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CHRISTIAN MADSON. The subject of this biographical memoir is a resident of East Grand Forks, Polk county, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the general merchandising business. He is a native of Denmark, born in Orenholt on the 11th day of October, 1849, and is the son of Mads and Anna Elsie Maria Jenson, also natives of Denmark.
Mr. Madson, of whom this sketch treats, remained in the excellent common schools of his native land until he was fifteen years of age. He then engaged in the weaver’s trade, and followed that industry in Denmark until he was fifteen years old. He then operated a store on his own account and continued in the merchant’s business for three or four years. At the age of twenty, in 1870, he emigrated to the United States and at once went to, and settled at St. Paul, Minnesota. He then secured work in the harvest field, and worked that season at harvesting and stacking, and in the fall found work on a gravel train and continued
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in that work until the following spring. He then went to Iowa, where he worked at railroading until harvest. Again he went into the field and worked for various farmers until winter set in. During that winter he drove a carriage for Judge Underwood, of St. Paul, Minnesota. In the spring he returned to railroading and in the fall worked in the harvest field and the next winter resumed his place with the judge. In the spring of 1874 he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and worked in the woolen mills for one year. At the expiration of that time, he secured a position with Tom King similar to the one he held with the judge. In September, 1876, he went into the grocery business, in partnership with P. H. Johnson. The firm name stood Madson & Johnson, and for the first year they rented rooms, but in 1877 erected a substantial building. They also erected another building, now used as a drug store. In August, 1881, Mr. Madson sold his stock of groceries to Mr. Hink and until the following spring led a retired life. In the spring of 1882 he settled at East Grand Forks, Minnesota, where he built the first business building in the city, and engaged in the grocery trade. He has since remained there, engaged in the same business. He carries a complete and first-class line of goods and is doing a successful business. On the 1st day of May, 1888, Mr. Madson took as a partner in the business, P. A. Hotvedt, and they have since continued the business in partnership.
Mr. Madson was married April 17, 1878, to Miss Lottie Johnson, daughter of Swan Johnson, a resident of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Madson are the parents of the following named children – Albert C., Mads E., Henry C., Anna E. and Lotta M. Mr. Madson is one of the prominent citizens of East Grand Forks and has held the offices of township treasurer for four years, and city treasurer ever since its organization. While in Minneapolis he was one of the organizers of the Danie Society, a Danish benefit organization. They have one of the finest halls in the city of Minneapolis and the order is very popular among the Danish people.
Source:
Illustrated Album of Biography of the Famous Valley of the Red River of the North and the Park Regions
Alden, Ogle & Company, Chicago, 1889