BIOS: Henry J. CHRISTNER, West Salisbury, Somerset County, PA

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History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. 
Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis 
Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, pg. 259

Henry J. CHRISTNER.

Henry J. Christner, a merchant of West Salisbury, is descended from ancestors 
who were among the early settlers of Elk Lick township.  His grandfather and 
father were both Joseph Christner, the latter a native of Somerset county and a 
farmer.  He was a German Baptist.  He was a Democrat for forty years before his 
death, at the age of eighty-four.  He married Mary Keim, by whom he had twelve 
children, all living in 1906 but three.  Mary (Keim) Christner died at the age 
of fifty-three.
Henry J. Christner, third son of Joseph Christner, was born September 17, 1853, 
in Elk Lick township, and until the age of nineteen attended the public schools 
for a term of three months annually.  He assisted his father in the labors of 
the farm and in the management of the sawmill until 1875, and then for a short 
time was employed by the neighboring farmers.  Afterward he worked in the mines 
until 1887, when he again sought and found employment among the farmers.  In 
1903, in company with his wife, he bought the grocery and feed business of 
Joseph Patton, of West Salisbury, and has since carried on the business at that 
place.  Since 1904 he has held the office of assistant postmaster of West 
Salisbury, and for one term served as assessor of Elk Lick township.  He is an 
adherent of the Democratic party and a member of the Reformed church. 
Mr. Christner married Charlotte Wagner, daughter of Peter Wagner, of Elk Lick 
township, and they are the parents of three children: Florence Ruth (Mrs. Frank 
Argenbright), Harry Buford, and Herbert Eugene.