Christian I Prestlien

  Research Notes:

1. Source: Sagitawah Saga - The Story of Whitecourt [1976]

- Andrew and his brother Chris (Christian) homesteaded on the "Mink Creek Flats area (map on page 15 gives location) - early homesteads [page 24]
- page 86: "in 1926, a flood tragedy occurred which is still vivid in many of the remaining settlers' minds. A whole family, Chris Presthlien and his wife and their four children were drowned in the Athabasca River overflow." (see full story attached to this source entry - transcribed, 10 April 2009 [mydocuments])


[ accessed 24 Jul 2014 ] From: http://www.whitecourtweb.com/seniors/history6.htm ;;; years 1922-1929

" .... Along with forest fires, floods also threatened the settlers on a fairly regular basis. In 1926, a tragedy occurred when an entire family perished in the Athabasca River overflow. Chris Presthlien, his wife and their four children all drowned while attempting to reach higher ground, down near present day Graham Acres. Ironically, the homestead they left remained above water...."

- above link was found on Ancestry.com Public Member Tree 'Stockman/Hunt Family Tree owner, Rebecca Stockman' from Santa Pheonix, AZ, with last login on 23 Jul 2014 - her connection is through Christian I Prestlien's wife, recorded as Ruth Adeline Hunt (born 5 Nov 1897 in Montana; died 15 Apr 1926); this tree has no information on Christian other than a birthdate, and some census data


2. Source: family records - whole family drowned at Whitecourt


Letter from daughter of Olga Prestlien, Orline Stevens; abt 1979; no dates given - - gives names of the 4 children; however, the first (Iver) is a guess - can't make it out - looks like Ivodil ??? --- tombstone records Ivadell born 1916

3. Source: Memories and Milestones - Amisk, Hughenden history book; submitted by Jean Bridge

- indicates that Christian's wife, Ruth was the daughter of Michael Prestlien's wife, Addie Anson
[likely she was married prior to marrying Michael]
- Christian and family (four children - born in the Hughenden area) lived for "for some time" in the Hughenden area - likely in the Sugar Bowl district
- Christian had received the patent on his homestead in Whitecourt on 24 April 1917
- the family moved back to the homestead in Whitecourt in the early 1920's

- - no additional information in the book about Addie Anson or Ruth, Christian's wife (see point 6 below)

(b) from the Lantern Years - see my documents, Christian Prestlien file


4. Source: Western Land Grants; NE of Sec 35, Twp 59, Range 11, W 5th; -- Whitecourt, AB

- note: Andrew did not move to the Whitecourt area until Jun/Jul 1912 -
therefore NO 1911 Census record


5. a 1916 Canada - Twp 59, Range 11;

- Christian; emigrated 1911; occupation as shingle weaver (he worked at shingle roofs on buildings in WA); saw mill
- wife, Ruth Adelane, age 18 <1898>, born in US, emigrated 1913; religion - likely Protestant
- also included is Ada Hunt, mother-in-law, age 37 born in US, Vera Hunt age 16 and Clifford Hunt age 14 both born in US

Then: 1916 Canada prairie provinces census: Alberta, Edmonton West; sub district: 18; Twp 59 Range 11 W5th, page 9; line 42
[enumeration as of 1 Jun 1916]

Christian Iver Prestlien, age 30, born in US; em in 1912; shingle weaver, saw mill
wife, Ruth Adalaine, age 18, b in US; em in 1913
mother in law, Ada Hunt, age 37 b in US em 1913
sister in law, Vera Hunt, age 16, b in US, em 1913
brother in law, Clifford Hunt, 14, b in US, em 1913

*******
Note: on this same page, line 35 is: Irving Stanton Hunt, age 40 b in the US; em in 1911; teamster [?], railroad
see - ex-spouse notes -- daughter Vera records her parents divorce in 1916
also: line 35 is Edward Grue, [??] age 21 [abt 1895] in Norway; em 1912 ?? [don't know who this is, 18 May 2023]
also: line 26, Nelson Sonmore, age 26 b in US; em 1911; logging camp


Ivring Hunt OBIT Edmonton Journal, issue 3 Dec 1954, page 34
- died on 2 Dec 1954, from Whitecourt age 78
- survived by one son Clifford, Omaha and one daughter, Mrs Nelson Lyons of Whitecourt... 6 grandchildren .. 3 great [not named] [of course, his daughter Ruth along with Christian and their 4 children died 1926]
- interment, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Edmonton; [findagrave id 122056838]




1921 Canada, Edmonton West, sub district 032,
This is for brother Andrew Prestlien on Sec 34-59-11 page 4 image 4 [ancestry]; line 7
NOTE: Christian and family are not recorded on Sec 35, Twp 59, Range 11 ?????



6.

+++ Sagitawah Saga: Pages 68 & 69 notes Nels Lyons (likely with family) came to Whitecourt shortly after the war - he was a business man, with a butcher shop and store and owned many houses and businesses. Nels Lyons left Whitecourt in the 1930's. NOTE: the book doesn't specifically mention his family, but on page 95 that a fire in Dec 1933 destroyed many buildings including Nels Lyons' house [someone else was living in it] - this could imply that Nels Lyons had a family

+++ Memories and Milestones includes one "Lyons" family, but no mention of Nels or Ruth


7. TMAnderson1944, Family Tree on Ancestry [and copied by 'Evans FT'
- posted an article on the drowing of Christian I Prestlien family drowing - from Edmonton Journal; issue is uncertain but the byline records 21 Apr [saved under Christian's folder - quality is poor - newspaper.com does not have that issue]
- link from 'Evans FT', https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/31931864/person/260189202956/facts

link to Christian, https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/67810390/person/30170738736/facts
TMAnderson1944 FT [TMAnderson1944] ; accessed 18 Jul 2022
- see Team White USB, under Christian Prestlien file - on 18 Jul 2022, found the article on newspapers.com
Edmonton Journal (Edmonton Alberta) issue 21 Apr 1926, page 12 [image is a better than posted by above FT] ^417,418

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence - 1910, 15 Apr 1910, Cedar Mountain, King Co, Washington, United States. ⁴¹⁹

2. Residence - 1919, 1919, Hughenden, Alberta, Canada. ⁴¹⁸

3. Residence - 1926, 1926, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. ⁴²⁰

4. Residence - 1916, 1916, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada. ⁴²¹

Christian married Ruth Adelaine Hunt, daughter of Irving Stanton Hunt and Addie Eliza Anson, in 1914 in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada.⁴¹¹ (Ruth Adelaine Hunt was born on 5 Nov 1897 in Missouri, United States,⁴²² died on 15 Apr 1926 in Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada ⁴²³ and was buried in Whitecourt (Woodlands) Cemetery, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada ⁴¹⁶.)