Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 769.
 
MICHAEL CHRISTIANI

     a retired farmer now residing in Prineville, has had a most remarkable and
adventurous career. He was born in the old country, in 1831 and twenty-two years
later, left his native land for the United States. He landed in New York and
worked in a meat market for a while after which he went to Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Shortly after that he went to Greenbay and then to Menomonie in the same state.
Lumbering occupied him for a while and at the time of the Pike's Peak
excitement, he came on to Colorado. He mined there until the Salmon River
excitement broke out, when he came to that point. He located the second cabin on
Grasshopper creek. Montana, in the fall of 1862, and secured a claim. This claim
yielded him about eight thousand dollars. In the spring of 1863, we find him in
the Yellowstone park. That was before the government  had set apart that for a
national park. He traveled all over Montana and Wisconsin and was in one hard
Indian fight on the Big Horn, when the miners defeated the Crowe Indians. Next
we see him in the famous Alder Gulch in Montana and in the spring of 1864 he
went to Kootenai, British Columbia. He remained there until September 5th of the
same year, then journeyed on down to Walla Walla. From that point he came to
Portland and after spending two weeks in the city went to the adjacent country
and remained during that winter. The next spring he went to the mines and this
occupation, in various sections of the country, engaged him until 1873, when he
came to Prineville with a band of sheep. He purchased a ranch and settled down
to raising sheep which he followed for a short time, then farmed until 1894, in
which year he came to Prineville, bought a comfortable home and since that time
has been retired from business. He still owns his ranch, which is valued at ten
thousand dollars, and also has considerable other property.
     On April 6, 1882, Mr. Christiani married Malinda Jane Barnard, who was born
in Linn county, Oregon, on February 6, 1866. Her father, James Barnard, was born
in Tennessee and crossed the plains in early days. Mr. and Mrs. Christiani have
two children, Charles O., aged twenty and Malinda Caroline, aged eleven.
     Mrs. Christiani is a member of the United Artisans. Our subject and his
wife are respected and esteemed people, have shown an industry and carefulness
in their labors here which have met with their proper reward and they have done
a good part in developing the country.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.