Life History

Other facts

Notes

• Joseph Oscar Christian was called Joe by some of the family, or at some stages of his life, and by Oscar at other times or by other people.  In the 1900 census he is Oscar.  His uncle William (Bud) Jenkins, in a list of birth dates of all of Willie Christian's children, enters him as Joe.  In his WWI draft registration his full name is Joseph Oscar Christian.
  
  There is a discrepancy between sources on the birth date of Joe (Oscar) as on some of the other children.  His WWI draft registration reports his birth as 10 April 1886.  You would tend to think this is correct, since he signed the card.  (Incidentally, he signed with his full name Joseph Oscar Christian.)
  
  But other family sources report a different date, which also differs from the birth date recorded in the 1900 census.  The latter looks like May 1887, and is listed after William, whose birthday in that census is October 1886.  There are only 7 months between these two birth dates, so something is wrong.  The date looks pretty clear, compared to some of the others, which are scrawled or smeared.
  
  To complicate this, the age reported in the 1900 census is 18.  He is listed after William, who is age 13, which matches his reported birth date of October 1886, for the June 1900 census.  So the age seems wrong, since older children are normally listed first.  But it is a funny 8, and looks like a later over-write.
  
  1900 Census, Union, Washita County, Oklahoma, District 211, page 13A (147A), Hse/Fam #189
  Willie Christian [sic] Head W M  Oct 1857 42  Miss England GA Farmer
  Mandy Christain Wife W F  Mar 1858  42  MS MS MS
  William Christain Son W M  Oct 1886  13  TX England Miss Farmer
  Oscar Christain Son W M  May 1887 (? 1882)  18 (?)  TX England Miss Farmer
  
  Several of the ages in the census for the Christian family were corrected, by a reviewer apparently, to match the birth date and year.  For instance William's age had first been written as 14, but since his birthday was reported as October, this was corrected to 13.  It looks like Oscar's age should be 13, but the original number looks like a 1 or 7 (11 or 17), overwritten to make it look more like an 8, for 18.  So who knows?
  
  Oscar's birth date recorded by his uncle, in a list of all of Amanda and Willie's children, was 5 March 1886.  So this gives us three different birth dates for Joseph Oscar.
  
  In the 1910 census, Joseph is living between his brother William and Pete.  He is now married toe Delia E Riggins.  (Her name is here spelled Dilia.)  I learned Delia's maiden name from a Christian genealogy developed by a descendant, Audre Mari, in London, Arkansas.
  
  1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #147, Fam # 154
  Christian, Joe A Head M W 24 TX MS AL  Farmer
  [Alabama is the birthplace of his step-mother; also note different middle initial]
  Christian, Dilia E  Wife F W 18 AR USA AR
  Christian, Bartly  Son M W  3  OK TX AR
  Christian, Ernest  Son M W 1yr 4mos  OK TX AR
  Christian, Gladys  Son M W  0 months [born April 1910?] OK TX AR
  
  U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
  Joseph Oscar Christian
  Route 4, Mountain View, Oklahoma
  Age 32, born 10 April 1886 [differs from family sources]
  Brown Hair/Eyes
  Married to Della Christian
  Registration at Cordell, Washita, Oklahoma, 19 Sept 1918
  
  In the original document of this draft registration, Joe's wife's name is written clearly as Della.  Originally I had used this as the name, since the census spellings differed, and are often unreliable.  But Audrey Christian, wife of a descendant, has the name in her genealogy as Delia E Riggins.  This is actually consistent with the last sentence of the spelling attempts in the censuses of 1910 and 1920, where the name is Delia and Dillia.  Thus I have changed the name to Delia.
  
  1920 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 20 January, Oakdale Township, District 193, page 5B, Hse #98, Fam #102
  Christian, Joe O  Head  Owns M W 33 TX MS MS Farmer (abt 1886)
  Christian, Dillia E  Wife F W 28 AR MO AR No occupation (abt 1891)
  Christian, Bartley W  Son M W 12 Single OK TX AR No occupation (abt 1907 )
  Christian, Earnest Son M W 11 Single OK TX AR No Occupation (abt 1908)
  Christian, Melvin Son M W 9 Single OK TX AR No Occupation (abt 1910)
  Christian, Alvin Son M W 4 Single OK TX AR No Occupation (abt 1915)
  Christian, Woodrow G Son M W 2 Single OK TX AR No Occupation (abt 1917)
  Christian, Juanita Dau F W 5mos Single OK TX AR No Occupation (abt July 1919)
  
  Living next door to Joe and Delia in 1920 are Delia's parents John and Martha Riggins and two of their children, Viola 22 and Oscar 16.
  
