Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Danish Roots
Since I have come to Denmark, I have been very interested in its culture as it
relates to my personal family history. Before I arrived in Denmark, I knew very little
about the country or my family history beyond my grandfather’s time. During my stay, I
have made several visits to the Danish National Archives, found long-lost family
members, and interviewed many people. All this research has painted a much clearer
picture of my family history, and has also given me reason to appreciate Danish culture
and how it has evolved from generation to generation. It has answered the question, for
me, “How am I and my family influenced by Danish culture?”
All of my research has centered on the family of a man named Martin Nielsen.
He is my great-grandfather, and he was born in Denmark and immigrated to the United
States sometime before World War I. Although the tradition of taking one’s father’s first
name as one’s last name (for example, Knud’s son would be X Knudsen) has been
abandoned in Scandinavia, my family has a similar tradition that is still practiced today.
Martin’s son was named Gene Martin Nielsen, and his son was named Martin Gene
Nielsen. This man is my father, and I am named Nicholas Martin Nielsen. If the
tradition continues, my son might be named X Nicholas Nielsen. I am including an
extensive family tree that is the result of all my research. One should reference this if any
confusion arises because of the many different names.
My research begins in the town of Snejbjerg (the name of this town might mean
“snow-mountain”) near Herning in the year 1815. On the 26th of February, Niels
Christensen was born. He was the son of Christen Pedersen and Maren Nielsdatter, and
was presumably named after his mother’s father Niels. Christen had the nickname
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Bjerre, because that was the name of the town where his family was originally from. In
front of several witnesses, Niels was baptized at the Snejbjerg parish church (Snejbjerg,
1815).
Niels Christensen grew up and married Ane Kirstine Knudsdatter, and on April
23rd 1858, when he was 43 years old, they had a son named Christen Nielsen (also spelled
Kristen) (Vorgod, 1858). Two years later they had a daughter named Ane Maria Nielsen
(Bølling, 1870). They lived in Fjelstervang, which was a plantation southwest of
Herning. On April 7th 1872, Kristen was confirmed as a Lutheran in the Vorgod parish
church with passing grades (Vorgod, 1872). Kristen moved to a farm near Herning when
he was twenty-one years old. He worked on this farm together with 2 girls and another
boy his own age. They worked as servants or hired hands for a man named Hans
Bjertelsen. Hans and his wife Ane had four children, and Ane’s father Peder was also
living with them at that time (Herning, 1880).
In 1882, Kristen moved from Herning to Gjellerup and married Kristine
Knudsdatter (also known as Kristine Dinesen). Kristine was from a small town northwest
of Herning called Lund. She was born of Knud Dinesen and Karen Jensdatter in 1852.
Kristine also had a younger sister named Kirsten Marie Knudsen. Her father Knud was a
small farmer and had no permanent job (Lund, 1860). He went around and did odd jobs
for whoever needed work. Since western Jutland had poor soil in those days and the
peasants had no money, it was a very tough time to support one’s family. Men did
whatever work they could find (Bruno). It was also hard for Kristine’s father because he
had only daughters, and sons were needed to help bear the burden of supporting their
family.
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Kristen and Kristine bought a small farm near Vraa and Nybo, which is about five
kilometers north of Herning. They had six children: Knud, Karen, Niels Anton, Ane
Kristine, Martin, and Kirsten (Vraa, 1901, 1906). Kristen worked as a small farmer at
night and as a bricklayer during the day (Bruno). In 1897, he built a church near the lake
at Sunds. He was one of the head bricklayers under murermester J.C. Rønnov
(Bendixsen, 1996). Every day during the church’s construction, Kristen traveled four
kilometers to the site and then four kilometers home at night (Kirstine). About this time,
Kristine’s father Knud Dinesen was living with the Nielsens as well. Old Knud’s wife
died in 1884, and he was a pensionister at this time. He was still doing odd jobs to help
out Kristen and Kristine’s family, and from the information I gathered it seems that he
died sometime between 1901 and 1906 (Vraa, 1901, 1906).
In around 1900, Kristen’s oldest son Knud left for America (Kirstine, Tage). The
lure of America was too great for a poor young man from the middle of Jutland to resist.
Times were hard in Denmark at that time and there was more hope in the “Land of
Opportunities.” So Knud settled in the western state of Nebraska, in the United States. It
is my belief that he stopped in Nebraska because the landscape looks so much like it does
in western Jutland. I think that he kept pushing west until he found land that reminded
him of home, and then he settled there. Knud got married, but never had any children.
