The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-04
-Four Generations
II, Each Family

Slayton Herald: Few families in
the state of Minnesota, or for that
matter in the nation itself, can point
| to Jour separate and distinct genera
tons OF the family tree, all living and
in good health.
Much more seldom is 1t that a fam
lily tree contains five generations, and
still more seldom does it occur that in
single family can two family trees
of five generations each be found.
For the first time in the history OF
Murray county, and we beliebe in the
state Of Minnesota has this occurred
and the Herald is this week privileged
to chronicle the history OF two or
Murray County's pioneer families, the
offspring or which has resulted in
cementing the two families together
and making the two groups of i've
generations families.
Christian Christianson and Mrs.
Martha Wornson, progenitors OF this
five generation family are seen seat
ed in the center OF the picture. To
the right of Mrs. Wornson is her son
Thomas Wo:nson, and to the left OF
Mr.. Christensen, his daughter, who
married Mr.. Wornson. Standing is
Mrs. Andrew Anderson, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Wornson and
also Mrs. Charles Sturges, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and her
babe, Master Charles Orville Sturges.
Christian Christensen was born in
Norway on April 3, 1926 and is there
fore ninety five years OF age. In 1857
he immigrated to America and settled
near Rushford, in Fillmore County
in June of that year. There he resided
for nearly six years. moving to Muir
ray county on October Ma, 1872 and
settling on the homestead in Leeds
township, one mile north OF Hadley,
where he remained until three years
ago when he removed to Hadley to
make his home with his son, Edward.
In 1S49 he was united in marriage to
Miss Caroline Bedding and from this
union five children stiI remain, name
ly, Mrs. Thomas MORRISON, OF Manka-
to, Mimi; Mrs. Swan Hansen, of Ko-
kato, MINI: Mrs. Krosted Of Mime
apolis, Mimi; Mrs. Peterson OF Taco
ma. Wash; and Ed. Christianson of
Hadley, MINI. He has nineteen grand
children, twenty eight great grand
children and one great great grand
child, the latter, Master Charles Or
vile Sturges born on April s, 1921.
Mrs. Martha Wornson was born on
April Is, 1924 or ninety seven years
ago at Vass End, Sattesdalen, Norway.
There she spent her girlhood days
and at the age of eighteen years was
united in marriage to Mr. Wornson.
In 1860 they immigrated to this coun-
try and settled near Beloit, Wiscon-
sin. in 1864 they moved to Rushford,
Mimi, where they remained until 1872
when they moved to Murray county
and homesteaded the farm in Slayton
township, six miles northwest OF this
city. Mr. WorI1son died about forty
years ago, but Mrs. Wo1nson remain
ed on the old homestead. To this
union were born twelve children, five
of whom are still living, namely:
Thomas Wornson, of Mankato; Ole
Wornson of Stoughton, Wis; Henry,
of Rushford Mimi, and Misses Julia
and Mary at home. She had twenty
two grandchildren, forty three great
grand children and three great great
grand childle
1t is pleasing indeed, to see people
of the age of Mr.. Christianson and
Mrs. Wornson. who went thru SO many
hardships in the rough pioneer days,
so hale and hearty at their great age.
It was their strength and their faith
that made them the real pioneers. and
the ravages of the >grasshoppers, the
torments of the wolves and Indians,
the snow blockade of the eighties, the
floods of the following spring, all this
served to steel them against that
which the future contained; 1t gave
them nerves uncomfortable, physique
unblemished and character unques-
tionable