This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: NICKELSEN, RIGBY, BARNES, TOWNE, WRIGHT, GREEN, JOHNSON, BULLARD, FROHN Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/351 Message Board Post: The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., September 20, 1946, page 1 Includes portrait NICKELSEN LONG ACTIVE IN THIS COUNTY Played Prominent Part In War Financing Death, following a brief illness, ended the many activities of County Judge Christian D. Nickelsen, Wednesday of this week. Last week end he developed pneumonia and on Monday word came that his condition was critical. When members of the family were called, friends realized that the end was not far away. “Chris” Nickelsen, as he was known to friends, was born on the island of Fohr, off the coast of Denmark and came to the United States with his mother and brother, John R., in 1878, when he was seven years of age, to join his father, Martin, who had preceded them in the Atlantic crossing and had established himself at Marysville, Calif. Shortly afterwards, the family traveled by boat up to Portland, and went to The Dalles, where Martin H. Nickelsen established himself as a blacksmith. The family moved to Hood River in 1882, where Chris went to school. In 1892 he married Gertrude Rigby, who died in 1896, leaving him with one daughter, Gertrude. Two years later, he married Mattie Barnes, who survives him. To this union were born four daughters and a son, and three of the daughters are still living. Chris Nickelsen had a wide range of interests in this county. He at one time played a leading part in the development of irrigation in this area, as one of the contractors who built a large section of the first irrigation ditch. He organized the first band here, members of which, for a long period, wore Indian garb. He was one of the first members of the Port commission, and ran for Congress on the Republican ticket, with backing of the Townsend clubs of Oregon. In 1938, he was elected county judge and held this office till his death. He was also owner of the Merchants Credit Exchange for many years. He entered newspaper work as editor of the former Glacier and was, for a time, editor and part owner of the Hood River News in the earlier years of this century. For a long time he has been a member of the public land committee of the Association of Oregon counties, and one of his last activities in that connection appeared in the form of an analysis in last week’s News. Two of many residents he was best known for his work as a member of the county war finance committee, and in the interests of financing the recent war he played a prominent part in the many programs which carried Hood River county to the top, in nation and state, in its participation in the various war-financing campaigns. He was one of twelve residents of this county to be awarded the Silver medal of the Treasury department, and one of 11 county members to wear the emblem of the Million Dollar club for his war efforts. Chris Nickelsen was a Mason, a member of Knights of Pythias and the Grange. For years he operated his cherry ranch just south of town and was one of the first growers to install an orchard sprinkling system in the valley, with excellent results. He is survived by his widow, Mattie, four daughters, Mrs. Vernita Towne, Sacramento; Mrs. Ver Lene Wright, Hood River; Mrs. Genevra Green, Laguna Beach, Calif., and Mrs. Gertrude Johnson, of Bend, Ore.; and a son Lowell, Hood River. A brother, John R. Nickelsen, of Portland; and two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Bullard, Gold Beach, and Mrs. Ida Frohn, of Hood River, also survive him. Day and time of funeral services had not been decided upon when the News went to press yesterday. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.