When Chresten Madsen was born on 9 September 1838, in Haldum, Århus, Denmark, his father, Mads Christensen, was 41 and his mother, Mette Marie Christophersen, was 28. He had at least 5 sons and 6 daughters with Nielsine Sørensen. He lived in Haldum, Sabro, Århus, Denmark for about 15 years and Aidt, Houlbjerg, Viborg, Denmark in 1911. He died on 17 September 1916, in Aidt, Viborg, Denmark, at the age of 78.