Life History

Notes

• John O'Neal Christian is buried in a triple grave with his grandparents Henry and Ida, in the Denison Cemetery, Idabel, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
  
  Transcription of Gravestone of Henry and Ida Christian
  A triple grave
  Christian
  Henry 1866-1944
  Ida 1869-1951
  O'Neal 1909-1950
  
  John O'Neal is the son of William V and Rosa Mae Christian.  Henry is his grandfather's brother.  William V is the son of William James, whose father was William Peter Christian.
  
  Henry Harvey Christian is also the son of William Peter, and a half-brother to William James.  William James, the father of William V, is the grandfather of John O'Neal.  Thus Henry Harvey Christian is the great-uncle of John O'Neal Christian.  An interesting relation for his to have been buried in an unusual triple grave with Henry Harvey and Ida.
  
  But additionally, I learned from Anne Thompson that Rosa Mae Christian was the daughter of Henry and Ida.    Anne writes:
  
  "I know his mother was Rosa Mae Christian, daughter of Henry and Ida Christian. ... In looking up census records after reading your information, I believe Rosa Mae married her cousin William V. Christian and perhaps left him before and just after Hack (Hathaway) [Rosa's brother] was born.  On the 1910 census they were living in Washita Co. OK."
  --  Anne Thompson, email to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 11 April 2011
  
  In the 1910 census, John O is reported to be age 6 months.  Later ages do not match this, being either one or two years older.  The names in the 1920 census seem to indicate that John's initial O stands for O'Neal.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #148, Fam #155
  William V Christian Head M W 24 Married 3 yrs TX MS AL [birthplace of his step-mother]  Farmer  Rents [b abt 1886]
  Rosa M Christian Wife F W 20 Married 3 yrs TX TX TX  [b abt 1890]
  Christian, John O  Son M W 6 months [b abt Oct 1909]  OK TX TX
  
  I had not figured out Rosa's maiden name until April 2011 when Anne began corresponding with me about the Christian family.  So Rosa married her cousin of the same surname, and Henry Harvey was also John O'Neal's maternal grandfather.  However, soon afterwards  I found Rosa Mae in the 1920 census, in the household of Henry and Ida, in White Township of McCurtain County, Oklahoma.  But she is designated as a Boarder, not a daughter.  This seems to indicate she is not their daughter.
  
  In 1920, a census record for what appears to be this Christian family reports O'Neal is in his father's home with his stepmother Fannie in Parker County, Texas (Weatherford area).  O'Neal is reported here as 12 years old, which would put his birth date before February 1908, not in October 1909, as seems indicated by the age in1910.  If the age in 1910 is correct or close, John would not have been 12 years old until October 1921.  Note that in 1930 he is 21, which would fit the birth in October 1909.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas, 5 February, Precinct 6, District 77, page 8B, Hse #167, Fam #1178
  Christian, W V  Head  Rents M W 33 TX MS MS Farmer  [b abt 1887]
  Christian, Fannie Wife F W 18 TX AL AL  [b abt 1902]
  Christian, O'Neal  Son M W 12 [b abt 1908]  TX TX TX
  
  In 1930, O'Neal is living in eastern Oklahoma, working as a logger.  He is living as a boarder with several others in the household of Floyd and Bess Thompson.
  
  1930 Federal Census, McCurtain County, Oklahoma, 15 April, Broken Bow, District 1, page 23A, Hse #604, Fam #557
  Thompson, Floid Head Rents $25 M W 55 First married at age 27 AR IN AR Lumnberman, Lumber Co
  Thompson, Bess Wife F W 50 First married at age 22 AR SC Massachusetts None
  Christian, Oneal Boarder M W 21 OK OK TN [Bef 1 April 1909]
  
  U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
  John O'Neal Christian
  Age 30
  Birth 18 Oct 1909 Mountain View, Oklahoma, USA
  Residence Idabel, Mccurtain, Oklahoma, USA
  Self-employed Farmer
  (back)
  5'10" 150 lbs, Brown Eyes, Black Hair, Light Brown Complexion
  Next of Kin (mother) Rose May Christian
  Registered 16 Oct 1940
  
  O'Neal Christian
  Birth 1909
  Death 1950
  Burial Denison Cemetery, Idabel, McCurtain County, Oklahoma
  Plot: Triple Stone w/Henry & Ida
  Created by Sandie Manning Lambert Apr 15, 2007
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #18943516, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=CHR&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=38&GScntry=4&GSsr=1041&GRid=18943516&&ftm=1

Sources

• 1. Gravestone of Henry and Ida Christian, Denison Cemetery, Idabel, McCurtain County, Oklahoma
  • A triple grave
• 2. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 3. 1920 Federal Census, Parker County, Texas
  • 5 February, Precinct 6, District 77, page 8B, Hse #167, Fam #1178
• 4. 1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #148, Fam #155
• 5. 1930 Federal Census, McCurtain County, Oklahoma
  • 15 April, Broken Bow, District 1, page 23A, Hse #604, Fam #557
• 6. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947