Route Taken: "U.P.R.R. route by wagon"

 An 1878 application to join the Spokane Historical Society (housed in the Spokane Public Library) where Rev. Jonathan Edwards was on the Board of Trustees, was a delight to find. As was the newspaper story................

Name: A.L. Christian

Where born: Fondulac (sic) County, Wisconsin, March  30, 1852

Ancestry: Mother: French / Father: German

States settled in turn: Moved from Wisconsin to Washington

Married to: Juliaetta Gifford at Mondovi, Wisconsin on 4th day of Oct 1876

Children: 3 - Gifford A., Eva May and Mabel A.

Started to Washington: May 1st, 1878...5 months by wagon route

Where from: Mondovi, Buffalo County, Wisconsin

Route taken: U.P.R.R. route by wagon  (Union Pacific Rail Road)

Arrived at Spokane on 1st Oct 1878

First location in Spokane County was Stevens County, now Spokane

Final settlement: 40 miles south of Spokane, now Latch, was then known as Hangman Creek P.O.

Occupation: Farmer to H.D. NE 4th Sec 24 T21 R 44.

Religious preference: wife Baptist

Politics: Republican always

Present residence address: 1704 Mallon Ave, Spokane

Other wars:  Uncle John Christian was in the Civil War; also uncle Jeremiah Plennon in Civil War, both from Wisconsin

A bit in the newspaper:  3 Oct 1936, Pioneers Observe Wedding Anniversary

"M/M Henry Luppert, W 3214 Glass, Sunday honored Mrs. Eva May Luppert's parents, M/M A.L. Christman, who were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. M/M Christian wee married in Mondovi, Wis, October 3, 1876 and have lived in Spokane since 1878 comping here after spending a few years in Latah. 

They came west in 1878, crossing the plains in covered wagons as members of a party of 42 people who left Mondovi May 1, 1878. Mr. Christian has in his possession a copy of a diary of the trip......Gifford Christian, now deceased, was a baby in arms when his parents started across the country. They encountered terrific rain and thunder and snow storms. Their wagons leaked and they counted 25 poles struck by lightning. Death diminished their ranks and at one time they were in the midst of a band of Indians who were on the warpath.  All reached Washington Territory safely......