Howard Benjamin Christensen (1890)

Born 27 Oct 1890 in Spencer, Clay, Iowa, United States

Biography

Howard Benjamin Christensen was born 27 October 1890 in Spencer, Iowa, the son of Godfrey C. and L. (Louise) A. Christensen. Howard was their second child. His father, Godfrey was born in Denmark, and was 28; his mother was born in Wisconsin, and was 21 when Howard was born. ^[1]

In 1895, the Christiansen family lived in Clay County, Iowa. The household included Godfrey Christensen, 33, a grocery merchant, with no religious affiliation, entitled to vote, and subject to military duty; his wife, Louisa, 26, a Christian; their three sons, all born in Clay County, Roy G., 6; Howard B., 4; and Earnest, 1. Also living with them were Lena Jensen, 20, housekeeper; and Myron Johnson, a clerk in the grocery store.^[2]

In 1900, the Christensen family lived in Spencer Township, Iowa. The household included Godfrey C. Christensen, 38, b. (January?) 1862 in Denmark, whose parents were b. Denmark. Godfrey had immigrated to the US in 1881, and was a naturalized citizen. He was a merchant/grocer, and rented their house; his wife, Louise A., 31, b. Wisconsin in April 1869 (whose parents were b. Denmark). They had been married 12 years, and had had four children, all living; their four sons, all born in Iowa: Roy G., 12, b. Sept 1888; Howard B., 10, b. Oct 1890; Earnest S., 7, b. Oct 1893; and Myron M., 2, b. Aug 1898. All members of the household could read and write, except the two youngest children. ^[3]

In 1910, the Christensen family lived at 906 East Villa Street, Pasadena, California. The household included Godfrey Christensen, 48, born in Denmark, a naturalized citizen, who immigrated in 1881, oil company (store) proprietor, who owned their house without a mortgage; his wife of 22 years (first marriage for both), Louise, 41, b. Wisconsin, who had had four children, all living; their sons, all b. Iowa, L. Roy, 21, assistant manager of oil co.; Harold, 19; Earnest, 16; and Forest, 11. The youngest three boys were in school. All members of the Christensen family could read and write. Also living with them was a boarder, Wilbur Bartley, 21, wagon driver for oil company.^[4]

The Christensen home at 906 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, CA once stood on the corner of Lake Avenue and Villa Street. The property now carries the address of 490 N. Lake Ave., and is the location of a small take-out restaurant and parking lot. ^[5]

In 1918, Howard was a salesman for Penn Oil and Supply Co, 85 W. Union, and 645 E. Colorado, Pasadena, California. He lived at the California Apartments Building, Pasadena. His brother Roy, a salesman, lived in a residential unit at the Penn Oil Union Street address. His father, Godfrey, stepmother Mary E., and brother Ernest, also a salesman, lived at 287 Claremont, Pasadena. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa, Births And Christenings, 1830-1950 (https://familysearch.org/ark/61903/1:1:XVZB-3GH)
2. ↑ 1895 Iowa State Census, Clay County (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3H-4N8?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=LZLL-HFW)
3. ↑ 1900 US Census, Spencer Twp, city Ward1-3, Iowa (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M92D-94X)
4. ↑ 1910 US Census, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVL4-578)
5. ↑ Apple Maps
6. ↑ 1918 Thurston’s Pasadena City Directory (https://books.google.com/books?id=AuY5AQAAMAAJ&pg=PT130&lpg=PT130&dq=ernest+s+christensen+pasadena&source=bl&ots=KgWCAzqviP&sig=teP8iCUH_1ELpXpLuLyKDxBon6I&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwieuuX5nKndAhUmw1QKHUHcAvIQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=ernest%20s%20christensen%20pasadena&f=false)