Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Minsinger, Christ October 16, 1855 - 
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Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 611 - 612
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     CHRIST MINSINGER.  The oldest sand company in Portland and the largest in
the northwest is the Star Sand Company, of which Christ Minsinger has been
president and treasurer, although now practically living retired. He has shown a
spirit of marked enterprise in his business operations and has attained success
as the result of his determined and persistent efforts and his sound judgment.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of October, 1855, he is a son of
Gotlieb and Caroline (Knightly) Minsinger, both of whom died in Pittsburgh,
where the father had long been engaged in the feed business. Christ Minsinger
received a good education in the public schools of his home city and graduated
from Duff's Business College. He established the Star Sand Company there, which
proved a successful venture and which was later consolidated with the Iron City
Sand Company. After selling out in 1877, Mr. Minsinger came to Portland and
organized the Star Sand Company of this city. He built the dredge "Enterprise,"
which was the first boat on the Pacific coast to take sand from under water, and
in other ways he has shown a progressive policy which has enabled him to
maintain the lead in his line of business. He has been eminently successful and
now has other plants at Vancouver, Washington; St. Johns, Oregon, and elsewhere,
and is doing a large volume of business, having over six hundred thousand
dollars invested in the undertaking. He has associated with him in his business
two nephews, William R. Minsinger, who is vice president of the Star Sand
Company, and David W. Minsinger, who is secretary.

     In 1898 Mr. Minsinger was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Bunton, whose
father, William Bunton, was a well known boat builder of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. To them have been born two daughters: Edna, who is the wife of
Spencer Scott, of New York city, and Helen, the wife of Adolph New, of Alameda,
Portland. Mr. Minsinger is a member of Willamette Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Oregon
Consistory, No. 1, A. A. S. R., and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He has an
attractive and comfortable home at 321 East Thirteenth street and is the owner
of a well improved ranch, on which he has been very successful in the breeding
and raising of thoroughbred Belgian horses, one of which, "Eltone De Nord," took
the grand championship, as a two-year-old, at the Lewis & Clark exposition. In
1880, for the benefit of his health, Mr. Minsinger spent five and one-half years
in Honolulu, and while there became a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows in 1882. He is now the oldest Odd Fellow in the state having been
identified with the order for forty-six years. Three years ago he returned to
his native city and was given the keys of Pittsburg. He invited all his
schoolmates and old friends and his daughter came from New York to attend his
birthday party, he being at that time seventy years of age. Mr. Minsinger is a
man of stalwart character and earnest purposes, has led a busy and useful life,
and during all the years of his residence here has commanded in the fullest
measure the confidence and respect of his fellowmen.

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