Page 209 - Family History

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engaged in farming and speculating, but is now living a retired life. In religious
belief he is a Lutheran. He is a son of Neils Poulsen and Maren Larsdatter, who
spent their entire lives in Denmark. The maternal grandparents of our subject
were Bertel Christensen and Anna Paulsdatter. Six children were born to Poul C.
Neilsen and his estimable wife - three sons and three daughters, namely: Amalia,
now the wife of Jen Peter Jensen, a stonemason and farmer of the northern part
of Denmark; Neils, who owns and operates a planning, handle and spoke mill at
Round Hill Va.; Christine, wife of Neils Peter Neilsen, a merchant of Denmark;

Bertel, subject of this sketch; Marie, wife of Christian Jeppesen, a school teacher
of western Denmark; and Lars, who is in partnership with his brother at Round
Hill, Virginia.

During the boyhood and youth of Bertel Poulsen he attended the schools of his
native land until fourteen years old age, and assisted in the work of the home

farm for two years longer, when he began learning the carpenter's trade. At the
age of nineteen he emigrated to the New World, first locating at Irvine, Warren
Co., Penn., where for three years he was engaged in the manufacture of handles
and spokes, and then returned to the land of his nativity. During the eight months
he remained there he attended high school, knowing how essential to a
successful business career is a good education. On again coming to America, in
the following spring, Mr. Poulsen took up his residence in Titusville, Penn., where,
through the summer, he was employed in a cabinet factory, and the next year

worked for K. G. Shutt at the carpenter's trade in Irvine. Subsequently he came to
Howard, Centre county, where he erected a plant for the manufacture of handles
and spokes, and successfully engaged in that business there until the fall of 1896,
when he removed to Centre Hall and established a similar manufactory. He is an
enterprising, wide-awake business man, thoroughly abreast with the times, and
his straightforward course commends him to the confidence of all.

In Howard, August 20, 1884, Mr. Poulsen married Miss Lena K. Reber, and they
have three children: Victor H., born May 26, 1885; Clara K., born February 24,
1887; and Myra R., born July 27, 1890. Mrs. Poulsen was born in Howard
township, Centre county, October 23, 1862, and is a daughter of Theodore L. and
Rebecca E. (Kunes) Reber, also natives of Centre county, the former born in
Howard in 1836, and the latter in Eagleville. She died in July, 1863; the father is
now a resident of Santa Fe, N.M., where he is engaged in the manufacture of soda

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