Across Oceans, Across Time ® . . . ‘Golden Danes’ – Stories from the Genealogy Center at the Museum of Danish America in Iowa

 

“Golden Danes,” the 2015 photo display at the Genealogy Center at the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa, celebrates Danish immigrants who lived for a century or more.

One of the earliest centenarians in the exhibit is Catharina Maria “Kathrine” Ernst Mikkelsen, born in Ketting parish on the island of Als in Sønderborg County on August 2, 1828.

In 1851, Kathrine married Chresten Mikkelsen, a veteran of the Dano-Prussian War of 1848-51 and a sailor in the Danish Navy during the second war in 1864. He had several occupations to support his family, working as a sailor, fisherman and small farmer in Denmark. He also spent some time in Greenland and prior to his marriage went to California during the gold rush.

Dissatisfied with German rule after their part of Denmark became a province of Germany in 1864, the Mikkelsens immigrated in 1880. They lived in Atlantic and Jacksonville, Iowa, before settling on a farm in Audubon County.

Among their children were Hans Henrik (1852), Catrine Marie (1855), Marie Elisabeth (1857), Ernest (1865), Dorthea (1867), Christian (1872) and another Marie (1874).

After Chresten’s death in 1903 Kathrine and her son Ernest and his wife Anna moved from the farm into the town of Audubon.

Kathrine had no words of wisdom to disclose which would assist others in reaching the advanced age which she attained. Hers was the life of a typical wife and mother of the era: devoted to her home, husband and nine children, whose interests were also hers.

She was Audubon County’s oldest citizen when she observed the 100th anniversary of her birth. Her birthday party was a gathering of seventy-five friends and neighbors at her home.

Five generations of descendants joined in the event.

She lived at home until her death a few months later, on Christmas Eve 1928.

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