Christian Nielsen was born as a farmer’s son in 1835 in Hem. Until his death, he played a significant role in Skive’s industrial development, first as a telegrapher, then as a miller, and finally as co-owner of Skive Ny Jernstøberi.
Telegraphist
In 1851, he was apprenticed to miller Niels Frederik Jahnsen, who had just taken over Skive Mill. After a short time, however, Nielsen was employed by the postal service, where he got work in several Jutlandic cities and learned the telegraphist trade. He returned to Skive as the first manager of the Skive telegraph station on Resenvej.
During the 2. Schleswig War in 1864, Christian Nielsen had to flee the city with the Danish soldiers after hiding the telegraph equipment. His wife Axeline had to abandon their home, which was temporarily occupied by the German soldiers.
Møller
In 1873, Nielsen bought his former workplace Skive Mølle with the associated bakery. After a fire in the bakery, it was expanded and modernized with a new dough kneading machine. Business was good until a competitor tried to open a rival mill in Brårup in 1877. Nielsen succeeded in taking over this venture and opened Østre Mølle in Brårup himself.
Østre Mølle functioned primarily as a sawmill due to the limited amount of grain and was thus part of the starting shot for the industrial development of Brårup.
In 1880, the economic situation was declining and Nielsen sold the mills in 1882.
The iron foundry
For part of his fortune, Nielsen became a partner in Skive ny Jernstøberi. Until his death in 1909, he was responsible for the purely commercial operation of the foundry.
Sources
- https://rethinklandbrugshistorien.dk/wiki/skive-ny-jernstoeberi-oesterbro-7-skive/
- Skivebogen 1920 p. 183-187
- Skivebogen 1993 p.80
- http://skivekirkegaarde.dk/Files/Images/Gravminder/26.pdf