  The 1930 census reports a Joe Christian in Los Angeles, California, who matches details of our Joseph Oscar who was married to Delia Riggins.  This record reports that Joe is divorced.  He is a boarder in a home in Los Angeles, California.  I have not found details about the divorce or the move to California.  The California location does match a death record reporting the mother of Joseph O Christian to be surnamed Jenkins.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California, 6 April. Los Angeles City, District 448, page 13B, 1668 West 58th St, Hse #302, Hse #305
  Christian Oscar  Roomer M W 41 Divorced  OK USA USA  Laborer, Ice Company
  
  However, the 1930 census in Los Angeles, California, reports that Joe was born in Oklahoma, but several public records, early census reports, and other facts about this family indicate he was born in Texas.  His WWII draft card reports his birth place as Cass County, Texas, where the Christian family lived before moving to Indian Territory.
  
  The Christian genealogy that gave me information about Delia has no mention of the divorce.  But by the same token, it does not give information about the marriage either.  However, there is another record in Washita County, Oklahoma, which eluded me for long.  This appears to be our Joseph Oscar, since names of the children match for the most part.
  
  But the name of the wife there is Macey, while previous information has indicated Joseph Oscar's wife is Delia E.  Oscar's 1942 WWI registration reported his contact as Macie Christian at his own address.  Ancestry.com's transcription as Mary was a mistranscription of Macey.  Ancestry.com mistranscribes the wife's name as Mary.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 14 April, Oakdale Township, District 17, page 5B, Hse #148, Fam #158
  Christian, Joe  Head Owns Farm, Does not owns a radio M W 44 First Married at age 21 TX MS MS Farmer [b abt 1886]
  Christian, Macey  Wife F W 28 First Married at age 27 AR AR AR [b abt 1902]
  Christian, Melvin C  Son M W 19 OK TX OK Farm Laborer [b abt 1911]
  Christian, Alvin  Son M W 14 OK TX OK [b abt 1916]
  Christian, Woodroe  Son M W 12 OK TX OK [b abt 1911]
  Christian, Juanita Dau F W 10 OK TX OK [b abt 1911]
  Christian, Tern (Fern) Dau F W 5mos OK TX OK [b abt Oct 1929]
  
  If seems likely that the last child is Fern, but the enumerator forgot to add the cross on the F.  Her name is defintely Fern in 1940.  The birth place of Tern (Fern) and her parents indicates she has the same parents as the other children.  Macey here is reported born in Arkansas, as was Delia.  So why is the mother of any of the children reported as born in Oklahoma?  Fern, at 5 months of age, would be the daughter of Macey.  The census says Macey and Joe (Oscar) have been married one year.
  
  After quite some time I finally found Delia in the 1930 census, living alone and reported divorced.
  
  1930 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma, 2 April, Rocky, District 28-21, page 1B, Hse #15, Fam #23
  Christian, Della E head Rents $15 F W 39 Divorced First Married at age 15 AR MO AR
  
  Oscar was reported in the 1935 Tucson, Arizona, City Directory, along with his brother Charles H and his wife Tresel.  No wife is reported for Oscar.  Why was Macey not reported?  This is surely the right Oscar Christian, since his brother Charles and wife Tresel are also reproted there.
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  Tucson, Arizona, City Directory, 1935, p 193
  Christian Oscar C lino opr r 1333 E 10th st
  Christian Chas H (Tresel) attdt Vets Hosp h 240 E Ft Lowell rd
  
  But in the 1940 census, Joe and Macie were reported back in Oklahoma, in Hobart, Kiowa County, next to Washita County.  Note that he 1940 census reports that in 1935, Oscar, Macie and their children wre in Kiowa County, where they were reported in 1930.  So perhaps the Oscar Christian reported in the 1935 Tucson directory is a diffferent Oscar.
  
  1940 Federal Census, Washita County, Arkansas, 3 April, Hobart Ward 4, District 38-13a Page 2B, 805 S Monroe, Hse #33, Rents $4
  Christian, Joseph Head M W 53 Single Grade 6 b Texas Mt View Kiowa Co OK in 1935 farmer [b abt 1887]
  Christian, Macie Wife F W 38 Married Grade 8 b Arkansas Mt View Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1902]
  Christian, Fern Dau F W 10 Grade 3 b Oklahoma Mt View Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1930]
  Christian, Laverne Son M W 8 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma Mt View Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1932]
  Christian, Kenneth Son M W 6 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma Mt View Kiowa Co OK in 1935 [b abt 1934]
  Christian, Letrise Joy Dau F W 3 Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma [b abt 1937]
  Christian, James Son M W 11mos Single Grade 0 b Oklahoma [b abt 1939]
  
  In 1942, they were still in Hobart.  In his WWII draft card, Oscar reported Macie as his wife and his place of birth as Cass County, Texas, where his family came from.
  
