Biographical Sketch of Elijah J. Christeson, Pulaski County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas,
 Pulaski, Phelps & Dent Counties, Missouri, Published 1889, Goodspeed
 Publishing Company.

Transcribed by: Penny Harrell (Incog3678@aol.com)

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Elijah Jordan Christeson, one of Pulaski County's oldest citizens, was
born in Adair County, KY., November 24, 1819, and is the son of Elisha
and Agnes (Drake) Christeson, and grandson of Robert Christeson, who
was born in Maryland, and immigrated to Adair County, KY., about 1793-
1794.  Here he spent the remainder of his days, dying about 1825, at
the age of sixty-six years.  His son, Elisha, was also born in Mary-
land, December 15, 1790, and grew to manhood and married in Adair Co.,
KY.  In 1829 he immigrated to what is now Pulaski County, MO., and
settled on the farm now owned by his daughter Eljelina.  Here he reared
a family of twelve children, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-
four years.  He was one of the very earliest settlers of the county,
his nearest neighbor residing four miles distant, and owing to the
primitive state of the country he was obliged to go twenty-four miles 
to mill.  His wife, whom he married in 1815, was born in the State of
Virginia in 1800, and died in 1873.  Five of their children are living,
whose names are as follows:  Elijah J.; Permelia, widow of Levi
Henshaw; Malinda, wife of John W. Nelson; Walker W. and Eljelina.
Elijah J. was ten years old when he came with his parents to Pulaski
County, MO., and made his home with them until twenty-five years of
age, receiving his education in the primitive log school house of 
early days.  In 1844 he married Sarah C. Colley, who was born in 
Caldwell County, KY., in 1825, and a daughter of Cyrus Colley, and 
by her became the father of eleven children:  James, Thomas J., Cyrus 
E., Elizabeth (wife of James Dixon), George E., John, Cynthia J.,
Sarah A. (wife of Charles French), Frank and William H.  The eldest,
Martha, married James Hudgens February 2, 1862 and died June 1, 1863.
In 1845 or 1846 Mr. Christeson entered 160 acres of land about five
miles from Waynesville, where he located and has since made his home.
He has added acre by acre to his farm until he now owns 280 acres of
fine land, well adapted to raising all the cereals.  He is the oldest
settler of the county, having lived here for fifty-six years, and in
politics has been a life long Democrat.  He has held a number of 
offices in the county, among which are constable, sheriff, collector,
judge and public administrator, and has filled the duties of several
of the offices for a number of terms.  Since 1861 he has been blind
(caused by neuralgia), which is a severe trial to him, but he has a
remarkably good memory, and can remember with distinctness events that
happened many years ago.  He has always led an honest, upright and 
unselfish life, and is universally respected and esteemed.  His wife
is a member of the Free Will Baptist Church; he is not a member of the
church, but believes in the Bible as a true moral guide, and in the
Christian faith as set forth by the Protestant doctrines.

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