Around 1910, Knud wrote home for Martin to come and visit in Nebraska. Knud
was prospering on the ranch that he bought, and wanted Martin to come as well. Martin
was about eighteen years old and found America to be exciting. Originally, he was
possibly going to return to Denmark and live there, but then World War I broke out in
Europe (Kirstine). Martin was drafted into the United States army, and was given
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
command of a small group of soldiers. However, he never left American soil to fight,
because his whole troop became very sick with a kind of influenza. His military days
were over and he settled back into Nebraska. Instead of going back to Denmark, which
was the original plan, he would never return to Denmark again (Kirstine, Tage).
Times were very hard in Denmark around the time of World War I. Knud and
Martin wrote letters to Denmark and kept in touch with their siblings. Their mother
Kristine died in 1915, and it was hard for their father Kristen. Knud wrote a letter every
year to his family that had a twenty-dollar bill in it to help ease the burden of poverty.
All of Kristen’s children were married and away from home, so he once more put his
brick-laying talents to use. He built himself a home in Herning and lived there for the
rest of his life (Bruno, Kirstine, Tage).
Martin married a young woman named Theresa Feltz. Her family, the Feltzes,
had immigrated from the area in France known as Alsace Lorraine, which is right on the
borders of France, Germany, and Switzerland. Her father and other relatives owned some
land in the area of Ogallala in Nebraska, and Martin and Tress built a house on part of the
land and raised cattle. On June 25th, 1928 they had a son named Gene Martin Nielsen.
Three generations of Nielsens still work on this ranch.
Martin and Knud’s other siblings also got married and had many children. They
kept in close contact with their sister Karen, who had married Niels Kristen Johansen.
They had six children together: Kristine (also called Stine), Åge, Knud, Tage, Kristian,
and Frede. Their brother Niels Anton married and had eleven children. A sister Kirsten
married a painter named Lortzen and they lived in Copenhagen. The other sister Kirstine
married Aksel Lund, a postman (Tage).
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Knud’s first wife had died, and they did not have any children. Knud decided to
go back to visit Denmark, and he did so in 1925. Karen’s oldest daughter Kirstine was
about three years old, and she remembers being very afraid of him. He wore his cowboy
hat and boots, and when little Kirstine ran away from him, he used his lasso to catch her.
Knud remembered little of his Danish language skills. However, he could remember
enough to communicate, and he had a good time visiting his birthplace (Kirstine).
In the letters that were sent between America and Denmark, there were many
pictures. Karen’s’ daughter Kirstine remembers a picture of a little boy dressed like a
cowboy that was always hanging in the middle of the wall. It was a picture of Martin’s
son Gene, and people would always admire it and ask about the “strange cowboy
picture.” It was a center of discussion for the Danes that visited Karen’s house (Kirstine).
Knud remarried with a woman named Helena, but they had no children together.
Helena, however, had two boys from a previous marriage. Her husband had died fighting
in World War I. Knud moved from western Nebraska and settled on a ranch in the area
of Omaha (Kirstine, Tage).
Around 1948, Martin mysteriously died. He was asthmatic, as are many people in
our family (Gene, and myself) and asthma ran in his siblings’ families also. He died with
his penicillin inhaler in his hand, and although the doctors proclaimed that he died of a
heart attack, many people in my family speculate that he was in fact allergic to penicillin.
Martin was planning on travelling to Denmark the next year, and it was a shame that he
died before he got to see his family again (Tage). Knud died in 1966. Both men are
remembered fondly.
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
After Martin died, his wife Theresa and his sister Karen kept in contact for many
years. Here is a letter from Karen to Theresa dated December 12, 1954 (eight months
after my father was born):
“Kære Svigerinde
Jeg vil lige skrive et par ord til dig og fortælle dig hvordan
vi har det. Vi er rask og har det godt. Ja nu er det jo snart
Martins Fodselsday d. 19 tror jeg. Haaber baade du og din
son og svigerdatter har det godt. Jeg sender en lille
Bordløber – en erindring fra Danmark. Naar du ser paa den
kan du jo tænke paa os. En skam at Martin ikke kan ser
den. Han vilde blive glad. Skriv hvordan I har det. Jeg vil
gerne vide hvordan det gaar og til slut en rigtig Glædelig
Jul og et godt Nytaar ønsker af os alle. Din Svigerinde,
Karen Johansen”
Because of all the research I have done, I have reestablished the contact that was
lost when Karen and Theresa died. Because I found Kristen and Kristine Nielsen’s
gravestone in the churchyard in Gjellerup, I was able to find out who the living relatives
were. I met Karen’s daughter and son Kirstine and Tage, and Kirstine’s son Bruno. I
stayed for a weekend with Bruno and his wife Metha. They were very nice, and I had a
marvelous time. I also met Bruno’s daughters Gitte and Anita, Anita’s husband Morten,
and her son Mads. It was extremely exciting for me to learn about relatives from
Denmark, especially since I’ve always known that Denmark is where my family
originally came from. I also got to use my Danish language skills because only Bruno
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
and Anita spoke any English. I learned an incredible amount about Denmark, my family,
and the Danes by making this visit to Jutland. I plan on keeping contact with these
people as long as possible.
