Rasmus Brus Christensen

Rasmus Brus Christensen and his family left Sonnerup, Sjaelland, Denmark for Quebec, Canada. In May 1869, the family left Canada for Berlin, Wisconsin.

When a cousin Daniel Shurtliff, in 2002, went to Wisconsin, he found this article:

Know all men by these presents: That the undersigned, Rasmus Christensen, Jens Larsen, Hans Mikklesen, Lars Nelsen, Nels Petersen, Christian Jensen, Jens Christian Wilhelmson, Johan Melan, Lars Hansen, Louis Johnsen, Peter Petersen and those who are or may become associated with them for the purpose herein specified, have organized themselves into a religious society of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, located in the town of Big Flats, County of Adams, and State of Wisconsin, for Religious, Charitable and Educational purposes, which Society shall be known and incorporated by the name of the Evangeligsk Suthrusk Cions Menighed Big Flats.

Dated November 13th, 1886

Rasmus Christensen
Hans Mikklesen
Nels Petersen
Jans Christian Vilhelmsen
Johan Melan
Louis Johnson
Jens Larsen
Lars Nelson
Christian Jensen
Lars Hansen
Peter Peterson

State of Wisconsin, County of Adams

Be it Remembered, that on this 13th day of November, A.D. 1886, personally appeared before me the within named Rasmus Christensen, Jens Larsen, Hans Mikklesen, Lars Nelson, Nels Petersen, Christian Jensen, Jens Christian Wilhelmsen, Johan Melan, Lars Hansen, Louis Johnsen, Peter Peterson, to me well known to be the same persons who subscribed and executed the within instrument, and acknowledged that they executed the same freely and voluntarily, for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

S. W. Pierce
Notary Public
Adams County, Wisconsin

This is a county copy, the signatures are not actual (alas). However, it does place our forbearers as founders of (What is now called) Zion Lutheran Church in Big Flats. Also note the Cavalier replacement of "e's" and "o's" in the names of these fine Danes all though this document!

The following humorous anecdote is taken from a history of this church included in "From Past to Present - The History of Adams County." (Dan Shurtliff owns a copy) There is precious little on the Danish Community of Big Flats in it.

A story is told about the congregation becoming divided over an interpretation of The Bible. It was in the late 1890's when a visiting minister started an intense argument among the Danes. One night during a meeting in the church, the argument became so strong that it was carried out into the churchyard. Here the men fought with sticks and what ever they could get a hold of. They were swearing and yelling in a mixture of Danish and English. The next day at noon, the church was struck by lightening and burned to the ground!!! I think God was trying to tell them something here.

"The congregation still did not reconcile. Part of the congregation built a new, smaller church a few yards to the west of where the old church stood, while others held their services in the schoolhouse some yards west of the church (sic)..."

Eventually, they reconciled in 1912. The rather lengthy story says that until the 1930's church services were held in Danish in the morning and English in the afternoon.

In Denmark, our immigrant ancestor, Rasmus, was known as "Rasmus Brus Christensen," in America he was known as "Robert Bruce Christensen." Also all of his children were born in Denmark with the surname "Rasmussen" in America their surname was changed either when they arrived or a little after to "Christensen" along with their fathers.
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Rasmus Brus Christensen

Rasmus Brus Christensen, the son of Christen Rasmussen and Sidse Nielsdatter, was born April 7, 1828 in Rye Parish, Volborg district, Roskilde County, Denmark. Rasmus married Margrethe Nielsdatter on October 26, 1849 at Kirke Såby, Roskilde County, Denmark. She was born on September 27, 1827 in Kirke Såby Parish, Roskilde County, Denmark, the daughter of Niels Pedersen and Ane Cathrine Larsdatter. Rasmus and Margrethe, along with seven children, immigrated to the United States in 1869, passing through Quebec, and originally settled in Pine Bluffs, Waushara County, WI. They moved to Big Flats, Adams County, Wisconsin about 1875. Rasmus was one of the founders of the Zion Lutheran Church in Big Flats, and the couple were respected members of the Danish Community in Big Flats. Margrethe died in Big Flats on December 2, 1894 and Rasmus died on June 6, 1897. They are both buried (as are many descendants) at Niebull Cemetery in Big Flats, Wisconsin. The children had the patrinome Rasmussen (or datter) while living in Denmark, but used the surname Christensen after coming to the United States. The children of Rasmus Christensen that died in Denmark are identified by patrinome (Rasmusdatter).

Source: Daniel Shurliff