Summarized from “The Christel Family” in The Pierre Gerardy Family in America, by Evelyn Potter Park, 1979:
Christiana was born in what was then Prussia but is now Poland. According to family tradition, around 1834 the river levee broke that protected the village from flooding, and Christiana saved the children of Johan Georg Christel from drowning. Around 1835 she married George, whose first wife had died. They had five children of their own, all born in the region of Opole. The first two were twins and died of diphtheria. The family immigrated to America in 1858, arriving in New Orleans on Nov 28. They arrived in Doniphan County, Kansas, soon after January 1, 1859, and purchased an 80-acre farm located two miles west of Palermo.
Christiana had at least one sister who also immigrated to Doniphan County, Kansas. Her name was also Johanna, and she was called Johanna. She came with her husband, John George Schwope, and their family. Their daughter, also named Johanna (88231278), married her cousin Herman Christel, the son of Christiana and George.
After Christiana’s husband died in 1870, her son Herman ran the farm, and she continued to live there with his family.
Further history from Darrell Brown
In the 1865 Kansas state census, Christiana and her husband George listed their place of birth as “Faulkenburg.” This was the Duchy of Falkenberg in Upper Silesia, which was somewhat autonomous at the time. Previously it had been part of the Austrian Empire, then the Prussian. After they emigrated, it became part of the German Empire (1871). Since 1945 Falkenberg has been part of Poland, where it is called the town and district of Niemodlin in Opole Province.
Local church records, transcribed and translated by Peter Christel, show that Christiana was born in the town of Falkenberg itself (now Niemodlin), on May 12, 1793, whereas George was born in the village of Weissdorf (now Chroscina), which adjoined the small town of Schurgast. Schurgast is on the Eastern Neisse River (which often floods), and is only 2.6 miles from the Oder River. The records confirm family history that George was a brickmaker and that the family made their home in the village of Schurgast (now Skorogoszcz), living on the estate of Schurgast Palace.
According to church records, on April 20, 1836, Christiane gave birth “in the castle” to twin boys: August Julius Christel and Friedrich Hermann Christel, and both died “in the castle”: August on April 20, 1837, and Friedrich on December 20, 1837. Their burial was officiated by the Protestant Church in Schurgast, where they had also been baptized. Afterwards Christiane had three more children. The first was her daughter Caroline, who was born at Schurgast in 1838. Afterwards they moved to Springsdorf, a village beyond Falkenberg, where Henrietta was born in 1841. Then they moved to Falkenberg (now Niemodlin), where Herman was born in 1842. After further moves, they emigrated to America in 1858 and settled in Kansas. Christiane’s sister Johanna Schwope came to America with her husband and four children, arriving in New York in June, 1860. They made their way across America, probably by train, and eventually joined up with Christiane and her family in Kansas. Christiane’s son Herman even married her niece Johanna Schwope, in 1866.
Over the years several other families followed them to Doniphan County, Kansas, from Schurgast and its surrounding villages. One of these was Christiana’s brother Gottlieb Lindner, who was born in Nikoline on April 3, 1819. He came in 1865 with his wife, Elizabeth (Kunsch) Lindner, and two daughters, Pauline “Lena” b. 1857 and Elizabeth “Lizzie” b. 1861. They settled near Christiana in Marion Township, Doniphan County, Kansas, but by 1870 they had moved 25 miles to Shannon. They had five children in America, but none survived, and neither did their mother. Gottlieb became a shoemaker, Lena became a school teacher, and Lizzie, later called “Louise,” kept house. After 1880 they moved to Holton in nearby Jackson County, Kansas, but kept in touch with their Kansas relatives, especially the Schwopes. Gottlieb died in 1901.
For more information, see the biography of her husband George.
Christiana was born in what was then Prussia but is now Poland. According to family tradition, around 1834 the river levee broke that protected the village from flooding, and Christiana saved the children of Johan Georg Christel from drowning. Around 1835 she married George, whose first wife had died. They had five children of their own, all born in the region of Opole. The first two were twins and died of diphtheria. The family immigrated to America in 1858, arriving in New Orleans on Nov 28. They arrived in Doniphan County, Kansas, soon after January 1, 1859, and purchased an 80-acre farm located two miles west of Palermo.
Christiana had at least one sister who also immigrated to Doniphan County, Kansas. Her name was also Johanna, and she was called Johanna. She came with her husband, John George Schwope, and their family. Their daughter, also named Johanna (88231278), married her cousin Herman Christel, the son of Christiana and George.
After Christiana’s husband died in 1870, her son Herman ran the farm, and she continued to live there with his family.
Further history from Darrell Brown
In the 1865 Kansas state census, Christiana and her husband George listed their place of birth as “Faulkenburg.” This was the Duchy of Falkenberg in Upper Silesia, which was somewhat autonomous at the time. Previously it had been part of the Austrian Empire, then the Prussian. After they emigrated, it became part of the German Empire (1871). Since 1945 Falkenberg has been part of Poland, where it is called the town and district of Niemodlin in Opole Province.
