♥ My Great-Great-Great Grandfather ♥
Christian was born in the province of Saxony in the kingdom of Prussia to Maria Franke and Andreas Koch. He married Maria Susannah Herrmann, and they raised eight children: Mary Sophie, Gustav, John Gotthold, Gottlob Gottlieb, Anna, Maria Bertha, Katherine Hannah, and Christian Andrew.
Christian was a cannoneer in the German military during one of that country's many wars. He was a man of great faith. One morning before battle when he prayed he vowed that he would move his young family away from Germany if God brought him home safely. During the battle, cannon fire hit their position and knocked him out. When he came to, he saw that all the other cannoneers and the horse that pulled their cannon had been killed - only his life had been spared. Certain that this was a sign from God in answer to his prayers, he deserted and returned home.
Christian, Maria, and their six children traveled from Bremen, Germany on the ship Deutschland, and arrived at Castle Garden in New York City on May 13, 1872. He settled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a merchant. On September 23, 1878, he because a U.S. citizen at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Dennison Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Here he bought a few hundred acres of land, built a log cabin, and worked as a farmer for the rest of his days.
Christian was born in the province of Saxony in the kingdom of Prussia to Maria Franke and Andreas Koch. He married Maria Susannah Herrmann, and they raised eight children: Mary Sophie, Gustav, John Gotthold, Gottlob Gottlieb, Anna, Maria Bertha, Katherine Hannah, and Christian Andrew.
Christian was a cannoneer in the German military during one of that country's many wars. He was a man of great faith. One morning before battle when he prayed he vowed that he would move his young family away from Germany if God brought him home safely. During the battle, cannon fire hit their position and knocked him out. When he came to, he saw that all the other cannoneers and the horse that pulled their cannon had been killed - only his life had been spared. Certain that this was a sign from God in answer to his prayers, he deserted and returned home.
Christian, Maria, and their six children traveled from Bremen, Germany on the ship Deutschland, and arrived at Castle Garden in New York City on May 13, 1872. He settled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a merchant. On September 23, 1878, he because a U.S. citizen at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Dennison Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Here he bought a few hundred acres of land, built a log cabin, and worked as a farmer for the rest of his days.
♥ My Great-Great-Great Grandfather ♥
Christian was born in the province of Saxony in the kingdom of Prussia to Maria Franke and Andreas Koch. He married Maria Susannah Herrmann, and they raised eight children: Mary Sophie, Gustav, John Gotthold, Gottlob Gottlieb, Anna, Maria Bertha, Katherine Hannah, and Christian Andrew.
Christian was a cannoneer in the German military during one of that country's many wars. He was a man of great faith. One morning before battle when he prayed he vowed that he would move his young family away from Germany if God brought him home safely. During the battle, cannon fire hit their position and knocked him out. When he came to, he saw that all the other cannoneers and the horse that pulled their cannon had been killed - only his life had been spared. Certain that this was a sign from God in answer to his prayers, he deserted and returned home.
Christian, Maria, and their six children traveled from Bremen, Germany on the ship Deutschland, and arrived at Castle Garden in New York City on May 13, 1872. He settled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a merchant. On September 23, 1878, he because a U.S. citizen at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Dennison Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Here he bought a few hundred acres of land, built a log cabin, and worked as a farmer for the rest of his days.
Christian was born in the province of Saxony in the kingdom of Prussia to Maria Franke and Andreas Koch. He married Maria Susannah Herrmann, and they raised eight children: Mary Sophie, Gustav, John Gotthold, Gottlob Gottlieb, Anna, Maria Bertha, Katherine Hannah, and Christian Andrew.
Christian was a cannoneer in the German military during one of that country's many wars. He was a man of great faith. One morning before battle when he prayed he vowed that he would move his young family away from Germany if God brought him home safely. During the battle, cannon fire hit their position and knocked him out. When he came to, he saw that all the other cannoneers and the horse that pulled their cannon had been killed - only his life had been spared. Certain that this was a sign from God in answer to his prayers, he deserted and returned home.
Christian, Maria, and their six children traveled from Bremen, Germany on the ship Deutschland, and arrived at Castle Garden in New York City on May 13, 1872. He settled in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a merchant. On September 23, 1878, he because a U.S. citizen at the Luzerne County Courthouse. Shortly afterwards, he moved to Dennison Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Here he bought a few hundred acres of land, built a log cabin, and worked as a farmer for the rest of his days.
