Johann Peter and Christina Margaretha Kister
Johann Peter Kister was born on June 12, 1854, in Walter, Russia, the son of Johann Peter Kister and Eva Elisabeth Kechter. Johann Peter married Christina Margaretha Becker in April 1875. She was born in Kolb on March 27, 1855, the daughter of Heinrich Becker and Anna Maria Stromberger.
In 1875, Johann Peter (Peter) and Christina Margaretha (Christina) decided to start a new life in America. The newlyweds, along with Peter's widowed mother, sailed from Bremen, Germany, and arrived in New York on January 3, 1876, aboard the steamship "Sailier." They first settled in Kansas, where three children were born. One son died as an infant.
It appears that Peter, Christina, and their two surviving children returned to Russia for a few years before returning to Kansas about 1884. Two daughters, Catharina Margaretha and Emma Emelia, were born in the colony of Walter. After returning to Kansas, two more children were born there: Peter Jr. (1885) and Pauline Pearl (1887). By 1890, the Kisters were living in Oregon. Two more sons were born in Oregon: John (1890, Portland) and William (1893).
Peter Kister died on April 3, 1893.
Christina married a second time to Henry Gortler on December 9, 1897. She died on January 8, 1905, and was buried at the Klingler Memorial Cemetery in Liberal, Oregon. Henry Gortler married Christina's daughter, Pauline Pearl Kister, in July 1906, and they had several children together.
In 1875, Johann Peter (Peter) and Christina Margaretha (Christina) decided to start a new life in America. The newlyweds, along with Peter's widowed mother, sailed from Bremen, Germany, and arrived in New York on January 3, 1876, aboard the steamship "Sailier." They first settled in Kansas, where three children were born. One son died as an infant.
It appears that Peter, Christina, and their two surviving children returned to Russia for a few years before returning to Kansas about 1884. Two daughters, Catharina Margaretha and Emma Emelia, were born in the colony of Walter. After returning to Kansas, two more children were born there: Peter Jr. (1885) and Pauline Pearl (1887). By 1890, the Kisters were living in Oregon. Two more sons were born in Oregon: John (1890, Portland) and William (1893).
Peter Kister died on April 3, 1893.
Christina married a second time to Henry Gortler on December 9, 1897. She died on January 8, 1905, and was buried at the Klingler Memorial Cemetery in Liberal, Oregon. Henry Gortler married Christina's daughter, Pauline Pearl Kister, in July 1906, and they had several children together.
Peter and Christina Kister's family portrait. Source: Sundeen family tree on Ancestry.com
Sources
Ship manifest, Portland City Directories, U.S. Censuses, Oregon birth and death records - Ancestry.com
Burley Family Tree on Ancestry.com - accessed December 30, 2025
Sundeen Family Tree - accessed December 30, 2025
Find-A-Grave.com
Burley Family Tree on Ancestry.com - accessed December 30, 2025
Sundeen Family Tree - accessed December 30, 2025
Find-A-Grave.com
Last updated December 31,,2025