What did ‘M.J.’ in M.J. Christensen stand for?

In my eclectic reading routine, which I do only for myself and sometimes share with you, the Complete Las Vegan found the 1986 commemorative Nevada Day magazine published by the University Medical Center Foundation. It was stuck on a dusty shelf in a second-hand store in Boulder City.

I'm not sure how long this magazine endeavor lasted or whether it continues today. I've never seen another edition. It contained more than 100 pages of historical stories on subjects such as the Mormon Fort, Indian war stories, etc.

Of course, what makes these kind of books double interesting is that all the advertising and "modern" references are themselves history now.

For example, the back page features a shiny color picture of the Landmark Hotel and Casino, a big deal in its day but imploded long ago and now forgotten. Nevada's Washington delegation consisted of U.S. Sens. Paul Laxalt and Chic Hecht and Reps. Harry Reid and Barbara Vucanovich. The Clark County Commissioners were Karen Hayes, William Pearson, Jay Bingham, Bruce Woodbury, Many Cortez, Thalia Dondero and Paul Christensen.

One story that caught my interest featured M.J. Christensen. Aside from being the head of a famous early family in Las Vegas he founded M.J. Christensen's jewelry store. If there is one piece of history that largely goes unnoticed it is the history of merchants. Businesses such as M.J. Christensen's become touchstones for a community.

Anyway, the story did reveal one fact I did not know, and I bet most of you don't either.

What did "M.J." in M. J. Christensen stand for?

It stood for "Marcus Joy". According to the story, the middle name was given to him by his parents as "a reflection of their happiness since their first two children were stillborn and M.J. was the first to survive."

P.S.: M.J. was born Feb. 1, 1899. His 113th anniversary of his birth is coming up soon.