Obit: Nielsen, Christen S. (1875? - 1923)

Transcriber:  Stan

Surnames: NIELSEN

----Source: ABBOTSFORD TRIBUNE (Abbotsford, Wis.) 01/17/1924

Nielsen, Christen S. (1875? - 9 Dec 1923)

Dr. Christen Seerup Nielsen died at the age of forty-nine at the hospital at Marshfield, Wis., Sunday morning the ninth of Dec. 1923. The cause of his death was Pernicious Anemia. Six young men gave of their blood that he might live. Nine others stood ready to serve.

Dr. C. S. Nielsen came to Withee, Clark County, Wis. in 1895, where his father, Rev. A. S. Nielsen had founded a colony two years before. Here the young energetic doctor shared the pioneer’s hardships and deprivations. During the first years, while his strength and enthusiasm were at their height, he worked day and night. Later, as his strength abated, he was compelled to refuse night calls.

To tell of Dr. Nielsen’s untiring work for his fellowmen, his journeys over almost impassable roads, through deep snow, in extreme cold winter weather, over the muddy roads of spring and in the intense heat of summer, would fill a volume. He put his whole soul into his work and was as zealous and untiring in serving the poor as the rich. It was not a desire for financial gain that guided him on, but a burning desire to help and to heal.

Once the doctor was called to the bedside of a sick child. It was Christmas Day. The child had longed for Christmas. The mother had place a branch of a fir tree at the foot end of the bed. The doctor did not remain long but returned soon after with a real Christmas tree, ornaments, goodies and toys.

When the sick lay in an agony of pain or the delirium of fever and all present were counting the minutes until the doctor should arrive, he appeared to them like an angel of mercy in their hearts.

"You May believe I have bless the Doctor many times," said a man well acquainted with sickness and death. When first I have the doctor with me, homeward bound, I feel reassured, all will be well.

The Doctor had inherited his sympathetic heart from his parents. It has raised a monument to his memory in grateful hearts, but it brought him only little of this world’s riches.

Dr. Nielsen was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, spent most of his early boyhood in Chicago and as a youth went to Denmark with his father. Here he remained, attending school until the nineteenth year.

During this time, the doctor lived with Sir Niels K. Kristiansen, an old time friend of his parents. In this cultured home and under the influence of this splendid family, he passed a most ideal youth. Her, in company with this gentleman of with a classmate, he would ramble through the beautiful shady wood, along the riverbanks or revel in the waters of the Kattegat. In after years, when his thoughts reverted to these happy days, the fountain of memory was opened and he would lose himself in a flood of tender and joyous recollections.

It is not an easy matter to be brief when a throng of memories overwhelms one. But there are incidents which stand out more distinctly than others. Thus: a man had taken the Doctor back after a night’s successful fight with death. As he alighted his vehicle to return to his home, he turned to a bystander with the remark: " If it had not been for Dr. Nielsen" and his voice choked with emotion, refused obedience.

Once came a hurry call. A woman lay bleeding to death. In a flash he was at her bedside. It was a race with death and it was a fight with death. He worked and he prayed, and drenched to the skin with perspiration he stood conqueror. After the immediate danger had passed and the patient lay, white as a sheet about her, and the heart was struggling violently with what little blood was left, the doctor, weary in both body and mind, began to relate stories one more mirth provoking and impossible than the other, a wonderful thing happened. The patient lay there laughing. Those who had witnessed his seemingly hopeless task of a few minutes before and heard his prayer for divine help understood that he was till playing his skill, still working while his whole being demanded rest, not only as a duty, but with a heart filled with gratitude because he had been granted the opportunity to save a human life.

Now the capable had is cold, and the heart that once beat so warmly for the sick and the suffering is still. It is hard for us to accustom ourselves to the fact that Dr. Nielsen has bidden us all "good bye." There are some who are not so greatly missed, there are others whose passing is a great loss.

There was a continuous stream of friends who came to view the remains at the house. There were fathers and mothers who had learned to trust him when in deep distress. There were young men and women who he had helped into the world alive. There was a great throng at the church and outside, when the bell tolled over him. It was especially pathetic to see how dearly he was loved by the aged people. There was deep and unaffected sorrow throughout the large audience, as he was laid to rest.

Dr. Nielsen had been twice married. His first wife died eighteen years ago. His second wife and son, Andreas Sixtus Nielsen, survive him.

All his kin, who know what Glyde B. Nielsen has been to her deceased husband, as she shared with him the heavy responsibility of his calling, send her a silent tribute of gratitude.

When the Master shall call forth "all that are in their graves" and the beloved doctor, together with the great multitude shall stand before the great Physician, it will be remembered what Dr. Nielsen has done in faithfulness and hope to help poor, suffering humanity. "In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."

The Master’s voice still speaks to us in the sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

**************************************

Bio: Nielsen, Dr. Christian S. (1874 - 1923)

Contact:  Janet

----Source: Withee Memories "From Logging Trails to Super Highways", pg. 122.

Dr. Christian Nielsen

Dr. Christian S. Nielsen came to Withee in 1895 where his father had founded a Danish colony. Here he shared the hardships and deprivations. He was born in Iowa, spent most of his childhood in Chicago and went to Denmark with his father, staying there and going to school until he was 19. His father was the pastor of Nazareth (the Danish) Lutheran Church and the large home across from the church was at that time the parsonage. When a new parsonage was built south of the church Dr. Nielsen used the old parsonage as a hospital. He was loved and admired by all. His untimely death occurred when he was only 49, in early December of 1923.

**************************************

Responses

Re: Obit: Nielsen, Christen S. (1875? - 1923)

Contact:  Jim Stenhouse
 

Thanks for posting the obituary for Christen Nielsen. He was the brother of my great-grandfather, Theodore Svend Nielsen, who stayed in Chicago when the family moved to Withee. Theodore was also a physician, and succumbed to the hardships of the profession, both physical and emotional at an early age. He died in 1904 at the age of 40 leaving my grandmother's family in some difficulty. I also found the obituary that you posted for his mother Johanna Nielsen. If you have any more information relating to that Nielsen family, I would be very eager to see it.

Re: Obit: Nielsen, Christen S. (1875? - 1923)

Transcriber: Kristen Nielsen

 

Thank You,

Christen S. Nielsen was my grandfather - that I never knew. My father, Andrea Sixtus Nielsen. In fact, I am named after Christen - he spelled his name Kristen in Denmark. Thank You

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE