George Christman (obverse)
This cabinet card is one of twelve photographs given to me on February 20, 2015, by the owner of the Champlain Valley Antique Center in Shelburne, Vermont. He asked if I wanted them and I declined.
I had plenty of research to do, and one of the photos mentioned that the subject had no heirs. He then gave them to me saying they had been given to him, so he didn't consider it a loss. I believe all twelve photo-subjects are members of the Christman family, owners of the Christman Sons Piano Company of New York City. The company operated from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced an line of upscale pianos. These pianos today are physical testimony to the quality and craftsmanship of their work. See one/hear one in action. ...or Für Elise?
The annotation on the back of this photograph claims the subject is George Christman. He first appeared at eight years old in the 1880 New York City census, the son of Peter and Caroline Christman. He was still living with his parents in the 1900 Manhattan Borough census, along with his sister, Carrie. As noted in the trade journal link above, George became president of the Christman Sons Piano Co. According to the 1910 and 1930 censuses, he was single, living with the Peineckes, his sister and brother-in-law. However, one trade journal article showed him in a photograph with Mrs. Christman and a boy described as George Christman Jr., heir. This prompted me to search harder for him in the 1920 census. I found him in the 1920 Hudson County, Weehawken, New Jersey census as the son-in-law of Barabara Peppler, widow. With him was his wife, Ida R. Christman, age 27, and son, George Jr., age 6. Ida R. Peppler Christman died January 21, 1922.
I am seeking descendants.
A higher resolution digital image can be downloaded from this link.
Here is a list of the twelve photographs
George Christman (obverse)
This cabinet card is one of twelve photographs given to me on February 20, 2015, by the owner of the Champlain Valley Antique Center in Shelburne, Vermont. He asked if I wanted them and I declined.
I had plenty of research to do, and one of the photos mentioned that the subject had no heirs. He then gave them to me saying they had been given to him, so he didn't consider it a loss. I believe all twelve photo-subjects are members of the Christman family, owners of the Christman Sons Piano Company of New York City. The company operated from the latter half of the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced an line of upscale pianos. These pianos today are physical testimony to the quality and craftsmanship of their work. See one/hear one in action. ...or Für Elise?
The annotation on the back of this photograph claims the subject is George Christman. He first appeared at eight years old in the 1880 New York City census, the son of Peter and Caroline Christman. He was still living with his parents in the 1900 Manhattan Borough census, along with his sister, Carrie. As noted in the trade journal link above, George became president of the Christman Sons Piano Co. According to the 1910 and 1930 censuses, he was single, living with the Peineckes, his sister and brother-in-law. However, one trade journal article showed him in a photograph with Mrs. Christman and a boy described as George Christman Jr., heir. This prompted me to search harder for him in the 1920 census. I found him in the 1920 Hudson County, Weehawken, New Jersey census as the son-in-law of Barabara Peppler, widow. With him was his wife, Ida R. Christman, age 27, and son, George Jr., age 6. Ida R. Peppler Christman died January 21, 1922.
I am seeking descendants.
A higher resolution digital image can be downloaded from this link.
Here is a list of the twelve photographs