Christopher Oberst, farmer, Clear Lake Township, was born in
Ottawa County, Ohio, Aug. 26, 1840, a son of John and Barbara
(Auldt) Oberst, natives of Germany, who came to America about
1835, and settled in Rochester, N. Y., removing three years
later to Ottawa County, Ohio, where the mother died in January,
1856, and the father Sept. 12, 1877.  They were members of the
Lutheran church.  Their family consisted of eight children, four of
whom are living-Conrad; Maria, widow of Peter Bowman; Eliza-
beth, wife of Martin H. Smith, of Washington County, Neb., and
Christopher.  Our subject remained in his native county till man-
hood, and was there educated.  He enlisted in 1861 in Company
A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the engage-
ments at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River and Chicka-
mauga, where he was wounded Sept. 20, 1863.  The ball struck
his shoulder and passed down into the right side where it still re-
mains.  He lay on the field ten days, having fallen into the hands
of the rebels, and was then paroled and immediately sent to the
hospital.  In may, 1864, he joined his command at Chattanooga,
and was mustered out the following November.  After leaving the
service he came to Steuben County, and bought the farm where he
now lives.  He was married Sept. 3, 1861, to Mary M. Lord, a
daughter of Henry A. and Catherine (Flora) Lord, her father a
native of Maine, and her mother of Richland County, Ohio.  Mr.
and Mrs. Oberst have two children-Marian A. and George A.
Mrs. Oberst's parents moved to Steuben County in 1849, and
located in Clear Lake Township.  The father died in Eaton, Mich.,
in 1866, and the mother in November, 1884.  They had a family
of eight children, six of whom are living-Mary M., Henry A.,
John M., James A., Edwin D. and Waldon B.