Christman Heritage

By Carole Christman Koch

My roots came from Jacob Christman, born in 1711 , Wurttenburg, Germany. He arrived in Philadelphia, PA, on the ship, Princess Augusta on September 16, 1736 at the age of 25.  He settled in Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, where he purchased land for farming. He died 1761 in a farming accident. He had 7 children.

                My father, Herbert Tilghman Christman, was of the 6th generation removed from the 1st immigrant, Jacob. He was born in Macungie, PA, on February 21, 1897 and died April 11, 1982.  For the love of a woman, Mary Kohler, of Klinesville , PA,  who wanted to be a farmer’s wife, Herb learned the trade from her brother, a farmer teacher. Herb and Mary owned a farm near Monterey, PA, now a Foilage Farm. Upon retirement, they built a home in Kutztown, PA and lived there the rest of their lives.

                My father, Herbert, and his twin brother, Robert, served in World War I. Herb served in the 8th Machine Gun Battalion in 3 battles: Second Battle of the Marne, Battle of Saint Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne.  He received the Purple Heart from shrapnel. The brothers exchanged letters during their years of service. (Herb’s information and papers can be found at Carlisle Barracks, PA). Both returned home safe.  Uncle Robert became the superintendent in his brother’s bakery. 

                In addition, my 4 brothers joined the service.  Lester, enlisted in the Army Air Force on Nov. 17, 1942 and  flew a Vultee BT-13, but to his dismay they had too many pilots. He then trained as a radio operator and became a staff sergeant before discharge.

                Paul joined the U.S. Navy on Feb. 20, 1944..  After boot camp, he left by boat for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was discharged in 1946.  Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy on January 18, 1946.  He as a Radio Man Third Class, served on the U.S.S. Randolf Aircraft Carrier OV37, Princeton.  He was shiplocked in England, Italy, France, Greece, Iraq, and Iran and discharged Nov. 3, 1947. David, enlisted in the Army and was stationed at  Maryland Aberdeen Proving Grounds, later Ft. Meade, Maryland and Ft. Knox, Kentucky. He worked on Small Arms Repair and  was discharged Oct. 1956.:

                I also had 2 nieces and 4 nephews, and my son, who joined the service: Keith Metz, Peter Metz, Joey Wolf, Ed Bastian, Katrina Cartwright, Ann Wolf, and Kevin Sicher.

                And I can’t forget my sister, Anita, the riveter, well almost, during World War II. She worked for Vultee Aircraft, now called Queen City Airport, Allentown, PA, in early 1942.. She did whatever she was told to do on a drill press.  She never did any riveting, but I still like to see her as Rosie the Riveter, who helped the war effort.

                And last is William Henry Christman, the first soldier buried in Arlington Nat’l Cemetery, Washington, D.C.  Peter Benneville (my grandfather) and William Henry were 3rd cousins, 1 time removed. Their common ancestor being the first Christman immigrant, Jacob. On William Henry’s Veterans card, it states he enrolled Mar. 25, 1864 at Easton, PA, as private, when he was 21. He died at Washington, D.C. on May 11, 1864 of peritonitis and was buried on the 13th.

                Last, I have to acknowledge my mother, Mary Alice Kohler, who became a Christman through marriage.  I, Carole Christman Koch, through my mother’s side of the family, was qualified to join  the Daughters of the American Revolution.   The 7th generation ancestor for the D.A.R. was Samuel Kistler, who was of the 7th generation. He  assisted in the establishing of the American Independence, while serving as an  Ensign of Company 6, First Battalion of Northampton County Militia. He was the son of John George Kistler, who was born May 1717 in the Swiss Palatinate,  coming over on the ship “Townshead” to Philadelphia on Oct. 5, 1737.  He served in the French and Indian War. He was buried in the New Jerusalem cemetery in Albany Tsp, PA, with a stone bearing the inscription “IGR 1767.”

                 In 1910, Dr. Jesse G. Kistler and W. P. Kistler of Allentown, published “Lynns’ Roll of Honor.” Among the members of the Kistler family were 41 physicians, 15 preachers, 4 lawyers,----a long list of bankers, businessmen, county officers, schoolteachers, and successful farmers.  The Kistler’s took an active part in every war waged in our nation.