Ten Generations
of Americans
This family tree identifies direct line, male descendants of Colonel Wilheim
Christman. This site should not be considered a complete
Christman/Chrisman/Crismon genealogy study, rather a compilation of stories
about a very close and extended family.
The
photo on the left is reputed to be of a portrait painting of the Colonel.
Here is the story line as this writer understands it. Around 1728 the nation
of Prussia (now part of Germany) was the only major power in Europe without colonial interests in the
New World. King Frederick was envious of the Spanish, English, French, and
Portuguese New World colonies. King Frederick II commissioned Colonel Wilheim
Christman of the Prussian Army to investigate and submit his report with regard
the establishment of, or perhaps invasion and conquer of an established colony
in America.
In order to keep his mission secret, Colonel Christman (a widower) came to
America with his three teen age sons. The four were disguised as deck hands
aboard a trading ship owned by Jost Hyte, who later became the father-in-law of
the Colonel's son, Jacob. Within
several years, Colonel Christman and his youngest son returned to Prussia, the
two older sons remained in the Colonies. We do not know the details of the
Colonel's report to the King. However, it's interesting to note that
Prussia nor Germany never did attempt to establish a colony in America.
The Colonel's son
Jacob Christman (our ancestor) was part of the first wagon train of 16 families
that opened up and settled the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Jacob
changed his name to "Chrisman" when he became a citizen of the Virginia
Commonwealth in 1744.
A recent argument is the Colonel was not from Prussia after all
but was actually a member of the Germany army. If Germany was interested
in establishing a presence in the New World and sent the Colonel on a
clandestine mission, it is logical that the Colonel would not disclose
the nation he represented. This theory is re-enforced with the fact that
the Colonel's son, Jacob, stated at the time of his naturalization that he was born in the town of Worms, Germany.
Since our study begins with Jacob, we will leave his parent's identification a
matter for others to sort out.
We are of the opinion that all of Jacob
Christman's children were born with the Chrisman surname. Around 1822, at
the time they immigrated to Missouri, two Chrisman brothers, William Wayne and
Gilbert, changed their last name to "Crismon". There were probably other
descendants of Jacob that also changed their name to Crismon but the matter has
not been researched by this site. Jacob's brother, Michael, who settled in
North Carolina, retained his birth name of Christman. However, over time
some of that brother's descendants also took the Chrisman and Crismon name.
This fact indicates that the ever expanding Christman/Chrisman/Crismon family
stayed in touch with each other then, as many do today. While this site features the family of
William and Bessie Crismon, we have many distant cousins. A complete
genealogy of all related people would be
huge. For example, a Google search of the name "Christman" resulted in
300,000 hits, "Chrisman" 371,000 hits, and "Crismon" 24,000 hits.
________________________
Jacob Christman
Jacob Andrew Chrisman
Married Magdalena Hyte (9/6/1713 - 1777)
Settler of Shenandoah Valley, Farmer
Builder of the famous Christman Springs Home
Born in Germany, buried in Virginia
9/12/1706 - 10/12/1778 - [72 years]
Isaac Frederick Chrisman
Married Jane Scott (unknown - 1825)
Frontiersman, Indian Fighter, Fort Builder
Massacred by Cherokee Indians July 4, 1776
Born and buried in Virginia
11/9/1736 - 7/4/1776 - [40 years]
Isaac Campbell Chrisman
Married Judy Walley (unknown)
Frontiersman, Trapper, Farmer
Born in West Virginia, buried in Missouri
11/25/1767 - 11/3/1838 - [71 years]
William Wayne Chrisman
William Wayne Crismon
aka
"WW Sr."
Married Margaret Peggy Wrattles (1808 - 1886)
Early Settler of Missouri in 1822
County Judge, State Commissioner, Farmer
Born in Tennessee, buried in Missouri
9/26/1804 - 12/17/1886 - 82 years]
William James Crismon
aka "WW
Jr."
Married Nancy Elizabeth Morrow (1/3/1844 - 4/4/1937)
Soldier in Confederate Army
County Sheriff Lawman, Farmer
Born in Missouri, buried in Arkansas
7/16/1844 - 4/12/1906 - [62 years]
Austin Milroy Crismon
aka "Catt"
Married Elizabeth Jane Abbet (1873 - 5/4/1901)
Farmer, Businessman
Born in Missouri, buried in Arkansas
10/1/1869 - 3/10/1965 - [96 years]
William Crismon, Sr.
aka "Pop"
Married Bessie Zulema Stull (4/17/1911 - 4/28/1999)
US Army Soldier 1912-1943, Gambler
Born in Missouri, buried in Texas
8/15/1894 - 9/29/1980 - [86 years]
Robert Wayne Crismon
Businessman
Born in Kansas, living in Arizona
8/24/1931 -
Samuel Wayne Crismon
Engineer, Computer Programmer
Born in Texas, living in Arizona
01/29/1952 -
Michael Wayne
Crismon
Manufacturing Engineer
Born in California, living in Texas
06/22/1979 -
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