Christenot Family History
Charles and Martha Christenot, with brother Benjamin Christenot, were Montana pioneers. They came to Virginia City, Montana, to seek their fortune in gold.
In 1863, Benjamin Franklin Christenot recorded gold mine claims in the upper mountains of Alder Gulch, Montana, near Virginia City. He left to secure funding to build a gold mill in the nearby mountains at Union City, and returned on August 4th, 1866.
Charles Frederick Christenot, with his second wife, Martha (Craig) Wilton Christenot, and other family members journeyed by oxen train along the Bozeman Trail carrying the equipment for the mill and arrived on October 14, 1866.
Christenot
Their lives revolved around the operation of the Christenot Mill, which actively operated at Union City until 1868. When the Mill failed, they moved throughout Madison County.
Their fourteen offspring disbursed, and made important contributions to the settlement of the state of Montana and beyond.
Today, the ruins of the Christenot Mill remain. So does the Christenot Family, who gather every three years to celebrate the new leaves, many branches, and strong roots of their family.
What will you discover in the Christenot Family History Website?
Family Reunions
Distant cousins become close friends as we share research, attend reunions, and find new connections. The 2025 Reunion was canceled. The next reunion will be July 16-19, 2026, in Virginia City, Montana.
The Christenot Mill
The story of the Christenot Mill in the gold country of Alder Gulch is recounted, and the ongoing efforts to stabilize the Mill remains, through education, work-parties and fundraising. The next Christenot Mill Work Party will be July 16-18, 2026, in conjunction with the 11th Christenot Reunion in Virginia City, Montana.
Christenot Family Lines
Research and family stories of the Christenot Family Lines are shared of the Christinat/Christenat/Christnot/Christenot lines from Switzerland and Pennsylvania/Wisconsin, and their descendants, many of whom moved to Montana.
Are you researching a Christenot connection? Do you have new information to share? Could you be a leaf in the family tree? We’re happy to put you in touch with a “branch” expert at questions@christenot.org.
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Christenot Mill Work Party
The next Work Party will be July 16-18, 2026
In conjunction with the Christenot Reunion.
Christenot Family Reunion
July 16-19, 2026
Virginia City, Montana
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