Christian H. Hanawalt
Christian H. Hanawalt, Postmaster and Notary Public, Mt. Sterling, was born April 1, 1833, in Ross County, Ohio. He was a son of John Hanawalt, a native of Pennsylvania, and Mary Hanawalt, a native of Maryland. at the age of fourteen, he was apprenticed at Chillicothe to the harness-making and saddler's trade, where he continued four years. He then went to Columbus, where he followed his trade, about six months. From there he went to Harrisburg, where he remained a short time, and where, on October 28, 1852, he married Miss Elizabeth Deyo, by whom he had seven children, two of whom are now living–John W., employed by the Government as Postal Clerk between Toledo and Columbus, and Georgie, married to McGill Mitchell, of Mt. Sterling. In 1852, our subject engaged in harness-making and saddlery at Mt. Sterling, which he continued until 1861. In 1862, with J. W. Riddle as a partner, he entered into the grocery business, under the firm title of Hanawalt & Riddle. this firm continued to transact business under the above head until 1864, when a dissolution occurred. In 1863, he was elected Justice of the Peace for Pleasant Township, the duties of which office he performed faithfully for eighteen successive years. He also for several years acted as Pension Claim Agent. In 1870, he was appointed, by the Government, Assistant United States Marshal, in taking the census of Madison County. In 1871, he was appointed Postmaster of Mt. Sterling, the duties of which office he has faithfully discharged up to the present time. Politically, he is a Republican, in the ranks of which party he has been an earnest worker for many years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and of the F., & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F. societies.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]