughter, named Ruth Hazel. In the
1920 census Ruth Hazel and Sara are shown to be living with Sara's older brother and
Ruth Hazel is shown to be the step-niece of the older brother. In 1979 Ruth Hazel HIBNER
is buried in the Hibner burial plot in the Troutman Grove cemetery in WILL county. Peter
and Sara are also buried in that cemetery, but in a different plot from Ruth Hazel.
Christian married Elizabeth LEA and they had four children: two sons named Oscar (dob
8/1884; dod ?) and Peter Wilbert (dob 8/1886; dod ?) and two daughters named Mary (dob
1/1889; dod ?) and Rose (dob 10/1891; dod ?).
In 1910 the two sons Oscar (& his wife Matie) and Wilbert (and his wife Nina) are
shown by the census to be living in JOLIET Township in WILL county. The two daughters are
not yet married and are shown by the 1910 census to still be living in the parental home
in JACKSON township in WILL county, and Rose is shown to be a country school teacher. I
was not able to find any of the four children in the 1920 census, although both parents
are still living in JACKSON township.
In 1917 Wilbert registered for the draft in World War I as a resident of WILL county, and
claimed to have a wife and one child under 12 dependent solely on him for support. At the
time of registration he gave his address to be JACKSON township again. I did not find a
WWI draft registration for his older brother Oscar.
The Farmer's Directory for WILL and southern Cook COUNTY of 1918 shows the following:
1. As to Christian and Elizabeth, they are shown to be living on a 112.5
acre farm in Section 5 of JACKSON township, and to have only three children, named
Wilbert, Rose, and Mary.
2. As to Wilbert, he is shown to be living on a 112.5 acre farm in
Section 5 of JACKSON township with his wife Nina B. (formerly CASSWELL) and their two
children Irwin W. and Blanch E.
3. As to Sara (Peter's widow) she is shown to be living with one child,
Ruth Hazel, on a 160 acre farm called "Lone Elm Farm" in section 6 of JACKSON
township.
I have no further data going to any of the people in the above 'clan' except for
burial information for father Jess, Peter & his 2nd wife Sara, their
'daughter' Ruth Hazel, and Christian & his wife Elizabeth, all of whom lie
buried in Troutman Grove cemetery in JACKSON township, WILL county.
Can anyone tell me what happened to Oscar & Matie; or to Wilbert & Nina and their
children, Irwin and Blanch; or to Mary or to Rose (Christian's and Elizabeth's
four children, their two daughters-in-law, and their two known grandchildren)?
Fritz Hansen
Wichita, Kansas