Denmark to Dakota: The Story of a Danish-American Immigrant Family

A young man sets sail from Denmark… and begins the story of the Christensens in America When Johan Christensen first stepped foot in America in 1903, he started a wave. Over the next two decades, his five brothers would follow him, seeking their fortunes in a new country. They formed a tight-knit community that embraced their new culture while maintaining Danish traditions and pride in their native country. Johan was the adventurous one, married to a woman who shared his wanderlust. Christen, strong and independent, was the eldest. Ludvig was steady and dependable, happily settling in his new home. Next came Niels, serious and generous. Tenacious Andreas, the youngest brother, had a talent with horses. Valdemar, the last of the brothers to make the voyage, was hard-working yet fun-loving. And finally was Petra, kind and loving, the youngest and the only daughter, who stayed behind in Denmark, devoted to her parents. The Christensens faced the threats of poverty, drought, the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, and the Great Depression with determination and courage. Despite the hardships, they never lost their optimism. They maintained deep ties with each other and family members back in Denmark, as shown in the numerous letters written back and forth. Many of these letters have been preserved and translated, and are interspersed with the narrative of the brothers’ new lives. Denmark to Dakota spans over 100 years of Christensen family history. Raising their families through successes and failures, joy and sometimes tragedy, these resourceful immigrants became part of the American story. This book serves as a great legacy not only for the Christensen family, but for all Americans.