Local church records, transcribed and translated by Peter Christel, show that Christiana was born in the town of Falkenberg itself (now Niemodlin), on May 12, 1793, whereas George was born in the village of Weissdorf (now Chroscina), which adjoined the small town of Schurgast. Schurgast is on the Eastern Neisse River (which often floods), and is only 2.6 miles from the Oder River. The records confirm family history that George was a brickmaker and that the family made their home in the village of Schurgast (now Skorogoszcz), living on the estate of Schurgast Palace.
According to church records, on April 20, 1836, Christiane gave birth “in the castle” to twin boys: August Julius Christel and Friedrich Hermann Christel, and both died “in the castle”: August on April 20, 1837, and Friedrich on December 20, 1837. Their burial was officiated by the Protestant Church in Schurgast, where they had also been baptized. Afterwards Christiane had three more children. The first was her daughter Caroline, who was born at Schurgast in 1838. Afterwards they moved to Springsdorf, a village beyond Falkenberg, where Henrietta was born in 1841. Then they moved to Falkenberg (now Niemodlin), where Herman was born in 1842. After further moves, they emigrated to America in 1858 and settled in Kansas. Christiane’s sister Johanna Schwope came to America with her husband and four children, arriving in New York in June, 1860. They made their way across America, probably by train, and eventually joined up with Christiane and her family in Kansas. Christiane’s son Herman even married her niece Johanna Schwope, in 1866.
Over the years several other families followed them to Doniphan County, Kansas, from Schurgast and its surrounding villages. One of these was Christiana’s brother Gottlieb Lindner, who was born in Nikoline on April 3, 1819. He came in 1865 with his wife, Elizabeth (Kunsch) Lindner, and two daughters, Pauline “Lena” b. 1857 and Elizabeth “Lizzie” b. 1861. They settled near Christiana in Marion Township, Doniphan County, Kansas, but by 1870 they had moved 25 miles to Shannon. They had five children in America, but none survived, and neither did their mother. Gottlieb became a shoemaker, Lena became a school teacher, and Lizzie, later called “Louise,” kept house. After 1880 they moved to Holton in nearby Jackson County, Kansas, but kept in touch with their Kansas relatives, especially the Schwopes. Gottlieb died in 1901.
For more information, see the biography of her husband George.
Summarized from “The Christel Family” in The Pierre Gerardy Family in America, by Evelyn Potter Park, 1979:
Christiana was born in what was then Prussia but is now Poland. According to family tradition, around 1834 the river levee broke that protected the village from flooding, and Christiana saved the children of Johan Georg Christel from drowning. Around 1835 she married George, whose first wife had died. They had five children of their own, all born in the region of Opole. The first two were twins and died of diphtheria. The family immigrated to America in 1858, arriving in New Orleans on Nov 28. They arrived in Doniphan County, Kansas, soon after January 1, 1859, and purchased an 80-acre farm located two miles west of Palermo.
Christiana had at least one sister who also immigrated to Doniphan County, Kansas. Her name was also Johanna, and she was called Johanna. She came with her husband, John George Schwope, and their family. Their daughter, also named Johanna (88231278), married her cousin Herman Christel, the son of Christiana and George.
After Christiana’s husband died in 1870, her son Herman ran the farm, and she continued to live there with his family.
Further history from Darrell Brown
In the 1865 Kansas state census, Christiana and her husband George listed their place of birth as “Faulkenburg.” This was the Duchy of Falkenberg in Upper Silesia, which was somewhat autonomous at the time. Previously it had been part of the Austrian Empire, then the Prussian. After they emigrated, it became part of the German Empire (1871). Since 1945 Falkenberg has been part of Poland, where it is called the town and district of Niemodlin in Opole Province.
Local church records, transcribed and translated by Peter Christel, show that Christiana was born in the town of Falkenberg itself (now Niemodlin), on May 12, 1793, whereas George was born in the village of Weissdorf (now Chroscina), which adjoined the small town of Schurgast. Schurgast is on the Eastern Neisse River (which often floods), and is only 2.6 miles from the Oder River. The records confirm family history that George was a brickmaker and that the family made their home in the village of Schurgast (now Skorogoszcz), living on the estate of Schurgast Palace.
According to church records, on April 20, 1836, Christiane gave birth “in the castle” to twin boys: August Julius Christel and Friedrich Hermann Christel, and both died “in the castle”: August on April 20, 1837, and Friedrich on December 20, 1837. Their burial was officiated by the Protestant Church in Schurgast, where they had also been baptized. Afterwards Christiane had three more children. The first was her daughter Caroline, who was born at Schurgast in 1838. Afterwards they moved to Springsdorf, a village beyond Falkenberg, where Henrietta was born in 1841. Then they moved to Falkenberg (now Niemodlin), where Herman was born in 1842. After further moves, they emigrated to America in 1858 and settled in Kansas. Christiane’s sister Johanna Schwope came to America with her husband and four children, arriving in New York in June, 1860. They made their way across America, probably by train, and eventually joined up with Christiane and her family in Kansas. Christiane’s son Herman even married her niece Johanna Schwope, in 1866.