In conclusion, Danish culture has affected me in many ways. It is part of my
heritage and my identity, just as much as other aspects of my family history. Recently, it
has affected me in a very special way, in that I got to meet several nice people in Jutland
and will have contact with them for the rest of my life. Because of my experiences here
in Denmark I understand my family in America a little better, such as why we do things a
certain way or why we tend to believe certain things. Also, my research will allow other
members of my family to learn about our past and where we come from. I am very
excited to return to the United States and present my findings to my family.
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Family Tree
Christen Pedersen (Bjerre) (Maren Nielsdatter)
Niels Christiansen (Ane Kirstine Knudsdatter)
Ane Maria Nielsen
Kristen Nielsen (Kristine Dinesen)
Knud (Helena)
Karen (Niels Kristen Johansen)
Kristine (Bødskov)
Bruno (Metha)
Anita (Morten)
Mads
Bjarke
Gitte
Åge
Little Knud
Knud
Tage
Kristian
Olaf
Lief
Sonja
Frede
Preben
2 children
Benny
Karen Maria
Margit
Niels Anton Nielsen
Børge
3 sons
Gerda
3 sons and 1 girl
Svend
3 sons and 4 girls
Gudrin
Asta
Edit
3 sons and 1 girl
Ruth
1 son
Magda
1 son and 2 girls
Henry
4 or 5 kids
Egon
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
2 sons and 1 girl
Helga
1 girl
Ane Kristine (Johannes Lund)
Mary
Inga
Børge
Svend
Martin (Theresa Feltz)
Gene Martin (Elaine McKeag)
Melody (Kelly McGowan)
James
Tony
Martin (Jacquelyn Quinn)
Nicholas Martin
Monica Anne
Erica Catherine
Matthew (Laura)
Lucas
Jenny
Kirsten (Tom MacDissi)
Adam
Anthony
Elaina
Theresa
Elise (Kevin Lockhart)
Phoebe
Kirsten (Axel Lund)
Gerda (Lortzen)
(twin girls)
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Nicholas Nielsen
Due May 7, 1999
Danish Society, Politics, and Culture
Works Cited.
Bendixsen, Mogens. Kirken ved søen. Sunds, 1996.
Bødskov, Anita. interviewed May 1. 1999, Kolding, Jylland.
Bødskov, Bruno. interviewed May 1. 1999, Bjerning, Jylland.
Bødskov, Kirstine. interviewed May 1. 1999, Hammerum, Jylland.
Johannsen, Tage. interviewed May 1. 1999, Hammerum, Jylland.
National Census of Denmark. Ringkøbing amt, Bølling herred, Vorgod sogn,
Fjelstervang by, Feb 1. 1870, microfilm M15161, National Archivet.
National Census of Denmark. Ringkøbing amt, Hammerum herred, Herning sogn,
Herning by, Feb 1. 1880, microfilm M15410, National Archivet.
National Census of Denmark. Ringkjobing amt, Hammerum herred, Gjellerup sogn, Lund
and Buske by, Feb 1. 1860, microfilm M039573, National Archivet.
National Census of Denmark. Ringkjobing amt, Hammerum herred, Gjellerup sogn, Vraa
by, Feb 1. 1901, microfilm M16728, National Archivet.
National Census of Denmark. Ringkjobing amt, Hammerum herred, Gjellerup sogn, Vraa
by, Feb 1. 1906, microfilm M17373, National Archivet.
Snejbjerg parish books. 1815, microfilm C519 – 2 – 2/4 page 51 # 3, National Archivet.
Vorgod parish books. 1858, microfilm C537A – 5 – 1/4 page 10 # 7, National Archivet.
Vorgod parish books, 1872, microfilm M53586, National Archivet
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