Oscar A. Christensen

Oscar Christensen was born on February 20, 1880 in Moorhead, Minnesota.  He was a farmer and active in early farm organizations including the Farmer's Union.  He was also the town clerk of Oakport for over 35 years, active in the temperance movement and active in the Populist and Socialist Parties.

The collection consists mainly of correspondence and manuscript files.  The manuscript, Man Behind the Plow, is a history of pioneer life in Minnesota from the 1850s to 1939 and contains many excerpts from Christensen's father, Otto, diary (chiefly the years 1873-1875).  The manuscript also contains biographical sketches of pioneer families and information on other subjects ranging from churches to the experiences of immigrants. 
 

Frontier and Pioneer Life