John (Nelson) Christopher (1850 - 1917)

Born 4 Sep 1850 in Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Isabella L (Berge) Christopher — married 26 Dec 1876 in Story, Iowa, United States

Died 27 Dec 1917 at age 67 in Maxwell, Story, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Christopher [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1850, the son of Nels (Nelson) Christopherson and Kari Fatland.^[1] He married Isabella Berge in 1876.^[2] John passed away in 1917.^[3]

Residences

• 19 Sep 1850 - Saratoga, Grundy, Illinois^[4] (Note: The effective date of the 1850 US Census was 1 June 1850. Per the guidelines, John should not have been enumerated. Genealogists are pleased that people did not always follow the "rules," as this gives us an additional point of comparison.)
• 16 Jul 1860 - Douglass Township, Boone, Iowa^[5]
• 1 Aug 1870 - Palestine Township, Story, Iowa^[6]
• 23 Jun 1880 - Grant Township, Story, Iowa^[7]
• 1 Jan 1885 - Grant Township, Story, Iowa^[8]
• 1 Jan 1895 - Union Township, Story, Iowa^[9]
• 14 Jun 1900 - Union Township, Story, Iowa^[10]
• 1 Jan 1905 - Union Township, Story, Iowa^[11]
• 4 May 1910 - Union Township, Story, Iowa^[12]

Research Notes

All public records prior to 1870 refer to John Nelson. He is only known by Christopher(son) on and after the 1870 US Census. John Nelson and John Christopher(son) were determined to be the same person by comparison of family member's names on the 1850, 1860, and 1870 US Census records.

Examination of state and federal census records between 1895 and 1905 reveal a peculiarity in the family structure.

1895 Iowa Census

Name	Sex	Age
John Christopher	Male	44
Belle D Christopher	Female	36	Name lined out - died in 1894
Carrie Christopher	Female	15
Emma Christopher	Female	13
Lillie Christopher	Female	10
Gertie Christopher	Female	8
Lulu Christopher	Female	3
Wm A Christopher	Male	1

1900 US Census

Name	Role	Sex	Birth Date	Age	Birthplace
John Christopher	Head	Male	Aug 1850	49	Illinois
Em Beth Christopher	Daughter	Female	May 1884	17	Iowa
Lillie Christopher	Daughter	Female	Apr 1886	14	Iowa
Gurtie Christopher	Daughter	Female	Mch 1888	12	Iowa
Rolo Christopher	Son	Male	May 1892	8	Iowa
Willie Christopher	Son	Male	July 1893	6	Iowa

1905 Iowa Census

Card#	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation	Birthplace	Mother	Father
247	John Christopher	Male	54	Farmer	Illinois	Norway	Norway
248	Emma Christopher	Female			Iowa	Iowa	Illinois
249	Lillie Christopher	Female	20	House help	Iowa	Iowa	Illinois
250	Gertie Christopher	Female	18	House help	Iowa	Iowa	Illinois
251	Lulu Christopher	Female	13	House help	Iowa	Iowa	Illinois
252	Willie Christopher	Male	11	Farm help	Iowa	Iowa	Illinois

Now, for the peculiarity. The son Rolo only appears on the 1900 US Census, while the daughter Lulu appears on the 1895 and 1905 Iowa Census. Had Rolo been born in May 1892 as cited on the 1900 US Census, he should have been enumerated on the 1895 Iowa Census. He is not enumerated on the Iowa Census' on either side of the 1900 US Census. My theory is that the census taker in 1900 made a mistake in writing "son" instead of "daughter" and "M" instead of "F" and that the line item for Rolo is really that for Lulu. In addition, there are no other records (public or vital) to attest to his existence. These circumstances lead me to doubt there ever was such a person.

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP2W-K1NH), John Christopher, 27 Dec 1917, Maxwell, Story, Iowa, United States; Death Certificate #85-01526, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 102902998. Lists birth date and parent's names & birth places.
2. ↑ Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJZF-4M2), John Christopher and Isabella L. Berge, 26 Dec 1876, Story, Iowa, United States; citing reference item 4, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,403,711. Note: Isabella's name in this source was transcribed as Isabella S. Bergen. Inspection of the record reveals the name to be Isabella L. Berge.
3. ↑ Iowa Deaths and Burials, 1850-1990. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVHF-H32), John Christopher, 27 Dec 1917; citing Maxwell Indian Creek(Twp), reference R102; FHL microfilm 1,403,710.
4. ↑ United States Census, 1850, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85R-GQ9), John Nelson in household of Nelson Nelson, Saratoga, Grundy, Illinois; family 28, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
5. ↑ United States Census, 1860. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M82F-9R3 : 13 December 2017), John Nelson in entry for Christopher Nelson, 1860.
6. ↑ United States Census, 1870. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDVB-84J : 11 June 2019), John Christopherson in entry for Nels Christopherson, 1870.
7. ↑ United States Census, 1880, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDLN-RZD), John Christpher, Grant, Story, Iowa; ED 203, sheet 283C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,365.
8. ↑ Iowa State Census, 1885, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H4DT-FW2), John Christopher, Grant, Story, Iowa; citing p. 2, 1885, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,020,184.
9. ↑ Iowa State Census, 1895, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTQ2-2V8), John Christopher, Story, Iowa, United States; citing p. 653, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,022,183.
10. ↑ United States Census, 1900, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9L2-ZB2), John Christopher, Union Township Cambridge town, Story, Iowa; ED 126, sheet 7A, family 116, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,460.
11. ↑ Iowa State Census, 1905, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23BG-CWL), John Christofer, Story, Iowa, United States; citing card #247, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,637.
12. ↑ United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG9F-Q4X), John Christofer, Union, Story, Iowa; ED 199, sheet 7B, family 163, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 424; FHL microfilm 1,374,437.