Wives of Otto:

Mariane Christensen on 18 Sep 1861
mother of William Edward, Mary Emeline, Charles Otto, Luanna Maria, Antonia Belinda.

Maren Annette Anderson on 23 Sep 1865
mother of Dorthy Guerene (Lorena/Rena), Amelia Jenette, Mary Eliza, William Christopher, Frederick Thorvald, and a 12 lb son with whom both died in childbirth.

Wilhelmina Severina Pauline Pedersen on 9 Oct 1879
Mother of Emma Wilhelmina, William Conrad August, Charlotte Sophia, Cordelia Theresa, Agnes Magdelena, Edward Thorwald, Marcella Adelaide, Lenora Conradine, Marion Richard, Wilford Manassah.

His obituary, Published 20 Apr 1895, Deseret News:

"WILLIAM CHRISTENSEN
Fairview, Utah, April 10 1895. Ou [On] ---account of the long distance and poor mail facilities between this place and Vernal, Utah, this item has been delayed thus far, but still we desire through the News columns to inform the many friends of the late Elder WIlliam Christensen that he departed this life on the 26.h day of March, 1895, after a severe illness of five weeks.

Brother William Christensen was born in Copenhagen Denmark, Feb 13, 1841, and came to Utah with a family of Saints when he was but 11 years of age. After living many years in Springville he went to Fairview, Sanpete county, in 1860, among the first settlers. The following year, after having made a trip to the Missouri river to assist in bringing in the emigration in ox teams, he married his first wife and proved a faithful, honest, industrious and very useful citizen and Saint. He went to Conejos county, Colorado, in 1880, to assist in the settling up of that new country, and there, as he had done before, held honorable positions of trust among his co-laborers in that work. Last fall, seeing his health failing, he went to Ashley, Utah, to find a place more suitable to his future comfort, and intended to make a permanent home there, when he was overtaken by a disease of the stomach, which terminated fatally.

His remains were interred at Vernal, where every possible assistance was rendered him and his wife in their trying circumstances. He leaves a large family and many friends to mourn his loss.---"

~Note: This obituary does not mention his second wife, Maren Annette.

A Brief History:

Otto Edward Wilhelm Thorvald Christensen was known as 'William' to his family and friends. He was born in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark on 13 Feb 1841, the youngest of four sons of Mads Christensen and Dorthea Christiane Tranum Christensen. His older borthers are Carl Christian Anthon, Niels August, Mads Theobald frederick Christensen.

After finishing a Lutheran boarding school, 'Opforstringshuset'. Each boy recieved his confirmation and an apprenticeship. William was apprenticed by a harness maker in the spring of 1851.On 14 Oct 1850 William was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the age of 11, beginning 20 Dec 1852, William joined a family who was traveling with the John Erik Forsgren Company of Saints from Copenhagen Denmark to Salt Lake City. Due to weather technicalities, the journey over land and water would last nine months- eleven days from beginning to end. He was the first of his family to come to America. He worked for and lived in the home of a chair maker, Richard Bird. although he was away from his family, his mother had planted a strong seed of goodness in him and his brothers, that lasted a lifetime. His mother and brother, Mads Frederick (Fred) arrived in Salt Lake City on the 5th day of October, 1854. The Richard Bird family took Fred in also. Their mother, Dorthea Christiane died in Salt Lake City 5 Sep 1855. Oldest brother Carl and his new wife arrived in the fall of 1857 with a handcart company. Niels August served in the Army and immigrated to American 1873.

William, living during the early days of the LDS Church, had three wives and 20 children. With his second and third wives and his families, he helped settle the San Louis Valley in Colorado, owning a hardware store there and a Post Office. He served a two year mission to Denmark for the LDS Church and was sent east several times to help bring the new Saints and immigrants across the plains and mountains.

His full history is much too long to write in such a small space and still keep interest; but it's a rich history, and he left a rich legacy not in money,, but in spirit, strength and perseverance in his descendants.


From a history by his son, William C, Christensen in 1897:
“My father had a contract to teach school in Vernal, Utah in the fall of 1894. He left Manassa, Colorado, for Vernal, taking with him his daughter Lottie who was 12 years old. Lottie drove one of the two team used in making the trip. He became ill during the winter and Wilhelmine arrived at Vernal in February. He was given the best care possible by his wife, daughter, the local doctor, and the good family of George Barrett. In spite of all of their efforts, he passed away March 25, 1895. The cause of his death was ‘abscess of the liver’ as diagnosed by the local doctor. He having suffered stomach ailment for a period of years. It was his desire to be buried at Vernal and not be moved to Manassa."