Over the years several other families followed them to Doniphan County, Kansas, from Schurgast and its surrounding villages. One of these was Christiana’s brother Gottlieb Lindner, who was born in Nikoline on April 3, 1819. He came in 1865 with his wife, Elizabeth (Kunsch) Lindner, and two daughters, Pauline “Lena” b. 1857 and Elizabeth “Lizzie” b. 1861. They settled near Christiana in Marion Township, Doniphan County, Kansas, but by 1870 they had moved 25 miles to Shannon. They had five children in America, but none survived, and neither did their mother. Gottlieb became a shoemaker, Lena became a school teacher, and Lizzie, later called “Louise,” kept house. After 1880 they moved to Holton in nearby Jackson County, Kansas, but kept in touch with their Kansas relatives, especially the Schwopes. Gottlieb died in 1901.
For more information, see the biography of her husband George.
Christiana was born in what was then Prussia but is now Poland. According to family tradition, around 1834 the river levee broke that protected the village from flooding, and Christiana saved the children of Johan Georg Christel from drowning. Around 1835 she married George, whose first wife had died. They had five children of their own, all born in the region of Opole. The first two were twins and died of diphtheria. The family immigrated to America in 1858, arriving in New Orleans on Nov 28. They arrived in Doniphan County, Kansas, soon after January 1, 1859, and purchased an 80-acre farm located two miles west of Palermo.
Christiana had at least one sister who also immigrated to Doniphan County, Kansas. Her name was also Johanna, and she was called Johanna. She came with her husband, John George Schwope, and their family. Their daughter, also named Johanna (88231278), married her cousin Herman Christel, the son of Christiana and George.
After Christiana’s husband died in 1870, her son Herman ran the farm, and she continued to live there with his family.
Further history from Darrell Brown
In the 1865 Kansas state census, Christiana and her husband George listed their place of birth as “Faulkenburg.” This was the Duchy of Falkenberg in Upper Silesia, which was somewhat autonomous at the time. Previously it had been part of the Austrian Empire, then the Prussian. After they emigrated, it became part of the German Empire (1871). Since 1945 Falkenberg has been part of Poland, where it is called the town and district of Niemodlin in Opole Province.
Local church records, transcribed and translated by Peter Christel, show that Christiana was born in the town of Falkenberg itself (now Niemodlin), on May 12, 1793, whereas George was born in the village of Weissdorf (now Chroscina), which adjoined the small town of Schurgast. Schurgast is on the Eastern Neisse River (which often floods), and is only 2.6 miles from the Oder River. The records confirm family history that George was a brickmaker and that the family made their home in the village of Schurgast (now Skorogoszcz), living on the estate of Schurgast Palace.
According to church records, on April 20, 1836, Christiane gave birth “in the castle” to twin boys: August Julius Christel and Friedrich Hermann Christel, and both died “in the castle”: August on April 20, 1837, and Friedrich on December 20, 1837. Their burial was officiated by the Protestant Church in Schurgast, where they had also been baptized. Afterwards Christiane had three more children. The first was her daughter Caroline, who was born at Schurgast in 1838. Afterwards they moved to Springsdorf, a village beyond Falkenberg, where Henrietta was born in 1841. Then they moved to Falkenberg (now Niemodlin), where Herman was born in 1842. After further moves, they emigrated to America in 1858 and settled in Kansas. Christiane’s sister Johanna Schwope came to America with her husband and four children, arriving in New York in June, 1860. They made their way across America, probably by train, and eventually joined up with Christiane and her family in Kansas. Christiane’s son Herman even married her niece Johanna Schwope, in 1866.
Over the years several other families followed them to Doniphan County, Kansas, from Schurgast and its surrounding villages. One of these was Christiana’s brother Gottlieb Lindner, who was born in Nikoline on April 3, 1819. He came in 1865 with his wife, Elizabeth (Kunsch) Lindner, and two daughters, Pauline “Lena” b. 1857 and Elizabeth “Lizzie” b. 1861. They settled near Christiana in Marion Township, Doniphan County, Kansas, but by 1870 they had moved 25 miles to Shannon. They had five children in America, but none survived, and neither did their mother. Gottlieb became a shoemaker, Lena became a school teacher, and Lizzie, later called “Louise,” kept house. After 1880 they moved to Holton in nearby Jackson County, Kansas, but kept in touch with their Kansas relatives, especially the Schwopes. Gottlieb died in 1901.
For more information, see the biography of her husband George.
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Johanna C. wife of Johan G. Christel
Died 5 Jan 1884 Aged 73y. 7m. 3d.
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