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The Diary of Christian Koch
1831-1836
Introduction
Our eighty-six year old Aunt Nettie cherished a withered little beech twig which is now one hundred and twenty years old. It belonged to her father, Christian Koch, who, having been apprenticed to a sea captain to learn navigation was on a ship as a cabin boy. While the ship was still within sight of his beloved	Denmark he	jumped overboard, swam ashore,	plucked a twig from a
beech tree and	swam back	to the ship.	All his life	he	carried that twig to
remind him of his native Land.
When, in later years, he prospered on his Mississippi farm, he tried to make of his garden a miniature Denmark. Homesick Danes found refuge there, and a good many of them found brides as well for Grandfather had many children. His descendants are	scattered	all over the	United States.	We	hope they will enjoy
this record of	his life	at sea. It	was translated	by	his daughter-in-law,
Lawrentze M. Koch.
Thomasine Lutken - 1947
Note-- This little book, edited by our sister while recuperating from an operation, is dedicated to her memory.
P.K.L.