OLAF NIELS CHRISTENSEN

Olaf Neils Christensen gravemarker
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. February 5, 1891 in Copenhagen, Denmark
M. WW I Army Veteran (December 18, 1913-June 4, 1920), Private
D. August 21, 1975 in Cook County, IL (Last residence: Fox Lake, Lake, Illinois)
Find A Grave memorial (click here)

Additional Information:

According to the Copenhage, Denmark, Censuses, 1885 and 1895:

“Name: Oluf Niels Christensen; Gender: Mandlig (Male); Marital Status: U; Age: 4; Birth Date: 5 Febr 1891; Birth Place: København; Residence Date: 1895; Residence Address: Forhus 4 Sal; Residence Place: Danmark (Denmark); Relationship: Barn (Child); Religion: L; Family Number: 10; Household members: Oskar Viktor Christensen, Age 34, Relationship: Husfader (Head); August Lovise Olsen, Age 34, Relationship; Husmoder (Head); Agnes Elisabeth Olsen, Age 8, Relationship: Barn (Child); Oluf Niels Christensen, Age 4, Relationship: Barn (Child); Aksel Christensen, Age 5, Relationship: Barn (Child); Vilhelm Valdemar Christensen (Age 1, Relationship: Barn (Child); Nils Moretensen, Age 26, Relationship: Logerende (Lodger)”

According to the Denmark, Church Records, 1812-1918:

“Name: Olaf Niels Christensen; Gender: Mandlig (Male); Event Type: konfirmation (Confirmation); Birth Date: 5 Febr 1891; Confirmation Date: 24 Apr 1905; Confirmation Place: Frihavns, København, Danmark (Denmark); Father: Oscar Victor Christensen; Mother: Augusta Lovise Olausdatter”

According to the Louisiana, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1836-2001:

“FACTS FOR DECLARATION OF INTENTION
Department of Commerce and Labor
NATURALIZATION SERVICE

Name: Olaf Niels Christensen; Age: 21 years; Occupation: Carpenter; Color: Light White; Complexion: Light; Height: 5 feet, 8 inches; Weight: 155 pounds; Color of hair: Light; Color of eyes: Gray; Other visible distinctive marks: Tatooed on both forearms; Where born: City of Copenhagen, Denmark; Date if birth: February 5, 1891; Present residence: 212 Dauphisse St., New Orleans; Emigrated from: Copenhagen, Denmark; Name of vessel: Oscar II; Last place of foreign residence: Copenhagen, Denmark; I am now a subject of and intend to renounce allegiance to Christian X, King of Denmark; Date of arrival in United States: June, first, 1911; Port of arrival: New York City, N.Y.”

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Military and Naval Population, Etc., Abroad Fort Sherman, Canal Zone, 2nd Company, Coast Artillery: Included in a list of military personnel is:

“Olaf N. Christensen, Pvt, residence: Ill, Chicago, 3739 North Ave., age 28, single, immigrated in 1911, born in Denmark, parents born in Denmark, occupation: soldier”

According to the Illinois, Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991:

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
——–
PETITION FOR CITIZENSHIP

“To the Honorable the U. S. DISTRICT Court of NORTHERN DIST. ILL. at CHICAGO, ILL.  The petition of OLAF NIELS CHRISTENSEN, hereby filed, respectfully shows: (1) My place of residence is 4005 N. Richmond St., Chicago, Cook, Illinois, (2) My occupation is carpenter unemployed .(3) I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on February 5, 1891.  My race is Scandinavian. (4) I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on “FILED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 4, 1929. (5) I am married.  The name of my husband (sic) is Helen; we were married on February 24, 1923 at Chicago, Ill.; she was born at Chicago, Ill. on August 1, 1898 and now resides at Chicago, Ill.  I have no children.  Enlisted December 18, 1913 Regular Army Reservist; Honorably discharged June 4, 1920; Serial No. 347507. (6) My last foreign residence was Copenhagen, Denmark.  I emigrated to the United States of America from Copenhagen, Denmark.  My lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was at New York, City, under the name of Olaf Neils Christensen on June 2, 1911 on the vessel Oscar II as shown by the certificate of my arrival attached hereto….  (7) It is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Christian X, King of Denmark, of whom (which) at this time I am a subject (or citizen), and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States. (8) I am able to speak the English language. (9) I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term of five years at least immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since June 2, 1911, and in the County of Cook, this State, continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since September 1912, being a residence within said county of at least six months next preceding the date of this petition. (10) I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship.

