Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 5 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 6

Since 1912, when the genial cashier of the allied banks, the Selma National Bank and Farmers Savings Bank of Selma, Carl W. Christensen, came to the favored section of Fresno County known as "The Home of the Peach," he has forged rapidly to the front among the business men of prominence in Selma and vicinity. Congenial, bright, well-informed and experienced in his line of work, he is known in the business world as a rapid and accurate cashier and an excellent judge of values.

Of Danish parentage, his father, J. P., and mother, M. (Hornbeck) Christensen, who reside in Selma, were born in Denmark. Carl W. was born at Racine, Wis., December 26, 1877, and was eleven years of age when his parents removed to Turner County, S. D., where he grew up on a South Dakota farm. He received his primary education in the Racine and Turner County schools. Of studious habits, by means of self-study and the assistance of a private tutor, he acquired an excellent education, and at nineteen years of age passed the teacher's examination. He taught school four years in Turner County, S. D., then an opening occurring in the bank of Viborg, Turner County, he accepted a clerkship in what is now the First National Bank of Viborg, remaining with the bank eleven years, being cashier during the last four years. In 1912 he came to California to take his present position, as the successor of Mr. W. E. Street. He helped reorganize the old Farmers Bank of Selma and takes an active interest in the business of the allied banks, of which he is one of the directors.

He married Miss Etta M. Nielsen, of San Jose, Cal., and they are the parents of three children: Warren N., Roger W., and Alan D. Mr. Christensen is an acquisition to Selma's social circle as he is to its business world. While of a refined and retiring temperament, he is a young man of excellent musical attainments, coming honestly by his musical genius, as C. C. Krogh, the well-known violinist and composer of Denmark of the century just ended, was his grandfather. While a young man at Viborg, S. D., he attained celebrity as a cornetist and bandmaster, organizing four well known bands of which he was leader. He became one of the foremost bandmasters in southeastern South Dakota, playing at the state fairs, and often being called upon to play during the state capital campaign as well as in the campaigns of ex-Senator Crawford of South Dakota.

Mr. Christensen is the owner of eighty acres near Selma, planted to Thompson seedless and muscat grapes, and peaches, all in full bearing. In 1913 he built his residence in Selma, which is located on Logan Street. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are active members of the First Baptist Church of Selma. Mr. Christensen takes an active interest in the financial interests of the church, as well as in the Sunday School, of which he is superintendent.

Taking a pardonable pride in the prosperity and financial standing of his community, he rendered valuable service in the various drives connected with the activities of the war just ended. It is needless to say that in its Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., and other charities, as well as in the Liberty Loans and the recent Victory Loan, Selma went promptly "over the top," with a considerable percentage of surplus to her great credit.