  U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
  Joseph Oscar Christian
  Birth 10 Apr 1886 Cass County, Texas
  Residence 312 S Monroe St, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma
  Contact Mrs Macie Christian, 312 S Monroe St, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma
  Employed by WPA [Workman's Progress Association]
  Signed J O Christian
  (back)
  5'7" 170 lbs
  Brown Eyes and Hair, Sallow Complexion
  Registered 25 April 1942 Hobart, Oklahoma
  
  Joseph Oscar Christian
  Birth 10 Apr 1886 Cass County, Texas
  Residence 312 S Monroe St, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma
  Contact Mrs Macie Christian, 312 S Monroe St, Hobart, Kiowa County, Oklahoma
  Employed by WPA [Workman's Progress Association]
  Signed J O Christian
  (back)
  5'7" 170 lbs
  Brown Eyes and Hair, Sallow Complexion
  Registered 25 April 1942 Hobart, Oklahoma
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  Tucson, Arizona, City Directory, 1935, p 193
  Christian Oscar C lino opr r 1333 E 10th st
  Christian Chas H (Tresel) attdt Vets Hosp h 240 E Ft Lowell rd
  
  U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  Tucson, Arizona, City Directory, 1941,
  Christian Chas H (Tresel) 240 E Ft Lowell rd rear
  
  California Death Index, 1940-1997
  Joseph O Christian
  Birth 10 Apr 1886 Texas
  Death 22 Dec 1958 Stanislaus County
  Mother's Maiden Name Jenkins
  Father's Surname Christian
  Social Security #445076064
  
  Joseph O Christian
  Birth 1886
  Death 1958
  Spouse Macie Mae Dorrell Christian (1902 - 1994)
  Children:
  Fern Alice Christian Pilgrim (1929 - ____)
  Joe Lavern Christian (1932 - 2007)
  James Harvey Christian (1938 - 2009)
  Inscription:  loving husband and father
  Burial Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson, Stanislaus County, California, Pioneer Garden
  Created by Daphne Maxwell Jan 23, 2013
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #104021360, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=104021360

Sources

• 1. 1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #147, Fam #154
• 2. California Death Index, 1940-1997
• 3. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
• 4. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 5. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
• 6. 1940 Federal Census, Washita County, Arkansas
  • 3 April, Hobart Ward 4, District 38-13a Page 2B, 805 S Monroe, Hse #33, Rents $4
• 7. 1930 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 14 April, Oakdale Township, District 17, page 5B, Hse #148, Fam #158
• 8. 1920 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 20 January, Oakdale Township, District 193, page 5B, Hse #98, Fam #102
• 9. 1910 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 28 April, Oakdale, District 263, page 8B, Hse #147, Fam # 154
• 10. William S "Bud" Jenkins, names listed in his Dictionary reported in Harold Christian's Jenkins Family History
  • Name: Name: pages 6-7, List of names of sister Amanda's children;;
• 11. 1930 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California
  • 10 April, Los Angeles, District 448, page 13B, 1668 West 58th St, Hse #302, Hse #305, Boarder
• 12. 1900 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma Territory
  • August 3, Union Township, District 211, page 13A (147A), Hse/Fam #189
• 13. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
  • Tucson, Arizona, City Directory, 1935, p 193
• 14. 1930 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California
  • 6 April, Los Angeles City, District 448, page 13B, 1668 West 58th St, Hse #302, Hse #305, Boarder
• 15. 1930 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 2 April, Rocky, District 28-21, page 1B, Hse #15, Fam #23
• 16. Ancestry Trees
  • Christian Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14729861/person/296506624
• 17. 1930 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma
  • 4 April, Waldron Township, District 38, page 2B, Hse/Fam #34
• 18. Social Security Death Index
• 19. Gravestone of Ernest and Daisy Christian, Mountain View Cemetery, Mountain View, County, Oklahoma
• 20. 1930 Federal Census, Washita County, Oklahoma
  • 14 April, Oakdale Township, District 17, page 5B, Hse #142, Fam #152
• 21. Ancestry Trees
  • Christian Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14729861/person/153388205
• 22. Oakdale (Washita County, Oklahoma) Cemetery Register
  • Name: Name: http://rebelcherokee.labdiva.com/oakdalecem.html;;
• 23. 1940 Federal Census, Kiowa County, Oklahoma
  • 25 April, Mtn View Ward 3, District 38-26, page 12B, Hse #294, Rents $5
• 24. Ancestry Trees
  • Christian Family, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14729861/person/296504727?pg=32801
• 25. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
• 26. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
• 27. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1