Christen Thiesen

Christen Ustrup Thiesen (first name sometimes given as Christian) was a Pensacolian businessman best remembered for his ownership of the Thiesen Building.

Christen Ustrup Thiesen
Born	November 24, 1856 Aarhus, Denmark
Died	1934 Pensacola
Occupation	Businessman
Spouse	Emilie Lupkes
Children	Rudolph John, Petrea Elizabeth, John Henry, Olga, Bernhardine ("Dina")

Thiesen emigrated to Pensacola during the Pensacola yellow fever epidemic of 1882. According to a story passed down in the Thiesen family from generation to generation, Thiesen was the navigator of a Danish sailing ship. After he disembarked in Pensacola, the rest of the crew, hearing of the epidemic, refused to let Thiesen back on board. (At that time it was not yet 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, a widow who owned a profitable saloon. Emilie's previous husband had died in the epidemic. 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 and Romana Streets 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 by flying the Danish flag from the building every year until his death.

Thiesen's wife Effie divorced him in 1927. Thiesen died in 1934, and is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.