Agatha was born on October 12, 1867, in Halk, Haderslev, Denmark, where her family lived. At that time her family spoke Danish. However, when Agatha was four years old, the area was taken over by the Germans. The children were raised German and attended German schools, probably through the eighth grade. They spoke German; Agatha could not speak English when she came to the U.S.
According to Lauge Christensen's obituary, Agatha and "Louis" Christensen were married on April 13, 1885, Hadersleben, Schleswig, Germany. However, other records show that Agatha and Louis were married on the day they arrived in the Port of New York, April 13, 1889. It was not uncommon for new immigrants to marry upon arrival in the U.S. The fact that Agatha used her maiden name (Paulsen) on the immigration manifest is interesting and may suggest that Agatha and Louis were not married when they arrived. Although, it was quite common for married women to use their maiden names when immigrating even if they were married.
Agatha had four or five brothers, and one sister (Marie). None of her family ever came to the U.S., nor did she ever go overseas to see them.
Four or five of Agatha's brothers served in the German guard. Three were killed in World War I; they were bodyguards for Kaiser Wilhelm. One brother, Andrew Paulsen, served as the Kaiser's personal bodyguard; he was killed about 1914.
When Lauge and Agatha's son, Reuben, went into the service during World War I, Agatha worried that he would be sent overseas and have to fight "her people." However, the war ended soon after he enlisted so he never left the U.S.
Agatha's sister, Marie, and her husband were wealthy jewelry-store owners in Denmark. Her husband died or was killed. About 1918, when the Germans took over the area where they lived, they confiscated all of their belongings--including the store. For years afterward, Agatha's son, Reuben, sent money in care of the Red Cross for Marie to live on. Eventually, he stopped because they didn't know if she was receiving it.
Agatha's daughter, Ruth, described her mother as an "A-1 seamstress," who made all her children's clothes. At night she sat by the lamplight, "knitting socks and mittens...and darning and mending the endless piles of clothes."
Agatha died April 8, 1948, in Amery, Wisconsin.
According to Lauge Christensen's obituary, Agatha and "Louis" Christensen were married on April 13, 1885, Hadersleben, Schleswig, Germany. However, other records show that Agatha and Louis were married on the day they arrived in the Port of New York, April 13, 1889. It was not uncommon for new immigrants to marry upon arrival in the U.S. The fact that Agatha used her maiden name (Paulsen) on the immigration manifest is interesting and may suggest that Agatha and Louis were not married when they arrived. Although, it was quite common for married women to use their maiden names when immigrating even if they were married.
Agatha had four or five brothers, and one sister (Marie). None of her family ever came to the U.S., nor did she ever go overseas to see them.
Four or five of Agatha's brothers served in the German guard. Three were killed in World War I; they were bodyguards for Kaiser Wilhelm. One brother, Andrew Paulsen, served as the Kaiser's personal bodyguard; he was killed about 1914.
When Lauge and Agatha's son, Reuben, went into the service during World War I, Agatha worried that he would be sent overseas and have to fight "her people." However, the war ended soon after he enlisted so he never left the U.S.
Agatha's sister, Marie, and her husband were wealthy jewelry-store owners in Denmark. Her husband died or was killed. About 1918, when the Germans took over the area where they lived, they confiscated all of their belongings--including the store. For years afterward, Agatha's son, Reuben, sent money in care of the Red Cross for Marie to live on. Eventually, he stopped because they didn't know if she was receiving it.
Agatha's daughter, Ruth, described her mother as an "A-1 seamstress," who made all her children's clothes. At night she sat by the lamplight, "knitting socks and mittens...and darning and mending the endless piles of clothes."
Agatha died April 8, 1948, in Amery, Wisconsin.
Agatha was born on October 12, 1867, in Halk, Haderslev, Denmark, where her family lived. At that time her family spoke Danish. However, when Agatha was four years old, the area was taken over by the Germans. The children were raised German and attended German schools, probably through the eighth grade. They spoke German; Agatha could not speak English when she came to the U.S.
According to Lauge Christensen's obituary, Agatha and "Louis" Christensen were married on April 13, 1885, Hadersleben, Schleswig, Germany. However, other records show that Agatha and Louis were married on the day they arrived in the Port of New York, April 13, 1889. It was not uncommon for new immigrants to marry upon arrival in the U.S. The fact that Agatha used her maiden name (Paulsen) on the immigration manifest is interesting and may suggest that Agatha and Louis were not married when they arrived. Although, it was quite common for married women to use their maiden names when immigrating even if they were married.
Agatha had four or five brothers, and one sister (Marie). None of her family ever came to the U.S., nor did she ever go overseas to see them.
Four or five of Agatha's brothers served in the German guard. Three were killed in World War I; they were bodyguards for Kaiser Wilhelm. One brother, Andrew Paulsen, served as the Kaiser's personal bodyguard; he was killed about 1914.
When Lauge and Agatha's son, Reuben, went into the service during World War I, Agatha worried that he would be sent overseas and have to fight "her people." However, the war ended soon after he enlisted so he never left the U.S.
Agatha's sister, Marie, and her husband were wealthy jewelry-store owners in Denmark. Her husband died or was killed. About 1918, when the Germans took over the area where they lived, they confiscated all of their belongings--including the store. For years afterward, Agatha's son, Reuben, sent money in care of the Red Cross for Marie to live on. Eventually, he stopped because they didn't know if she was receiving it.
Agatha's daughter, Ruth, described her mother as an "A-1 seamstress," who made all her children's clothes. At night she sat by the lamplight, "knitting socks and mittens...and darning and mending the endless piles of clothes."
Agatha died April 8, 1948, in Amery, Wisconsin.
According to Lauge Christensen's obituary, Agatha and "Louis" Christensen were married on April 13, 1885, Hadersleben, Schleswig, Germany. However, other records show that Agatha and Louis were married on the day they arrived in the Port of New York, April 13, 1889. It was not uncommon for new immigrants to marry upon arrival in the U.S. The fact that Agatha used her maiden name (Paulsen) on the immigration manifest is interesting and may suggest that Agatha and Louis were not married when they arrived. Although, it was quite common for married women to use their maiden names when immigrating even if they were married.
Agatha had four or five brothers, and one sister (Marie). None of her family ever came to the U.S., nor did she ever go overseas to see them.
Four or five of Agatha's brothers served in the German guard. Three were killed in World War I; they were bodyguards for Kaiser Wilhelm. One brother, Andrew Paulsen, served as the Kaiser's personal bodyguard; he was killed about 1914.
When Lauge and Agatha's son, Reuben, went into the service during World War I, Agatha worried that he would be sent overseas and have to fight "her people." However, the war ended soon after he enlisted so he never left the U.S.
Agatha's sister, Marie, and her husband were wealthy jewelry-store owners in Denmark. Her husband died or was killed. About 1918, when the Germans took over the area where they lived, they confiscated all of their belongings--including the store. For years afterward, Agatha's son, Reuben, sent money in care of the Red Cross for Marie to live on. Eventually, he stopped because they didn't know if she was receiving it.
Agatha's daughter, Ruth, described her mother as an "A-1 seamstress," who made all her children's clothes. At night she sat by the lamplight, "knitting socks and mittens...and darning and mending the endless piles of clothes."
Agatha died April 8, 1948, in Amery, Wisconsin.
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See more Christensen or Paulsen memorials in:
- Volga Cemetery Christensen or Paulsen
- Amery Christensen or Paulsen
- Polk County Christensen or Paulsen
- Wisconsin Christensen or Paulsen
- USA Christensen or Paulsen
- Find a Grave Christensen or Paulsen
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