Changes

| spouse =Emilie Lemkuhl (née Lupkes)

| children =Rudolph John("Jack") (1887–1963), Petrea Elizabeth(1890–1965), John Henry(1892–1989), OlgaMarie (1897–1972), Bernhardine ("Dina") (1882–1964)

Christen Thiesen emigrated ended up in Pensacola thanks to a quirk of fate. Born in Denmark, Thiesen was the navigator of a Danish sailing ship. He was stranded in Pensacola during the Pensacola [[yellow fever ]] epidemic of [[1882]]when his ship left without him. According to a story passed down in the Thiesen family from generation to generation, Thiesen was the navigator of a Danish sailing first sailor off the ship. After he disembarked when it docked in Pensacola, the rest . He was informed of the crewepidemic, hearing of he told the epidemiccrew, and they refused to let Thiesen him back on board. (At that time it was not yet generally known that yellow fever is not transmitted by person-to-person contact, but by mosquitoes.)

Thiesen's fortunes improved in 1884 when he married Emilie Lupkes, who contracted yellow fever but recovered, found a widow who owned job tending bar in a profitable saloon. Emilie's previous husband had The saloon owner died in the epidemic. Christen and Emilie had four children who lived to adulthood; In 1884, Thiesen also adopted his stepdaughter Dina. married the saloon owner's widow, Emilie died in JanuaryLemkuhl (or possibly Lehnkuhl), and thus became the owner of the saloon, 1900 due to complications located at the southwest corner of childbirth[[Intendencia Street|Intendencia]] and [[Baylen Street]]s. In April, 1901, Thiesen married Effie Lee Mitchell<ref>[http://www. Thiesen was granted Uflgenhistonline.Scom/counties/escambia/directories/1885directory/directpg3-1885. citizenship in 1902htm Webb's 1885/1886 Business Directory]</ref>.

Christen and Emilie had four children who lived to adulthood; Thiesen also adopted his stepdaughter Dina. Emilie died in January, 1900 due to complications of childbirth. In April, 1901, Thiesen married Effie Lee Mitchell. Thiesen was granted U.S. citizenship in 1902. He built the [[Thiesen Building]] on the northeast corner of [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Romana Street]]s in [[1901]]. He was reportedly warned that his venture would fail and the building would be lost to receivership; when this failed to happen, . Thiesen gloated responded by flying vowing to fly the Danish flag from the building each April 1st as a symbol of his continued ownership. It is said that Thiesen raised the Danish flag every year April 1st until his death.

<references/>{{reflist}} [[Category:Deceased personsNatives of Denmark|Thiesen, Christen]] [[Category:Business biographiesPeople buried in St. Michael's Cemetery|Thiesen, Christen]] [[Category:Building namesakes|Thiesen]]