BioA: Christen, Mr. & Mrs. Fred (Gold - 1945)

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Christen, Wiedmer

----Source: Humbird Enterprise (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) 04/07/1945

Christen, Mr. & Mrs. Fred (Gold - 28 MAR 1945)

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Christen have been residents in the village (Humbird, Clark Co., Wis.) and on a nearby farm since 1909.  A short time previous to that their home was in Columbia vicinity for about a year.  And a couple of year or so ago they retired fromt eh farm southwest of town and purchased a home in this village.  That home was the scene of a great reunion of the parents, the four children and their families, the nine grandchildren on the golden wedding anniversary.

Fred Christen and Miss Lena Wiedmer were married at Monticello on March 28^th, 1895.  But that is not the beginning of the story.  He left Switzerland four year before that time to avoid military training, some people would like to impose such training upon the young men of this land.  He was a cheesemaker and wanted to follow that trade.  Several of the brothers and sisters were already located here.  He didn’t intend to stay permanently when he came across.  But there was a sweetheart here, who also came from his old home locality in Canton Berne, Switzerland.  And Mrs. Christen decided to stay permanently.

For many years he followed his occupation of maker of cheese in different varieties around Monticello, and then the lure of land got hold of him.  He was raised on a farm in the old country, and he became a successful farmer in Wisconsin.  He is also an expert horticulturist, and has a fine orchard on his farm.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Christen are in excellent health.  They are around the three-quarter century mark in years, and are now looking forward to the time when they can add another decade to their years of happy married life.  All wish it for them.

A number of years ago Mr. Christen journeyed back tot eh boyhood home.  Sometimes he say, when winter overreaches into springtime, like it has this week, "There’s a longing for the old place and the heart goes home once more, where the old time kindly greeting waits by the open door."  But summer comes, and with a peaceful contentment surrounds them in their adopted home.