transcription by Wally Garchow - wally@calweb.com
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from Beers 1880 History of Darke Co., p. 604

    DAVID CHRISTIAN, farmer, Sec. 21; Versailles. Lewis
Christian, the father of David, was born in Pennsylvania, in the
year 1775, and emigrated to Montgomery County, in or about the
year 1800: he was married to Mary Layer, in Montgomery County,
she was also born in Pennsylvania; they came to Darke County in
1809, residing in Adams township until their death. David
Christian the subject of this sktetch, was born in Darke
County, Adams Township, March 23. 1819; he lived with his parents
till their death, being only 13 years old at that time, after
which he lived with his brother till he was about 15 years old,
working on the farm during summer, and attending school during
the winter, where he obtained a fair common-school education; at
15 years of age, he went to live with his brother-in-law,
remaining about two years, after which he went to Indiana, where
he made the acquaintance of a young man by the name of John
Collins, who was a brick mason; Mr. Christian worked for and with
him in various places for about six months; he then went to work
in a saw-mill fifteen miles from LaPorte, where remained a short
time, then returning home to his brother-in-law's, having been
gone altogether about twelve months; he cut and hauled a load of
hoop poles, to Dayton, which he sold; he then hauled a load of
freight, consisting of dry and groceries, through to Huntington;
this was in the winler season, and the ground being frozen, he
was about two weeks making the trip; he then commenced farming,
and worked at it for about two years buying in the meantime a
tract of land in Wayne Townshlp, Sec. 21, containing 95 acres,
paying $3 per acre; it was all a dense forest. At the age of 22
years, Mr. Christian was united in marriage to Catherine Woods,
in 1811 in Darke Co. He then erected a log cabin and moved into
it, and commenced clearing up a farm. And, with the help of his
good wife, connected with industry and hard Iabor, is now
reaping his reward in the possession of a handsome fortune. He
now owns from 4O0 to 5O0 hundred acres divided into four farms,
all well improved; He has on his home place a good one and a half
story brick residence, with good cellar and all improvements. Mr.
Christian is not a church member, but at the same time, is a good
honest man and believes in living in harmony with all, and
obeying the golden rule. When he commenced this life, he did not
have much of this world's goods, and, when he and his wife came
to this place, there was no clearing; it was all under heavy
timber. He says they did not move as they had nothing but one
horse, a sled, maul and wedge, and an ax. Mr. and Mrs. Christian
are the parents of fourteen children, of whom twelve are now
living--Joseph, born in 1841; Henry, born in 1842; Samuel, born in
1844; Caroline, born in 1847; Catherine. born in 1849; Elizabeth,
born in 1852; Lewis, born in 1854; Lavina, born in 1856; Minerva,
born in 1858; Lydia, born in 1860; David, born in 1862; Hannah
E., born in 1865.