Signed: Olaf N. Christensen on March 3, 1930.

”IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF
OLAF NIELS CHRISTENSEN
To Be Admitted a Citizen of the United States of America

AFFIDAVITS OF WITNESSES

John Jensen, occupation Investigator License Bureau residing at 3932 N. Albany Ave., Chicago, Ill. and Carl V. Johnson, occupation Carpenter residing at 4539 N. Keating Ave., Chicago, Illinois. each being severally, duly, and respectively sworn, deposes and says that he is a citizen of the United States of America; that he has personally known and has been acquainted in the United States with OLAF NIELS CHRISTENSEN the petitioner above mentioned since January 1, 1934, and that to his personal knowledge the petitioner has resided in the United States continuously preceding the date of filing this petition of which the affidavit is a part to wit, since the date last mentioned, and at Chicago, Ill. in the County of Cook this State, in which the above-entitled petition is made, continuously since January 1, 1924, and that he has personal knowledge that the petitioner is and during all such periods has been a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States, and that in his opinion the petitioner is in every way qualified to be admitted a citizen of the United States.

Signed March 3, 1930″

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Chicago City, Cook County, IL living at 2920 Irving Park Road, the household members were:

“Hilda Thompson, head, age 62, widowed, born in Norway, parents born in Norway, occupation: waitress – board of education; Alice F. Thompson, daughter, age 25, single, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway, occupation: sales lady – grocery store; Olaf Christensen, son in law, age 39, married at age 32, born in Denmark, parents born in Denmark, immigrated in 1914, occupation: carpenter – building; Helen Christensen, daughter, age 31, married at age 24, born in Illinois, parents born in Norway”

According to the 1940 U.S. Census for Chicago City, Cook County, IL living at 4522 Sawyer Avenue, the household members were:

“Olaf N. Christensen, head, age 49, married, highest grade completed: 8, born in Denmark, lived in same place in 1935, Occupation: Bartender – Tavern; Helen G. Christensen, wife, age 41, highest grade completed: 8, born in Illinois, lived in same place in 1935; Occupation: Housekeeper – Private Homes”

According to the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942:

“Name: Olaf Niel Christensen; Place of Residence: 4255 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; Mailing Address: Same; Telephone: Juniper 4268; Age in Years: 51 yrs.; Date of Birth: Feb. 5 – 1891; Place of Birth: Copenhagen; Denmark; Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Helen Christensen – 4255 N. Kedzie Ave. Chicago; Employer’s Name and Address: John Griffith & Son, Chicago, Ill.; Race: White; Height: 5 ft 6 1/2 in; Weight: 185 lbs; Eyes: Gray; Hair: Brown; Complexion: Ruddy; Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: scar left side of chin; Signed: April 27, 1942”

According to the 1950 U.S. Census for Chicago, Cook County, IL living at 4255 Kedzie, the household members were:

“Olaf N Christensen, head, age 59, married, born in Denmark, Occupation: Carpenter – Store fixtures manufacture, Was living in this same house a year ago?: Yes, Parents for in Denmark, What is the highest grade of school that he has attended?: S12; Did he finish this grade?: Yes; Last year, in how many weeks did this person do any work at all?: 47; Last year (1949) how much money did he earn working as an employee for wages or salary?: $4470; Did he ever serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during: WWII?: No; WWI?: Yes; Any other time including present service?: No; Helen Christensen, wife, age 51, married, born in Illinois”

According to the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010:

“Name: Olaf N Christensen; Birth Date: 5 Feb 1891; Death Date: 21 Aug 1975; SSN: 319079538; Enlistment Date: 18 Dec 1913; Discharge Date: 4 Jun 1920; Enlistment Branch 1: UNK; Page Number: 1”