Alfred Mortensen

Ringsted Kirkegård, Alfred Mortensens Familiegravsted

Alfred Victor Thorvald Alexander Mortensen (Født: 10.04.1843 i Ringsted - Død: 08-05-1911 i Amtsstuegården, Torped)

Søn af skrædder Knud Mortensen og hustru Elise Jacobine Mortensen.

Gift med Anna Catharina Amalie (f. Bothmann) (født: 03.04.1848 i Loe i Ditmarsken - død: 17-04-1910 på Sorø Sygehus)

Partikulier, medlem af bestyrelsen for A/S Bryggeriet Alliance'

Også kendt som Amerikaneren.

Alfred tjente som ung på landet hos gårdmænd i Bringstrup-Sigersted sogne.

Som 17-årig rejste Alfred til Amerika hvor han tjente en mindre formue.

I 1885 vender Alfred tilbage til Ringsted og i 1886 køber han Amtsstuegården for 41.000 kroner

Over døren til hans nye hjem blev opsat en dekoration af blanke sølvdollars det skulle være symbol på at han var en pengematador. Han medbragte også et stort pengeskab, hvorom der blev sagt det var det største i Sorø Amt.

Alfred Mortensen er kendt som en person der i høj grad gavnede Ringsted og gjorde meget for sin by bl.a som medlem i diverse bestyrelser og som bygherre af bl.a. Børsen.

Alfred Mortensen fik en søn ved navnet Alfred Washington Mortensen.

Begravet på Ringsted Kirkegård

Følgende er hentet fra hjemmesiden "History of Chicago"

Alfred Mortensen blev i 1881 udnævnt til amerikansk agent for Dampskibsselskabet Thingvalla (oprettet er den danske bank- og industrimand Carl Frederik Tietgen i 1880).

Hidtil havde selskaabet kun ejet en damper som sejlede på rutem mellem København og New York.

From that date, the success of the Thingvalla line was almost phenomenal. Five new steamers were built in four years, and the Chicago agency, in 1884, sent by that route no less than five thousand passengers. Mr. Mortensen was among the first to inaugurate ocean excursions, sending ten parties to Europe in three years, in one instance six hundred and eleven passengers sailing in one steamer. This enterprise on Mr. Mortensen's part, which, in 1885, was rewarded by the general agency of the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, was characteristic of his previous busy career. He was born near Copenhagen, Denmark, in April, 1843, and is the son of Knud and Eliza Mortensen. Having received his education at his native place, he left home at the age of seventeen and came to America. His first employment was as a laborer under General John and Daniel Caseman, railroad contractors, then engaged in the construction of the Philadelphia and Erie line. In a short time he was made foreman, and directed the building of the road from Lockhaven to Corry, Penn. At its completion, he accompanied the contractors to the Far West, and superintended the construction of the Union Pacific from its inception, in 1864, to the laying of the last rail three years later. He came to Chicago in 1867, engaging in a general steamship and railroad ticket business, and also establishing the European and other small hotels, near the great emigrant center in North Chicago, which property, together with his present place of business, he now owns. Mr. Mortensen is engaged exclusively in the steamship agency business, controlling the entire western district for two direct lines to Europe, with his offices at No. 126 Kinzie and No. 101 Clark Street. He was married in 1872, to Miss Anna Bothman, and has one child, a son ten years of age. Mr. Mortensen resides at Lake View, where he recently purchased the residence of ex-Postmaster Palmer for $30,000

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