Christian was born on 31 Mar 1806 in Steffisburg, Bern, Switzerland. He was christened on 6 Apr 1806 in Steffisburg, Bern (BE), Switz.. He immigrated on 17 Sep 1833 to New York. Immigration Record, Microfilm #261, Roll 80, Passenger List; Vessel: "The Plato" Destination: Ohio; Port of Entry: New York; Age - 27; From: Switzerland; Not accompanied by anyone. He died on 14 Sep 1856 in Panola, Woodford Co., Illinois. He was buried in Harper Cem, Greene Twp, Woodford Co, IL. Citizen of Steffisburg, Bern (BE), Switz. The General Services Administration National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. responded 12 JAN 1970 that their index to Passenger arrivals 1820-46 includes a card for Christian Reust, age 27 of Switzerland who arrived aboard a ship named the Plato on September 17, 1833.
Census listings:
1840, McLean Co., IL, pg. 251
1850, 56th. District, Woodford Co., IL, pg. 487
1850, Woodford Co., IL, pg. 500, may be listed a second time as "Beust"
After his death in 1856, some of his children had to go and live with other families. The 1860 Census show his children as follows:
Christian Jr. (23) married, living in Woodford Co., Ill., Greene Twsp, Panola P.O.
Abraham (15) & Samuel (18) farm laborers not attending school with William & Sarah Finley, Ohio Twsp, Eureka P.O. pg. 804
Samuel (19) (double-counted farm laborer) and Hannah (12) attending school with William and Leah Dixon, Town proper of Eureka, 13 Jul 1860, pg. 833.