Christian Aisenbrey Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1221-1222 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	CHRISTIAN AISENBREY, the able and popular postmaster at Menno, 
Hutchinson county, was born in southern Russia, on the 30th of January, 
1857, a son of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Bentz) Aisenbrey, of whose five 
children the subject is the elder of the two surviving, his brother Carl 
being a successful hardware merchant of Menno. The parents were both 
born in southern Russia, the father on the 28th of February, 1821, and 
the mother on the 7th of July, 1823. The paternal grandfather, Philip B. 
Aisenbrey, was a native of Germany, whence he removed over the line into 
Russia in 1803, being there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death. His son, Andrew, likewise followed farming there until 1874, when 
he emigrated to the United States, in company with his wife and two 
sons. He came at once to the territory of Dakota and took up a homestead 
claim of a quarter section of land in Hutchinson county, there improving 
a good farm, upon which he continued to reside, an honored pioneer of 
the county, until his death, in May, 1889. His wife passed away in 1876, 
two years after coming to what is now South Dakota, both having been 
devoted members of the German Reformed church. 

	Christian Aisenbrey was reared on the old homestead in Russia, and 
there he secured his early education in the common schools, while his 
knowledge of the English was gained by absorption and self-application 
after he came to the United States, being seventeen years of age at the 
time of his parents' emigration to the new world. After locating on the 
pioneer farm in South Dakota he there continued to assist his father in 
the improvement and cultivation of the same until the time of his 
marriage, on the 18th of November, 1877, when Miss Christiana Keck 
became his wife. He then took up a tree claim of one hundred and sixty 
acres and a homestead of equal area, improving the property and bringing 
it under effective cultivation, and there he continued to reside until 
1890, when he rented the farm, which he still owns, and removed to the 
town of Menno, where he served as deputy county treasurer in 1890-1. In 
1892 he was elected to the office of treasurer, and upon the expiration 
of his term of two years was chosen as his own successor. In 1896, after 
the expiration of his second term, Mr. Aisenbrey purchased the furniture 
business of Peter Heil, while in 1901 he also purchased the business of 
his only competitor, David C. Heckenlaible, and he now controls the 
exclusive furniture and undertaking business of the town, having a large 
and complete stock and the best of facilities in both departments of his 
enterprise. His correct business methods and personal popularity insure 
to him a liberal supporting patronage, and he spares no effort in 
catering to the demands of his trade. In 1898 he was appointed 
postmaster of Menno, under President McKinley, and was re-appointed in 
1902, under the regime of President Roosevelt, being known as one of the 
most ardent advocates of the principles of the Republican party that can 
be found in this section. He served for eight years as county assessor, 
and has been a delegate to the various state and county conventions of 
his party. He and his wife are valued members of the German Reformed 
church, in whose work they take a deep interest.