Columbus Alexander Christian

Obituary of Columbus Alexander Christian.

Source: The Tarkio Avalanche. 16 Sept 1921.

C. A. Christian, formerly a resident of Tarkio, died suddenly on Wednesday evening, September 7th, just as the interurban car on which he was a passenger pulled into the station at St. Joseph.

Funeral services were held on Saturday afternoon, September 10th, at the home of the dead man's sister, Miss. Margaret Christian, north of Tarkio. Rev. J. Jay Cokeley of Centennial Church preached the funeral sermon.

Burial was delayed until the next afternoon, waiting the arrival of a son, James C. Christian, from Mountain Home, Idaho. Rev. Bentley of St. Joseph held prayer services at the home and at the grave at Tarkio Cemetary on Sunday. Among the out-of-town attendants at the funeral, in addition to the relatives, were A. L. McPherson, True Davis, and T. F. McKee of St. Joseph.

Mr. Christian lived in and near Tarkio for more than fifty years of his life and had many relatives and friends throughout the county. He had led an active and useful life and until the illness which eventually caused his death was unusually vigorous for a man of his years. Although the doctors had offered but little hope for his full recovery, his sudden death was a shock to the whole community.

Columbus Alexander Christian was born near Rock Port, Missouri January 3, 1858, son of J. C. H. and Mary Christian. He died at St. Joseph, Missouri, Wednesday, September 7, 1921, aged 63 years, 8 months, and 4 days.

When he was yet a boy, the family moved to the Christian homestead north of Tarkio where C. A. Christian grew to manhood. On September 16, 1878, he was united in marriage to Flora D. Bennett of Summit, Mississippi and to this union nine children were born, all of them now living. They are Ben F. Christian, Pine River, Minnesota; Mrs. Burton E. Wetherell, Carthage, Missouri; James C. Christian, Mountain Home, Idaho; Mrs. Chancey E. Clark, Long Beach, California; George T. Christian, South America; Mrs. Harry Ward, Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Gordon Jones, St. Joseph, Missouri; Harry S. Christian, Tarkio, Missouri; Mrs. Hope Mayfield, St. Joseph, Missouri. Of the twenty one grandchildren, nineteen are still living. Three brothers and a sister also remain to mourn the loss. They are T. T. Christian, Tarkio, Missouri; Jesse E. Christian, Pine River, Minnesota; Creed F. Christian, Newman's Grove, Nebraska; and Margaret M. Christian, Tarkio, Missouri.

Mr. Christian was engaged in farming and stockraising near Tarkio until 1908, where he removed to St. Joseph, Missouri. Mrs. Christian died in 1917, since when he has made his home for the most part in Kansas City and St. Joseph.

Hundreds of people, of three generations in this community, regarded 'Lum' Christian as a real friend. Few men have been held in such high esteem and by so many people for so long a time. The sincerity of his nature and the honesty of his whole life will be remembered always by everyone who called him friend and to all of these his going is a real loss.