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Pedersen Family
My family name "Pedersen" is extremely common in Denmark, meaning "son of Peder". Up until the early 1800's, the family name changed each generation. For example, if Jens Svensen had a son named Peder, his name would be Peder Jensen (son of Jens). He would not have the last name Svensen. This caused a lot of confusion, and the law was changed so that a family had to pick a name.
The man pictured on the left is Peder Pedersen, my great-great grandfather and his wife Cecilie Marie Jensen. Peder was the gardener and caretaker for a large estate on the island of Lolland called "Berritzgaard" (click here for more information about the estate). Peder Pedersen and his wife had 5 children, youngest of which was my great-grandfather, Peder Henrik Pedersen. Peder grew up on the estate, and later worked as a grocer. At a dance, he met Elisabeth Dyrlund, the daughter of a prominent Danish family. They were married and soon had a son, Holger. They immigrated to America in 1884. They settled in Racine, Wisconsin where thousands of Danes lived. After having two more children (Ole and Ida), Elisabeth died. Peder was left with three children under the age of 5. He placed an ad in a Danish newspaper for a nanny, and Karen Christine Jensen answered the ad and sailed to America. Soon Peder and Karen were married, and 7 more children arrived over the years (Martha, Erna, Olga, Peder, John, Stella and Henry). Peder worked at the American Seating Company as a furniture maker, and invested in land around Racine. My grandfather, John Peder Pedersen, was born in 1897.
My family name "Pedersen" is extremely common in Denmark, meaning "son of Peder". Up until the early 1800's, the family name changed each generation. For example, if Jens Svensen had a son named Peder, his name would be Peder Jensen (son of Jens). He would not have the last name Svensen. This caused a lot of confusion, and the law was changed so that a family had to pick a name.
The man pictured on the left is Peder Pedersen, my great-great grandfather and his wife Cecilie Marie Jensen. Peder was the gardener and caretaker for a large estate on the island of Lolland called "Berritzgaard" (click here for more information about the estate). Peder Pedersen and his wife had 5 children, youngest of which was my great-grandfather, Peder Henrik Pedersen. Peder grew up on the estate, and later worked as a grocer. At a dance, he met Elisabeth Dyrlund, the daughter of a prominent Danish family. They were married and soon had a son, Holger. They immigrated to America in 1884. They settled in Racine, Wisconsin where thousands of Danes lived. After having two more children (Ole and Ida), Elisabeth died. Peder was left with three children under the age of 5. He placed an ad in a Danish newspaper for a nanny, and Karen Christine Jensen answered the ad and sailed to America. Soon Peder and Karen were married, and 7 more children arrived over the years (Martha, Erna, Olga, Peder, John, Stella and Henry). Peder worked at the American Seating Company as a furniture maker, and invested in land around Racine. My grandfather, John Peder Pedersen, was born in 1897.
Peder Pedersen and Cecilie Jensen, 1855
Peder Henrik Pedersen and his family in America, 1910
Peder Henrik Pedersen and
his second wife Karen
his second wife Karen
Nielsen Family
Jens Carl Nielsen, my great-grandfather, was born June 6, 1873 in Vinge, a tiny village near the town of Viborg in the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. In 1895, he married Christine Christensen, daughter of Hans Christensen and Karen Marie Hermansen, who lived in Hvornum, also near Viborg. They immigrated to America in 1896 and settled in Racine, Wisconsin. As happended with many immigrants, the name was changed to Nelson, and Jens became James Christ Nelson. They started their family and had 6 children (Christ, Lillian, Alma, Agnes, Clara and Mary) and James ran a bicycle store in Racine. The second born child was my grandmother Lillian Katrina Nelson, born in 1900. Lillian met John Pedersen after he had returned from World War I.
Jens Carl Nielsen, my great-grandfather, was born June 6, 1873 in Vinge, a tiny village near the town of Viborg in the Jutland peninsula of Denmark. In 1895, he married Christine Christensen, daughter of Hans Christensen and Karen Marie Hermansen, who lived in Hvornum, also near Viborg. They immigrated to America in 1896 and settled in Racine, Wisconsin. As happended with many immigrants, the name was changed to Nelson, and Jens became James Christ Nelson. They started their family and had 6 children (Christ, Lillian, Alma, Agnes, Clara and Mary) and James ran a bicycle store in Racine. The second born child was my grandmother Lillian Katrina Nelson, born in 1900. Lillian met John Pedersen after he had returned from World War I.
Karen Marie Hermansen and Hans Christensen
The Nelson Family with my grandmother Lillian on the right
James and Christine Nelson
Pedersen-Nelson Marriage
John Peder Pedersen married Lillian Katrina Pedersen on June 14, 1919. They had a civil ceremony and did not invite their families - they married, and each went home and said nothing. They lived on opposite ends of a very long road in Racine, Wisconsin. They moved to California, where John worked on the Southern Pacific Railway. They lived in a boxcar on the desert. Soon Lillian was expecting her first child, so she returned to Racine. John then also returned to Racine, bought some land and built houses in the Racine countryside.
John Peder Pedersen married Lillian Katrina Pedersen on June 14, 1919. They had a civil ceremony and did not invite their families - they married, and each went home and said nothing. They lived on opposite ends of a very long road in Racine, Wisconsin. They moved to California, where John worked on the Southern Pacific Railway. They lived in a boxcar on the desert. Soon Lillian was expecting her first child, so she returned to Racine. John then also returned to Racine, bought some land and built houses in the Racine countryside.
John soon became interested in a warmer climate and off the family went to Florida in the late 1930's. They first lived in the Tampa area, then moved to Fort Lauderdale where John bought many tracts of land and lots at tax sales after the land collapse in Florida. He built dozens of houses and stores in Wilton Manors and in other areas of Fort Lauderdale. In 1950, he purchased 300 acres in Boca Raton with the idea of opening a botanical garden. He expanded the idea to include animals, therefore creating America's first "drive-thru" zoo, Africa USA. Click here for the Africa USA website.
John and Lillian enjoyed their retirement in Australia and finally in Lake Worth, Florida, where Lillian died in 1984. John Pedersen almost achieved his dream of being 100 years old, passing way in 1996 at the age of 98.
John and Lillian enjoyed their retirement in Australia and finally in Lake Worth, Florida, where Lillian died in 1984. John Pedersen almost achieved his dream of being 100 years old, passing way in 1996 at the age of 98.
John and Lillian Pedersen with
Margaret the Chimp at Africa USA
Margaret the Chimp at Africa USA
John and Lillian Pedersen, 1979
John and Lillian Pedersen, 1919