My Genealogy Hound

MONTGOMERY CHRISTMAN, justice of the peace and dealer in coal, feed and lumber at Sanatoga Station, was born on a farm in Limerick township, Montgomery county, September 5, 1847. He is the son of Jacob H. and Catharine (Zollar) Christman, also natives of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Montgomery Christman was one of four children, two of whom are now living: Montgomery C., and Sarah, wife of John Fry, of Limerick township.

Jacob H. Christman (father) was a farmer and a dealer in cattle. During the latter years of his life, however, he devoted himself exclusively to farming. He died in Limerick township, in the first house on the pike in the western part of Limerick, on December 20, 1879, at the age of sixty-two years and ten months. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-nine years. They were members of the Reformed church. In politics he was a Democrat. He belonged to the state militia.

Daniel Christman (grandfather) was a farmer in Limerick township. He built the first house below Crooked Hill, now Sanatoga. He died at the age of sixty-two. His wife was Sarah Hahn, who died at the age of seventy-five. They had five children, one son and four daughters, of whom is still living Mrs. William H. Smith, of Pottstown, now eighty-two years old. The maternal grandfather of Montgomery Christman was an early settler in New Hanover township, and was a farmer. They had nine children, all of whom lived to an old age.

Montgomery Christman lived in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, until he was eighteen years of age. He attended the common schools in the home neighborhood and at Pottstown, and Ursinus College. He taught in the public schools of Lower Pottsgrove for two terms, and in 1867 went to the west and taught school for a number of years (nineteen terms) in St. Louis county, Missouri. In 1887 he returned to Montgomery county and purchased his present home and business property, and has conducted the coal, lumber and feed business ever since.

December 27, 1869, Montgomery Christman married Miss Mary P. Mottin, of St. Louis county, Missouri, daughter of Augustus Mottin. They had two children- William Daniel, who now resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is engaged in business, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Christman died July 16, 1875, at the age of twenty-two years.

In May, 1888, Montgomery Christman married Miss Laura T. Miller, daughter of Joseph T. and Elizabeth (Linderman) Miller, of Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania. They had one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Christman is a member of the Lutheran church.

Politically Mr. Christman is a Democrat. He is serving his fourth term as justice of the peace of Lower Pottsgrove township, Montgomery county, and he held the position for one term in St. Louis county, Missouri. His home property consists of seven acres highly cultivated, and seventeen acres along the pike. He owns a farm of sixty acres in St. Louis county, Missouri.

Mrs. Christman’s parents were early settlers in Montgomery county, and both are still living in Lower Pottsgrove township. They had six children, four now living, as follows: Warren T. Miller; Ira T. Miller, of Philadelphia; Mary A. Boyer, of Pottstown; and Mrs. Laura Christman.