Happy Birthday!
COLUMBUS CHRISTOPHER
BIOGRAPHY and GENEALOGY
(1839- aft. 1904)
Talladega county, Alabama
Columbus Christopher, farmer and justice of the peace, of Munford. Alabama, was born in Coweta county, Ga., July 25, 1839. His father, William Christopher, was a native of North Carolina.
He married Eliza Hardy, born in South Carolina, and in 1852 came to Alabama, settling” near Gadsden, where he died in 1892. His widow was still living in 1904. They were the parents of seventeen children, all of whom except two were living in 1904.
William Christopher was a Royal Arch Mason, and both he and his wife belonged to the Methodist church. Before the war he was a Whig but from the dissolution of that party until his death he voted with the Democratic party. The Hardy family was of Irish descent. Aquila Hardy, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, fought in the Revolutionary war, and in the Indian war, with General Jackson. He married Polly Stewart, of Scotch-Irish extraction.
Masonic Historical books
Columbus Christopher received his education in the public schools of Gadsden, and while still a young man learned the trade of blacksmith. For some time he followed this trade and at the same time was engaged in farming, but later years he gave his entire attention to the latter vocation. He owned 200 acres of fine land in Talladega county, and 800 acres in Clay county. For ten years he was proprietor of a hotel in Jenifer, and lived within three miles of that place.
On June 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Third Arkansas infantry, and served until June 26, 1865. He was severely wounded in the right arm at the battle of Murfreesboro, but remained in the service until discharged with his company. In political matters he was an unswerving Democrat and for over twenty years he held the office of justice of the peace.
He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife belonged to the Methodist church. Mr. Christopher was married, Aug. 27, 1865, to Sarah Frances Russell, a daughter of Calvin A. and Emeline (Wilkinson) Russell, both of whom were natives of Georgia, and who came to Alabama in 1852.
Mrs. Christopher was one of a family of seven children, only two were living in 1904. Mr. Christopher and his wife had no children. All his brothers and sisters except one were married. Three of his brothers, Obal Christopher, Abihu Christopher and Zebulon Christopher, were in the Confederate army. Obal and Abihu took part in all the battles of Virginia. Obal received several wounds, the most serious one being in the battle of Dranesville.
SOURCES
- Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 1 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
- Find A Grave Memorial# 43825526# 88866259
