Biographical Sketch of Jacob CHRISTMAN (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 359-60. "JACOB CHRISTMAN, a retired farmer who has achieved remarkable financial success, and is now a stockholder in several banking houses and manufac- turing enterprises, is the eldest son of Jacob and Margaret (Evans) Christman, and was born July 16, 1815, in Uwchlan township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. There he grew to manhood, working on the farm in summer and attending the public school in winter. In this way he acquired a good English education, and after leaving school settled down to farming on the old homestead, and remained there until 1856, when he removed to East Coventry township and purchased the fine farm of seventy-three acres which he still owns, though it is now occupied by his only son, Pierce Christman. In 1879 he purchased a tract containing five acres, on what is known as the Schuylkill road, and erected comfortable and commodious buildings thereon. Here he now resides, practically retired from active business, and surrounded by all the comforts necessary to a peaceful, quiet, and happy life. Mr. Christman is a stanch democrat, and has occu- pied a number of the township offices. In religion he follows the example set by his ancestors, and is a strict member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He helped organize the National bank of Spring City, and has served as one of its directors ever since. He is also a stockholder in two banks at Pottstown, and in another at Doylestown, beside which he owns stock in the Window Glass works at Spring City, and is interested in other enterprises. "On November 25, 1845, Mr. Christman was united in marriage to Hannah Wormana, of East Coventry township, and by this union had a family of four children, one son and three daughters: Emma, who married W. P. Pennypacker, a prosperous farmer of East Pikeland township, residing near Phoenixville; Alice and Irene, both living at home with their parents; and Pierce, who wedded Sallie Diemer, a daughter of Frederick Diemer, of Spring City. He is now engaged in managing his father's farm in East Coventry township, and gives evidence of having inherited much of his father's ability and aptitude for business. "Henry Christman, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Montgomery county, who in early life bid farewell to the Fatherland and pushed his way toward the new world, about which such glowing accounts had reached his native hamlet. Arriving in America, he drifted into Pennsylvania, and finally settled on French creek, in what is now East Vincent township, this county. He was a farmer by vocation, and devoted his life to clearing out and improving his land, and creating a comfortable home for himself and family. He married Susannah Keeley, by whom he had nine children, most of whom lived to reach maturity and become useful and respected citizens of this county. "One of his sons was Jacob Christman (father), who was born on French creek, in East Vincent township, this county, where he was reared and lived until after his marriage, when he removed to Uwchlan township. There he purchased a farm and resided for a number of years, but finally returned to East Vincent township, where he died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years. The active part of his life was entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits. In political faith he was an ardent democrat, and while taking little part in political contests, he was at all times ready to do what he could to secure the triumph of the great fundamental prin- ciples upon which his party was based. He was a firm adherent of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and an active member for many years previous to his death. He married Margaret Evans, a daughter of John Evans. By this marriage he had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters: Susannah, unmarried, who is still living, being now in the eighty-second year of her age; Elizabeth, married Jesse Brownback, of East Coventry township, and is now deceased; Jacob, to whom this sketch is devoted; and Henry, who married Martha Christman, and is now engaged in farming in East Coventry township."