Christian was born on January 25, 1866 in Neusatz Parish, Russia. He came with his parents, Conrad & Katherina (Hoff) Reiswig, from Herrendank, Russia on the Ship Suevia and entered the New York harbor on May 10, 1876.

His family homesteaded near Milltown, Hutchinson County, South Dakota. In 1887, when Christian was 21, he married Wilhelmina Herman, daughter of Martin and Dorothea (Wilske) Hermann, also of Hutchinson County, in Scotland, South Dakota.

It isn't known where he and Wilhelmina lived and farmed when they were first married, but in September of 1889, a farm near his father's was purchased by Christian. That November, their first daughter, Louisa was born.

In 1898, Christian, his wife Wilhelmina, and their family of 6 girls migrated by ox cart from South Dakota to Harvey, North Dakota where they rented a farm for the winter of 1898-1899. In the spring of 1899 they traveled to Lincoln Township, Hutchinson County, North Dakota, and established a homestead one mile west of LincolnValley, next to a number of Christian's brothers, sisters, and his father and mother.

Between 1900 and 1904, 3 more girls were added to their family. In 1905, their first boy, John, the 10th child was born.

In January of 1906, Christian opened the Reiswig General Store in McClusky, North Dakota. We believe that the rest of his family moved to McClusky that year, after the store opened. Until 1911, the family lived in the quarters above the store.

In 1911 he rented the store to Henry Billigmeier, and returned to farming on a farm 3 miles south of McClusky, ND.

On June 28, 1912, while harrowing his fields, he was struck and killed by lightning. At the time of his death, he was the father of thirteen children, eleven girls (ten living) and two boys. Eight months and twenty nine days after his death, one more girl was born. His children were Louisa "Louise", Magdalina "Maggie or Madge", Sarah "Sadie", Marie, Katherine "Kate", Martha, Esther, Bertha "Betty", Neoma, John "Jack", Leah, Edward "Ed", Henrietta, and Ruth.

His funeral was held on Sunday, June 30, 1912 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church near Lincoln Valley, North Dakota (see below).

Obiturary appearing in the McClusky, North Dakota, Gazette, Friday July 5, 1912; page 1, column 5:

"C.K. Reiswig, an account of whose death appeared in the last week's issue, was born in South Russia on Jan. 25, 1866, and came to the United States settling in South Dakota, at Parkston, in 1876. He was married to Minnie Herman and moved to this state in 1900, at that time he resided on a homestead one mile west of Lincoln, later moving to his farm three miles south of town and when this city started to build he engaged in the mercantile business for several years.

The subject of this sketch was well known all over the central and western part of Sheridan county. He was a man who had no enemies, and was an accommodating neighbor and a kind father and husband. He leaves a wife and and a family of 12 children - ten girls and two boys - to mourn his death. The death of the father was the second visit of the Grim Reaper to the family, one daughter passed away six years ago.

The funeral services were conducted on Sunday, June 30 at the Advent church near Lincoln, by Rev. Carl Leer and the remains were laid to rest in the Lincoln cemetery.

The bereaved wife and mother and the children of the deceased have the sympathy of the entire community."

Contributed by Christian's daughter, Ruth (Reiswig) Kelly, & John B. Kelly, her son.